Raw Feeding Cheat Sheet
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
Dogs and cats are very sensitive to the high sugar content and insulin spiking ingredients found in dry kibble food. Our pet’s guts were not made to eat fillers, synthetic vitamin, minerals and flavorings.
Once you pull your pets off processed foods and allow their guts to heal, they no longer are sensitive to foods.
WATCH OUR NEW FEEDERS WEBINAR HERE
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.
Healthy guts should be able to eat a species appropriate diet. Get the gut right and food will no longer be an issue.
How Much to Feed Adult Dogs 68 Weeks and Older?
Go to our easy adult feeding calculator.
We begin by calculating 2.5% of pet’s best body weight. (2.5% is the amount of food for the whole day). Feed this amount for approximately 2 weeks.
If your pup is too thin you can bump up to 3% of body weight or if too heavy bump down to 2% per day. 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?
Any of the blends that have bone and organ included. (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 with 15% organ. Great blend for all dogs. This is also our puppy blend. But puppies need extra bone in their diet especially in the 4-6 months. So add a few duck feet, or duck heads a couple times a week. Also remember the fish like mackerel and sardines or oily fish for Omega 3’s!
The key is rotation, variety and a few key 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 10% fruits and veggies in the mix.
80/10/10 Prey Model Raw Blends
Excellent blends with 10% organ and 10% bone. Many of these also contain tripe (stomach of the cow) rich with digestive enzymes and omega 3 & 6 balance and calcium – phosphorus balance.
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?
Wait until your pup or cat is eating well and poops are nice and firm until switching proteins. Rule of thumb is typically switch up at least every 2 weeks. However you can switch every meal if you do desire once they are established on raw. The key is not to keep on 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.
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. Why do you need flavorings? To get a dog to eat what they normally wouldn’t. 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.
Only feed pure non processed treats. Find great choices here!
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.
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 or Thread Herring 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!
For those dogs that don’t like fish, Phytoplankton is a whole food and right up there with our top picks for Omega 3’s. Look in our supplements category its called Phyto-synergy. Just sprinkle on your pups food for maximum nutrition!
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.
Add in These Throughout the Week!
Whole raw organic egg – 5 times a week on top of raw food.
Extra stand-alone organs (up to 20% in the whole diet) if your blend has 15% organs then only add another 5%. Keep liver at 10%.
Extra good stuff in our catalogue: Duck feet, duck heads, bison testicles, and tripe are all fantastic!
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!
Trouble Shooting
RDFCO sells only pure raw pet food that does NOT contain any additives, premixes, HPP, 3D or 4D Meats, or flavorings.
Why pure raw food has to have a label that states “For Supplemental Feeding Only” This basically means we don’t (and won’t) add all the premixes, synthetic vitamin and minerals, flavorings and premixes that is regulated by AAFCO for kibble dog food does.
Read the full explanation regarding Supplemental Feeding Only in our learning center.
Our species appropriate food contains only the animal protein, bone and fat. Some blends also have 10% fruits and veggies and some blends have additional green tripe, double proteins or fish added.
Bad batches are extremely rare to NEVER in the raw food industry. Recalls in the RAW pet food industry are not due to sick pets or sick people. Recalls in the RAW pet food industry are because there is a zero tolerance for bacteria. Good or bad! Do you know how important bacteria is to all living beings included me and you?
The bacteria issue is in regards to human health. The question is how do humans survive handling their own raw meat or chicken? The answer to the fear about bacteria in raw pet food is handle your raw pet food like your raw human food.
Listen to The Raw Dog Food Truth Podcast with DeDe Murcer Moffett CEO of Raw Dog Food and Co and Dr. Judy Jasek, DVM Raw Feeder Specializing in Cancer Prevention and Cancer Treatment, Digestive Issues and Gut Health
If you have additional health questions or concerns or would like to work with our pet health professionals they welcome your call or email.
Dr. Judy Jasek, DVM – Holistic and Cancer Prevention Vet
Specializing in Raw Feeding, Minimal Vaccines and Antibiotics, Holistic Treatment of Digestive and Skin Issues in Pets.
Nealy Piazza Certified Raw Feeding Consultant & Canine and Pet Health Professional
Specializing in Raw Feeding, Improving Gut Health and Starting Puppies On the Raw Diet.
Raw Feeding Issues and Solutions
Pet Refuses Food:
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
Try a different protein or blend.
Pet Vomits
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 – Remove 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.
Read Why Dogs Vomit From Bones and Raw Food
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.
Does your pet eat too fast? – Feed in a slow feeder bowl.
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. Dogs need fat in the diet. Yes you can feed a higher fat blend but make sure you also feed a lower fat 10-12 percent 50% of the time as well.
Runny Stools
Boneless blends cause loss stools if you are not giving additional raw meaty bones or duck feet, duck heads or consumable bones.
Have you added more organs to the blends? Cut back on the organs.
Are you giving 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.
Healthy dogs are meant to eat a species appropriate diet. If your pet isn’t able to eat a raw diet please contact one of our pet health experts today. We have helped thousands of dogs feel better, look better live better! We can help you too!
