As a pet owner, you want to provide the best possible care for your furry friend. One of the most important aspects of pet care is their diet
A raw dog food diet typically consists of Muscle meat, often still on the bone. Bones, either whole or ground. Organ meats such as livers and kidneys.
Dogs absolutely need fresh species-appropriate food, the same way we do every other animal on the planet, and in your dog’s case, this means lots of fresh raw food.
The idea to bring the raw food diet home was first proposed in 1993 by veterinarian Ian Billinghurst. Termed the BARF diet, or “Bones and Raw Food” diet, Billinghurst argued that dogs would benefit from a diet based on the eating habits of their evolutionary ancestors.
Depending on how you feed your dog, you’ll need to make sure that the diet has the nutrients they need. It may involve adding raw dog food supplements to your home-prepared meals
With dog food supplements, mealtime becomes even more nutritious. Dog supplements are now a major thought in every responsible pet owner’s life. These days there are tons of products to choose from
In this article, we will look at everything you need to know about the raw dog food diet, well-detailed recipes and the supplements to use, keep reading for more juicy information
Supplement For Raw Dog Food Diet
Supplements are products that add nutritional value to your dog’s diet or improve their health and companies manufacture supplements such as soft chews, powders, and liquids for easy feeding. the benefit of using a pre-made supplement is that you will have a close idea of how much your pet is getting from each nutrient each day.
1. Essential Fatty Acids
As puppies start to explore the world around them, they also get to make acquaintance with various germs. This is why it is believed that omega-3 might be especially important for puppies, to help support their underdeveloped immune systems in fighting off illnesses and infections.
If a dog is not getting enough of these essential fatty acids, the classic signs of deficiency may appear. The appropriate amounts of omega-6 and/or omega-3 fatty acids may benefit dogs with skin, coat or certain other problems. This can be accomplished by feeding foods rich in essential fatty acids by adding fatty acid supplements, or both.
2. Trace Minerals & Antioxidants
Trace minerals are essential minerals found in many animal and plant foods. They are elements, such as zinc, copper, iron and manganese, they’re called “trace” minerals because a body needs them in very small amounts. Trace minerals work hand in hand with macro minerals like calcium and phosphorus. Without the proper balance of trace minerals, macrominerals can’t do what they need to.
On the other hand, some of the best sources of antioxidants come from phytonutrients; for our pets, that usually comes in the form of ground vegetables. An adequate amount of trace minerals from micronutrients and antioxidants from phytonutrients can help prevent inflammation and increase immune function. In the long term, they can potentially even prevent cancer and auto-immune diseases!
3. Calcium & Phosphorus
Calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D are nutrients that play a key role in maintaining normal organ, cell, and tissue function.
They’re essential for bone and joint health, especially in larger breeds and younger animals. The amount of calcium and phosphorus you supplement your pet with will change throughout the course of their lifetime especially when it comes to dogs.
Both of these macronutrients come in high quality, an example is eggshell powder; it is an excellent source of calcium, though not high in phosphorus.
4. Probiotics
Probiotics are live microorganisms that help with digestive problems in dogs, they improve the immune system, reduce inflammation and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria in the gut.
Probiotics can come in many forms, including powders, capsules, and treats. When you want to buy probiotics supplements, it is important you go for the high-quality ones specifically made for dogs and also try to follow the dosage instruction.
It’s also important to note that probiotics are not a substitute for veterinary care. If your dog is experiencing digestive problems or other health issues, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian to determine the underlying cause and the best course of treatment.
Probiotic Supplements for Dogs and Cats:
- Adored Beast Love Bugs
- Adored Beast Pre & Probiotics
- OLIE Naturals New Beginnings
- Dr Dobias’ GutSense (For dogs only, certified organic, dairy-free)
- Four Leaf Rover Protect (For dogs only, soil-based, dairy free)
5. Joint Supplement
Arthritis is a common mobility disease seen in older dogs. Large-breed dogs are more prone to develop arthritis, but it can occur in any breed. Management of arthritis will differ for each patient and may involve a combination of lifestyle changes, weight management, pain relief, and dietary joint supplements.
Joint supplements are most effective in the prevention of arthritis and in maintaining healthy joints.
It is recommended to start these protective agents early in at-risk patients, such as large breed dogs, or dogs more likely to develop arthritis. Dogs more likely to develop arthritis may be patients with hip dysplasia, congenital limb deformities, and post orthopaedic surgical patients (such as after fracture fixation, or cruciate repair).
