Switching your dog to a raw food diet can feel like a leap of faith. You might be drawn to the idea of natural, species-appropriate nutrition, yet worries about choking hazards from bones or nutritional imbalances can easily creep in. It’s understandable to feel apprehensive when considering such a significant change for your beloved pet. Many dog owners share these concerns when first exploring raw feeding.
The truth is, moving away from processed kibble towards a raw diet is a commendable step towards optimizing your dog’s health. The ingredients in many commercial dog foods often bear little resemblance to natural, whole foods. You’re likely reading this because you’re seeking a better nutritional path for your dog, and raw feeding offers a compelling alternative.
This guide is designed to address your fears and empower you with the knowledge to confidently transition your dog to a safe and nutritionally complete raw food diet. It’s not about dismissing your concerns, but rather providing you with a clear, step-by-step approach grounded in experience and nutritional science.
Here’s why you can trust this guide:
- It’s based on 25 years of experience raising dogs, including breeding and nurturing puppies and senior dogs, on raw diets.
- It acknowledges the common pitfalls of raw feeding and offers practical advice to avoid them.
- It incorporates a foundation of physiological knowledge and insights from a Raw Food Certification Course co-written with Dr. Marion Smart DVM PhD, a respected pet food nutritionist and veterinarian.
- Most importantly, it breaks down the process into 6 straightforward steps, making homemade raw dog food accessible and manageable.
Embarking on this journey to raw feeding demonstrates your dedication to your dog’s well-being. It’s wise to research and understand the process thoroughly before making the switch. A poorly planned raw diet can indeed be detrimental. However, by following the guidelines outlined here, you can confidently create a raw diet that is both safe and beneficial for your dog. Let’s begin with the first crucial step: balancing fat and protein.
Step 1: Master the Fat & Protein Balance
Protein & Fat Rule:
Meat forms the cornerstone of your dog’s raw meals. Source your meat from grocery stores or butchers, aiming for a fat content between 10% and 20%, inclusive of any added oils.
Protein, fat, and carbohydrates are the three macronutrients that fuel your dog’s energy and bodily functions. They are the only sources of calories that provide energy.
Proteins are composed of amino acids, vital not just for energy but also for tissue repair and growth. They are also essential for producing enzymes that drive critical metabolic processes.
Fats are a concentrated energy source, providing more than double the calories per pound compared to protein. While fat intake needs monitoring, it’s an indispensable nutrient. Fats are crucial for cell protection, hormone synthesis, and the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.
Both protein and fat are essential nutrients, meaning a consistent supply is vital for your dog’s survival. Carbohydrates, on the other hand, are not essential; dogs can thrive without them. This doesn’t negate the value of certain carbohydrates. Some, like specific vegetables, can bolster the immune system and potentially reduce the risk of diseases. We’ll revisit carbohydrates later.
The foundation of a raw dog food diet is built upon protein and fat. These should constitute the majority of each meal. It can be as simple as serving ground meat or meat chunks. However, achieving balance is key. Aim for a total fat content of 10% to 20% in the diet, considering fats from meat and any added oils like fish oil. The remaining portion of the meal’s foundation will be protein.
Maintaining fat within this range is crucial for a balanced raw diet. Here’s why:
The Risks of Excessive Fat
Fat is calorie-dense and relatively low in vitamins and minerals. A diet too high in fat, exceeding 20%, can lead to nutrient dilution, where vitamins and minerals are not adequately provided relative to calories. This can result in nutritional deficiencies, especially critical for puppies and senior dogs with higher nutrient needs.
The Impact of Insufficient Fat
Conversely, too little fat, below 10%, can manifest as dry, itchy skin – an early indicator of fat deficiency. Strive to keep fat intake within the 10% to 20% range most of the time.
Here’s a guide to the typical fat percentages in common meats:
Fat Content Of Common Foods
| Food | Fat Percentage |
|---|---|
| Ground beef (90% lean) | 10% |
| Ground beef (80% lean) | 20% |
| Regular ground beef | 30% |
| Beef liver | 4% |
| Ground chicken (skinless) | 8% |
| Chicken necks (with skin) | 25% |
| Chicken leg (with skin) | 16% |
| Ground lamb | 21% |
| Ground turkey (skinless) | 8% |
| Turkey neck (with skin) | 6% |
| Duck (skinless) | 6% |
| Ground pork | 21% |
| Rabbit | 2% |
| Deer | 9% |
| Salmon | 7% |
| Egg | 10% |
Understanding the fat content in common meats for raw dog food diets. This table shows the percentage of fat in various types of meat, helping owners balance fat intake in their dog’s diet.
