Raw Dog Food Diet

I ascribe to the, “If we can feed human kids without a formula, we can feed our dogs without always using a formulated bag of dog food” philosophy.

There are several sub-philosophies out there such as these three:

¨ The “prey” model which says canines need NO carbohydrates in their diet, just raw meaty bones. After all, ever see a pack of wild dogs attack a wheat field?

¨ Small amounts of carbs in the form of vegetables, fruits and starches are necessary along with raw meaty bones.

¨ Additional supplements in addition to fruits and vegetables in the form of vitamins and minerals are also needed to provide a balanced diet.

Text Box: Yes, there are a few foods that dogs shouldn’t eat, as their digestive system is different than ours. Foods I avoid are: Onions (garlic in very small amounts as it is in the onion family) can cause blood dyscrasia Chocolate can cause an allergic reaction Large quantities of grapes, raisins or other foods high in iron can cause liver failure and death Large amounts of raw egg whites can block the absorption of Vitamin B

I feed my dogs mostly raw meaty bones, occasionally crushed veggies and starches with some supplements added like cod liver oil, fish body oil, kelp, vitamin B, C or E, natural minerals etc. Not every meal has every supplement. This works perfectly for the dogs I have that are spayed or neutered.

For some of the dogs and bitches still “intact”, I found that they get too lean on a raw dog food diet in spite of large portions, so I use additional carbs to keep them in good weight. I figure a balanced diet OVER TIME is best. It avoids overkill in the supplementation department. So far, every time I try to return to a non-raw food diet, the dogs’ waste always seems to equal the amount they’ve eaten, so I have to wonder… just how much have they digested?

Transition of new dogs to raw dog food diet is over several weeks to a month to acclimate their digestive tract: first with crushed veggies and ground meat without bone, then ground meat with ground bone, then whole raw meaty bones. Once the transition is made, switching later to anything else doesn’t require that gradual change.

Cooking for Your Dog

The following books are about a variety of non-traditional dog diets, including the raw dog food diet I utilize. There will be conflicting opinions in many of them. I don’t agree with everything that is said in these books but offer them to get you “thinking outside the bag“ (...or can, as the case may be). Read, digest (pardon the pun) and decide for yourself which would be best for your dog. Start simple and build from there if necessary. And remember, no parent of healthy human children weigh and measure every item of every meal. So don’t get caught in that trap with your dog!

Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog

and

Natural Diet: Meeting Your Dog’ s Needs

by Wendy Volhard

www.volhard.com

The BARF Diet

and

Give Your Dog A Bone

and

Grow Your Pups with Bones

by Ian Billinghurst, BVSc.

www.barfworld.com