Highly active dogs will benefit from joint supplements as high physical activity can take its toll on joints, so supplements can help aid promote healthy joints, aid healing, and the prevention of arthritis formation.
Joint supplements can also be given to young puppies as young as 8 weeks of age that are predisposed to arthritis development due to confirmation or injury.
Other Dog Food Supplements For Your Dogs
Let’s talk about each of these dog food supplements so that you can give your dog the gift of delicious nutrition.
1. Pupper
Pupper is a brand that offers several supplement products, all of which are designed to meet a certain health need. Their supplements is made of ingredients that are scientifically backed up.
For example, the Nucleus blend contains glucosamine, MSM, and sodium hyaluronate, all of which have been shown to support hip and joint health while the Secure is specially formulated to boost your dog’s immunity.
Other blends include ingredients you know and trust, including natural herbs, probiotics, turmeric, cranberry extract, spirulina powder, kelp powder, and peppermint leaf.
2. WOOF All-In-One Multivitamin Creamy Kibble Coater
WOOF All-In-One Multivitamin Creamy Kibble Coater helps provide extra energy for your dogs and boosts the digestive system. This supplement provides your dog with minerals, vitamins and all nutrients to help them live longer and healthier. In fact, it contains 26 vitamins and nutrients, all of which are cold-pressed to ensure maximum nutrition.
3. Only Natural Pet Ultimate Daily Canine Vitamin Powder
This dog supplement is made with ingredients hats also support the joint, brain, stomach and immune system in general. This dog food supplement offers a balanced, comprehensive formula that helps your dog feel his best every day.
This powdered supplement is made in the USA using quality ingredients in an FDA-approved facility. With this product, you can have total confidence that you’re giving your pet the nutrition he needs and deserves.
Raw Dog Food Diets Recipes
1. Raw Beef & Chicken Neck Dog Food Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds 90% lean beef (do not use fattier meats)
- 3 pounds chicken necks with skin removed (you can substitute with 4 tbsp of the bone meal)
- 1 pound beef liver
- 1 pound chicken heart
- 1 pound beef heart
- 10 pasture-raised eggs without shells
- 8 ounces kale
- 8 ounces broccoli
- 8 ounces of dandelion greens
- 12 ounces blueberries or mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries)
- 3 tbsp hulled hemp seeds or hemp hearts
- 1 tbsp geen-lipped mussel powder
- 1/2 tsp Himalayan salt
Instructions
To Feed Raw
- Grind the necks, heart and turkey liver
- If you don’t have a grinder, chop the liver and heart into small cubes
- Puree the eggs, kale, broccoli, dandelion greens, berries, hemp seeds, green-lipped mussel and salt in a food processor
- Mix the ground beef, liver, heart and veggie/berry mix together
- Place the mixture into smaller containers and place them in your freezer
- Freeze the food in 1-3 day portions
- Feed both the necks and the meat mixture together
- If you don’t grind the necks into the meat mixture, feed just the necks for one meal and the meat mix for the second meal.
Notes
We recommend feeding Safe-Sea daily to help balance your dog’s fatty acids. This will bring the omega-6/omega-3 ratio from 7:1 down to 4:1.
But don’t add any oil to the recipe directly. To reduce oxidation, you don’t want to expose the oil to oxygen for too long. Instead, give it daily with your dog’s meal.
IMPORTANT
The ingredients in this recipe have been carefully chosen to meet AAFCO minimum nutrition requirements for adult dogs. Don’t replace ingredients or vary the amounts too much … this may unbalance the food. The berries are optional but all other ingredients need to be in the recipe in the listed amounts.
How Much To Feed
Adult Dogs: In general, dogs should eat about 2-3% of their body weight daily in raw food. Here’s a rough guide for this recipe:
- 10 lb dog: The recipe will make a 21-day supply
- 25 lb dog: The Recipe will make a 10-11 day supply
- 50 lb dog: The recipe will make a 6-day supply
- 75 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4-5 day supply
- 100 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4 day supply
Puppies: In general, puppies should eat about 2-3% of their expected adult body weight daily in raw food.