Step one involves selecting appropriate protein sources, ensuring the fat content remains within the optimal range. However, before finalizing protein choices, consider the essential role of minerals in your dog’s diet. Bone is a prime source of many minerals, necessitating the inclusion of bone-in meats or a suitable bone replacement. Let’s explore this in the next step.
Step 2: Nailing Calcium and Mineral Requirements
Calcium Rule:
Bone should constitute 10% to 15% of your adult dog’s raw food diet. Puppies require a slightly higher amount, between 12% and 15%, to support their growth.
Minerals and trace minerals are vital for your dog’s health. Alongside enzymes from proteins, minerals act as crucial cofactors that drive all metabolic processes. Mineral deficiencies can have severe consequences, potentially leading to debilitating joint conditions, heart problems, seizures, and more.
This might sound alarming, but meeting your dog’s mineral needs is easily achievable through the inclusion of bones in the diet.
Bone is composed of approximately 65% minerals, including phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and crucially, calcium. Calcium and phosphorus work in synergy to support muscle function and regulate various bodily functions. Therefore, a consistent supply of these minerals is essential.
Meat alone, without bone, is rich in phosphorus but contains very little calcium. An all-meat diet lacking calcium would force your dog’s body to draw calcium from its own bones to meet its needs, potentially leading to bone and joint diseases, especially in growing puppies.
Raw feeders incorporate bone into meals to ensure a steady supply of calcium and other vital minerals. In the wild, canines would consume prey animals like deer and rabbits, which naturally contain about 12% bone on average. Even eggs are composed of about 12% shell, another calcium source.
Therefore, bone should make up 10% to 15% of your dog’s total raw diet. Puppies, with their rapid skeletal development and growing teeth, need at least 12% to 15% bone.
PRO TIP:
Always feed raw bones. Cooking bones makes them brittle and prone to splintering, creating sharp edges that can be dangerous.
Raw Dog Food Foundation: Minerals
To maintain the bone content within the 12% to 15% range, incorporate bone-in meats into your dog’s diet. Start by sourcing meaty bones from your butcher or local pet store. It’s important to select bones appropriate for your dog’s size. A small Chihuahua can’t manage a beef rib bone, whereas a large Rottweiler can. Ensure your dog can fully consume the bone to effectively access its minerals.
Avoid bones that can be swallowed whole, as these may not be digestible and could cause intestinal blockages. Opt for bones with multiple joints, such as necks, tails, and feet, and avoid weight-bearing bones, which are dense and can fracture teeth or become lodged in the digestive tract. Meaty bones with numerous small bones and joints are generally the safest choices.
PRO TIP:
Dogs have a natural mechanism for dealing with bones. If a piece is too large to digest, they might regurgitate it for another attempt!
Typical Bone Content For Raw Dog Food
Here’s a breakdown of the bone content in common meaty bones:
Typical Bone Content For Raw Dog Food
| Bone Source (Chicken) | Bone Percentage | Bone Source (Turkey) | Bone Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole chicken | 25% | Whole turkey | 21% |
| Leg quarter | 30% | Thigh | 21% |
| Split breast | 20% | Drumstick | 20% |
| Thigh | 15% | Wing | 37% |
| Drumstick | 30% | Neck | 42% |
| Wing | 45% | Back | 41% |
| Neck | 36% | ||
| Back | 45% | ||
| Feet | 60% |
| Bone Source (Duck) | Bone Percentage | Bone Source (Pork) | Bone Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole duck | 28% | Feet | 30% |
| Neck | 50% | Tails | 30% |
| Feet | 60% | Ribs | 30% |
| Bone Source (Beef) | Bone Percentage | Bone Source (Rabbit) | Bone Percentage | Bone Source (Lamb) | Bone Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ribs | 52% | Whole rabbit (fur) | 10% | Rib | 27% |
| Oxtails | 45% – 65% | Whole rabbit (dressed) | 28% | Shoulder blade | 24% |
| Whole shoulder | 21% |
A guide to the typical bone content percentages in various raw meat options suitable for dogs. This chart helps owners calculate and balance bone intake in homemade raw diets to ensure adequate mineral supply.
