The Primal Diet for Dogs
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)
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Posted By: Worker Bee
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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
I am curious about where people feed their dogs raw chicken. I know my dog would leave chicken residue all over the house.
in answer to a mess around the house from raw bones/meat, it is a good idea to either have one spot on a ceramic floor (easy to clean and not porous) or in a kennel, crate. you can easily clean that area with an antibacterial soap.
or, if you have a yard, your dog will love the benefit of having their own space to chew on their bone.
also, cleaning the dogs mouth and paws with a white vinegar/water solution is recommended. this kills bacteria just as well as bleach does and is not harmful to your pet.
keep this solution handy in a bottle along with paper towels after each feeding.
this diet becomes easier as time passes.
it is so worth the time put in!
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
I have just started my labradoodle on the raw diet. My concern is his beard and ears in the raw meat. Should I worry?
Hi Joy,
A clothepin on the fur (not the flesh) of my cocker spaniels ears held them up while she ate and a wet paper towel cleaned the beard of my brussels griffon after she ate. Probably no need, but I worried about “rotten” meat too, so I soothed my worried mind with these extra measures.
Hope your labrodoodle does as well on this diet as mine are doing!
Thanks so much! I will do just as you suggested! So far so good, except Maxx plays with the chicken bones and roles in them:) But he sure seems happy so we will keep moving forward with the new way of feeding. Thanks for the reply
I haven’t went raw because of the difficulty traveling while feeding it however I have switched to high protein, grain free Orijen and my dogs are doing great on it!
Thanks for the article Mark.
btw the link to the wiki is broken
here is the real one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bluey_(Australian_cattle_dog)
That dog lived for 29 years! Wow.
Great article, thank you
We have a Dal. Dalmatians are prone to bladder infections, it turns out. What do you think about adding raw cranberries in with the meat? Or will switching her to a raw diet eliminate the need for cranberry “supplementation”?
I put raw pumpkin in my dogs “mix” to prevent diahrrea and/or constipation and it is working really well, so I bet cranberries would do just fine for your Dal! I would puree them so your dog won’t get a full “blast” of the sourness!
My mim pin started on a raw diet at 12 weeks old. I got nervous of the chicken necks because she’s only 5lbs, so I just feed the pre-pared raw foods at my local raw food dog store. They’re frozen in individual trays by the day, so it’s super easy. I add in salmon rolls as a chew toy, instead of the chicken necks, as well as Tripe once a day.
This dog eats better than I do!
After our last dog developped allergies and licked off all his fur and had to be put down, I no longer feed SAWDUST! I wanted to be sure my newe puppy didn’t develop allergies eitehr! Most dogs are ALLERGIC to wheat and corn!
People are so brainwashed by marketing!
“I haven’t went raw because of the difficulty traveling while feeding it however I have switched to high protein, grain free Orijen and my dogs are doing great on it!”
I had mine on Orijen for a few weeks while I was away to make it easier on the dogsitter… her poop STINKED and she was thirsty all the time, peed all the time!
So happy to have her back on raw!
I made the switch to feeding my dog a completely raw diet about 6 years ago, after reading the compelling evidence.
She’s a bit sensitive to lamb and salmon, but she does fine with chicken, turkey, bison, venison, rabbit. Loves it mixed with kale, spinach, apples, carrots, berries – all mixed together in the food processor. Oh and she loves tripe. It’s a ‘treat’ about once a week. I still gag everytime I open the package, the smell is so bad!
I used to prepare everything myself, but now have an excellent pet food store in the neighbourhood that specializes in 100% organic raw food and the farm it comes from is less than 50 miles from home.
Hi, i have a 10 month old APBT, and his stools are HORRENDOUS!! Even the gas he passes is deadly. I feed him Nature’s Choice puppy food and i dont like the soft feces he passes. Its also very light colored. He about 70 lbs and i am extremely anxious to start him on a raw diet. I just need a few tips on how to start him on it!
my shih-tzu pup is on raw diet and loving it! question: grains or no grains.What do you suggest for morning meal? she gets turkey, beef, chicken for dinner and we are going to try bison, buffalo and veal. We have very good supplier in our area.