2. Rabbit, Chicken & Beef Dog Food Recipe: With Bone – Adult
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds rabbit (typical whole rabbit carcass)
- 1 pound chicken heart
- 1/4 pound beef liver
- 4 pasture-raised eggs without shells
- 8 ounces broccoli
- 1/2 ounce chopped spinach
- 6 ounces blueberries or mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries)
- 2 grams green lipped mussel powder
Instructions
To Feed Raw
- Cut the rabbit into small pieces, feed whole or grind it with the liver and heart
- Puree the broccoli, spinach, berries, and green-lipped mussel powder in a food processor
- Mix the heart, liver, egg and veggie/berry mix together (include the rabbit if ground or in small pieces)
- Place the mixture into smaller containers and place them in your freezer
- Freeze the food in 1-3 day portions
Notes
The ingredients in this recipe have been carefully chosen to meet AAFCO minimum nutrition requirements for adult dogs. Don’t replace ingredients or vary the amounts too much … this may unbalance the food. The berries are optional but all other ingredients need to be in the recipe in the listed amounts.
How Much To Feed
In general, dogs should eat about 2-3% of their body weight daily in raw food. Here’s a rough guide for this recipe:
- 10 lb dog: Recipe will make an 8 day supply
- 25 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4 day supply
- 50 lb dog: Recipe will make a 2-3 day supply
- 75 lb dog: Recipe will make a 2 day supply
- 100 lb dog: Recipe will make a 1.5 day supply
NOTE: This food is for adult dogs only.
3. Pork & Fish Dog Food Recipe: With Calcium Supplement – Adult
Ingredients
- 5 pounds 96% lean ground pork
- 3 pounds pork heart
- 1 pound pork liver
- 1 pound non-farmed oily fish (like sardines or mackerel)
- 8 ounces kale
- 5 ounces broccoli
- 4 ounces dandelion greens
- 12 ounces blueberries or mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries)
- 6 tbsp seaweed calcium or bone meal
- 3 tsp wheat germ oil
- 1 tbsp hulled hemp seeds or hemp hearts
- 1/2 tsp himalayan salt
- 1.37 grams kelp powder
Instructions
To Feed Raw
- Grind the pork heart and liver
- If you don’t have a grinder, chop the liver and heart into small cubes
- Puree the kale, broccoli, dandelion greens, berries, bone meal, wheat germ oil, hemp seeds, salt and kelp in a food processor
- Mix the ground pork, liver, heart and veggie/berry mix together thoroughly
- Place the mixture into smaller containers and place them in your freezer
- Freeze the food in 1-3 day portions
Notes
The ingredients in this recipe have been carefully chosen to meet AAFCO minimum nutrition requirements for adult dogs. Don’t replace ingredients or vary the amounts too much … this may unbalance the food. The berries are optional but all other ingredients need to be in the recipe in the listed amounts.
How Much To Feed
In general, dogs should eat about 2-3% of their body weight daily in raw food. Here’s a rough guide for this recipe:
- 10 lb dog: Recipe will make an 18-day supply
- 25 lb dog: Recipe will make a 9-day supply
- 50 lb dog: Recipe will make a 5-6 day supply
- 75 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4 day supply
- 100 lb dog: Recipe will make a 3 day supply
NOTE: This food is for adult dogs only.
