My life is dedicated to helping dogs while remaining compassionate to the wide variety of dog owners.
Note: My ebook with 10 raw dog food recipes and a guide to raw feeding is now available. The cost is $9.
I have been feeding my mutt Ace a commercial raw dog food from a company called Stella & Chewy’s. This is the most convenient way to feed a dog raw food. All I do is de-frost the raw chicken patties over night and toss the food in his bowl at mealtimes. It’s almost as easy as feeding dry dog food.
Of course, the main downside to feeding commercial raw dog food is the price. Ace is a 67-pound black lab/hound mix. A 6-pound bag of raw food from Stella & Chewy’s is roughly $27 and will last my dog just four days. It costs about $200 to feed him Stella & Chewy’s for one month. $$$$!
Most of us do not have $200 in our monthly budgets for dog food. That’s the equivalent or more of feeding an extra person.
If you still want to feed your dog raw, you can save money if you buy all the ingredients yourself. These ingredients would be foods like raw beef or raw chicken meat, raw organs like hearts, raw bones and raw veggies.
You can buy most of these ingredients at your local grocery store or butcher. Look for meat that is higher in fat. This meat is cheaper and considered lower-quality meat for humans, but most dogs need the extra fat in their diets. You can likely save even more if you know any local ranchers, farmers or hunters. Deer meat and guts are perfect for dogs!
The added benefit of buying your own raw dog food ingredients is that you will know exactly what your dog is eating.
The drawback, of course, is time and making sure the meals are generally balanced.
How much raw dog food should I feed my dog?
The general rule of thumb is to feed your dog 2 percent of his body weight. This is just a general rule of thumb. Some dogs will only require 1 percent while others may need 3 percent.
Here’s a simple equation you can use to find out how much to feed your dog in ounces:
(Your dog’s weight in pounds) x 16 = your dog’s weight in ounces.
(Your dog’s weight in ounces) x .02 = roughly the amount of food your dog should eat in ounces per day. (16 ounces equals 1 pound)
According to the above example, my 67 pound dog should be eating 21.44 ounces of food per day. I feed him a bit more (24 ounces per day) since he is naturally lean and burns a lot of calories. You also want to factor in the treats you feed your dog. Ace barely gets any treats because I am a mean dog mom.
It doesn’t have to be complicated. If your dog is underweight, feed him a bit more. If he’s fat, feed him less.
I asked some readers and friends of mine to share some of their raw dog food “recipes.” For more ideas, see my ebook “10 Easy Raw Dog Food Recipes.”
Examples of homemade raw dog food recipes
These raw dog food recipes are not necessarily 100 percent balanced or meant to be fed every day. They are not necessarily recommended by a veterinarian. They are not necessarily right for your particular dog. These are just some real examples of real raw meals real dog owners have fed their dogs.
If you feed your dog raw, please share some examples of meals you feed your dog. It would be extra helpful if you could also tell us the weight, breed and activity level of your dog and where you buy the ingredients.
This following recipe is from Ace’s friend Biggie. Make sure to check out Biggie’s helpful posts on raw dog food:
Raw meat/veggie mix
This is for a 100-pound Kuvasz, twice per day:
1/4 C. plain yogurt
1/4 -1/2 C. chopped or ground veggies (carrots, leafy greens, apples, broccoli or peas)
A skinned chicken leg quarter with bone (chicken leg, thigh and some of the back, which usually weighs about 1 lb)
If the meat does not have a lot of bone, sometimes Biggie’s owners will add a calcium tablet.
Here’s another easy raw food recipe from a friend of mine:
Raw beef/organ/veggie mix
This is for an active springer/pointer mix:
2 C. raw ground beef or chicken (from local meat shop)
1 C. organ meat (from grocery store)
1 C. vegetables/fruit
Rotate the kinds of organ meat and veggies you use. Blend the organ meat and veggies and mix with the already ground meat. Add an egg if desired.
The example below is from a blogger and trainer over at Poodle and Pitbull:
Raw beef stuffed in Kongs
This method is intended to keep the dogs (a standard poodle and a pitbull) occupied while their owner goes to work. It’s as easy as it sounds. Simply stuff several Kong toys with raw meat. Then freeze and serve.
In this case, each dog gets 2 to 3 frozen Kongs per day. The Kongs are typically filled with raw ground beef from Hare Today, a farm located in Pennsylvania that grinds, cuts and packages whole animals.
