August
2008
The Primal Diet for Dogs
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Primal Pooches
We imagine many of our readers are strict adherents to the Primal Blueprint. You’re downing almonds by the bushel, guzzling fish oil, and avoiding grains like the plague, but what are you feeding Fido? Our bodies have had over ten thousand years to get used to agrarianism – and the stuff is still killing us! Commercial kibble has only been around for fifty years. Imagine how dogs feel.
Consider the wolf, a dog’s closest relative. Wolves are hunters and scavengers, relying primarily on animal protein. They are not, however, accomplished chefs. Check out a wolf’s den. No pots, no pans, no range stove. Not even a salt shaker. They were on the raw diet before it became hip. You won’t see wolves feasting on Purina; they eat raw meat, and lots of it.
Genetically, dogs are virtually still wolves. They weren’t even domesticated until 15,000 years ago. So, for some 5,000 years the furry guys were tagging along with hunter-gatherers, munching on the leftovers: meaty bones, organ meat, maybe a bit of mammoth rib-eye (if they were lucky). They were scavengers – like their wolf ancestors – and they flourished as our utilitarian companions. Why else did we keep ‘em around for so long? Sure, eating our leftovers may not have been the optimum doggy diet, but it was certainly better than the dry, over-processed sawdust that passes for dog food today. Modern dogs are pampered softies. Store-bought dog “food” works for them because they don’t do much more than sit around and sleep.
And does commercial dog food really work? Well, it certainly keeps them fat and alive. On the same token, the Western grain-based diet keeps us fat and alive, too, but we all know how we feel about that. Just as Big Pharma’s tendency to prescribe expensive band-aids masks the insidious nature of modern nutrition, so too does the veterinary community give the impression that cancer, bone disorders, and other canine illnesses just happen to man’s best friend. Nutrition, according to them, has little to do with it. But just in case it does, they just so happen to sell an expensive kibble – Science Diet, Nutra-Max, or whatever garbage their corporate sponsors have paid them to promote – that will fulfill all of your dog’s dietary needs. What luck!
Before you listen to the vet, check out the ingredients on the package. For you Primal Blueprinters, the results will shock you. You’ll see stuff like lamb meal, ground rice, wheat, corn, sorghum – and that’s for the premium brands! Why would you feed a carnivore grains? Somehow, we doubt wolves were out there shucking corn and harvesting rice. And just what is lamb meal? From Wikipedia, it is “the dry rendered part from mammal tissues, prepared for feeding purposes by tanking under live steam or dry rendering.” After all that processing, what little remaining nutritional value of the “meat” cannot possibly counterbalance the filler ingredients. The dog gets full, and even happy (hey, we all know that dogs will eat anything with a stupid smile on their faces), but the nutritional deficit adds up. You can stick with the kibble, but prepare yourself for a lifetime of vet bills, doggie dental bills (the most preventable expense ever), and vast amounts of smelly stool.
The truth is following a Primal Blueprint for dogs is the best way to ensure happy, healthy dogs. Best of all, you’re already used to preparing your own Primal-friendly meals, so the transition to a specialized dog diet shouldn’t be a huge leap. It’s easy, too: no cooking, no seasoning, no prepping. Just look at what wolves eat (read: any meat they can get their paws on) and go from there.
The Chow
A Primal diet for dogs should consist mainly of organ meat, raw meaty bones (like chicken carcasses or turkey necks), and muscle meat, naturally and humanely-raised if you can swing it – just like us! Really, any animal product is acceptable. Wolves ate a wide range of animals, but it’s probably unrealistic to feed your dog antelope, elk, and deer on a regular basis. Some pretty affordable options include:
• Turkey: necks, backs, wings, drumsticks, gizzards, hearts
• Chicken: carcasses, backs, necks, legs, wings, organs, eggs
• Whole, oily fish: sardines, herring, anchovies, mackerel
• Beef: stew meat, ground chuck, organs, marrow bones
Dogs don’t need filet mignon to lead happy, healthy lives. The first things wolves go for are the organs of a fresh kill. They prefer the cheaper, fattier, more nutrient-dense meats, and sticking to them makes it possible to feed your dogs grass and range-fed animal products.
The Transition
Going from traditional kibble to raw feed can be a little unnerving for newbies. Try to resist the impulse to do a half-kibble/half-raw dietary transition. This will only confuse the dog’s digestive system and lead to explosive diarrhea. Remember – you’re not switching kibble, you’re replacing poison with real food! Go cold turkey (pun intended). Puppies are blank slates and will take to the diet immediately, but older dogs may need a couple days to get used to the new food. Prepare for detox if your dog’s been on kibble for awhile. Vomiting, diarrhea, bad breath, and itchy skin are all par for the course. Don’t worry… ride it out!
Stick to fairly basic foods at first, like turkey and chicken necks. Dogs love to gnaw and chew bones, so this will come natural to them. If your dog’s a gulper (and most reformed kibble eaters are), hold the bones for them while they eat to promote proper chewing. Once they’ve figured out how to chew, you can start adding different meats.
