Guide To Raw Feeding

Jess
Aug 20, 2020
6 min read

Updated: Aug 26, 2020

Are you thinking of switching to a raw diet? Then I can tell you that this is one of the best changes that you will make for your dog!

There are many health benefits to feeding a raw diet from preventing food sensitivities to promoting a healthy gut. You will also feel really good about knowing that you are avoiding dangerous artificial preservatives and additives.

There are many ways to feed a raw diet, this method is not the only way and you can do it differently if you wish.

This method is if you want to try and make your own meals from scratch but you can buy commercial raw diets already made up that have the complete diet, such as nutriment. These are a lot simpler if you do not have the time or if you are still worried about making sure that it is balanced.

Transitioning From Dog Food To Raw

You can go from feeding kibble one day to raw feeding the next day.

Some people believe that you cannot mix raw food and dog food together but this is a myth. If your dog is picky then I suggest that gradually introducing raw food and slowly fading out kibble.

You may want to feed your dog meats such as chicken or turkey to begin with because these are bland in comparison to red meats, and may cause less digestive upset.

A Balanced Diet

The easiest way that we aim to give Bella a well balanced diet is by following the “80/10/10” guideline: 80% meat/fish, 10% bone, 10% secreting organ [1].

When feeding a raw diet it is important to not feed just one meat such as chicken or else your dog will likely end up with nutritional deficiencies which can lead to many health issues.

A raw diet requires a variety of meat and protein sources because different types of meat, fish and poultry will make up different nutrients.

80/10/10

80% Meat

80% of their diet should be made up of lean muscle meats that are rich in proteins. These are needed for building muscle, cartilage, skin and blood, and also for hormones [2].

Here are some good choices for lean muscle meat:

Beef heart
venison
Boar mince
Turkey (boneless thighs or breast meat)
Chicken (boneless thighs or breast meat)

Fatty Meat

Fat is healthy for your dog because it promotes good coat and skin condition.

Your dog will need some fatty meats but no more than 10% of their diet because these are high in calories which can cause a dog to become overweight, and they have very little minerals and vitamins [2].

An overweight dog can suffer with health issues such as diabetes, pancreatitis and high blood pressure; this is why you do not want to feed your dog too much fatty meats.

Some high fat meats:

Chicken necks with skin
Ground turkey
Ground lamb
Pork belly
Ground beef

Some low fat meats:

Chicken necks with no skin
Chicken breast
Turkey breast
Venison
Lean ground beef

Oily Fish

You can feed your dog whole fish twice a week to provide your dog with omega 3 fatty acids which can help with their skin and coat condition.

Whole fish can make up 5% of their diet.

Good choices for whole fish:

Sardines
Herring
Mackerel

Fruit and Veg

Feeding fruits and veg are entirely up to you. They can add some benefits such as providing antioxidants, microbiome, fibre and prebiotics for a healthy digestive system [1].

Make sure to remove seeds from fruit before feeding to your dog.

You can cook/grind veg before feeding them to your dog to make them more digestible.

Fruit and veg can make up 5% of their diet if you choose to feed these.

Dogs can eat many fruits and veg such as:

leafy greens
Apples (high in fibre, low in fat, vitamins A and C)
Blueberries
Brussel sprouts
Cucumber (high in Vitamins, K, C and B1)
Carrots (beta-carotene and low calories)
Celery (vitamins A, B and C).

Some fruit and veg poisonous to dogs:

Cherries
Onion
Avocado
Grapes
Mushrooms
Tomatoes
Feed banana in moderation (High in potassium, vitamins, fibre and copper)

10% Bones

By giving your dog bones you’ll be providing them with the correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus [3].

You can either give your dog bones with their meal e.g. chicken wings or you can give them a raw meaty bone (marrow bone) 1-3 times per week as a treat. Raw meaty bones can encourage good dental hygiene and are rich in nutrients.

Raw meaty bones should not splinter like cooked bones do but I would always recommend supervising your dog with any bone!

Both dogs and puppies need these two important minerals, which work together, in their diet for bone growth.

Meat is high in phosphorous and low in calcium so a diet that only consists of meat and no bone will cause your dog or puppy to have severe bone, heart and nervous system issues because [2].

Here are some good choices for bones:

Turkey wings, legs or necks
Lamb ribs, spine or neck
Duck wings
Pork ribs and spine
Beef ribs and spine
Chicken thighs, legs, necks or wings
Raw egg with shell

10% Secreting Organs

Secreting organs such as the liver, spleen, lung, testicles, pancreas, kidneys and brain are the most nutrient-rich parts of an animal.

Without them your dog can become deficient in many vitamins such as vitamins B2, B5, B6, B12, vitamin D and Vitamin C.

Secreting organs should be no more than 5-10% of their diet

An important note on liver! Liver has high amounts of vitamin A which can be toxic to dogs and can cause symptoms such as weight loss, diarrhoea and vomiting [2]. So only feed small amounts maybe once or a couple of time a week.

Any other organs that don’t secrete such as the heart, tongue or gizzards should be fed as muscle meat in a raw diet [2].

A Grain-Free Diet

Cut out the carbohydrates!!

Having grains in your dog’s diet can cause them to produce more insulin which leads to obesity and diseases such as diabetes [2].

Grains can also lead to inflammatory health problems and food sensitivities.

Dogs have no need for grains in their diet; they have no benefit and can only cause harm to our furry friends!

How Much Should I Feed?

A guideline is that you can feed your dog between 2% and 3% of their ideal body weight daily as a starting point [3]. You can always adjust if you feel that it is not enough or too much.

So, if your dog weighs 60 pounds then you should feed him between 1.2 – 1.8 pounds of food a day:

60 (body weight in pounds) x 0.02 (2%) = 1.2 pounds food

60 (body weight in pounds) x 0.03 (3%) = 1.8 pounds food

Puppies need more calories and nutrition while they are growing and so they should be fed 2% to 3% of their ideal adult weight daily [3].

So, if your puppy weighs 10 pounds then you should feed him between 0.2 – 0.3 pounds of food a day:

10 (body weight in pounds) x 0.02 (2%) = 0.2 pounds food

10 (body weight in pounds) x 0.03 (3%) = 0.3 pounds food

When your puppy is between four and six months old their adult teeth will start growing which means they need more calcium in their diet so you can give them extra bones at this stage [2].

When To Feed?

I feed Bella once a day but you can break the total daily amount into two meals a day.

I will still always recommend feeding puppies their daily amount over 3 meals a day.

Balance Over Time

Do not worry!

Every meal does not have to be perfectly balanced. As long as your dogs nutritional needs are met over a few days/ a week [3].

Know Your Dog

Pay attention to your dogs poop, keep note whether their stool is loose, normal or constipated.

A dog’s stool can look a lot different when they are raw fed compared to a kibble diet. Your dog may poop less and will be a lot smaller in size. This is because your dog is absorbing more nutrients from its food so less waste is produced, compared to dog food.

Stools may turn out really firm/solid if too much bone is given. If you have fed red meats/organ then their stools may turn out quite dark in colour.