In addition to the Kongs, a large portion of their daily food intake also comes from treats. Their owner typically follows the breakdown of 80 percent meat, 5 percent liver, 5 percent other organs and 10 percent edible bone. Vegetables are sometimes fed as treats.
The next recipe is from a reader and her dog with special dietary needs. Pumpkin paws are not intended as a meal for most dogs, but they make a great treat. Read more about dog health here.
Pumpkin paws
Small amount of any raw meat (optional)
Small amount of spinach, chopped carrots or broccoli (optional)
2 C. water
1 large can of pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 small can of tomato puree
9-ounce paper cups
If using meat, make sure it is finely chopped or ground. Otherwise, put it in a food processor with the water to make a soup. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Put a very generous tablespoon in each paper cup. Freeze and serve. You probably want to serve outside!
Follow this link for more raw dog food recipes!
Some reminders about feeding raw dog food:
Remember to freeze all pork meat and pork bones for three weeks to kill potential parasites. Also, remember that some fruits and vegetables are not good for dogs such as grapes, onions and avocados. And never give your dog cooked bones or sharp raw bones.
If you are going to make your dog’s raw food yourself, I highly recommend making at least a week’s worth at a time and storing it in your freezer. For more information on making your dog’s meals, see my post on how to feed your dog raw food.
Update on feeding my dog raw food – day 39
Note: This is week six of a 12-week raw food trial for my dog Ace. Stella & Chewy’s is sponsoring this trial by providing Ace with 90 days worth of pre-prepared raw food.
All the above recipes sound easy, right? I think so. It’s just a matter of buying the food ahead of time and planning ahead. I am thinking about feeding Ace homemade raw dog food for one meal and commercial raw dog food for the second meal until I feel more comfortable making his food myself.
Ace was on antibiotics to treat pneumonia during the second week of this raw food trial, so that interrupted our raw feeding plan. I switched him back to dry food while he was on antibiotics in order to determine the cause of his upset stomach. As I suspected, it was the antibiotics. He’s back to normal now, eating 100 percent raw and doing great!
Ace started eating raw food again on Monday. So I guess you could say today is really day 6 of his raw food trial all over again.
Gradual switch vs. quick switch
Back in the beginning of March when I first introduced Ace to raw food, I gradually switched him from dry dog food to raw dog food by mixing the two together over eight days. Since he had no trouble adjusting to the raw food during the gradual switch, I went ahead and switched his food with no transition this time. He’s doing awesome!
After the pneumonia scare and our weekend trip to the doggy ER a few weeks ago, I am a bit nervous about feeding Ace raw food again. He got sick on day 10 of this raw food trial, so I will be glad when we pass the 10-day point this time around. I realize pneumonia is not caused by diet, but there’s always that chance that something else was wrong. I’m just a worrier.
Friends and family who are skeptical of raw dog food
This is just a small annoyance, but there are people who are obviously opposed to Ace eating raw food. I have to just brush their opinions aside and worry about myself. I wanted to mention this because it’s something you will likely come across if you switch your dog to a raw diet. I don’t waste time trying to explain the diet to certain friends and family members. I know what’s best for me and my dog. They can feed their dogs what they want.
So, after just six days of 100 percent raw food, here are some updates on how Ace is doing:
Ear infections
Unfortunately Ace has been shaking his head around lately as though he has an ear infection. He gets about two ear infections a year so I haven’t been overly concerned about food allergies or environmental allergies. This is just something we deal with every six months or so. It may or may not be related to his diet.
Itchy skin/dandruff
Ace seems to be scratching a lot less and he has no visible dandruff. It has also been much warmer (until yesterday when it snowed!).We haven’t been running our heater or fireplace at all. I do still notice Ace chewing and licking his feet a lot, and licking, you know, there.
Teeth
I don’t expect to notice a difference in Ace’s teeth, and so far they do not appear any whiter. No surprise there.
Shedding
I don’t notice a difference in the amount of shedding, either.
Less poop!
I know this is more information than you want to hear, but Ace’s poop is tiny and hard – just what I like to see! He has no more diarrhea, which was caused by the antibiotics.
My dog is always thirsty
Once again, Ace is not as obsessive about water while eating raw food. I credit this to the higher moisture content in his food. He does seem to be burping and throwing up more often, though, similar to what happens when he does drink too much water at once. It’s usually water with some food substance that he throws up (not bile or foam), and it happens when he gets too excited.
