COMPLETE AND BALANCED
Fresh foods supply nutrients in their natural form, whole and complete. Processing causes foods to lose much of their nutritional value, which much then be added back in synthetic form (that long list of chemicals at the end of dog food ingredient lists). Just as with our own diets, the best way to ensure that our dogs receive nutrients they need is to feed a wide variety of fresh healthy foods in appropriate proportions.
When you feed a raw diet, it is not necessary that every meal be “complete and balanced”. Just as with our own diets, it’s only important that the diet be balanced over time, with nutritional needs being met over a period of days to weeks. Do not combine a raw diet with grain based kibble.
CALCIUM
It is imperative that all homemade diets provide the right amount of calcium, which is why raw meaty bones should make up 30% to 50% of the total diet. Raw meaty bones are safe for dogs; never feed cooked bones as they can splinter. Bones can be fed in the form of chicken necks, chicken backs, lamb brisket, veal ribs or lamb ribs. Or if you don’t want to feed bones, Purely Pets and Carnivoro raw food all include ground up bone for calcium. Other sources of calcium are canned fish with bones such as jack mackerel, pink salmon and sardines. Be sure to buy packed in spring water without added salt.
HIGH PROTEIN
There is no danger in feeding a high protein diet to puppies or senior dogs. Studies have shown that high protein does not cause orthopedic problems in puppies or kidney disease in older dogs. Protein is highly beneficial: it supports the immune system and central nervous system, contributes to healthy skin and coat and to wound healing, and helps to maintain lean body mass while lowering the percentage of body fat.
OMEGA 3
The best way to add omega 3’s to your dog’s diet is feeding oily fish. Come and have a look at what is available in the shop. Another good option are canned sardines in spring water without added salt. Look for cans that average 100grms net weight. Once opened keep the can in the fridge and use within 2 days so that the fragile fats do not go rancid. Feed twice the recommended amount to puppies and pregnant or lactating females. Avoid sardines packed in soy or any other plant based oil. Or substitute sardines for wild Alaska pink salmon in spring water without added salt.
2.5kg (dog’s weight) ¼ can per week
7kg ½ can per week
12kg ¾ can per week
23kg 1 can per week
45kg 1 ¾ can per week
ORGAN MEAT
Organs are an important part of a raw diet. Liver and kidney in particular are nutrient dense and provide a great deal of nutritional value. Most Purely Pets and Carnivoro products already have organ meat added for your convenience; organ meat needs to make up 5% to 10% of the total diet.
GREEN TRIPE
Green tripe is the unprocessed stomach tissue from ruminants such as cows and sheep. Tripe’s calcium-phosphorus ratio is 1:1, which is considered ideal for dogs. Its overall pH is slightly acidic, which aids digestion. Tripe contains essential fatty acids as well as magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, B, C, D and E. All dogs, but especially puppies need tripe in their diet. Tripe can make up 30% of the total diet. The only negative is the smell!
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Eggs are an excellent source of nutrition; they can be fed raw or cooked. The question that often comes up about eggs has to do with the avidin in raw egg whites causing a biotin deficiency, but there is no need to worry. Egg yolks contain biotin, which balances out the avidin in the egg whites when you feed whole eggs. Cooking however deactivates avidin and may make egg whites more digestible.
Yoghurt (unsweetened), kefir and cottage cheese are well tolerated by most dogs and offer good nutritional value. Yoghurt and kefir have the added advantage of providing beneficial bacteria (probiotics).
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Fruit and vegetables provide some nutritional value; especially trace minerals and phytonutrients from leafy green vegetables. If you feed veggies they need to be well cooked or pureed in a food processor, juicer or blender. Include carrots, broccoli, pumpkin, kumara, cauliflower and parsnip. Fruits fed need to be ripe and can include apple, mango, berries, banana, apricot and melon. Do need feed grapes or raisins as they can cause kidney damage.
AMOUNTS TO FEED
As a general rule of thumb dogs will eat 2% of their body weight in fresh foods daily.
If your dog needs to lose weight go down to 1%.
If your dog is very active feed 3%.
Puppies can have 5% to 10% of their body weight in fresh foods daily.
TREATS
Boiled oxheart is a great inexpensive treat that is easy to handle. Boil cubes of ox-heart for ½ hour with a pinch of sea salt, cut up in little pieces and freeze, take out when needed.
Blakes Bikkits are another easy to use treat, available from the Dogease shop.
Cheese is also good but messy in warm weather!
Zeal Chew treats for keeping your dog busy at home are available from the Dogease shop in lots of different flavors, come and have a look!
SCAVENGING
Dogs are scavengers, and as such are well equipped to cope with a lot of bacteria. If your dog has eaten something that upsets it, the digestive system will try to move it out as soon as possible and then we have diarrhea. If your dog is alert, drinking and still wants to eat, there is no need for antibiotics which are overused on dogs. Antibiotics are not harmless as they strip the gut from beneficial bacteria that in some cases cannot be replaced.
The best home remedy for diarrhea is Pure South Detox Clay. Available from www.holisticdog.co.nz, please make sure it is part of your home remedy kit. See: http://www.thepetalternative.com/dog-diarrhea.html for dosage instructions.