Nutritional Information
Typical analysis on a caloric basis:
- Calories per pound: 477.1
Analysis
- Protein: 18.35%
- Fat: 4.30%
- Ash: 2.28%
- Moisture: 73.49%
- Fiber: 0.32%
- Carbohydrate: 1.26%
Fats
- Total fat: 40.87 g/kg
- Saturated fat: 11.33 g/kg
- Monounsaturated fat: 12.88 g/kg
- Polyunsaturated fat: 10.04 g/kg
- Omega-6/omega-3: 4.2:1
- Omega-6/omega-3 with Safe-Sea: 2.9:1
Minerals
- Calcium: 3.89 g/kg
- Phosphorus: 3.41 g/kg
- Ca:P Ratio: 1.14:1
- Potassium: 19.61 g/kg
- Sodium: 0.74 g/kg
- Magnesium: 50.13 g/kg
- Iron: 37.35 mg/kg
- Copper: 2.03 mg/kg
- Manganese: 1.39 mg/kg
- Zinc: 21.18 mg/kg
- Selenium: 0.25 mg/kg
Vitamins
- Vitamin A: 24,819.80 IU/kg
- Vitamin C: 1117.29 mg/kg
- Vitamin D: 192.84 IU/kg
- Thiamine (B1): 3.74 mg/kg
- Riboflavin (B2): 7.39 mg/kg
- Niacin (B3): 70.39 mg/kg
- Pantothenic Acid (B5): 15.60 mg/kg
- Pyridoxine (B6): 4.88 mg/kg
- Vitamin (B12): 0.04 mg/kg
- Folic Acid: 0.28 mg/kg
4. Raw Boneless Turkey & Egg Dog Food Recipe: All Life Stages
Ingredients
- 5 pounds 93% lean ground turkey
- 2 pounds chicken heart
- 1 pound beef liver
- 6 pasture-raised eggs without shells
- 8 ounces kale
- 8 ounces broccoli
- 8 ounces dandelion greens
- 12 ounces blueberries or mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries)
- 6 tbsp bone meal (seaweed calcium can be used for adult dogs)
- 3 tbsp ground pumpkin seed powder
- 2 tsp Himalayan salt
- 1/4 tsp kelp
Instructions
To Feed Raw
- Grind the chicken heart and beef liver
- If you don’t have a grinder, chop the liver and heart into small cubes
- Puree the eggs, kale, broccoli, dandelion greens, berries, bone meal, pumpkin seed powder, salt and kelp in a food processor
- Mix the ground turkey, liver, heart and veggie/berry mix together
- Place the mixture into smaller containers and place them in your freezer
- Freeze the food in 1-3 day portions
Notes
We recommend feeding Safe-Sea daily to help balance your dog’s fatty acids. This will bring the omega-6/omega-3 ratio from 11:1 down to 7:1.
But don’t add any oil to the recipe directly. To reduce oxidation, you don’t want to expose the oil to oxygen for too long. Instead, give it daily with your dog’s meal.
IMPORTANT
The ingredients in this recipe have been carefully chosen to meet AAFCO minimum nutrition requirements for adult dogs. Don’t replace ingredients or vary the amounts too much … this may unbalance the food. The berries are optional but all other ingredients need to be in the recipe in the listed amounts.
How Much To Feed
Adult Dogs: In general, dogs should eat about 2-3% of their body weight daily in raw food. Here’s a rough guide for this recipe:
- 10 lb dog: Recipe will make a 22-day supply
- 25 lb dog: Recipe will make an 11-day supply
- 50 lb dog: Recipe will make a 6-7 day supply
- 75 lb dog: Recipe will make a 5 day supply
- 100 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4 day supply
Puppies: In general, puppies should eat about 2-3% of their expected adult body weight daily in raw food.
5. Raw Boneless Beef & Egg Dog Food Recipe: All Life Stages
Ingredients
- 5 pounds 93% lean ground turkey
- 2 pounds chicken heart
- 1 pound beef liver
- 6 pasture-raised eggs without shells
- 8 ounces kale
- 8 ounces broccoli
- 8 ounces dandelion greens
- 12 ounces blueberries or mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries and cranberries)
- 6 tbsp bone meal (seaweed calcium can be used for adult dogs)
- 3 tbsp ground pumpkin seed powder
- 2 tsp Himalayan salt
- 1/4 tsp kelp
Instructions
To Feed Raw
- Grind the chicken heart and beef liver
- If you don’t have a grinder, chop the liver and heart into small cubes
- Puree the eggs, kale, broccoli, dandelion greens, berries, bone meal, pumpkin seed powder, salt and kelp in a food processor
- Mix the ground turkey, liver, heart and veggie/berry mix together
- Place the mixture into smaller containers and place them in your freezer
- Freeze the food in 1-3 day portions
Notes
We recommend feeding Safe-Sea daily to help balance your dog’s fatty acids. This will bring the omega-6/omega-3 ratio from 11:1 down to 7:1.
But don’t add any oil to the recipe directly. To reduce oxidation, you don’t want to expose the oil to oxygen for too long. Instead, give it daily with your dog’s meal.
IMPORTANT
The ingredients in this recipe have been carefully chosen to meet AAFCO minimum nutrition requirements for adult dogs. Don’t replace ingredients or vary the amounts too much … this may unbalance the food. The berries are optional but all other ingredients need to be in the recipe in the listed amounts.
