Switching your dog to a raw food diet can be a significant step towards improving their overall health and well-being. If you’re considering making the switch to raw, this guide will walk you through the essential steps to ensure a safe, balanced, and nutritious diet for your canine companion.
Raw feeding can be daunting, but by following these guidelines, you can confidently provide your dog with a biologically appropriate diet that supports their optimal health.
Step 1: Balancing Fat and Protein
Protein & Fat Rule: The cornerstone of your dog’s meal is meat. Aim for a fat content between 10% and 20%, including any added oils.
Protein and fat are the primary energy sources for dogs. Protein, composed of amino acids, is crucial for tissue repair, enzyme production, and various metabolic processes. Fat is a concentrated energy source, providing more than double the calories per pound compared to protein. While carbohydrates aren’t essential, certain types can offer immune-boosting benefits.
The foundation of a raw food diet consists of protein and fat. However, balance is key. A diet with 10% to 20% fat (including supplements like fish oil) will provide the necessary energy without compromising nutrient absorption.
The Consequences of Imbalance
Too much fat (over 20%) can dilute the vitamin and mineral content, leading to nutritional deficiencies, especially in puppies and senior dogs. Too little fat (below 10%) can result in dry, itchy skin and other deficiency symptoms.
Here’s a reference list of the typical fat percentages found in common food:
- 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%
Step 2: Calcium and Mineral Requirements
Calcium Rule: 10% to 15% of your dog’s raw food diet should be bone. Puppies require at least 12% and up to 15%.
Minerals are vital for various bodily functions, acting as cofactors for metabolic processes alongside enzymes from proteins. Bones are an excellent source of minerals, particularly calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and zinc. Calcium and phosphorus work together to support muscle movement and overall body function.
A diet lacking sufficient calcium can lead to the body drawing calcium from bones, potentially causing bone and joint diseases, especially in growing puppies.
Ensuring Adequate Bone Content
In the wild, canids consume whole prey, which naturally contains around 12% bone. Therefore, incorporating bone into your dog’s raw diet is crucial. Aim for 10% to 15% bone content, with puppies needing at least 12% to 15% to support skeletal development.
It’s crucial to feed raw bones. Cooking bones can dry them out, creating sharp edges that can be dangerous.
Choose bones appropriate for your dog’s size. A small dog cannot chew through a large beef bone. Also, avoid bones that can be swallowed whole, as they may cause digestive issues. Meaty bones with joints, such as necks, tails, and feet, are generally safer. Avoid weight-bearing bones as they can break teeth or get stuck in the digestive tract.
Here are the typical bone content percentages for common meaty bones:
- Chicken:
- Whole chicken (excluding head and feet): 25%
- Leg quarter: 30%
- Split breast: 20%
- Thigh: 15%
- Drumstick: 30%
- Wing: 45%
- Neck: 36%
- Back: 45%
- Feet: 60%
- Turkey:
- Whole turkey: 21%
- Thigh: 21%
- Drumstick: 20%
- Wing: 37%
- Neck: 42%
- Back: 41%
- Duck:
- Whole: 28%
- Neck: 50%
- Feet: 60%
- Pork:
- Feet: 30%
- Tails: 30%
- Ribs: 30%
- Beef:
- Ribs: 52%
- Oxtails: 45% to 65% (higher percentage as the tail thins)
- Rabbit:
- Whole rabbit (fur and all): 10%
- Whole rabbit (dressed): 28%
- Lamb:
- Rib: 27%
- Shoulder blade: 24%
- Whole shoulder: 21%
Calculating Bone Content
Determine the percentage of bone in the foods you feed. For example, if you feed half a pound of meat and half a pound of chicken necks (36% bone), the diet contains 18% bone, a bit high. Adjust the ratio to 2/3 meat and 1/3 chicken necks to achieve approximately 12% bone.
If precise calculations are preferred, use the following formulas:
- Adult dogs: 12 / Percentage in food = % of diet
- Puppies: 15 / Percentage in food = % of diet
Calcium Replacements
For dogs unable to consume bones, consider bone meal, as it is the most natural replacement for bone. Administer 2 teaspoons per pound of food for adult dogs. For puppies and pregnant/nursing mothers, consult a veterinarian.
