Raw feeding enthusiasts believe that dogs thrive on a varied menu that includes meats, organs, vegetables, fruits and supplements to provide optimal nutritional balance for individual canines. All ingredients must be balanced carefully to provide optimal nourishment to each canine.
An ideal diet for raw feeders consists of muscle cuts, organ meats (such as heart, liver and kidneys), whole fish and raw meaty bones (RMBs), all providing calcium, phosphorus and essential vitamins and minerals to support their wellbeing.
Contents
Protein
Home raw diets can provide your dog with essential nutrition that kibble can’t provide, such as an adequate protein supply and balanced mix of other essential vitamins and minerals. The main goal should be ensuring your pup receives all that is necessary.
Most raw feeders follow either the Whole Prey model or BARF method of feeding, which recommends providing your pup with 70% meat (chicken necks, wings and backs; beef liver and heart; 20 percent fish; 10 percent vegetables, fruits and grains; 5 percent eggs and supplements. These foods should provide your canine with protein, calcium, phosphorous, vitamins and minerals they require to thrive.
Food that is safe for dogs to eat such as cooked carrots, green beans and apples should be added to their diet, provided these do not contain grapes and raisins which are toxic to dogs. You could also introduce freeze-dried or dehydrated raw food items for additional variety.
Fat
Raw food diets contain plenty of fats that provide energy while aiding dogs to absorb vitamins such as A, D, E and K as well as proteins for muscle development and healthy skin. This provides them with energy as well as helping their absorption.
Wild wolves consume approximately 13% bone, and many raw feeders include bones in their dogs’ diets for calcium, phosphorous and other vital minerals. Bones also serve as an excellent natural source of protein and are loaded with essential vitamins. Chewing on bones naturally removes toxins that would otherwise cause bad breath and gum disease – offering another great way to encourage dental health!
Dogs are facilitative carnivores and should consume mostly meat along with some fruits and vegetables, although adding whole, non-starchy vegetables to a raw diet is recommended to improve fiber and antioxidant intake. Cooking these items also makes digestion simpler; raw food supporters usually suggest lightly steaming, fermenting or pureeing vegetables to support optimal digestive health.
Fiber
Dogs that consume raw meals receive nutrients in a form their bodies can digest and assimilate. This can improve skin and coat health, reduce common health issues like shedding, and help prevent obesity.
An ideal raw diet includes 80% meat, 10% bones and 10% organs. Organ meat should include liver and secreting organs like the kidneys and heart; adding some spoonfuls of gizzard or thymus may also add additional vitamins and minerals.
Home-prepared raw diets can be tricky to get just right; after all, dogs require 37 essential nutrients that must be balanced without exposing your pet to potentially dangerous bacteria. That is why we suggest opting for pre-prepared raw food that has undergone high pressure pasteurization such as High Pressure Processing (HPP). Naturawls dinners and Instinct Raw Longevity both cater specifically to your pet’s dietary needs with 90% meat, bone and organ content plus key fruits and vegetables added for variety.
Other Nutrients
Many issues that dogs experience daily – like itchy skin, allergies, inflammation and weight gain – can often be traced back to poor digestion or nutrient absorption. A high quality raw diet packed full of prebiotics and probiotics may help address this problem.
Nuts and seeds are an integral component of a raw diet, providing essential fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins. Be sure to soak nuts and seeds first to remove phytic acid which could hinder digestion.
A healthy raw diet should include meaty bones (poultry necks, wings and backs are ideal), beef and lamb liver, chicken hearts, turkey, duck, rabbit, venison and tripe – easily available at local butcher shops, supermarkets or specialty retailers such as lamb duck rabbit and tripe suppliers. Fatty fish such as sardines or salmon oil provide important omega fatty acid sources and should also be included along with flaxseed or sunflower oils in your daily intake.
