How to Start A Species Appropriate Raw Diet for Pets
Cold turkey! Dump the kibble or processed food and fast pup for 12 hours.
Then begin!
Food Sensitivities
Typically not sensitive to raw diets. However dogs and cats are very sensitive to the high sugar content and insulin spiking ingredients found in dry kibble food. A pet’s gut is not created to eat fillers, synthetic vitamin, minerals, fake foods and flavorings.
Once you pull your pets off processed foods and allow their guts to heal, they no longer are sensitive to foods.
Start with a protein you think your pup is not sensitive to. However in a few months you should be able to come back to that protein and feed without issues.
A Healthy gut and pup should be able to eat a species appropriate diet. Heal the gut and food sensitivities will dissapear. If pup vomits or has loose stools this indicates how unhealthy and toxic the body is. This will heal. This is NOT an indication they cannot eat raw. All dogs and cats are created to eat raw food. Give the body time to adjust to a species appropriate diet.
How Much to Feed Puppies and Adult Dogs
Puppies food amounts will change often until 68 weeks of age. No matter what a feeding chart says always feed according to your dogs body and how it looks. Feeding charts are just a loose guide.
If your pup is too thin you can bump up a couple of ounces a meal or if too heavy bump down a couple ounces per meal. Strive for an hourglass figure with no hips or rib bones showing. Adjust up or down according to your dogs body composition.
What to Order to Start?
We can make a recommendation (beef pmr, duck hvm and turkey blend) but any of the blends that are complete with bone and organ. (Which is the majority of our blends) this includes the Prey Model Raw – PMR PLUS, Prey Model 80/10/10 blends and the BARF Veggie Healthy Variety – HVM blends.
What is the PMR Blend?
Prey Model Raw is just another great blend but with 15% organ. Most all the PMR's have heart plus another 10% of organs. A great blend for all dogs. This is also our puppy blend. Puppies do need extra bone in their diet especially in the 4-6 months. So if poops aren't too hard, add a couple of duck feet, or duck head 1-2 times a week. Also remember get your Omega 3's in! Real fish like mackerel and sardines are great for the Omega 3’s!
Feeding Raw is Simple!
The goal for optimal health is a rotation, of models and proteins plus some great supplements (phytoplankton or probiotics like Love Bugs or Fido’s Flora).
What About Veggies?
We have the HVM Healthy Variety model. Along with the protein, bone and organ there are 7% fruits and veggies added into the mix. Some dogs like veggies and some don't. Try them all and see what your pup loves.
80/10/10 Prey Model Raw Blends – Cold Water Processed - Worry Free Blends
Cold Water Processing is produced with NO HEAT only pressure to eliminate any worrisome bacteria like ecoli, listeria and salmonella. Great blend if your pet health professional is afraid of the raw diet for dogs and cats!
If your pup is vomiting or having loose stools on a species appropriate diet it's just a tweak that's needed. We have helped thousands live a healthier happier life. Contact us today.
Which Should You Feed?
We recommend feeding all models – PMR, HVM and the 80/10/10 blends in a rotation of various proteins. All models have various proteins like: Duck, Beef, Turkey, Lamb, Pork and Chicken. Lots to choose from!
When to Rotate Proteins?
Rule of thumb is typically switch up at least every 2 weeks. However you can switch every meal if you desire! The key is not to keep feeding the same protein for months and months and months!
Can I Mix Raw and Kibble?
“Friends Don’t Let Friends Feed Kibble”
For good stools and a healthy gut – dump the processed foods. Kibble is processed and high in inflammatory ingredients and sugar. Yes all kibble is processed especially grain free, so called high end and prescription diets.
All kibble has synthetic vitamin and minerals that the body doesn’t utilize. Recently on our podcast “The Raw Dog Food Truth” Dr. Judy Morgan talked about how synthetic vitamin and minerals causes health issues in pets kidneys. Kibble has flavorings like salt, garlic, sugar and smoke. Dogs don’t need flavorings this is simply a human design. Flavorings contain dangerous ingredients like MSG!
If you do mix raw and kibble and your pup has digestive upset – immediately pull out the processed food/processed treats and you will see dramatic improvements.
When to Feed Boneless
Unless you are feeding lots of raw meaty bones don’t feed a boneless diet. Dogs and cats need real bone in their diet for the trace minerals and how they work synergistically with other food particles for pet’s top nutritional needs. In raw grinds the bones are raw, and easily digestible. NEVER FEED COOKED BONES!
Bone also helps bind phosphorus and move it out the body. If you want to lower the phosphorus level DON’T feed a boneless blend.