Weight
Ace is a healthy 67.4 pounds. He hasn’t lost or gained any weight, although his weight fluctuated a bit while he had pneumonia.
Gray hair
I’m not expecting to see a change here. If anything, he has gotten more gray hair since starting the raw food. I guess this is just a natural part of aging – my boy is getting old! I can see more gray hair on his feet and legs now, probably because I’m actually looking for it.
Energy
My dog definitely has less energy than a year ago. He doesn’t go running with me very often anymore. We stick to walking. I haven’t noticed much of a change in his energy since he’s been eating raw. He is naturally a low- to medium-energy dog (unless you bring out a tennis ball or take him to agility practice). Plus, at 5 years old, he’s well into middle age for a dog his size.
Let me know if you have fed your dog homemade raw dog food. Please share some examples of raw dog food “recipes” you have used.
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I have been feeding my 14 1/2 yr old Bichon, Angie, a raw diet for about 9 months. She stopped begging for “people food” after 2 days and she has stopped licking her forepaw raw. She loves her meat – even though she still sits in front of her dish to reconnoiter and decide how to attack it all – which takes her about 10-60 mins depending on her nightly menu – soft vs. boney. For beginners, I would recommend “Raw Dog Food” by Carina Beth MacDonald. It is an easy, funny read and very down-to-earth. When we finally need to get a new puppy, it will be raw all the way from the beginning – naysayers be D____d – vets included!!! Good luck everyone.
I tried a raw food meal for my 1.5 yr old 150+ lb lab-rottweiler mix tonight; he sniffed it a couple times and wouldn’t even try a single lick for a taste. I used raw turkey, raw chicken gizzards and hears using one of the ratios mentioned above. I pureed some cabbage, squash, green beans and radicchio before mixing it with the meat at approx. a 50/50 ratio. I made a patty and put it in his dish and could hardly get him to sniff it.
Up to this time we have used a ‘higher quality’ kibble style food with no fillers (corn, soy, wheat) and is composed of only lamb and rice or chicken and rice depending on which flavor we pick up.
I thought for sure he would go crazy over the raw food meal like the stew bone we gave him earlier tonight. He ran around outside in the snow tossing the bone around and pouncing on it for a couple of bites in between like it was Christmas.
Is there anyone who has had a dog refuse a raw food diet?! I don’t know what to try next and would love to hear some ideas.
And thank you so much for this site, it gave me the info I needed to give this a try, even our pup isn’t going for it just yet..
The liver can go bad much quicker than the meat. That could be another reason why he wouldn’t eat it. My dog refused one time. I made him a new dish without the liver and he ate it. I would also agree about the cabbage and radicchio. Maybe try squash, green beans, broccoli and carrots. I would up the ratio to a minimum of 60% meat and as high as 70%.
One last suggestion is to add a tablespoon of yogurt to the mix. Dog’s seem to love yogurt and the probiotics are good for their tummy.
I realize this defeats the entire purpose of raw, but you could try cooking the food and gradually transitioning to raw. My Siberian Husky was diagnosed with IBD late last year. Her system can no longer tolerate kibble, even the expensive perscrition foods. I decided to start cooking all of her food myself. She LOVES it. We can’t go raw because of her weakened GI tract (she can’t fight off the bacteria a healthy dog can). At least with cooked you know what is going into the food and that your dog is still receiving a healthy diet. Once he is into the cooked diet maybe try slowing phasing out cooked for raw. As for veggies steamed carrots, sweet potato and pureed pumpkin are quite popular. Both of my dogs also really love fish oil. Smells very fishy, but they seem to love it and it makes their coats super soft. I just poke a hole in one capsule and squeeze the oil into their food. Good luck! It’s a ton of work, but very worth it.
In the book I cited, it says that keep putting it in front of them – they will not go hungry…. Angie did that a little in the beginning if something was cut up just so or she deemed it not worthy. But, eventually, she ate it.
Have you tried mixing the raw meat/veggies with a can of his wet food? This could help with the transition. I have a 90 pound labs that is on a raw diet. His favorites seem to be carrots, beans (lentils, black, soy), brown rice, Greek yogurt, and eggs. Keep us posted!! I’m interested in seeing what works for your pup! My other lab has zero allergies and her coat is great, so we are waiting until her last batch of kibble is gone before she makes the switch. She is insanely picky!! I’m a little worried about her transition.