Feeding exclusively bone-in meats would result in excessive bone intake. To achieve the desired 10% to 15% bone content, you’ll need to balance bone-in meats with boneless meat. This can be done through estimation or precise calculation.
Calculating Bone Percentage
The simplest method to determine bone content is to know the bone percentage of the foods you’re feeding. For instance, if you feed half a pound of boneless meat and half a pound of chicken necks (36% bone), the overall bone content would be half of 36%, or 18%, which is slightly high. Adjusting the ratio to 2/3 boneless meat and 1/3 chicken necks would bring the bone content closer to 12%, an ideal level.
Another example: Duck feet are 60% bone. Feeding duck feet as half of the diet would result in 30% bone, too much. Reducing duck feet to a quarter of the diet (and the rest boneless meat) would yield 15% bone, which is perfect.
Estimating bone content is generally sufficient, as precision isn’t critical. Slight variations are acceptable, but ensure puppies receive at least 12% bone for optimal calcium intake during growth.
For those who prefer precise calculations, here’s how to determine bone percentage:
How Much Bone in Raw Dog Food?
While exactness isn’t mandatory, those who prefer precise numbers can use these calculations:
Adult dogs: (12 / Bone percentage in food) x 100 = Percentage of diet as bone-in meat
Puppies: (15 / Bone percentage in food) x 100 = Percentage of diet as bone-in meat
Example: Turkey necks are 42% bone. To achieve 12% bone in the diet:
(12 / 42) x 100 = 29%
Approximately 29% (or slightly less than 1/3) of the diet should be turkey necks. This can be implemented by feeding turkey necks every third meal or visually estimating them as about 1/3 of the total food volume. While the math provides a precise figure, slight deviations in calcium intake are generally well-tolerated. The goal is to stay within the 10% to 15% range, especially ensuring at least 12% for puppies.
Calcium Replacements
For dogs unable to consume bones, or those who struggle to chew them, calcium substitutes are available. Eggshell powder is a common choice, but it lacks magnesium, making it less suitable for puppies or diets high in fat (over 10%). Seaweed and coral calcium offer slightly more balanced calcium, but similar limitations apply. Bone meal stands out as the most natural and balanced bone replacement. A recommended dosage is 2 teaspoons of bone meal powder per pound of food for adult dogs. For puppies and pregnant or nursing dogs, consult a detailed calcium table for specific needs.
PRO TIP:
If using a calcium supplement, bone meal is the preferred option due to its natural composition. Administer 2 teaspoons per pound of food for adult dogs.
With protein, fat, and mineral needs addressed in the first two steps, the next crucial aspect is ensuring adequate vitamin intake through organ meats.
Step 3: Incorporating Vital Organ Meats
Organ Meat Rule:
Liver should constitute 10% of the diet, and heart 5%. These organs are essential. Include other organs like kidney, pancreas, spleen, lung, eyes, brain, sweetbread, and green tripe, aiming for an additional 5% to 10% of the diet if tolerated.
In raw feeding, it’s crucial to recognize that not all protein sources are nutritionally equal. Organ meats are nutritional powerhouses, acting as nature’s multivitamins. Obtaining sufficient vitamins and minerals in a raw diet is challenging, if not impossible, without including organ meats. Liver stands out as the most nutrient-dense organ, pound for pound.
The Importance of Liver
Liver should make up about 10% of your dog’s diet. It’s a rich source of essential vitamins like B vitamins and vitamin A, and minerals including copper and folate. A common mistake in raw feeding is only including liver. A variety of organ meats should be incorporated to provide a broader spectrum of nutrients.
Heart: A Taurine Powerhouse
Heart is a significant source of taurine, an essential amino acid, and should be a regular part of a raw diet. Some dogs may not produce enough taurine on their own, making dietary inclusion crucial. Taurine deficiency is linked to heart disease. Aim for heart to comprise about 5% of your dog’s raw diet.
Kidney, Pancreas, Spleen: Beyond Nutrition
Incorporating organ meats goes beyond basic nutritional needs. Glandular therapy suggests that consuming organ meats supports the health of the corresponding organ in the body. For example, pancreas is enzyme-rich. For dogs with pancreatic insufficiency, feeding pancreas can provide needed enzymes. Brain, rich in DHA, supports brain and nerve health, particularly important for puppies.
