raw food basics

For Pete’s Sake Natural Nutrition for Pets 7728 Marker Road ~ Middletown, MD 21769 301.371.7729

How Much kept to a minimum. If your dog needs

The recommendation for most adult Calcium to lose weight, vegetables (even
dogs is to feed 2-3% of the dog’s ideal Your dog needs raw bone or proc- canned pumpkin or cooked and
weight each day. Young puppies can essed calcium for a complete diet. Dif- mashed white potato) are an easy way
eat as much as 10% of their weight. ferent meats have different mineral to add bulk to the diet without adding a
You can adjust this amount for your balances, so it's important to give a lot of calories.
dog’s needs, the goal being a lean variety, even if you're feeding a
dog. If your dog’s needs fall far outside "complete" food. If your dog does not Grains
this guideline, consider having a vet tolerate a variety of meats, we suggest Most dogs don’t need grains, and in
run some tests. using a mineral or multi-vitamin sup- fact may be better off avoiding them.
plement. However, some dogs benefit from a
Examples of 2-3 % (per day amt) minor addition of some grains to the
10 lb dog = 0.2 to 0.3 lb (about 1/4 lb) Organs diet. A small amount of oatmeal can
20 lb dog = 0.4 to 0.6 lb (about 1/2 lb) Liver, kidney, spleen, green tripe, and help some dogs with skin and coat
40 lb dog = 0.8 to 1.2 lb (about 3/4 to other organs and parts provide impor- problems, for instance. Very active
1-1/4 lb) tant vitamins, minerals, amino acids, dogs can benefit from the carbohy-
70 lb dog = 1.4 to 2.1 lb (about 1-1/2 to enzymes, and more. Remember, drates they get from grains. There are
2 lb) you're building a carcass for your dog, even pre-made mixes available that
and these parts shouldn't be ignored. include grains such as oats, brown
Storage Liver is very high in Vitamin A, so if rice, kamut, spelt, quinoa, and barley.
Handle your dog’s raw food as you you're offering dried liver as a treat We recommend only a small amount,
would any raw meat. Defrosting takes offer only small amounts. from a teaspoon (for a toy dog) to 1/2
longer when bones are included, so cup (for a giant dog), but not more then
plan ahead if you do all the defrosting Essential Fatty Acids 1/4 of the total diet.
in the refrigerator. Never defrost or These would normally come from the
warm your dog’s raw food in the micro- food itself, but most farmed meat is Other supplements that may be helpful
wave because you can inadvertently deficient in this regard. Supplementing for your particular dog: raw apple cider
cook portions of the food. Note: Micro- daily with an oil high in Omega 3’s vinegar, herb mixtures (we carry sev-
waves change the make-up of food such as fish body oil or flax oil is im- eral, for everyday use and special
and destroy vital enzymes. If your pet portant. There are also mixed oils that needs), digestive enzymes, colostrum,
won't eat chilled food, soak the food provide a range of EFA’s from several multivitamins, joint supplements, and
container in a container of warm (not sources. flower remedies.
hot) water to bring it to room tempera-
ture. Eggs Suggested Reading
Eggs are almost the perfect protein, Raw Dog Food: Make It Easy For You
Bones with EFA’s and essential trace miner- And Your Dog! Carina Beth Mac-
If your dog has never had raw bones als. Dogs should be eating an egg Donald
before you should always supervise. (with or without shell) 2 to 3 times a
The first time you offer parts like necks week. Remember to shop carefully for Natural Nutrition For Dogs And Cats:
and backs you may want to hold on to your eggs too, and look for organic and The Ultimate Diet Kymythy Schultze
one end while they start to gnaw the free-range on the label (you can even CCN AHI
other, to help them learn to chew it find producers that feed their chickens
rather then inhale it. Bigger is safer extra Omega 3’s). K9 Kitchen: Your Dog’s Diet, The
when it comes to recreational bones Truth Behind The Hype Monica Segal
for dogs, so they scrape the bone Vegetables and Fruits AHCW
rather then crack it open. When it gets Variety is important, with a focus on
too small (small enough that they could leafy greens. For most dogs, the veg- Give Your Dog A Bone / Grow Your
swallow it) offer them a delectable treat gie portion should be 10-30% of their Pup With Bones / The BARF Diet
in trade and throw the bone fragment total food. It’s easy to throw some into Ian Billinghurst DVM
away. Your dog needs more than a food processor to pulp them. Small
meat to thrive. Think of it as recreating amounts of fruits (especially berries)
a prey animal for your pet, with a few add nutrients too, though tropical fruits
treats thrown in. are very high in sugar and should be

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