Good luck!!
I too gave my dog the most expensive high quality kibble dry food. I was only turned to this raw food meal by my new holistic vet after facing many health problems for my buddy – Buddy. From the handout he gave me, it states you should try mixing his favorite kibble with egg and milk. Then slowly add more raw food while removing the kibbles. So instead of 50-50 raw to kibble, try 10-90 so he barely notices it. Buddy will eat rocks if I put it in his bowl so this wasn’t an issue for me. Buddy just started this raw food deal so he’s at 50-50 right now but I’m hoping I can up to 90-10 by next month. And hopefully 100% by next months end. Good luck.
Could you give me the name of your vet? My dog is so sick.
Your dog might be unsure of the gizzards and hearts or maybe the radicchio.
Maybe try simplifying it at first and just start with the raw meat. If he eats that, then add the vegetables.
He might not want to eat the vegetables if they’re raw and radicchio is very bitter so that may also be an unappealing smell to him. You may want to try blanching the cabbage in a little water or chicken stock and cooking the squash as well. My dog won’t eat raw lettuce or spinach so I mix those with a little cottage cheese, egg or whole milk yogurt but all his other vegetables get cooked (he loves cucumbers and yellow bell peppers but he only gets a few of those when I’m chopping some for a salad). My dog doesn’t like green beans but I think it’s more the texture he doesn’t care for, I never tried pureeing them for him.
Also, make sure the organ meats are very fresh. They should not smell like much of anything. Any off odor and they might be bad (I don’t really know how to describe the proper odor but it should just smell like fresh blood I guess). If I use livers for more than 3 days and I forget, my dog lets me know and will turn his nose up at his food.
Good Luck!
I think the pureed cabbage and radicchio likely put him off, as their smell, especially pureed, would be overpowering to the pup. And the ratio is off, based on everything I’ve read. The mix should be 4 parts meaty bones (chicken, turkey and duck necks, hacked into pieces), 2 parts innards and muscle meat (chopped) and 1 part vegetables, chopped. A three-month batch for my small dog is about 12 pounds meaty bones, 6 pounds muscle meat and innards and 3 pound seasonal vegetables and Italian parsley, with about 2 ounces of dried seaweed for minerals.
Most dogs like broccoli, carrots, sweet potatoes, green beans, zucchini, pumpkin and other winter squashes when they are chopped and combined with meat.
I have 3 dogs, a cavalier king charles spaniel 5 years, american staffordshire 7 months and 4 months old english staffordshire bullterrier. I used to mix can food with a dry food for my oldest dog, but he was overweight, so i have switched for cooked chicken breast n mixing with dry food, but somebody told me that by cooking meat its loosing its nutrients, so i did my research on raw food n also asked around. My friend in Europe owns a big farm where he breeds pitbulls and argentinian dogues. He told me to give them plain raw meat as it is, either chicken or beef plus some vitamins. His dogs have lots of exercise and r very lean. In our local pet store (Lake Worth, Florida) i found an organic brand named Mother’s natures recipes, from a farm based in Florida. Its around 30$ for 4lb./64 small patties.im giving each dog 2 patties mixed with a holistic dry food blue buffalo, but i’d like to switch to all raw diet, but with 3 dogs it would b over 500$/month, so im looking for a home made recipe to be able to feed them raw food only. I also heard that raw meat should be frozen for dogs, and just defrost slowly in the fridge prior to serving, because of the bacteria in it which when the same meat would be served to humans would be destroyed during cooking. So, im going to try the recipes from here and freeze it first and then serve it the next day same how i do it with those patties from the shop. Will see how my dogs like it
i also add a salmon oil and some seaweed,flax seeds etc vitamin mix in my dogs food every day.
I usually freeze the meat before giving it to my dog, but not because I am concerned about bacteria. There is always going to be bacteria on raw meat, and dogs can generally handle it, unless they have a weakened immune system or something like that. I only freeze the meat for storage reasons.
I understand, though, that you would be worried. I worry, too! I have gotten over my fear of bacteria, though. My dog has been just fine
Im just going to make a big amount of it and freeze it, with 3 dogs its not gonna last too long anyway
i know that dogs have an acidic stomach, so the normal bacteria can’t hurt them, more i research more confident i am, that the raw diet is the way to go.
But still need to find a cheaper, good quality place where to buy the meat from, because walmart or publix isn’t probably the best way too go… Both quality and financially. I haven’t seen many butchers here in Lake Worth area, south Florida.
