If you’re wondering where to start with raw dog food for beginners, you’ve come to the right place. Our guide will take you through the basics of a raw-food diet for dogs. Whether you’re looking to improve your pet’s overall health or simply provide them with a more natural and nutritious diet, we’ll help you understand the benefits and how to safely transition onto this diet.
Why Feed Raw Food to Your Dog?
Feeding dogs a raw-food diet has become more commonplace in recent years as pet owners look for the best way to ensure their furry friends happy and healthy lives. Supporters of this way of meal planning for their pets report a wide variety of benefits, including:
- Improved digestive health
- Stronger immune system
- Cleaner teeth
- Reduced allergies and sensitivities
What's Included in a Raw-Food Diet for Dogs?
The main concept behind this feeding method is to mimic the natural eating habits of dogs’ ancestors in the wild. The diet should include a variety of fresh, uncooked meats from both muscles and organs, bones, fruit, vegetables, eggs and fish. Supplements specially formulated for animals can also be useful to ensure your dog is getting the full nutritional range needed to support optimum health.
Crucially, what is not included in this type of diet is the range of unhealthy chemicals, additives and preservatives that are found in many traditional pet foods.
You can get commercially prepared formulations of this diet, which can be a great way to feed raw dog food for beginners. You buy it frozen so that it’s always fresh, and you don’t have to worry about balancing all the necessary nutrients.
How to Feed a Raw Dog Food Diet
If you want to prepare your own pet food, you should include the following components. A good ratio to start with is:
70% | Protein from different muscle meats and fish |
10% | Raw bone |
7% | Mixed vegetables |
3-5% | Liver |
5-7% | Other organs |
2% | Nuts and seeds |
1% | Fruit |
1. Quality fresh meat. Lean meats like turkey, chicken, beef and lamb are all good choices. Ideally these meats should be sourced from organic or grass-fed sources to ensure higher nutrient quality and minimal exposure to harmful chemicals.
2. Fresh fish. Fish is a great option for feeding dogs too, particularly as oily types will include important omega fatty acids. A wide variety of fish is available in the freezer section of your supermarket, but white fish, salmon, flounder, mackerel, herring, trout, cod and tinned tuna are all good bets.
3. Raw bones. Raw meaty bones are an important part of a raw-food diet for dogs. In fact, they are an excellent choice for all dogs, regardless of their normal diet. Never feed cooked or smoked bones, as these can splinter and cause injuries. Instead, get fresh bones from your butcher or buy frozen from pet shops. Suitable bones include large marrow bones, poultry wings, backs and necks or lamb.
4. Fruit and vegetables. Just like humans, dogs need a range of fruit and vegetables in their diets too to get all the vitamins, minerals, fibre and antioxidants they need. Some popular veggies to include are carrots, green beans, broccoli and sweet peppers. You’ll want to go easy on the fruit to avoid excessive fibre that can cause diarrhoea, but include options like apples, pears, blueberries, strawberries and blackberries. Some fruits and vegetables are toxic for pets, so never feed them grapes, raisins or anything in the onion family, including leeks.
5. Nuts and seeds. Always choose nuts and seeds that are raw and without additives such as salt or other flavourings. Good choices are walnuts, peanuts, pine nuts, hazelnuts, chestnuts, cashews, Brazil nuts, chia seeds, sunflower seeds or flaxseed. Avoid the seeds or pips of all fruit as they can be toxic for dogs.
Raw Dog Food for Beginners: Dos and Don'ts
When you’re starting out with raw dog food, here are the main things to keep in mind.
Don’t feed seeds or pips from fruit.
Don’t include cooked or smoked bones.
Don’t stick to only one or two kinds of meat or vegetables.
Don’t scrimp on food quality.
Do feed a wide variety of different lean meats, fish, vegetables and fruit.
Do feed meaty bones.
Do include meat from liver and other organs.
Do find out what vegetables and fruits are toxic for pets so you can avoid them.
Do buy a proprietary commercially prepared raw-food diet for dogs if you’re unsure or don’t have time to prepare a varied diet yourself.
How to Transition Your Dog onto Raw Food
Anytime you change your dog’s diet you need to do it gradually, regardless of the type of food. Take 10-14 days to make the change to avoid causing stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Don’t be discouraged if it takes a little longer—every dog is unique, and yours may have a more sensitive digestion. If your dog shows any signs of gastric upset, then slow the change down.
Start with just a little and gradually add more raw to your dog’s normal diet:
Days 1-2: Make 10% of your dog’s meals raw, 90% previous food
Days 3-5: 25-30% raw
Days 6-8: 50-60% raw
Days 9-10: 75-80% raw
If your dog has shown no symptoms of upset stomach during the transition, you should be on 100% raw by day 11. You can always slow down at any point to give your dog’s digestion time to adjust.
Natural and Nutritious
Raw dog food is an excellent alternative to traditional kibble that can greatly help your dog’s health and wellbeing. With a little research and planning, you can successfully get your furry friend onto a raw diet. Raw dog food for beginners can be tricky, but the numerous advantages make the effort worthwhile.