Hi. This is an informative article all about raw dog food, but it’s also an excuse for me to post photos of my new doggie. Her name is Millie Noodle, say hi!
You know that eating fresh raw food is one of the most nutritious habits you can develop. It’s so easy to get lured into commercial foods, and that’s true about brand name dog foods too.
In today’s article I’m going to be explaining exactly what raw dog food is, and why you should care about it.
First, let me start with the story of Millie. I’ve been wanting to adopt a dog for a long time, and more seriously since January 2010 (see the doggy photos on my dreamboard).
I figured I’d adopt the dog and then figure out what I’d like to feed her. I’ve read a lot about raw food for humans, and done quite a few experiments on myself. But on a dog? I wasn’t sure I wanted to push a veggie diet on this little pooch.
Luckily for me, the rescue where I adopted this cute little stray Japanese Chin actually feeds their dogs an all raw diet.
Fate? Coincidence? Either way, I consider myself lucky to have connected with such knowledgeable dog experts.
Enter the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet
Known as “BARF” diet for short, it’s all about feeding dogs the freshest foods that are biologically appropriate for them.
I was a little worried about this part, since I didn’t want to push my dog to eat nothing but veggies just because that’s in line with my view of things.
It turns out that dogs do best on a raw meat diet, with about 20-40% raw vegetables and fruits. In fact, grains are responsible for most doggie maladies: itchy skin, coarse fur, allergic reactions, ear infections, and degenerative diseases.
Funny how there’s a parallel to a lot of human allergies to grains.
Raw Dog Food Recipes
I have yet to make my own raw dog food, because I bought some fresh from this great place.
We got some dehydrated dog treats made from beef livers. (Funny how fast things change when you become a doggy-mommy.)
I’m impressed at how much the raw dog food industry parallels the raw human food one. What’s next – raw dog larabars? ;)
Here are a few great resources and recipes if you’re considering making your own raw dog food.
- Simple raw dog food recipe, and also an explanation of why dogs aren’t as susceptible to salmonella and e-coli.
- Here’s a varied raw pet food recipe, just skip the cooked grains altogether.
- How to use up bone meal and juice pulp – makes great dog food.
Woof! Conclusion!
I was a bit skeptical about feeding raw meat to this little bundle of love. But thinking back on my childhood dog (named Blackie) I remember that she used to bring home animal carcasses whenever she was lucky enough to find them in the wild. (I grew up in the country and a dead deer in the spring was apparently quite normal.)
So I think that if a dog naturally loves fresh raw meat and eating grass in the yard, then so be it. Why try to alter their diet and introduce more allergies and deficiencies?
I hope you enjoyed this short article on raw dog food! Let me know if you have any questions and I’ll be sure to answer them in the comments section.
I’m still new to this whole raw dog food thing, but I must say that it feels so much better than opening a bag of kibble.
P.S. Isn’t Millie the cutest little thing ever?
{ 15 comments }
I didn't know you can put a microchip in a feret?? Who knew? (read Wellness Centre's page)
Congrats on your new pup. Very cute. And I do think was kismet that you two were paired. As they say… a familiar finds its owner/mate. I think Millie Noodle did just that (cute name).
“In legend, a familiar or familiar spirit is a supernatural being that helps and supports a witch or magician. ” <–You Raw Foods Witch! ;-)
Huh, I didn't realize that about ferrets either!
Thanks my dear, it's really great to have her around and play. And yes it's the familiar thing, instead of a black cat I've got a black dog. ;) Oh and Noodle was her given name, so we made it her last name. ;)
cute!!! I had great success with this guide, so much healing, everything with the raw food diet ;-) as with humans;-) http://bit.ly/bAdvMz. Hope its useful!
Thanks so much for this post!! Until I read this, I had no idea that dogs are allergic to grains!! While I took the grains out of my puppy's food, I was still feeding him treats with grains in them. And the poor boy is so itchy every single day. Now that I realize it's the grains, I threw all his old treats out and got him some grain-free ones. Also, I'm heading to the natural pet store this weekend to pick up some raw food for him to try.
Aww I am super super glad it was helpful Jennifer! When I was growing up we fed our dog pretty much anything, and I especially remember her being sick after getting “human food” like pasta. It all makes sense that grains are to blame. Yay for getting your poor boy to not itch so much! :)
Hello Nathalie. That sure is one cute dog! A friend of mine learned the hard way after putting her cat on a mostly raw vegan diet – her cat ended up with serious kidney problems after a while. Cats and dogs need meat. I've had a fluffy cat on my vision board for a while now – hopefully this year. One reason I have delayed it is because I'm reluctant to handle raw meat in recipe prep, but if I could purchase ready raw pet food, that would be great. Thanks for the info.
Yeah I thought about going the raw vegan pet food way, but I don't think it's ideal since these little guys aren't eating just grass out in the wild.
I hope you get your soon – and yes, I'm still getting used to handling the raw meat. My boyfriend Robin did the dirty work last time, and maybe I'll get more used to it. ;) Who knows!
Oooh, she's so cute! (: She looks very happy, too. Yay!
Aww, thanks Kyeli! :) She's been a little bundle of happy too. :D
I am in LOVE so very cute….!!!
Aww thanks Linda. She's such a sweetie. :)
Congratulations on your family addition! Millie is soooo cuuuute! As a kennel tech for retired racing greyhounds, I’ve worked with hundreds of dogs. Like people, no one single diet works for all dogs. One of our most common challenges is getting the right diet for each dog. We definitely see the problems with grains that you mention. and the miraculous recoveries when they’re taken off grains. Also, sometimes it’s the protein – chicken works for some, others can’t tolerate it and have to have lamb, for example. We have adopters who feed raw diets – there’s usually is some “mental issues” :) that the humans have to overcome, but the diets work really well for the dogs. Be sure to feed enough cartilage and bones to keep the teeth healthy.
Ooh thanks so much for sharing your wealth of experience on this topic. I agree about the bones too! Our Millie has awesome teeth (as confirmed by the vet) and I really think it’s partly because of the food.
You’re so right about overcoming some “mental” stuff on feeding raw food, since I’ve had a few comments on: “but aren’t they going to want to eat humans then?” if we’re feeding them raw meat. Funny stuff.
And thanks for the congrats, we’re very happily adjusting to each other hehe.
Hey Nathalie,
I followed the first link. That’s fascinating. I’ll be sure to try out the raw diet with my lovely Naomi. I haven’t thus far because meat grosses me out, I haven’t eaten it in 14 years… because I don’t need to. But since dogs supposedly do, or benefit the most from a meat-based diet, I will try shifting her to one. She eats Eukanuba now.
How does Millie like raw veggies? Or are they okay because they’re mixed in with the meat? Does she eat any raw veggies?
I’ll stop giving Naomi crackers when she asks for them. She’s been itchy these past several days… poor baby.
They depend on our wisdom for their wellbeing. Thanks for spreading the word on how to keep dogs at their healthiest :)
Love to you and Millie (and Robin!)
Nat
Hey Natalia! I know what you mean about meat… I get Robin to do the cutting (and most of the buying too… butcher places are not my strong suit) but I’ve been getting more accustomed to being around it with Millie.
Millie definitely does eat raw veggies. She likes stems of collard leaves, cabbage slices, string beans, cucumbers, baby tomatoes… and she loves peach slices and other fruits too. It’s really good to include some raw veggies for fiber since meat has like zero fiber ;)
Aww poor Naomi! It’s so hard to resist with treats that aren’t good for them, especially when they pull that patented “I’m cute, feed me” look on you. ;)
Love to you & Naomi! :D
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