And it’s always best to do what makes you feel the most comfortable! Good for you for trying this!
https://sites.google.com/site/montanaraven/samshealthwiserawfoodcakes
This one sounds little bit complicated, but also the most complex of the all recipes i found so far… I think, i will put the meat into the pattie mixture before freezing.
I have fed my two (male 4 yr old large 20lb average active miniature schnauzer and 2 yr old 65lb very active female pitbull) Raw food for a year. My schnauzer was having UTI issues and that’s how I ran across the raw food diet over the Internet. He hasn’t had an issue since. For the most part they get ground meats mixed with blended veggies (broc, blueberries, spinach, carrots, sweet potato, and pumpkin, squash, green beans, peas, apples, strawberries and I rotate them out) organ meats as well as green tripe when I can find it. Chicken bones, turkey necks, and occationally beef rib bones on a sunny day they can chomp it outside. Yogurt, cottage cheese, tuna, salmon, and oatmeal once in a while as a meal replacement. I do put their food in kongs once in a while and freeze it hard and let them eat it outside for mental stimulation and to get them out of my hair for a few hours. (My pit is an aggressive chewer, she ate through a black extreme kong that was for her weight according to the sizing chart…so I replaced it with the biggest they make) on average the male gets about 10 oz of meat and organ, then a cup of the veggies and other things. The pit get about 3 lbs of meat and mix as well as about a lb of meaty bones. I have a really hard time keeping her at 65 lb because she is so active.
I lhave 3sm dogs and Iwould like to feed raw and reciets
Please check out earthclinic.com for remedies for your pets (ear infections ,dry skin,kennel cough etc. ) You can cure ear infections with organic apple cider vinegar ,and get rid of itchy dry skin by giving your dog a tsp. -tbs. of organic virgin coconut oil-good for shrinking tumors too and gets rid of bad breath. Please do yourselves a favor and always check earthclinic before making a vet appt. ,save time & money as well as improve your pets health naturally ,at least less anti-biotics. has people section tooo
17 years ago I adopted 7 month old chow chow cattle dog cross. Her skin was in awful condition. She was so itchy and had chewed all the fur off her belly and hind quarters. Different vets posed theories, flea allergies, allergic dermatitis etc. etc. The only solution offered was steroids. It is a well known fact that long term use of steroids can cause negative health affects. I was desperate to find another avenue. Pre Internet this involved reading every book I could get my hands on about alternative pet care. The one I found most helpful was “Give Your dog a bone” by Dr. Ian Billinghurst. I switched Stella to a raw diet Andy within 3 months she had a regrown all her fur and had stopped itching. Many people including my vet, friends and family were quite vocal with negative opinions but it was hard to argue with the results. Stella lived to be 16 and a half with no major health issues her whole life. A beautiful shiny coat, healthy teeth and lots of energy.
I now have two new dogs, a 8 month old Chinese crested. Oston terrier mix and an 8 month old Chinese crested pug mix. Both are fed a raw diet.
I feed two different frame mixes, one consisting of chicken, offal and bone the other is beef lung and green tripe, I alternate these. Mixed in is ground veggies whatever is on hand (but alway leafy greens) carrots,sweet potato,pumpkin, cauliflower, broccoli, green beans etc. etc. I also will occasionally add raw eggs, plain yogurt,cottage cheese a couple alternating a couple of times a week. They also get raw meaty bones a few times a week, chicken necks, turkey necks, chickens feet and beef and pork marrow bones, (always freeze the pork bones for a couple of weeks to destroy potential parasites) The only supplement I add a commercial product called missing link. This provides omegas and probiotics.
Both pups are thriving!
I hope this helps some one who is curious if any one has had long term experience with this type of feeding. I can’t say enough good things about how it helped Stella live a long and health life.
I’m so glad raw diets have helped all your dogs, especially Stella.
Every article from advised sources reminds me that dogs are not herbivores, hence they don’t have the enzymes to digest raw fruits and vegetables. The suggestion is to either to par cook them or give your dog “green tripe” that comes from the intestines of cattle. I’ve read contradictory opinions about yogurt. I always include eggs plus their crushed shells. I’ve read that raw egg whites can cause digestive problems that are balanced out to a degree by adding the yolks as well. I make my dog food in large batches and freeze it in feeding size containers. That way the danger of more perishable elements can be avoided, just take one out to thaw as you feed.
