How To Feed Your Dog A Raw Diet

Contrary to what some believe, dogs are carnivores and do not need any vegetables, starches or grains in their diet.  Dogs live a more healthy life on a meat, bone, and organ only diet.  Below is a picture of a dog skull for reference. Notice all their teeth are sharp and pointed for ripping and tearing flesh.  Also, notice the absence of flat teeth (like human molars) which are used to crush and grind plant matter.

Canine Skull

Now that we all understand canines are 100% carnivores let’s move into what a species appropriate diet would consist of.   

A good rule of thumb to follow when feeding a species specific raw diet is to follow the 80/10/10 rule and to feed all parts of the animal (skin, feathers, head, brain, eyes, and organs) to your dog.  Simply put the 80/10/10 rule is feeding 80% meat, 10% edible bone, 10% organs (Heart, Liver, and Kidney).  Of the 80% meat you will want to make sure at least 10% is fat or supplement with a fatty oil like coconut or olive oil.  When fat content gets too low you will start to see your dog’s skin become dry and itchy.

The 80% meat is referring to anything that is not an organ or bones.

Most of the calcium and minerals will come from the bones you feed your dog.  If feeding larger animals to your dog these need to be non-weight bearing bones. The reason for this is large animal weight bearing bones are too dense to be crushed and consumed by your dog. Feeding weight bearing bones would present a risk to breaking teeth or getting stuck in your dog’s intestines.  Examples of non-edible bones would be leg bones from any hoofed animal.  Examples of edible bones, any chicken bones, any turkey bones, Ox tail, any squirrel or rabbit bones.  These are just a few examples of each and by no means a complete list.  When feeding bones to your dog it is important not to cook the bones.  If the bones are cooked they will dry out and this can create dangerous sharp edges.  When bones are fed raw and not cooked, they are brittle and can be consumed safely.  Also, it’s important to realize while a large Shepherd could eat a beef rib bone, a small Yorkie would not be able to do the same.

Do and Don’t for Feeding Bones

DO

- Feed non-weight bearing bones

- Feed bones with lots of joints (necks, tails, feet)

- Feed small meaty bones with lots of joins (best)

- Supervise your dog while eating

- Make sure the bone size it acceptable to your dog’s size and strength

Don’t

- Feed weight bearing bones

- Feed bones that are too dense for the size of your dog (even if they are not weight bearing)

- Feed your dog unsupervised

Now that you understand the meat and bone requirements to feed your dog a raw species specific diet, let’s talk about the remaining 10% of the diet which consists of organs.

The main organs you should feed are Heart, Liver, and Kidney.  In addition, when available, you should also feed pancreas, spleen, lungs, brain, eyes, and green tripe (not bleached tripe).  Your dog will get the majority of vitamins and minerals they need from the heart, liver, and kidney, but it is also good to supplement with the other organs when available.  All organs should be sourced from organically raised grass fed animals when possible.

Best Practices

- Don’t feed other carnivorous animals to your dog.  This animals have a high chance of carrying parasites that could be passed to your dog.

- Balance the diet, feed different sources of meat and organs from many different vegetarian animals or fish. Whole fish are great for dogs but if feeding any fish with hard pointy fins, remove the fins first.  Eggs are also a great way to add vitamin D to your dog’s diet.

- If you’re worried your dog isn’t getting the proper nutrition from a raw diet we recommend getting your dog’s blood work done and adjusting your feeding if needed.

How Much Do I Feed My Dog/Puppy

Puppies should eat 2%-3% of their expected adult weight or 3%-10% of their current weight.  Below is a good rule of thumb for feeding puppies a raw diet.

Puppies 2 to 3 months: 8% to 10% of body weight daily

Puppies 4 to 5 months: 6% to 8% of body weight daily

Puppies 6 to 8 months: 4% to 6% of body weight daily

Puppies 9 to 12 months: 3% to 4% of body weight daily

Adult dogs should eat 2%-3% of their ideal body weight daily.

- A good rule of thumb to follow when feeding a raw diet: you should be able to feel your dog’s ribs but not see them.

Benefits for Feeding a Raw Diet

- Superior joint and bone health

- Stronger immune system

- Improved skin and softer, shiner coat

- Superior dental health

- Reduced stool volume & odor

- Enhanced reproductive health

- Reduced body odor (No “Dog” smell)

- Less allergies

- More energy

Resources to Learn More about Raw Feeding

Facebook Groups

- Raw Feeding University – RFU

- RAW & BARF feeding for dogs

- Raw feeding advice and support (PMR)

- Raw Feeding FRIENDS

- Worldwide Raw feeding advice and support

What are your thoughts about feeding a raw diet?  Do you have concerns or comments?  Reply below and we will answer and questions/concerns you have.  Also, if you need help setting up and feeding a raw diet for your dog just shoot us an e-mail and we’d be glad to help.