How to
Feed Raw
Okay,
so we have decided to start feeding our dog raw. We’re researching…and
researching…and researching…and wow there are a lot of different ways to feed
out there.
If
you’re getting a little overwhelmed, don’t worry. Sit back, take a deep breath,
and keep reading.
You
want to feed your dog raw. Why? Because it’s natural and it’s
good for them. Okay, so we’re going with the natural diet of a wild
carnivore. Like a wolf? What do wolves eat? Prey animals.
Okay,
so we’ve narrowed this diet down to the prey a carnivore will eat. Prey is made
up of approximately 10-15% bone, 10% organs, and the rest is muscle. (Actually
the vast majority of the vertebrate animals on this planet are made that way.)
So that is what we feed our carnivorous friends. No veggies, no supplements
(except perhaps for fish body oil to make up for the lack of Omega 3 fatty acids
in grain fed animals nowadays).
So
how do we accomplish this? The easiest way is to feed whole prey—whole rabbits,
whole quail, whole mice, whole rats, whole chickens, whole ducks, whole goats,
whole lambs, whole calves…you’re getting the point?
Unfortunately,
most people can’t manage that, so we make up a Frankenprey.
This lovely looking animal may have the head of a fish, neck of a pig, brisket
of a cow, ribs of a lamb, other ribs of a pig, liver/heart/kidney/tripe of a
cow, legs of a chicken, wings of a duck, butt of a goat, and tail of an
ox.
Lovely, huh?
And healthy. Variety is the spice of life.
See,
not hard.
If
you start with a puppy, they usually take to it easier than older dogs who have been fed kibble their entire lives. Give your pup a
chicken leg or, if it’s a larger pup, a leg quarter—most people use chicken as
a starter because it’s cheap, easily available, and the bones are soft. Once
he’s comfortable on that—some dogs get diarrhea, some don’t—start adding either
another protein like pork or beef, or add some organs, like liver or kidney.
Eventually, your dog will be able to handle most anything. No need to add
veggies except as the occasional snack, no reason to add supplements—too many
supplements can actually harm your dog. Simple, no?
Another
good thing to do is join the raw feeding list—come join us here.
And
don’t remember—have fun feeding your puppy!