FEEDING A RAW DIET
FEEDING A RAW DIET
OH WHERE TO BEGIN! If you've spent any time on my site, you may have already seen information about feeding raw, but I feel compelled to make it its own page! Some of the information I saw on another site was disheartening and potentially discouraging for anyone who MAY want to explore a raw diet. I want to be sure NO ONE confuses my site with the other (whose site's name resembles mine) and I DO NOT want ANYONE thinking I agree with her. The benefits are infinite!
There are many sites and sources on the internet outlining, documenting and discussing the IMMENSE benefits of feeding a biologically appropriate raw food diet (sometimes referred to as BARF diet). There are too many sites to link to and too many to use as reference. I highly suggest you do your own research and make your own decisions on whether it is right for you and your pet! I will always be here as a resource for anyone interested in learning.
The basic principals of feeding raw is that your pet is eating a diet that more closely aligned with a natural canine diet in the wild...including raw meat, bones and organs. As direct descendants of wolves, dogs are simply not genetically optimized to consume the 50% carbohydrate and starch (SUGARS) content of today’s commercial dry food bagged kibbles. Wonder again, why most all domestic dogs have rotting decaying teeth? Yes, we have domesticated canines, but we certainly have not biologically altered their digestive system. That would take tens of thousands of years! No one will argue kibble isn't convenient, but complete, it is NOT! Feeding a raw dog food diet has many obvious benefits...including firmer stools, improved digestion, healthier skin and coat, reduced allergy symptoms, and better weight management. There have been many reports of improved health when chronically ill pets were switched from a commercial product to a raw dog food.
The biggest misnomer about feeding raw is that dogs cannot consume bones...WRONG! NOT TRUE! Canines CAN absolutely consume UNCOOKED meaty bones including rabbit, chicken, duck, turkey, quail and other small game...and can consume deer and elk antlers. Another site that has a ton of GREAT information on bones and feeding raw is Vets All Natural. So much information. Click on the link here Best Raw Dog Food to find even more info and a TON of other links on raw feeding! A great website with many different varieties of premade raw dog foods is White Dog Bone. Check them out and sample a bunch. I like K9 Cravings. Blue Ridge Raw, Answers & Steve's Real Food...just to name a few! many other sites online are very helpful if you have questions...including Raw Fed & Nerdy and Perfectly Rawsome.
A few of the most important nutrients missing from Do-It-Yourself raw diets are Iodine, Iron, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Vitamin D, Manganese, Magnesium, Vitamin E, balanced Omega 3s and 6s, & Biotin. Please do a little research on what needs to be added to your prepared raw meals in order to fill in these gaps. I'm adding some recipes below...these are a guide to making raw meals...I'll try to expand upon what each added food items supplies to a raw meal.
A few books I recommend are below:
Unlocking the Canine Ancestral Diet
by: Steve Brown
Ying & Yang Nutrition for Dogs
by: Dr. Judy Morgan
by: Rodney Habib & Dr. Karen Shaw Becker
Check out Dr. Judy Morgan for some amazing recipes for home cooked meal recipes for dogs!
Click HERE for Recipes for Your Own Home Cooked Meals by Dr. Judy Morgan or see below for one of Dr. Judy Morgan's recipes for homemade, balanced meals.
Complete PupLoaf Recipe
3 pounds beef 90% lean
8 ounces beef heart
5 ounces beef liver
20 ounces chicken gizzards
3 cans sardines in water, minus the juice
6 ounces mussels (3 teaspoons kelp could replace the mussels for trace minerals)
2 teaspoons fresh ginger
5 eggs with shell
3 ounces red bell pepper
5 ounces mixed dark leafy greens (kale, chard, spinach)
4 ounces broccoli
6 ounces butternut squash
3 tablespoons flax seed oil
4 ounces cranberries
4 ounces Shiitake mushrooms
Grind and mix all ingredients together. Pour into loaf, casserole, or muffin pans. Bake at 325 for 30 to 60 minutes depending on size of pan; should be lightly done, not overcooked. (juicy in the center) If your pet has a beef or chicken allergy, turkey could be substituted.
Use within 3 to 5 days, freeze extra portions. Feed warmed to room temperature.
SEVERAL RECIPES FROM STEVE BROWN'S BOOK