Another web site suggested oatmeal with either banana, raw honey and bee pollen, kelp. She doesn’t like the oatmeal Coco loves blueberries, carrots, non fat yogurt. Will try broccoli and just purchased beef bones as snack. I want the best for her and would like to know if you recommend supplements and if so which ones. The confusing aspect is Coco is only 19 lbs and the amoumt to feed her is hard for me to figure.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Stella
Your shih-tzu has no need for grains. Despite what the blowhard above said, dogs are carnivores and not omnivores. They also don’t need fruits and vegetables, but you’re not going to hurt them by giving them some produce. The grains however are a complete waste of time and counter-productive. If you’re going to feed grains then you could just use the junk kibble.
As far as figuring out how much to feed you can generally go by feel as the article says. If your dog starts to lose weight, feed a little more. If he starts to get heavy, feed less. If you’d like something a bit more scientific though feed him 2-3% of his ideal body weight every day. So if 19 pounds is what he should be at then you’re looking at a third to a bit more than a half pound of food per day.
Good luck and keep it up! Your dog will thank you even if a few humans won’t get it.
Hi I have done sooooooo much research on the raw food diet sussed out the pro’s and cons and realise all the con’s come from miss-informed individuals who have tried this diet. ALL the pro’s have been made by well informed people who have fist hand experience in the fantastic effects of this diet,many of these are veterinarians and dog trainers who recommend this diet over any other. Some reading that I have had the pleasure of are the books from Dr Ian Billinghurst, there are also tons of websites!
Hello everyone, could someone please tell me why the first sustenance wolves and lions eat from their kills are partially digested vegetation contained in the stomachs’ of their kills, and then of course they eat the meat. Is it also true that wolfs and lions don’t produce enough digestive enzymes naturally to break down vegetation. Perhaps this could be why dogs don’t digest vegetables well and by lightly cooking them we help the dog digest it better. I noticed my dogs will eat grass and its roots, and they will also eat clay from time to time.
To answer Susan:
Sounds like you’ve been reading more of industry initiated misinformation
) I’m currently trying to write a book about canine natural care, so I’ve accumulated loads of research. Too much to include here, but as to your initial mistaken point you might try reading “Wolves: Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation” by L. David Mech et al. In chapter 4 “The Wolf as a Carnivore” on pages 123 and 124 you will find the following quotes (along with many many unbiased scientific references):
“Wolves usually tear into the body cavity of large prey and…consume the larger internal organs, such as lungs, heart, and liver. The large rumen [, which is one of the main stomach chambers in large ruminant herbivores,]…is usually punctured during removal and its contents spilled. The vegetation in the intestinal tract is of no interest to the wolves, but the stomach lining and intestinal wall are consumed, and their contents further strewn about the kill site.”
“To grow and maintain their own bodies, wolves need to ingest all the major parts of their herbivorous prey, except the plants in the digestive system.”
The mucus membranes in the stomach lining are important sources of fatty acids in the wolf diet. The stomach lining, known as “green” tripe is an item that natural feeders try to get a little of into their domestic wolves’ diet.
Hope this answers your question,
Lee C
I completely agree with this post, Mark! You’ve got it.
An interesting story, though; my mother has problems keeping her Golden Retriever out of the garden. She picks Mom’s sweet corn, shucks it and eats the corn right off the cob. She loves it! She should still have raw meat only, but because she’s kept outside, where she belongs, she can get her own veggie intake if she wants it.
I have a toy poodle that loves tomatoes. She will test the ripeness by smell and by bumping it with her nose. She will wait to eat them until they are ripe. She guards the plants and will chase the other dogs away when they get near.
Does anyone have any experience with their dogs urine concentration on a raw diet? I have quite a few dogs and most have low sediment/concentration of their urine. Some vets have told me that it is NOT normal for a dog to have low concentration but Im wondering if thats cuz they have very little experience with Raw diet.
Any info on this topic?
thanks!
