RAW Feeding - Points Before Starting

[Ilghaus]

Feeding raw foods is more than just tossing some ground "hamburger" meat into a bowl for your dog.

Raw must be balanced for nutrional needs. Unless you have had an education in animal (dog) nutrition then you need to find someone who has who can become your mentor.

Besides basic knowledge of dog nutrition you will also need to factor in age of dog, general health issues, special nutritional needs of individual dog, and amount and type of activity.

A good diet will include various sources meat/fowl/fish proteins per week. This can be chicken, turkey, duck, beef, buffalo, lamb, goat, pork, venison, rabbit, fish. A minimum of 3 types per week/5 per month.

Besides protein general sources you will need to know proper ratio of RMBs (raw meaty bones if you feed these or supplement if you do not), to MM (Muscle Meat), to OM (Organ Meat). 

Freeze and refrigerate all meat used. Defrost in the refrigerator as you do your own meat. Don't get meat from Craig's list or give aways from strangers. You have no idea how that meat was stored or handled. If you would not use to feed your family then don't gather it for your dog. I am not talking about liver or some type you do not care for because of taste but in quality.

[Ilghaus]

Other items: When feeding anything extra make sure to do so in limited amounts so as not to mess up the balance of nutrients of dog's regular meals.

Vegetables (For best nutrition usage chop finely, run through a blender, or partially precook):
Green beans, carrots, squash / pumpkin, sweet potatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, very small amounts of spinach

DO NOT FEED: onions or members of the nightshade family / tomatoes, potatoes (limited cooked amounts), bell peppers

Fruit (remove any stone pits):
Apples, banana, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pears, plums, cantaloupe

DO NOT FEED: avocado, grapes, raisins

Other Extras: yogurt (plain, no sugar added), canned mackerel or sardines can also be fed as a supplement, canned pumpkin (plain, no spices).

Do not feed sugar, chocolate

[Ilghaus]

PRECATIONS:

~ Store meat in freezer or refrigerator as you do your own meat.
~ Feed in stainless steel bowls (easiest to sanitize).
~ Wipe down your counter surfaces and wash your hands / use hand sanitizer after handling raw meat or fish just as you would if preparing the same for your family meals.
~ Do not allow pet to carry raw food (meat or fish) around house. Dogs can be fed in their crate or their food bowl placed on a plastic place mat which can be wiped with a disposable sanitizing cloth when you pick up dish.
~ Wipe outside of dog's mouth with wet paper towel to remove any debris.
~ Dispose of cloth, place food bowl in sink, add a drop of dish detergent and fill with hot water. Rinse bowl in hot water, allow to air dry. Wash hands.

You can purchase a mouth spray from your vet which keeps dog's mouth smelling fresh and bacteria level down inside of dog's mouth. (Many dog owner's also do this with their kibble fed dogs.)

Feeding a raw diet is more labor intensive but if you decide to feed raw do it properly and follow health safety practices for your pets, for your family and for those people your dog comes into contact with.