Fresh foods supply nutrients in their natural form, whole and complete. Processing causes foods to lose much of their nutritional value, which much then be added back in synthetic form (that long list of chemicals at the end of dog food ingredient lists). Just as with our own diets, the best way to ensure that our dogs receive nutrients they need is to feed a wide variety of fresh healthy foods in appropriate proportions.
When you feed a raw diet, it is not necessary that every meal be “complete and balanced”. Just as with our own diets, it’s only important that the diet be balanced over time, with nutritional needs being met over a period of days to weeks. Do not combine a raw diet with grain based kibble.
CALCIUM
It is imperative that all homemade diets provide the right amount of calcium, which is why raw meaty bones should make up 30% to 50% of the total diet. Raw meaty bones are safe for dogs; never feed cooked bones as they can splinter. Bones can be fed in the form of chicken necks, chicken backs, lamb brisket, veal ribs or lamb ribs. Or if you don’t want to feed bones, Purely Pets and Carnivoro raw food all include ground up bone for calcium. Other sources of calcium are canned fish with bones such as jack mackerel, pink salmon and sardines. Be sure to buy packed in spring water without added salt.
HIGH PROTEIN
There is no danger in feeding a high protein diet to puppies or senior dogs. Studies have shown that high protein does not cause orthopedic problems in puppies or kidney disease in older dogs. Protein is highly beneficial: it supports the immune system and central nervous system, contributes to healthy skin and coat and to wound healing, and helps to maintain lean body mass while lowering the percentage of body fat.
OMEGA 3
The best way to add omega 3’s to your dog’s diet is feeding oily fish. Come and have a look at what is available in the shop. Another good option are canned sardines in spring water without added salt. Look for cans that average 100grms net weight. Once opened keep the can in the fridge and use within 2 days so that the fragile fats do not go rancid. Feed twice the recommended amount to puppies and pregnant or lactating females. Avoid sardines packed in soy or any other plant based oil. Or substitute sardines for wild Alaska pink salmon in spring water without added salt.
2.5kg (dog’s weight) ¼ can per week
7kg ½ can per week
12kg ¾ can per week
23kg 1 can per week
45kg 1 ¾ can per week
ORGAN MEAT
Organs are an important part of a raw diet. Liver and kidney in particular are nutrient dense and provide a great deal of nutritional value. Most Purely Pets and Carnivoro products already have organ meat added for your convenience; organ meat needs to make up 5% to 10% of the total diet.
GREEN TRIPE
Green tripe is the unprocessed stomach tissue from ruminants such as cows and sheep. Tripe’s calcium-phosphorus ratio is 1:1, which is considered ideal for dogs. Its overall pH is slightly acidic, which aids digestion. Tripe contains essential fatty acids as well as magnesium, potassium, and vitamins A, B, C, D and E. All dogs, but especially puppies need tripe in their diet. Tripe can make up 30% of the total diet. The only negative is the smell!
DAIRY PRODUCTS
Eggs are an excellent source of nutrition; they can be fed raw or cooked. The question that often comes up about eggs has to do with the avidin in raw egg whites causing a biotin deficiency, but there is no need to worry. Egg yolks contain biotin, which balances out the avidin in the egg whites when you feed whole eggs. Cooking however deactivates avidin and may make egg whites more digestible.
Yoghurt (unsweetened), kefir and cottage cheese are well tolerated by most dogs and offer good nutritional value. Yoghurt and kefir have the added advantage of providing beneficial bacteria (probiotics).
FRUIT AND VEGETABLES
Fruit and vegetables provide some nutritional value; especially trace minerals and phytonutrients from leafy green vegetables. If you feed veggies they need to be well cooked or pureed in a food processor, juicer or blender. Include carrots, broccoli, pumpkin, kumara, cauliflower and parsnip. Fruits fed need to be ripe and can include apple, mango, berries, banana, apricot and melon. Do need feed grapes or raisins as they can cause kidney damage.
AMOUNTS TO FEED
As a general rule of thumb dogs will eat 2% of their body weight in fresh foods daily.
If your dog needs to lose weight go down to 1%.
If your dog is very active feed 3%.
Puppies can have 5% to 10% of their body weight in fresh foods daily.
TREATS
Boiled oxheart is a great inexpensive treat that is easy to handle. Boil cubes of ox-heart for ½ hour with a pinch of sea salt, cut up in little pieces and freeze, take out when needed.
Blakes Bikkits are another easy to use treat, available from the Dogease shop.
Cheese is also good but messy in warm weather!
Zeal Chew treats for keeping your dog busy at home are available from the Dogease shop in lots of different flavors, come and have a look!
SCAVENGING
Dogs are scavengers, and as such are well equipped to cope with a lot of bacteria. If your dog has eaten something that upsets it, the digestive system will try to move it out as soon as possible and then we have diarrhea. If your dog is alert, drinking and still wants to eat, there is no need for antibiotics which are overused on dogs. Antibiotics are not harmless as they strip the gut from beneficial bacteria that in some cases cannot be replaced.
The best home remedy for diarrhea is Pure South Detox Clay. Available from www.holisticdog.co.nz, please make sure it is part of your home remedy kit. See: http://www.thepetalternative.com/dog-diarrhea.html for dosage instructions.