Kidney, pancreas, and spleen can collectively make up about 5% of the raw diet. If sourcing these organs fresh is difficult, freeze-dried powdered forms are a viable alternative, ensuring they haven’t been damaged by heat processing.
Lung, Brain, Eyes, Sweetbread, Green Tripe: Additional Organ Variety
These additional organ meats can contribute to a more diverse and nutrient-rich diet. Aim for these to comprise another 5% of the diet. If including tripe, prioritize green tripe from grass-fed animals. Tripe from corn-fed animals may be too high in unhealthy omega-6 fatty acids.
Introducing Organ Meats Gradually
Due to their high nutrient density, organ meats can cause digestive upset if introduced too quickly or in large quantities. Start with about 5% of the diet as organs, gradually increasing to 20% if your dog tolerates it well.
Step 4: Balancing Dietary Fats for Optimal Health
Fat Balance Rule:
Aim for 10% to 20% of the diet from fats. However, fat quality is as important as quantity.
Two key aspects of fat quality in a raw dog food diet are saturation and omega fatty acid profile.
Saturated Fat Considerations
Dietary fats are broadly categorized into saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated. Meats contain a mix of all three, predominantly saturated and polyunsaturated fats. In nature, grazing animals and birds consuming grasses and seeds have a different fat profile than farm animals fed grain-based diets.
Grain-fed animals tend to have higher levels of saturated fat compared to grass-fed counterparts. Excessive saturated fat can disrupt the balance of gut flora (microbiome), necessitating moderation in intake.
Minimizing Saturated Fats
To limit saturated fat in a raw diet:
- Prioritize grass-fed meats when possible.
- If grass-fed meats aren’t accessible or affordable, balance beef with poultry. Poultry is naturally higher in polyunsaturated and lower in saturated fat.
- Use leaner meats and supplement with polyunsaturated oils.
- Avoid coconut oil, which is a saturated fat.
Omega Fatty Acid Balance
Polyunsaturated fats include omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, both crucial for immune system regulation and inflammatory response. Omega-6 fats tend to promote inflammation, while omega-3 fats help reduce it.
Similar to saturated fat, grain-based diets in farm animals alter the omega fatty acid profile. Wild animals consuming grasses have a balanced omega-6 to omega-3 ratio, while grain-fed animals have a higher proportion of omega-6 fats. This imbalance, if uncorrected, can lead to chronic inflammation in dogs, a major contributor to chronic diseases.
To balance omega fats in a raw diet:
- Remove poultry skin, as it can contain significantly higher omega-6 fats compared to omega-3s.
- Limit pork intake if it’s not from grass-fed sources due to its high fat content and potential for high omega-6 levels.
- Ensure a mix of poultry and ruminant meats (beef, lamb, goat).
- Incorporate omega-3 fat sources. Excellent options include ahiflower or hemp oil (rich in GLA, a beneficial fat), and green-lipped mussels (a sustainable source of beneficial omega-3s).
PRO TIP:
Rotating protein sources not only helps balance fats and nutrients but can also prevent the development of protein sensitivities and allergies.
Step 5: The Essential Role of Vegetation
Vegetation Rule:
Include fruits and vegetables, aiming for 10% of the diet. Opt for organic produce when feasible. Broccoli, kale, and especially broccoli sprouts are excellent sources of cancer-fighting and anti-inflammatory polyphenols. Blueberries are particularly beneficial for brain health, and cranberries support bladder and kidney function. Most berries are good choices.
Many raw feeders stop at step 4, which is a significant oversight. Research highlights the cancer-reducing benefits of vegetables in both humans and dogs, attributed to their immune-boosting properties.
Fruits and vegetables are rich in polyphenols, bioactive compounds that play a crucial role in health and immune function. Polyphenols aren’t directly digested by dogs. They reach the colon, where they are fermented by beneficial bacteria.
Polyphenols exhibit potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects and are extensively studied for their role in preventing and managing chronic conditions like diabetes, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Their immune benefits largely stem from short-chain fatty acids, byproducts of bacterial fermentation of polyphenols. This underscores the importance of balanced gut flora, reinforcing the significance of step 4.
It’s important to note that polyphenols are exclusively plant-derived, not found in animal sources. While fruits, berries, and vegetables are vital additions to a raw diet, starchy carbohydrates like grains and legumes are not. They can promote undesirable gut bacteria and are linked to chronic inflammation. Similarly, limit high-sugar fruits and prioritize lower-sugar berries.
