Build A Raw Diet With 6 Simple Steps

RESOURCES & LINKS:
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Now, I'm going to go over the 6 steps now, but if you want a more in depth review of any of the steps, just watch the videos in this playlist or series or check out the resources. I've set it up like a Raw Feeding 101 course to help you build the safest and most nutritious raw diet possible. OK, so the first step is to make sure there's not too much fat. Fat is an important part of the raw diet - but it's also nutrient poor. So a diet that contains too much fat will be one that's low in vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients. How much fat is too much? Anything over 15% will mean your dog gets twice as many calories from fat as protein and that will be a problem - he'll either need to eat too much food to get enough nutrients - or he won't get enough nutrients! Bu don't skimp on the fat either - if there's too little fat in the diet, you'll start to see itchy skin and a harsh, brittle coat. So aim for about 10 - 15% fat and not much more - and this includes any oils you add to the food. If you're not sure how much fat is in your dog's food, check out the resources in the video description for more information.

The next important step is to get the minerals right. Along with enzymes, minerals are like little keys that turn on all of the important processes in your dog like making hormones or energy. So if your dog doesn't get enough minerals, things can go really wrong really fast. But don't let that scare you, it's pretty easy to get the minerals right - you just need to feed your dog bones as a mineral source. But you do need to give the right amount of bone and that's about 12-15% of his diet. Now most of the bones we would feed raw dogs - things like turkey necks or chicken backs - they all contain meat and not just bone. So to get the right amount of bone, feed meaty bones as about 1/3 to 1/2 of your dog's meals … the bonier they are, the less you need to feed. And again, I'll have a link in the resources below - just click it and I've got a list of bone content in common bones to help you out and there's also a more in-depth video in this playlist.

OK, so now that you've got enough of the major minerals from bone, the next step is to add some trace minerals and vitamins. And the best sources of these nutrients is organ meats. The organs are Mother Nature's multivitamins so don't skimp on them … because most people do. You'll see a lot of raw guides that say to feed 10% organ meat, but that's not enough. Most animals are about 25% organ meat - and each organ has unique nutrients so you need to find as many as you can. Now the organs you absolutely must have in the raw diet are liver and heart. 5-10% of your dog's diet should be liver and 2-5% should be heart. But don't stop there - add kidney, spleen, pancreas and even lung, brain, eyes, sweetbread and green tripe. If you can get a few of these organs, add them to your dog's meals as another 5-10%. Just be sure to add them slowly because the super rich organs can cause diarrhea if your dog isn't used to them.

OK, the next step is to balance the fats because too much of some fats can be harmful for your dog. So you need to limit the amount of two fats in your dog's diet: Saturated fats and omega-6 fats.

Saturated fats are mainly found in beef and red meats … and while your dog needs them, if he eats too many of them, they will start to cause unwanted changes in his gut bacteria. Since these little bugs control his immune system, we don't want to mess with them. So the easiest way to balance out the saturated fats is to feed both red meats and poultry. Poultry is richer in polyunsaturated fats and this will balance out the saturated fats. Now if your dog has food sensitivities and can't eat poultry or pork, then you can feed grass finished beef which is much lower in saturated fats - or you can feed rabbit, which is a nice low fat choice. So now that you've got the saturated fats in check, you need to look at the omega-6 fats. These are pro-inflammatory fats that need to be balanced with anti-inflammatory omega-3 fats.

Thanks for watching!

[romansblessed]

I began feeding raw to my Toy Poodles and Chihuahuas, years ago. I was showing the Toy Poodles, and whenever the topic of food was brought up in conversation with other breeders, they would look at me like I was nuts! I now own a grooming salon, and the I get the same response from my clients, when they ask me what I recommend feeding. People usually think of feeding large breeds a raw diet, but they can't imagine a toy breed eating raw! I try my best to explain, that their tiny dogs still share the same physical makeup as large breeds, and are carnivores who would benefit from a diet change. Most of these owners feed grocery store kibble, or buy from pet store chains. A large percentage of the dogs that I groom come in with yeast overgrowth, and, such as Cushing's, diabetes, juvenile cataracts, and cancer. Inevitably the topic of vaccines will come up, and they are shocked when I tell them that my dogs do not get vaccinated every year, (I have a veterinarian who will let me sign a waiver for refusing rabies vax). I have never used flea medication, nor heartworm medication. The majority of my dogs live seventeen to nineteen years. I do take them in for yearly exam and blood panels, as well as visits to a veterinary chiropractor. There are a handful of people who actually follow my advice, but the rest take their vets advice to give every vaccine on the market, as well as prescribing antibiotics and steroids as a solution to any issues that they deem allergies. I am frustrated and somewhat annoyed about giving the advice that they ask, and having them do nothing to change! I give them the dogs naturally website, hoping that if they read your articles, it will make a difference. I'm sorry for the long rant, but I am passionate about trying to make life better for all these little furkids, as I love each one of them, many of whom I groom from puppies until they pass away. Thanks for all you do, to educate dog owners to make healthy choices for their four legged kids.!

