17/01/2024
Holistic Pet Practitioner Here-
Mac Rider BCHPC, CCN, CFN, CCHS
Basic Raw Information
Hi friends. I get asked frequently two questions: "How do I balance a raw diet?" "Can you share a raw recipe?" Both are fantastic questions but more complex to answer than some people may realize.
In practice, I have a complete health history of the dog I work with, which often includes bloodwork. This information helps me cater and tailor not only the nutrition recipe itself to the individual dog but also the supplement plan. Bloodwork may reveal a deficiency, potential organ dysfunction, or inflammation, basically any information requiring special attention. This recipe is based on the average healthy dog. If your dog has a medical condition or is extremely underweight or overweight, don't hesitate to contact me for a consultation so I can create the best possible plan and outcome.
Healthful Additions to Raw Feeding:
Blueberries every few days
Raw Goat Milk or Cow Kefir daily or every other day
Bone Broth daily or every other day
Vital Information Regarding Raw Feeding:
Any ground raw meat purchased from grocery stores must be frozen for at least three days.
Why? Grocery stores expect all the meat they grind up and sell to be cooked. Therefore, they often don't clean and sanitize their grinders very well. The meat becomes contaminated with foreign harmful bacteria that the dog's gut usually cannot tolerate.
Do Not Mix Kibble With Raw.
Why? Kibble and raw have different digestion rates and break down very differently within the body. Kibble is chronically dehydrating due to its lack of moisture, as raw meat is usually 70% water. When we mix the two, diarrhea can occur in large quantities.
Alternative:
Give a probiotic; Four Leaf Rover has a few great options. Give raw goat milk and bone broth, and switch your dog to a high-quality wet food such as Zignature if they are on kibble. Move from wet food directly to raw—no mixing is needed.
The Lactose Concern in Milk.
Although dogs don't produce enough lactase to break down milk products properly, and they can experience gastrointestinal discomfort - when we give our dogs raw goat milk or cow kefir, they don't experience any issues. Why? Raw goat milk and cow kefir are not pasteurized, meaning they contain all of their wonderful and naturally occurring probiotic and prebiotic bacteria needed to keep your dog's gut in check. These wonderful bacteria predigest or break down the lactase so your dog can consume the milk or kefir without issues.
The Vitamin D Concern
Dogs cannot absorb vitamin D from the sun. Additionally, they don't manufacture it in significant amounts. Therefore, it must be obtained through their diet. Eggs are a good source. There is no debating about cage-free eggs - the eggs will not contain adequate vitamin D levels if the chickens are kept in tight coops and never see the sun. Small oily fish are another great source. Sardines, anchovies, and other small oily fish must be wild-caught to have significant vitamin D.
The Taurine Concern
Taurine is an essential amino acid for dogs. Unfortunately, many commercial and homemade diets are either chronically deficient in taurine or have taurine blockers or inhibitors such as lentils, legumes, or sweet potatoes. The primary concern with taurine deficiency is that it can cause cardiac health issues, specifically a condition known as dilated cardiomyopathy, which can be deadly. Although my recipe contains heart rich in taurine, this often isn't enough for all dogs, which is why I recommend supplementing with a whole food taurine, and Herbsmith is my favorite.
Why Does Organ Meat Matter?
Organ meats contain many essential vitamins and minerals that help maintain a healthy weight, muscle, shiny coat, and heart health. Diarrhea occurs when we feed too much, and constipation can happen when we provide too little.
Why Egg Shell/Bone is Important?
Bone and eggshells are excellent sources of phosphorus and calcium. They also help to balance the food to prevent diarrhea.
Why is Ginger Root Important?
Ginger root supplies manganese, a joint supporting trace mineral deficient in meat but required for good health.
Why is Kelp Important?
Kelp powder is added to raw diets to provide iodine, which isn't found in meat but is essential for good health.
Why Doesn't My Recipe Contain Synthetic Multivitamins?
Dogs best assimilate nutrients when obtained through their diet.
All necessary and required nutrients can be obtained through diet.
Do All Dogs Get Diarrhea When Fed Raw?
No, typically, diarrhea occurs when the gut or immune system is weak.
In my practice, before transitioning dogs to raw, I ensure that their gut and immune system health is ideal to prevent diarrhea from occurring.