Natural Feeding

RAW FOOD  DIET    

Meat\Vegetable Meat

Minced Lamb, Beef, chicken, rabbit and offal, mixed with raw crushed vegetables. 

Use half under ground vegetables i.e. carrots (root and tops), parsnip, swede, sweet potato etc and half above ground vegetable i.e. peppers, cabbage, parsley, watercress, celery and fruits. Parsley is a good source of vitamin K, although dogs can manufacture this in their gut, puppies and stressed dogs may need a helping hand. I find that feeding this herb fresh stops the problem of eating excrement; it may be that dogs are looking for something missing from their diet when they do this. They should all be put through a juicer or food processor to break down the cellulose so that the dog’s digestive system can utilise the nutrients. Once crushed the fruit and vegetables can be used fresh and any surplus frozen. Fruit should be very ripe but not rotten.Twice a week feed liver and organ meat (heart, kidneys etc) with the vegetables instead of the meat. This will ensure adequate vitamin A in the diet.The above should make up about 40% of the diet the remaining 60% should consist of raw meaty bones.  

RAW MEATY BONES

Chicken wings, necks and carcases, pork ribs, tails, feet and breast of lamb are all good sources of the essential fatty acids that dogs need in their diet.  High protein additions to the diet include eggs, cottage cheese, sardines and pilchards (small tins added to vegetables are fine).Yoghurt is an excellent addition to the diet on an occasional basis as it supplies healthy bacteria to the gut which in turn supplies vitamin K. 

SUPPLEMENTS 

Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin B complex, Kelp, Garlic, Cod Liver Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Omega 3 and 6 oils (use vitamin E if you feed these) There are a number of companies that supply raw dog food, e.g. Landywoods www.landywoods.co.uk (which we use), Durham Animal Feeds, AMP Prize Choice www.prizechoice.co.uk. Prize Choice is stocked by Pets at Home, Wyevale and most pet shops. Landywoods offer a home delivery service, they also supply meat and veg packs and bones. Talk to your local butcher about a regular supply of bones, packs of fresh chicken wings are readily available at supermarkets. The vitamin supplements can either come from Holland and Barratt in the human form or from somewhere like the Animal Health Company www.animal-health.co.uk or Dorwest Herbs www.dorwestherbs.com.  

SAMPLE DAYS MENU

Quantities for feeding twice daily for a mature active medium sized dog i.e. German Wirehaired Ponter

Meat/veg meal either morning or evening whichever suits your lifestyle

435 grm/1lb pack of meat/tripe or organ meat/tripe or tub of cottage cheese, or 2 eggs raw or scrambled, or tin of sardines or pilchards. Add to any of these combinations, 6 tablespoons of mixed crushed vegetables .This is also the time to add any supplements to the diet as detailed in the BARF diet sheet

Raw meaty bones meal alternate with the meat/veg meal

4 large chicken wings or 6 small ones or one large chicken carcase or 8 chicken necks or 1 pigs foot or 5 pork ribs.

The above is intended as a guide only, dogs are individuals and adjustments will need to be made as you go along. If the dog is gaining weight cut back on the meat and increase the veggie mix. Likewise if the dog is underweight increase the protein quality by adding more eggs and cottage cheese. The meaty bones can stay the same unless the dog is very overweight. Dogs which are very underweight will benefit from an extra meal at midday until they reach their optimum weight.

This is a good time to add the eggs and cottage cheese as extra protein.

Try to vary the type of meat and bones that you feed over a 3-4 week period as this ensures a good range of nutrients and the dogs enjoy the variety offered.

Elderly dogs benefit from a lower protein diet which reduces uric acid and thus the pain of arthritis. Reduce the meat content of the meat/veg meal and feed more vegetables. The meaty bones meal can be fed as normal.

Hints and Tips:-

Feed eggs whole in the shell, also save household egg shells, bake for 10mins then grind down and feed a teaspoonful with the meat/veggie mix.( Eggshell is a source of pure natural calcium)

Leftover cooked vegetables can be added to the raw vegetable mixture.

Use up fruit and vegetables that are overripe for human use but not rotten . (do your bit for the food waste mountain)

Ask your greengrocer to save trimmed vegetable leaves for you ,this is free recyclable material. Carrot and beetroot tops as well as cabbage leaves.(note beetroot comes out the same colour as it goes in)

Remember that root vegetables firm stools and leaf vegetables loosen. Adjust your veggie mix accordingly.

Freeze oily fish such as mackerel, herring and whiting and serve frozen as a fishy ice lolly, our dogs love them! ( it helps to have a sea fisherman in the family)!!

Large bones both knuckle and marrow are good for teeth and gum cleaning and provide recreational activity. We use these every couple of weeks as we find too much can make them a bit constipated , large strong jaws can eat too much of a good thing!

Dried cows hoofs found at pet suppliers can be filled with veggies, yoghurt, tinned fish or peanut butter ,frozen and then fed as a treat. These keep the dogs occupied in licking out the filling and then chewing on the hoof.

Garlic and Fenugreek powder added to the meat/veggie mix meal aids in protecting against parasites and as a stimulant to the immune system.

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