The Benefits
To truly see the benefits, you have to try the diet out for yourself. Results tell the tale, but some common benefits include:
• Shiny, soft coats: the Primal diet for dogs will imbue your pal with a beautiful luster. Heads will turn at the dog park; you better get yours spayed unless you want a promiscuous, irresponsible single mother on your hands. Fish oil supplementation makes this even more noticeable.
• Pearly whites: eating clean food and chewing raw bones will clear up any plaque deposits and leave your dog’s teeth gleaming.
• Lower vet bills: eating food the dog is evolutionarily designed to eat will take care of the allergies and minor illnesses that account for most vet visits.
• Lower costs: buying wholesale and shopping for bones and organ meats are actually considerably less expensive than purchasing “premium” commercial dog food.
• A happy, long-living best friend: the oldest dog on record was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who dined exclusively on kangaroo and emu. Your dog will live a healthier, fuller life on a Primal diet.
• Firm, odorless poop: on a raw, Primal diet, dogs waste little of what they eat. That means stool is small, hard, and without much odor. It also turns into white powder after a day or so, making cleanup effortless. Also, the added strain of passing hard stool will naturally express your dog’s anal glands, rendering another expensive vet trip obsolete.
Common Concerns
Don’t dogs choke on bones?
Not on raw ones. Cooked bones splinter, and they can get lodged in a dog’s throat. Raw bones are pliable, and the calcium content is absolutely integral to a dog’s health. Plus, chewing bones keeps the teeth clean. No more astronomical dental bills!
What about food-borne bacteria? Isn’t raw meat dangerous?
Wolves seem to do just fine eating days-old carrion. Dogs’ stomachs are equipped to handle bacteria in much the same fashion, so don’t worry about contamination. Still, humans are vulnerable, so wash up!
What if my dog is constipated?
Again, the straining is actually good for your dog. But if it absolutely refuses to come out, a little raw canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) will do the trick. Raw pumpkin also firms loose stools.
How much should I feed?
Let’s use a sixty-pound retriever mix as an example. Assuming it gets plenty of exercise, feeding about a pound and a half to two pounds of assorted meats and bones is plenty. Everything varies from dog to dog, of course. If you can’t feel its ribs, reduce the food. If its ribs are a little too prominent, feed more.
Just meat?
Vegetables can be added to your dog’s diet. In fact it is recommended. Carrots are fun to crunch, and broccoli, spinach, and celery can be ground up and added to a mixture of ground meat. Supplementing with fish oil is also recommended for a shiny, healthy coat.
Have Fun
Have fun with it. Your dog is an incredibly eager eater, and watching the transformation is a true joy to behold. Go slowly and listen to your instincts as a Primal eater yourself.
Do you have dogs you feed a Primal diet? If not, are you thinking about making the switch? Hit us up with a comment and share your stories!
Kamia The Wolf, storm gal, This Year’s Love, Crocodillicus, tanakawho, NiteLynx Flickr Photos (CC)
Further Reading:
The Definitive Guide to Primal Eating (for Humans)
My little wolf (toy poodle) follows the primal diet.
My dog snappy love chicken, so I give him raw chicken!
for an excellent - science based discussion about myths and truths about feeding you dog (same applies to cats too) this is the best site so far:
http://rawfed.com/myths/
my old dog was put on a carnivorous raw meat and bone diet 5 years ago - she never looked back - at 14 and still going strong
our new pup took to it no problem - we look forward to a long vet-bill-free life
markus
This doesn’t apply just to dogs, the same thing goes for cats. I had a cat who was having bladder issues (which can get quite costly and quickly be life threatening) and the research I did on line all pointed to a raw meat diet with certain supplements being the best answer, the commercial “urinary tract health” diets not being as helpful as claimed by the manufacturer and veterinarians. I never did get a chance to go 100% raw with him as we no longer have the kitty, stress seemed to be a trigger and I figured moving to Europe from Texas would be stressful, and force him to have to hold his urine (another no-no). Hopefully his new owners are at least keeping him on wet food if they haven’t gone raw. Anyway, here is a link with more info:
http://www.catnutrition.org/index.php
[...] picture the actual components of what I’m eating (couldn’t hurt to do the same for the pets, either), and the long-term cost savings are [...]
I am curious about where people feed their dogs raw chicken. I know my dog would leave chicken residue all over the house.
I feed my dog anything ‘gross’ outside; oxtails, tongue, bones, whatever all goes out the back door for him.
Thank you for this post, I hate that so many people feed their pets this garbage and genuinely don’t know the harm they’re doing. Why do people not stop to ask, “Why would a dog need medication?” or “Why would a cat be obese?”
Another excellent post! The most amazing thing is I myself just made this realization on my own about 3 weeks ago. I thought about how they say you should never, Never, EVER give your dog table scraps because it’s bad for them. Well, I realized that it depends what exactly you’re giving them. If you are giving them donuts, pizza crust and cake, then they are going to get fat and require some medication. Hmmmmm…… isn’t that EXACTLY what happens to humans too if you eat like that?