I have a second doxie now, a 3 1/2 month old miniature longhaired girl I named Lark. She has has several seizures, which lead me to a local homeopathic/holistic vet. One of the things we talked about was diet. Her recommendation to use meat from animals that have been fed on grass, not corn and other grains. Sh recommends 75 percent meaty bones, organ meat and muscle meat (with as much organ meat as possible) and 25 percent organic vegetables (no onions, no garlic). She also said it is important to limit liver to no more than 5 percent of the overall mix. This is very close to what I’ve been dong for my adult doxie, Joey. This is the first vet I’ve met who not only approves of a raw homemade diet but advocates for it. Some dogs can tolerate yogurt and keifer, some can’t. I also keep meaty bone broth on hand for snacks. I had a splash of apple cider vinegar, which helps leach calcium and other minerals from the bones. Both doxies love it.
I’m just beginning the raw food diet process by mixing in the raw meats and veggies
with my dogs dry food (Wellness). I’m buying organic/natural/free range so I know they are getting quality…..
I must admit to being a little nervous about going all raw fearing I may be leaving out some important vitamins and minerals but reading as much as I can about it will certainly help me out…..although it seems like there are conflicting suggestions about what to feed….like bananas? Not sure that falls into the natural diet of canines.
Yep, there will always be conflicting views. Some people believe dogs are omnivores. Others believe they are true carnivores. I am somewhere in the middle. I believe they are carnivores that can benefit a bit from some fruits and veggies.
Wolves are considered carnivores, however they will eat small amounts of berries in the summer such as blueberries and cherries, according to the book “Wolves” by L. David Mech and Luigi Boitani.
I have been giving my doggies raw for years, it it is only diet for
cats and dogs that makes sense. Your suggestion regarding what to feed a
100 lb. dog seems inadequate. I would feed a dog that size twice as much, leave the skin on for healthy fat, and give raw bones and whole veggies to chew in lieu of the raw meat!.
I use raw beef, chicken, turkey, organ meats and shredded veggies, kelp, and some fruit as their meal. They also may get raw chicken/turkey/beef bones in their diets.
It may also be healthy to give yogurt or cottage cheese. namaste’, rachel
Thanks, Rachel!
My dog a lab/St. mix loves bananas. He turns his nose to liver and gizzards. I do not like those parts either so I’m not going to push it. If I put any sort of meat based broth in his bowl with vegetables he will eat them.
Interesting! They definitely have their preferences, don’t they?
Is any type of ‘meaty bone’ okay to give my dogs (Arlo and Molly)? I’ve often looked at beef ribs and even though I know in my heart raw bones are okay there is always a concern with ‘ribs’ for some reason.
I’ve recently contacted an organic farm that processes their own meats looking to find remnants….I just don’t seem to find good ‘bone’ selections from the grocery store.
And finally, one of my dogs, Arlo, doesn’t respond well to yogurt….unlike Molly.
Has anyone found this to be the case.
Thanks
Annoel
I only feed raw chicken and turkey bones. I know other people feed pork and beef bones, but I don’t. I worry my dog will hurt his teeth or swallow large chunks.
Some dogs do well with yogurt, and some don’t.
I was looking through your recipes and noticed that you don’t add any supplements to your recipes. No fatty acids minerals calcium etc. Some of the recipes look like they are deficient in areas. Are you opposed to using supplements? Also what’s with the yogurt? Dogs don’t eat veggies or milk in the wild, why add it to their good?
Hi Eileen. Not sure which recipes you are referring to, the ones in the post or the ones in my ebooks or the recipes left by others in the comments.
Either way, my goal is always to feed variety. Every meal that my dog eats is not necessarily balanced. But I shoot for balance over time. I don’t think supplements are necessary for most dogs, but they can’t hurt, either. My dog gets more than enough bones so theres no need for me to give him extra calcium. I do give him a fish oil tab most days. This helps his skin and coat. Yogurt, as well as veggies, are controversial. Dogs probably don’t need either as long as they get their nutrients through bone, meat, fat and organs. I give natural, plain yogurt for the probiotics and because my dog loves it, and it seems to sit well with him.
Canines do eat some plant-based foods in the wild and the vets I know who advocate a raw diet recommend a 75-25 mix. Most recommend yogurt or kefir, too. Cats, on the other hand, seem to do better without plant-based foods.