Feeding No Organ blends
Some breeds like Dalmatians have issues with purines but that is rare make sure you test your Dalmatian for this before pulling organs out of the diet. Most raw feeders feed organ less blends because they like to rotate various organs into the blends . Organs are the multi-vitamins in the raw diet for pets. We have many organ blends to choose from.
How Much Fish Can You Feed?
We suggest 3 full fish meals spread out over the week. Can you just put a couple of fish in with the blends throughout the week? Yes you can.
Which Omega 3’s Should You Include In Diet?
You need Omega 3’s in your pets diet for many reasons. Try our Sardines or Mackerel they are the best Omega 3’s packed with Vitamin D!
How to feed fish? Frozen or thawed. To thaw frozen fish simply place in bowl of water for 5 min. Yes, you feed heads, guts and all!
Add in Throughout Pets Raw Feeding Journey
Whole raw organic egg – up to 5 times a week on top of raw food. Raw meaty bones, a variety of whole food supplements and our single ingredient treats!
You can also add in extra stand-alone organs How much? Up to 20% in the whole diet if poops are solid.
More good stuff in our online store: Duck feet, duck heads, bison testicles, turkey necks, raw meaty bones and tripe are all fantastic!
What is Green Tripe?
Our stand-alone ground tripe and the tripe that is in many of our blends is a beef tripe which is the stomach of the cow. The benefits of green tripe are as follows: Omega 3 and Omega 6 balanced. Phosphorus and Calcium balanced and it has many added digestive enzymes, minerals and good bacteria. (Yes it’s stinky …but so good for your pup and cat!)
How Much Tripe Can You Add Into Other Blends?
Mix in anywhere from 10 – 30% tripe. You can even feed 2-3 straight green tripe meals a week! The determining factor is how are your pups poop? Too loose? Cut back on tripe.
Trouble Shooting
Raw Feeding Issues and Solutions
Pet Refuses Food:
- Switch up the proteins or blends!
- Warm on stove not microwave
- Add Green Tripe up to 30%
- Stop Mixing Kibble, or Processed
- Treats – Sugar and Additives are Addictive
- Feed in a Different Bowl, Different Time & Different Place in House
Pet Vomits
Most of the time it's simply a new protein. Rabbit and tripe for expample has fur in it. New raw eating pups may not have their guts ready for advanced foods like rabbit and tripe. Your pup is not sick from the food.
Let your pet eat the regurgitated food if desired.
If it’s a yellow foam it most likely acid production irritating the stomach lining. If this is happening late at night feed a snack before bedtime or feed later in the evening before going to bed.
If mixing kibble this is not recommended – Remove all processed foods.
Make sure your supplements do not have flavorings or fake vitamin and minerals. Make sure you are feeding a whole food or wholistic supplement.
Try Take all supplements out of diet – for at least a week
How long has your pet been eating raw? Digestive enzymes may not be fully engaged if your pet is new to raw. Give it 5 days and add in the Healthy Gut Supplement.
Try warming the food – cold food can cause regurgitation. If they do regurgitate let them eat the food.
Is your pet on medications or antibiotics? These cause stomach upset.
Has your pet recently had a vaccine? These cause adverse digestive reactions.
Are there stressful situations like moving, a divorce, marriage or baby coming soon?
Pets get stressed too.
Could be too much fat in the blend. If you are feeding a blend that is over 13% fat you may want to switch to a blend that is 10% fat for a while. Dogs do need fat in the diet but make sure you feed a combination of higher and lower fat. For example feed a lower fat 10-12 percent 50% of the time as well.
Runny Stools
Boneless blends can cause loss stools. Bone is essential to the diet. If not giving additional raw meaty bones or duck feet, duck heads or consumable bones your pets could be experiencing runny stools.
Have you recently added more organs to the blends? Cut back on the organs – try just 10%.
Is your pup eating dairy or supplements? Cut out both until stools are back to normal.
Are you feeding too much tripe or treats? Cut back until stools are back to normal.
Make sure you have a minimum of 10% ground real bone in diet.
If stools do not improve in 5-7 days on a new blend of raw with the appropriate amount of fat and bone contact either Nealy Piazza Certified Pet Health Professional or Dr. Judy Jasek, DVM.
Hard Stools
Add a little more organs or green tripe.
Give a little less consumable bones.
Feed blends with a 10% bone content.
All dogs and cats are created to eat a species appropriate diet. If your pet isn’t able to eat a raw diet this is not normal. We can help! We have helped thousands of dogs feel better, look better live better! We can help you too!