There are arguments as to whether a human diet is supposed to be animal based or a diet that is varied with less emphasis on meat. I happen to believe that a human diet is definitely supposed to be animal based, but the point is that there can be no argument about the fact that a canine diet is supposed to be animal based. I’ve since started giving my buddy any meat and fat scraps we have and he gobbles them down like you wouldn’t believe!
Thanks again for another great post!
Great post! Also, dogfoodanalysis.com is a good resource for dog food critiques. All of their highest rated foods are high in quality protein and grain free. My basenji (African hound) does very well on Evo by Natura Pet. It’s not raw but it’s the next best thing.
“Our bodies have had over ten thousand years to get used to agrarianism – and the stuff is still killing us!”
Are you flipping kidding me? I guess that’s why people regularly live into their 90s and 100s–because our food is killing us…
I want to thank Nancy for the cat food link. I have a siamese that became allergic to many things a year ago. After all the testing and predinose pills I am looking for a better way. I don’t like her being on the drug, but everything in the stores and special diets by vets have things in them that bother her. Thanks again Nancy.
Even if your dog is doing “okay” on regular dog food, switching to feeding them a diet better suited to their system is going to show a tremendous improvement.
(Except that now I’ve got a dog who’s hooked on yams. Something about them really satisfies her sweet tooth!)
Great post! I’ve been feeding my 5 month old Rotti a raw diet since we got him at 6 weeks old and he is triving. But I do have a question, other then fish oil you don’t suggest any other vitamins or minerals. I’ve been adding the “healthy powder” that I make according to Dr Pitcarins recipe found in his book. My concern is the quality of meats found today and I can’t aways afford the organic meats. Any further information will be greatly appreciated.
My two little dogs have been on grass-fed raw pet food (from US Wellness meats in Mo.) for about a year now and they love it. Since one is old and one has been injured, I add shark cartlidge to it and they gobble!! They also get Seagate’s shark liver oil once a day which they also gobble! Dogs are much smarter than people!
I did not know about raw chicken, but will surely try it now that I do. My littlest one loves to chew on bones, but has had to rely on the grass-fed steaks I could afford to buy for myself in order to get any bones for her! I will not buy them from the local grocery stores.
Humans aren’t living longer because of their current diet, but in spite of it. We have managed to eliminate or control most of the diseases that use to kill hundred/thousands of people at a time. The asian diet consists of a lot of raw foods (including raw fish), and they are traditionally longer lived & in better health than we are. Our children are obese–children!…no, our current diet isn’t why we are living longer. Like the old saying goes: if I’d known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself. Start now, not later
This diet is for fools. Raw chicken bones will kill your dog. Dogs are NOT carnivores. Dogs ARE in fact, omnivores. Therefore to have a healthy and balanced dog, you MUST include vegetables, and grains in your dogs diet.In fact, with many dogs, food allergies are often present. Many dogs actually require low protein diets. High protein diets can cause your dog to not recieve enough nutrition from its food, and this can cause the dog to eat its own feces, in an attempt to acquire enough.
If you love your dog, do NOT take any of this advice on this site, and consult your vet before altering your dogs diet.
The author of this article didnt do his/her homework, and should NOT be reccomending any sort of advice on canine diet.
ear anon:dog trainer.
I can see why you want to stay “anon”. The only fool in this group my friend is you! I do include veggies & grains in my dogs ALL RAW diet and they are doing just GREAT!
Time for you to find a blog that agrees with you.
anon dog trainer,
Wow, thanks for pointing us in the right direction! I had no idea that my dogs ancestors had mastered the art of growing, harvesting and preparing grains for use as food. Could you please, Please, PLEASE give us a link that shows where you got your information from so that we can all become enlightened.
You’ve never heard of sprouted grains? I grow them on my kitchen counter and they are much the same as the greens wild animals tear from trees and shrubs where they live.
You’ve become obnoxious and I will reply no more!
There is a lot of confusion about a species appropriate diet for dogs.
The “why” is that we have crossed the line between science and prolific
industry propaganda. Since the 1950s vast sums of money have been
poured into shaping public perception because the profits are enormous.
Not to mention that “we the people” have a tendency towards
anthropomorphism, and convenience is a driving force.
For unbiased scientific information see the “Ol’ Shep’s Plight: Diet”
article at: http://achinook.squarespace.com/
There is also a “lighter” fabricated “Dr. P. Kibble Interview.”
My best to you and yours,
Lee C
The persistence of varied views seen here has more to do with the “quality” of research employed, and not recognizing the potential shortcomings of our mental facilities in arriving at “beliefs,” than it does on the extent of unbiased scientific support. For a better explanation see the article:
http://achinook.squarespace.com/journal/2008/10/11/mankinds-achilles-heel.html
My best to you and yours,
Lee C