Step 6: Ensuring Micronutrient Balance
Macronutrient Rule:
Raw diets can be deficient in vitamin D and manganese. Boost vitamin D by including whole raw fish, egg yolks, vitamin D-rich mushrooms, or green-lipped mussels. Green-lipped mussels also enhance manganese levels, as do oysters and shellfish.
Following the first five steps will create a reasonably balanced raw diet. However, for optimal nutrition, addressing potential micronutrient deficiencies is crucial. This final step ensures adequate intake of vitamin D and manganese, two nutrients commonly lacking in raw diets.
Vitamin D Considerations
Dogs cannot synthesize vitamin D from sunlight as humans do, making dietary intake essential. However, many commercially raised food animals may be vitamin D deficient due to indoor housing. Therefore, a reliable vitamin D source should be included in a raw diet.
Avoid vitamin D supplements, as excessive amounts can harm the kidneys. Better food sources of vitamin D for raw dog food diets include:
- Mushrooms: When exposed to sunlight, mushrooms produce vitamin D.
- Egg yolks: Yolks from pastured hens raised outdoors and fed a proper diet are rich in vitamin D. Eggs can be fed several times weekly.
- Mussels: Green-lipped mussels and other mussel species are good sources of vitamin D and can be used as dietary supplements.
- Fatty fish: Salmon, sardines, and mackerel are rich in vitamin D, as is cod liver oil. However, fish sources are less sustainable and may contain heavy metals and pollutants.
Manganese Importance
Manganese is an essential trace mineral that activates key metabolic processes and aids in detoxifying harmful free radicals. Manganese deficiency is relatively common in raw-fed dogs if not consciously addressed. Deficiency can manifest as weakened ligaments and connective tissues, potentially leading to joint issues like cruciate ligament tears. Spinach contains manganese, but mussels, oysters, and shellfish are richer sources.
Raw Food Feeding Guidelines: How Much to Feed
The appropriate amount of raw food varies based on your dog’s life stage, whether puppy or adult.
Raw Food Portions for Adult Dogs
Start by feeding adult dogs approximately 2% to 3% of their ideal adult body weight daily. Adjustments may be needed based on activity level. More active dogs may require slightly larger portions, while less active dogs need less.
The best way to gauge portion size is by palpating your dog’s ribs. You should be able to feel the ribs easily but not see them prominently. This indicates a healthy weight.
General Raw Feeding Guide for Adult Dogs:
| Dog Weight | Daily Raw Food Amount |
|---|---|
| 25 pound dog | 1/2 pound |
| 50 pound dog | 1 pound |
| 100 pound dog | 2 pounds |
Raw Food Portions for Puppies
Puppies require more calories and nutrients per pound compared to adults to support their growth. Feed puppies 2% to 3% of their expected adult weight or about 5% to 10% of their current weight. Puppies also need higher calcium and lower fat percentages than adult dogs. Aim for 15% bone and less than 20% fat in puppy diets.
General Raw Feeding Guide for Puppies:
| Puppy Age | Daily Raw Food Amount (of body weight) |
|---|---|
| 2 to 3 months | 8% to 10% |
| 4 to 5 months | 6% to 8% |
| 6 to 8 months | 4% to 6% |
| 9 to 12 months | 3% to 4% |
FAQ About Feeding Dogs Raw Food
Is raw food actually good for dogs?
Yes, raw food can be very beneficial for dogs, providing natural sources of protein and fats crucial for their health. Raw diets typically include fresh meats and bones, offering a nutrient profile more biologically aligned with dogs’ needs compared to processed dog foods.
Do vets recommend raw diets for dogs?
Veterinary opinions on raw diets vary. Some vets support raw feeding due to its potential health advantages, while others express concerns about bacterial contamination and nutritional imbalances. Consulting a veterinarian knowledgeable in raw feeding is essential to ensure the diet is safe, balanced, and appropriate for your dog’s specific needs. A holistic vet is often a good resource for raw feeding guidance.
References
Mussel Intake and Vitamin D Status in Humans (Mussel). U.S National Library of Medicine. 5, October 2016.
Raghavan M, Knapp D, Bonney P, Dawson MH, Glickman LT. Evaluation of the effect of dietary vegetable consumption on reducing risk of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder in Scottish Terriers. National Library Of Medicine. 1, July 2005.