How Much To Feed
Adult Dogs: In general, dogs should eat about 2-3% of their body weight daily in raw food. Here’s a rough guide for this recipe:
- 10 lb dog: Recipe will make a 22 day supply
- 25 lb dog: Recipe will make an 11 day supply
- 50 lb dog: Recipe will make a 6-7 day supply
- 75 lb dog: Recipe will make a 5-day supply
- 100 lb dog: Recipe will make a 4-day supply
Puppies: In general, puppies should eat about 2-3% of their expected adult body weight daily in raw food.
6. Raw/Whole/Wild/Regional/Seasonal Dog Food Recipe
RECIPE COURTESY OF GIANNI ORTIZ
- Level: Easy
- Total: 40 min
- Prep: 25 min
- Cook: 15 min
- Yield: this recipe serves 1 large dog for a month
Ingredients
Deselect All
2 pounds ground turkey
3/4 ground beef
2 tablespoons bone meal
1 tablespoon fenugreek
1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh rosemary leaves, use less if dried
1/4 cup marigold petals
1 cup roughly chopped parsley leaves
2 apples or 8 ounces fruit, no grapes or raisins, roughly chopped
1 squash, roughly chopped
2 carrots, roughly chopped
1 cup broccoli florets
1 cup dandelion greens
1/2 pound haddock, chopped into 1-inch squares
1/4 pound beef heart, chopped into 1-inch squares
1/4 pound liver, chopped into 1-inch squares
1/4 pound kidney, chopped into 1-inch squares
1/4 pound gizzards, chopped into 1-inch squares
1/4 pound beef fat, chopped into 1-inch squares
4 eggs
1/2 cup olive oil
4 cloves pressed garlic
1/2 cup dried organic seaweed, soaked and strained to remove the salt
2 cups chicken or beef stock, optional
Directions
- Put ground turkey and beef into a large mixing bowl. In a separate bowl combine bone meal, fenugreek, rosemary, marigold petals, and parsley, and mix well. Combine with the meat mixture. Use a food processor to grate apples, squash, and carrots. Add broccoli florets and dandelion greens and mix well. Add to the meat mixture. Combine haddock, beef heart, liver, kidney, gizzards, and beef fat and mix well. Add to the meat mixture. Combine eggs, olive oil, pressed garlic, and seaweed and mix well. Add to the meat mixture and thoroughly mix all the ingredients with your hands.
- Recipe can be served as is to dogs that are accustomed to a raw diet. Otherwise, make patties and poach them in chicken or beef stock.
- To serve either raw or poached, put a generous helping of the recipe into dog bowl, add 1 cup of high quality, meat-based kibble, 1 egg, 2 to 3 tablespoons of olive oil, and supplement with super foods: digestive enzymes, probiotics, co-enzyme q10, and wild blue green algae.
- Recipe can be made ahead and stored frozen in 1 week-sized containers.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1.What is the best raw nutrition for dogs?
Some of the best raw meat options for dogs include chicken, turkey, beef, and lamb. These meats are packed with nutrients that your dog needs to stay healthy and thrive
2. What raw food can dogs eat every day?
A balanced and nutritionally correct raw diet should consist of 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% organ meats – 5% liver. By feeding these ratios you can be sure your dog is getting 100% of the nutrients he needs.
3. What supplements make your dog gain weight?
Best Weight Gain Supplement for Dogs
- MVP K9 Formula Mass Weight Gainer for Dogs. …
- Dyne High-Calorie Weight Gainer Liquid. …
- Tomlyn Nutri-Cal High-Calorie Nutritional Gel for Dogs. …
- Miracle Vet High Calorie Weight Gainer. …
- Doc Roy’s Forti Cal High Calorie Nutritional Gel. …
- Buddy & Lola Dog Weight Gainer.
4. Can you overfeed a dog raw food?
It is very easy to overfeed your dog especially when raw feeding as it looks so little in the bowl. If you overfeed then your dog will probably self regulate and so may skip a meal.
5.Can I feed my dog raw twice a day?
While some people believe feeding once a day is best because it mimics how dogs ate in the wild, how often you feed your dog really comes down to what works best for you and your pup. In a recent poll, 75% of We Feed Raw customers said they feed their adult dogs twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.
Conclusion
In conclusion, dogs haver benefitted from eating raw food and even supplements, but before you give them any of these do well to contact your veterinarian.
They can assess your dog to determine if a raw diet will be suitable for them and can give you pointers on how to keep yourself and your dog safe.