Hi Michelle. I also give my dog veggies, although im not convinced he actually needs them. They cant hurt, though.
Gray wolves will eat grass and fruit, although not the stomach contents of their prey, according to the book “Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation” by L. David Mech and Luigi Boitani. The vets I’ve talked to don’t recommend raw in general, but if they do, they believe dogs are omnivores in need of grain and vegetation. I’m so glad you have a vet on your side!
I am unsure about feeding my dogs the raw bones. How would I go about grinding them up? Right now they get butcher bones but they have been smoked. Any suggestions?
I’m not sure how you would grind the bones yourself. You can buy commercial raw dog food. That has the bones ground up. I feed my dog raw chicken and turkey bones that are not ground. They are soft enough that he chews them up a bit and then his system digests them just fine. I don’t feed him larger bones like beef or pork.
I always thought that you couldn’t give dogs chicken bones because they would splinter? Do you know if this is true or not? Thank you.
I was always told that you couldn’t feed dogs chicken bones because they would splinter. Is this not the case?
Cooked bones can splinter. Raw bones are soft and safe to feed, but you want to supervise to make sure your dog chews up the bones.
thank you for what i have learned from you about feeding my dog raw food. i have always thought that chicken and other dairy products are not allowed for dogs. my shih tzu keeps on scratching and gnawing all the time on his paws. what could be the reason for this. hope to hear from you on this.
Chicken is fine for most dogs, although it is possible for some dogs to be allergic. They generally shouldn’t need dairy products, although I do give my dog some yogurt once a week or so. They need calcium, but they should be getting that through bones. Each dog is different. If your dog’s paws are itchy, I would be tempted to think it’s due to an allergy related to the grass or something on the street or carpet in your home. It would be a good discussion to have with a vet.
I really want to start my dogs on a raw diet but I am so confused after all the research I have done. I have 3 chihuahuas that are from 3 lbs up to 7 lbs. Everyone has a different opinion about what to feed. Supplements or no supplements, veggies, fruits, or not. Large bones or small bones. They say “go big” with small dogs, but can they really handle a big bone and especially if they have bad teeth. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Here is a post I wrote about veggies. There is no clear answer really. Some say dogs are omnivores. Others say carnivores. Most vets say they are omnivores, but most vets also approve of corn based kibbles.
http://www.thatmutt.com/2013/01/26/raw-dog-food-do-dogs-need-fruits-and-veggies/
Chicken should be ok for your little ones. I would start with thighs or quarters. The bones are soft and will not hurt their teeth. They shouldn’t choke because the pieces will be too big to swallow. Just supervise and encourage them to crunch on the bones. Beef bones can break teeth since the bones are stronger. Each dog is different and some do ok, but I do not give beef or pork bones.
Hope that helps. My raw feeding guide has more info if you haven’t read it. http://www.thatmutt.com/ebooks/10-easy-raw-dog-food-recipes/
I feed a prey-model raw diet to my border collie/terrier mix, so no veggies or very minimal amount. If i put meat and veggies side by side, she will always go for the meat, no exceptions. My husband hunts so she gets venison meat and offal, the entire antler which is really a sight to see
. She mainly eats chicken quarters or backs and necks and any other meat I find on sale. I fed her pork side ribs yesterday morning and her afternoon poop had 3-1″ pieces of bone in it which is the first time I’ve ever seen bone come out that end of the dog. She has been eating bone-in meat since 9 weeks old and we have had zero problems. Trying to figure out what her adult body weight will be is a problem as she’s a rescue mutt but she will happily eat 2 lbs and then try to steal more food. I once dropped a 3 lb freezer burnt deer brisket while trying to cut it up and she grabbed that thing and ran like the wind. She ate all 3lbs in one sitting and still came looking for more.
Quality is important as well. I thought she developed a dislike for chicken as I would give her a thigh and she would eat the skin and then bury the rest outside. I finally realised that it was Walmart chicken (first time I’ve bought meat there) and no other chicken she was burying. I’ll stick to my local butcher and the better grocery stores from now on.
My parents grew up in Europe on farms and always had dogs. Back then, every single part of the animal (pig/lamb etc) was needed for people food. Dogs would get table scraps and whatever they could catch such as rabbits, rats etc. My mother was horrified at dog poop in North America because she had never seen anything so big and stinky. My mom still doesn’t “get” kibble, she calls it McDonald’s for dogs.
Again, thanks for a great blog Lindsay!
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