Raw Feeding Your Dog
STOP ALL GRAINS AND STARCHES
Cats and dogs are carnivores. Their digestive tracts are uniquely geared to meat–based proteins. They’re not meant to eat diets that include starches and grains. All brands of dog biscuits contain corn, soy, wheat or rice. You must also stop bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, kumara, pumpkin etc. This is very important!
FEED YOUR CARNIVORE
A balanced raw diet includes meat, bones, organs, and green tripe from a variety of sources, in approximate prey proportions. And, as a rule of thumb we recommend feeding from at least three different prey species over a week. This ensures a good variety of nutrients in your dog’s diet.
- Minces: Our minces contain a mixture of muscle meat, bone, and organs. Feed the minces alongside the products listed below to make it a well-balanced raw diet.
- Meaty Bones: Chicken frames, lamb & veal brisket, chicken & turkey necks, rabbit & hare portions, and possum pieces etc. Appropriate sizing is really important - see our Bone Feeding Guide for more information.
- Green Tripe: Green tripe is an important part of your dog’s daily raw food - it’s the ‘green vegetable’ of your dog’s diet. It is quite smelly, but your dog will LOVE it. It can be fed every day.
- Organ Meat: Organs should be included in your dog's diet in approximate prey proportions.
- Fish: Dogs can have fish up to three times a week. Either whole fish or a tin of sardines (in spring water).
Never feed cooked bones to your dog.
HOW OFTEN AND HOW MUCH
Adult dogs can be fed 1 - 2 times per day. For a dog with a healthy weight, aim to feed them approximately 2% of their body weight each day. But this is a guide only. Refer to the suggested feeding guide on your feeding plan for detailed info.
If your dog is burying bones, being fussy or leaving food in the bowl you may be over feeding them. Just take the food away and offer less for the next meal or you can fast your dog for a day. Exercise your dog before feeding them.
If your dog is losing weight or seems very hungry then you should up their daily intake a little at a time until you are happy with their weight and demeanor. In turn, if your dog is gaining weight then you can feed a little less until their weight stabilises.
WHAT ELSE TO EXPECT WHEN CHANGING TO RAW
- A small amount of initial weight loss is common - adjust the amount fed to suit.
- Dogs may appear very hungry at first - this is probably because they love the food! This usually settles down.
- Dogs may drink less - this is because a raw diet has a high water content.
- Bowel movements will be small, firm and less smelly.
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