I noted some time back that a book was in the works. That book is now published as “Ol’ Shep’s Well-being: A Natural Perspective”
)
The author Euan Fingal has offered up a free ebook (pdf) to try to help us understand how we might improve our well-being and that of our domestic animals in general, but especially that of our canine companions. The book brings together ample unbiased natural sciences evidence, and the experiences of many naturally oriented caregivers, to clear a convincing swath through the propaganda surrounding well-being, and the misguided understandings it fosters.
To learn more about the book, and to download it, see the journal entry:
http://www.achinook.com/journal/2009/6/18/ol-sheps-well-being-a-natural-perspective.html
Incidentally, the previous Ol’ Shep articles have been superseded by the book, which is much more comprehensive, and more thoroughly researched, referenced, and reviewed.
Relative to the topic of this blog (diet, which is only part of all the book addresses): What it all comes down to is that to deny that a natural species appropriate diet is a necessary component for natural, optimal well-being, is to deny nature—i.e. the evolution of a species, and its optimal, natural diet [in the true scientific sense].
My best to you and yours,
Lee C
Lee, this is a great link, and I’m so happy to have found it (and thank you for posting!). I read extensively as a ‘hobbyist’ about the topics covered in this document, and it’s great to find such a condensed piece covering all it does.
Thanks for this, Mark (I know I’m coming in really late!)…I’ve fed a carnivore-appropriate diet to my five dogs and one cat for nearly 9 years now.
FWIW, chicken is not one of the better protein sources for dogs….low in a lot of essential nutrients. Turkey is a much better choice in the fowl department, and overall red meats (beef, pork, deer, moose, elk, some lamb) are much better choices for dogs.
All my puppy buyers are required to feed a raw diet, and they all do so with interest, understanding and enthusiasm!
Great article. I am feeding our 2 dogs a species appropriate raw food diet. They love it and so do we. It does seem strange at first- seeing them cruch bones, but it does work. TexasOrganicHome is my GREEN blog.
Great article. I began researching raw when the pet food recalls started a few years back. Both my 15lb minpin as well as my 110lb presa canario are thriving on raw. On a typical day at my house they eat raw chicken necks, some organ meat, a little yogurt or cottage cheese, a small amount of veggies (usually carrots, broccolli, kale, or green beans) as well as fish oil and solid gold seameal. They LOVE bananas as a treat. My favorite thing about this diet is that I can feed them something different daily if I choose and they NEVER have bowel issues. One day I can feed beef, the next, turkey, the next fish, and so on. Variety is certainly not something you can get away with when feeding dry dog food without some serious tummy upset. The health aspect is priceless. Their teeth are cleaner than ever, no more tarter or bad breath, shiny coats, solid stools, not to mention I no longer use any flea or tick preventative and I strongly beleive that their immune systems are stronger than ever which is why they stay parasite free. A raw diet is absolutly the most healthy thing you can do for your dog. The benefits are endless. I will NEVER feed my animals anything sold in the pet isle of the supermarket ever again. I wish more people would educate themselves and give thier pets a longer, happier, healthier life with a raw diet.
I have a 20lb chihuahua terrier mix who suffers from seizures, her vet did find she has low thyroid function. Ive never put her on meds and am really looking into transitioning her to a raw diet as a way to control/prevent these seizures. Im hoping this will be a better way for to get the vitamins and minerals that she might not be getting from her current diet, any suggestions or info on raw diets for dogs with seizures?
I have a 13 year old cattle dog mix. He developed seizures at age 3 1/2 (when my first child was born). I believe the seizures are emotional but also related to rawhide chews. We had him on phenobarbitol but I took him off it a few year later when read it would damage his liver. I switched him to a raw meat diet over 6 years ago. I purchase an oat mix from Sojourner’s dog food. We buy hamburger in bulk from the warehouse store and freeze it in serving-size lumps. The meat and oats get mixed with water. He immediately had better breath. Now he only gets seizures during thunderstorms and July 4th. His health isn’t perfect. I have considered easing back on the oats and upping the meat percentages.
My vet didn’t understand why I feed him raw meat. I tried to enlighten her and she was polite, at least. Whenever anyone asks, I always answer: “dogs don’t cook in the wild”.
There is a dog nutrition guideline called BARF, which stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. When I read about it many years ago, you had to do all the shopping and preparation. Now it seems there are companies willing to sell you BARF packages.