[nogames]

I've been feeding Raw for 20 years. Done in a lot of different ways. From premade to DIY to combinations of both.
My favorite way to feed is 50% raw meaty bone, 30%, muscle meat, 10%, organ meat, although it usually ends up being 15% or more. And 10% veggie. I don't get super worried about every micro and macro nutrient. I figure it all evens out.

[luanndavis-jindela]

Great for me. Lots of great information as I begin my raw food journey.

[jessicaleigh]

Wow. This is awesome. Do you have a MCT oil and recipes you can recommend?? Will bone broth aid the mineral requirement? Beef or chicken bone broth? You are so knowledgeable I’d love your recipes for my little 14yr old strugglin Yorkie 🙏

[yvettethomas]

We are just about to start raising colony rabbits for our dogs; we have 10 dogs! 😅
So, do I feed them some of the meat and fur? Do I cook the rabbit or give it raw?
Thanks for your great video and good information.

[lisaparker]

Hi .. I have a 6 year old dog that has had pancreatitis episodes since 6 weeks old and finally she is off all commercial foods. I feed her boiled and pureed chicken breast, steamed and pureed mixed frozen vegetables ( broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, yellow squash) and cooked puréed white rice. 1/3 chicken, 1/3 vegetables, 1/3 rice…… she is more stable since this diet. Please advise if you have suggestions… several vets say they do not know. 😮

[heidijamid]

My Labrador / poodle mix puppy ( 4months old) is recovering from Nausea/ vomiting attributed to parasite. My vet put her on metronidazole for the last 3 days . She has improved . We had to rest her gut for 24 hours and now I’m giving her Chicken bone broth. She’s tolerating it. What can I feed her to help her recover her gut ? Please

[girlfireice]

What about flax seed meal and flax oil?

[missxximmortal]

Very well spelled out. I'll be back with my pen and paper

[loreneedwards]

How do you give them the bone broth with the psyllium? Im having problems with pup eating it, too thick😢

[stCenturyMaggid]

Thank you! (newbie here . . . truly encouraged.) 💙

[LesHoa-DuMal]

Im super confused abt omega 6 fats starting @ 5:00 — you say poultry & pork fed on grains contain more omega 6 than pasture-raised poultry & pork …

And WE WANT to give more omega 6 than saturated fat…
— or not more but balanced with omega 3 and saturated fats?

BUT never give poultry & pork (skin) unless they’re pasture-raised 5:23 - 5:29
— skin only? Or meat too? 😢

Im missing some distinction or detail here. Help!
Can you please help me understand?

[samanthajansen]

This was really interesting. Thank you for sharing. My pup is 3 years old and very healthy. I typically cook meat and veggies and a bit of carbohydrates for her dinner. She eats kibble (Royal Canin) in the morning. However I’ve been wanting to move her to a raw diet as I believe there are many more benefits from the nutrients. Is there a safe and practical way of switching her over to raw, or should I just take the plunge and feed her all raw meats, organs etc? Also, one of the things that has stopped me from doing this previously is that I was told from a young age that raw meat contains bacteria and could cause worms. I have wanted to keep her safe from all the baddies 🤣 would love your thoughts on that too ❤

[patriciamontgomery]

when you are talking percent of different items. is this by weight or kcal???

[amandaandersen]

What do you give for vitamin E? Wheat germ oil? And if so how much? Great video thank you!!

[tilbie]

What about if the meat source did not have the organic diet to put together the raw food you suggest? I am so totally confused. One of my girks have yeast infection and my old girl cannot have high protain diet. All thise supplements you Confused.

[KathrynGower]

Do you have a raw diet protocol for elderly mini dogs with no teeth? Thanks for the awesome video and I'll be searching out more info in your other videos. :)

[vqvcnqi]

This video was very insightful as I am beginning to transition my dog to a raw diet. However, I am having difficulties with proportions. I chose to get beef tongue for my dog before realizing the high fat content. Can I mix this with a leaner cut of meat and it be okay?

[path]

I have an incredible farmer near me organic, pasture raised, pasture rotation among species. I’m thinking of adding duck and chicken necks in the meal rotation as an extra once a week. Do you leave the skin on the necks? As always thanks for the information, products, and dedication to the health of dogs.

[Scott-fyfm]

Humans are not supposed to eat too much liver at once or too often because it leads up excessive copper and Vitamin A, do those concerns apply to dogs too?