Based on the writing of Australian veterinarian, Dr. Ian Billinghurst, the raw diet consists primarily of raw meaty bones. The dog eats BONES AND ALL! Many of us grew up being told that bones are not good for dogs, but because the bones are not cooked, they are not dangerous to the dog. Only cooked bones will cause a problem because they become brittle and may splinter when fed. Initially most people are shocked at the concept of actually feeding our pets REAL food. It is, in fact, the most natural of all diets for our canine and feline companions. Because the food is not cooked, it offers the full nutrition, digestive enzymes, and chewing exercise which has been lost in feeding commercial diets – even the most expensive and carefully designed cooked pet food.
Feed a Balanced Diet
One of the most common feeding errors made by dog owners is to feed only a single food item. Meat fed by it’s self is a totally unbalanced diet for a dog (or cat). Meat should make up about 60 – 70% of the diet. Most people feed poultry as the base of the diet (ground or whole wings, necks, backs, or carcasses), which consist of bone, cartilage, fat and some flesh. White meats seem generally to be healthier for many dogs than red meats. This may be because they are higher in essential fatty acids unlike red meats which are higher in saturated fats and associated with degenerative conditions such as arthritis. Variety of meats is very important, as it is in all diets.
Organ meats should form a small part of the diet, 5-10% of the meat portion. They should be fresh and raw and may include liver, kidney and heart. Tripe is also a valuable source of protein, essential fatty acids, minerals and vitamins.
The two minerals needed in the greatest abundance are calcium and phosphorus. These are found mainly in bones. Do you realize that your dog will not, cannot, suffer mineral deficiencies, imbalances, or excesses, when raw meaty bones make up the bulk of its diet? This applies to dogs of all ages. This is because bones are the storehouse of all the minerals your dog requires in perfect balance and in the perfect form for optimal absorption with no excesses or deficiencies.
Fat, especially animal fat, makes food more palatable. Fat provides insulation, including the insulation of the body’s wiring system – the nerves. It provides physical protection and padding. It also enables the absorption of the fat-soluble vitamins A, D, E, and K.
Essential fatty acids are like vitamins. Without them disease occurs. The most common source of essential fatty acids is raw eggs, fish and fish oils.
Eggs are an excellent source of quality protein, Vitamin A and minerals. The entire egg (shell and all) is fed. Egg yolks are excellent “skin food”.
Our modern dogs should be getting their carbohydrate. The best way to do this is to feed dogs fresh, whole, raw vegetables and fruits. These should form about 20-25% of the overall diet. Vegetables and fruits contain lots of soluble and insoluble fiber, some starch and simple sugars. Vegetables and fruits must be properly prepared. They must be completely crushed, but not cooked. In that way, the nutrients in the vegetables and fruits become available to help digestion and promote health in your pets. Their consumption is to be encouraged.
For optimal health your dog will need vitamins. These include the B-complex vitamins, also vitamin E, C, and A which can be found in kelp and alfalfa. Vitamin B is supplied in organ meats, eggs, chicken, fatty fish, green leafy vegetables, molasses, and fruit. Vitamin C is found in green vegetables. Vitamin A is in liver, eggs, fish oils and yellow vegetables. Vitamin E comes in liver, eggs and green vegetables. Vitamin D can be found in salt-water fish and eggs (15 minutes in direct sunshine daily also provides the Vitamin D needed). Vitamin K is supplied in green leafy plants, liver and fish.
Liver and Kidneys are an excellent source of zinc, manganese, selenium and iron. Anemic dogs may be fed liver and kidney as an excellent source of iron. Dogs with skin problems may benefit from the zinc content. All dogs require selenium.
Oils that are a source of Omega 3 and 6 essential fatty acids are vital to your dog’s health. We suggest Arctic Vigor (100% natural marine oil), Salmon oil (cold pressed), Cod liver oil, or one of the Blends now available.
The dog’s immune system is designed to handle bacteria such as Salmonella, E.coli and Campylbacter Jejunei. It is much more adept at this than the human body. If dogs are fed nothing but heat sterilized food, you are depriving them of the opportunity to develop an immune response to these and many other organisms. Handling raw foods for your pet requires the same care as your “human” food does. Raw food will spoil if left unrefrigerated for an extended period of time. Excess food not eaten should be refrigerated for the next feeding or discarded. Keep raw meat separate from other foods, wash working surfaces, utensils and hands with soapy water after each feeding. SIMPLE!!
A suggested starting point is 2% of your dog’s weight (i.e. 25 lb dog would eat 8 ounces of food per day). This amount is “NOT WRITTEN IN STONE”, and will depend on the age, activity level and metabolism of your dog. Puppies should get about 5% of body weight (this depends on growth spurts and over-all well being). Puppies require more calcium and phosphorous for growth so we suggest they are fed mostly poultry with bone ground in.
DO NOT OVER FEED (this is very important). Some pets just go “cold turkey” and never look back. Some dogs may have a looser stool for a day or so. Some just blend into the diet like they have always eaten this way… Others are so excited about eating now that they follow you around begging for more. Depending on the history of your dog, you may want to take a more gradual change, introducing the food with your current diet. If you have a problem, try just meat for a few days, then add more variety. We suggest that you stay away from the harder or fattier bones for a while. Give your dog time to re-develop its digestive system.
If you decide to combine these two types of food, we have a few suggestions. First, make sure the kibble you have is a good quality (price is not always an indicator of quality). Second, it is better if they are fed at different meals – with the kibble fed in the morning and the RAW in the evening.
Lots of people watch their dog deteriorate on commercial foods simply because they either don’t know what else to feed, how to feed it, or that they need to feed something better in order to obtain and maintain optimal health. When dogs are switched to a raw diet, health problems often either improve or disappear. By making such a remarkably simple but profound change in your dog’s diet, you will quickly discover what so many dog owners know…