Step 3: Incorporating Organ Meats
Organ Meat Rule: Liver should comprise 10% of the diet, and heart should be 5%. Other beneficial organs include kidney, pancreas, spleen, lung, eyes, brain, sweetbread, and green tripe, potentially adding up to 5% to 10% of the diet if tolerated.
Organ meats are a powerhouse of vitamins and minerals. Liver is particularly rich in vitamins B and C, copper, and folate.
The Importance of Variety
Don’t limit yourself to just liver. Include heart as a source of taurine, an essential amino acid that supports heart health. Other organs like kidney, pancreas, and spleen offer unique nutrients and support corresponding organs through glandular therapy. Brain, rich in DHA, is beneficial for brain and nerve health, especially in puppies. Green tripe, ideally from grass-fed animals, provides additional nutrients, but avoid tripe from corn-fed animals due to the high omega-6 fat content.
Introducing Organ Meats
Start with 5% of the diet as organs and gradually increase to 20% as tolerated, to avoid digestive upset.
Step 4: Balancing Fats
Fat Balance Rule: Aim for fats to be 10% to 20% of your dog’s diet. But not all fats are created equal!
Consider two key properties of fats: saturation and omega family.
Saturated Fat
Limit saturated fat intake, as excessive amounts can disrupt the gut microbiome. Source grass-fed animals when possible, mix beef and poultry (poultry is lower in saturated fat), and avoid coconut oil.
Omega Fats
Balance omega-6 and omega-3 fats. Grain-fed animals have a higher omega-6 content, which can cause chronic inflammation. Trim the skin off poultry, avoid non-grass-fed pork, and include both poultry and ruminants in the diet. Supplement with omega-3 sources like ahiflower, hemp (rich in GLA), or green-lipped mussels.
Step 5: Adding Vegetation
Vegetation Rule: Add fruits and vegetables as 10% of the diet and choose organic if you can afford it.
Fruits and vegetables provide polyphenols, which are bioactive substances with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They support immune function through short-chain fatty acids produced during fermentation in the colon. Broccoli, kale, and broccoli sprouts are excellent sources of cancer-fighting compounds. Blueberries benefit the brain and nervous system, while cranberries support bladder and kidney health.
Avoid starchy carbohydrates like grains and legumes, as they can promote inflammation. Also, avoid high-sugar fruits.
Step 6: Final Balancing
Macronutrients Rule: Many raw diets are deficient in Vitamin D and Manganese.
Address potential micronutrient deficiencies, particularly Vitamin D and Manganese.
Vitamin D
Supplement with whole raw fish, egg yolks from pastured hens, Vitamin D-rich mushrooms, or green-lipped mussels. Avoid Vitamin D supplements to prevent toxicity.
Manganese
Include mussels, oysters, or shellfish, as well as spinach, to ensure sufficient manganese intake. Manganese deficiency can lead to weakened ligaments and joint issues.
How Much Raw Food to Feed
The amount of raw food to feed depends on the dog’s life stage.
Adult Dogs
Feed approximately 2% to 3% of the dog’s ideal adult weight daily. Adjust based on activity level. Monitor the dog’s body condition by feeling the ribs; they should be palpable but not visible.
Here is a rough guide to get started:
- 25 pound dog: 1/2 pound daily
- 50 pound dog: 1 pound daily
- 100 pound dog: 2 pounds daily
Puppies
Feed puppies 2% to 3% of their expected adult weight, or approximately 5% to 10% of their current weight. Ensure a higher calcium intake (15% bone) and lower fat intake (under 20%).
Here’s a general meal plan guide:
- Puppies 2 to 3 months: 8% to 10% of body weight daily
- Puppies 4 to 5 months: 6% to 8% of body weight daily
- Puppies 6 to 8 months: 4% to 6% of body weight daily
- Puppies 9 to 12 months: 3% to 4% of body weight daily
FAQ
Is raw food actually good for dogs?
Yes, raw food diets can offer significant benefits for dogs, providing natural sources of essential proteins and fats. Raw diets, including fresh meats and bones, can offer a more biologically appropriate nutrient profile.
Do vets recommend raw diet for dogs?
Some veterinarians support raw diets for their potential health benefits, while others have concerns about bacterial contamination and nutritional imbalances. It’s best to consult a holistic veterinarian who is experienced in raw feeding.
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.
