We have teamed up with our friends that are raw feeding experts to bring you 100 raw dog feeding recipes along with helpful information when it comes to raw feeding your pet. The ultimate raw feeding guide is not only for French Bulldogs, it can be useful for any breed as well as cats.
When it comes to the health and well-being of our furry companions, we all want the best. In recent years, there’s been a growing trend towards feeding cats and dogs a raw diet, and for good reason. Raw feeding offers a more natural approach to pet nutrition, providing a multitude of benefits that can enhance their lives. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the raw truth behind the advantages of feeding your beloved pets a raw diet. From improved digestion to healthier coats, let’s explore the t
One of the biggest things which people worry about, and which makes some people turn away from the idea of feeding a natural, raw diet to their pet, is the idea of feeding bones.
Two common questions from dog owners are "How much raw should I feed my dog?" and "How much does raw feeding cost?" Several raw feeding calculators are available online, and most follow a percentage by body weight calculation based on a dog's age and activity level. I've created the following raw feeding charts to give
Campylobacter has been a hot topic lately in the raw feeding and pet owning world. There is certainly much misinformation out there that is starting to cause a scare and make the average pet owner very weary of feeding their companion a species appropriate raw diet. So, what is campylobacter?Campylobacter can be a bacterial infection. There are 37 species and subspecies with most being non-pathogenic (7) however when pathogenic or disease causing, symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting are prese
As a vet, I am frequently asked whether dogs can eat raw chicken, and whether dogs can eat raw chicken bones. Let me explain...
All nutritional data can be found on the United States Department of Agriculture FoodData Search site! Below you will find data on some of the nutrients available in particular cuts, per 100g (both muscle meat & secreting organs) from a pig. For macronutrients (carbs, calories, protein, fat, including energy in kcal, water, fiber & sugar) see the USDA's site (fatty acids are also detailed on their website). **µg = microgram** **for some listings, you may see I included the Vitamin D nutritional info 2x; the 1st line with "IU" is the international measurement (which is sometimes on the label of some supplements), directly below that you may see Vitamin D again, but with "µg" which is just the measurements in micrograms!** When following a strict BARF or PMR diet, some of the nutrients most commonly lacking are: Zinc Iodine Vitamin E ALA Manganese EPA + DHA Vitamin D If present in the figures shared below (no matter how little), I have gone ahead and highlighted them for you! As you scroll through, notice how much higher Linoleic Acid (LA) is in comparison to Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA); this is why we recommend pairing chia seeds, flaxseed or flaxseed oils with meals that are higher in pork/pork fat. Chia and flax will help boost Alpha-Linolenic Acid (ALA) and balance out your omega-6 fatty acids within a raw diet (if more raw animal fat cannot/is not be added). **IMPORTANT NOTE** Avoid feeding weight bearing bones from pigs as the raw meaty bone portion of your pet's diet because they are very dense and can lead to injury. Instead, remove all skin and meat from these unsafe raw bones (the raw meat & skin can be fed) and use the bones to make a nutritious bone broth! Due to this risk, I would only recommend feeding the following raw meaty bones from a pig (IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO & IF THEY ARE AN APPROPRIATE SIZE FOR YOUR PET): - Raw Pork Feet ("Pig Trotters") - Raw Pork Ribs (Baby Back Ribs & Spare Ribs) - Raw Pig Tails ("Pork Tails") Monitor your pet's stool to see how they have digested these raw bones before continuing to include raw turkey bones in their diet. If there are shards of undigested bone in their stool, it may be best to switch to "softer" bones that may be digested more easily (ie. bones from chicken, duck, quail, rabbit etc...). If you believe your pet to have sustained an injury from ingesting a raw meaty bone, or that there may be a blockage, seek professional medical help IMMEDIATELY! PORK BRAIN, Raw per 100g Calcium: 10mg Iron: 1.6mg Magnesium: 14mg Phosphorus: 282mg Potassium: 258mg Sodium: 120mg Zinc: 1.27mg Copper: 0.24mg Manganese: 0.094mg Selenium: 15.9µg Thiamin: 0.155mg Riboflavin: 0.275mg Niacin: 4.28mg Pantothenic acid: 2.8mg Vitamin B-6: 0.19mg Folate: 6µg Vitamin B-12: 2.19µg LA: 0.09g ALA: 0.12g AA: 0.47g DPA: 0.22g DHA: 0.45g PORK EARS, Raw per 100g Calcium: 21mg Iron: 2.4mg Magnesium: 7mg Phosphorus: 41mg Potassium: 55mg Sodium: 191mg Zinc: 0.19mg Copper: 0.006mg Manganese: 0.012mg Selenium: 4.3µg Thiamin: 0.08mg Riboflavin: 0.11mg Niacin: 0.78mg Pantothenic acid: 0.068mg Vitamin B-6: 0.02mg Vitamin B-12: 0.07µg LA: 1.41g ALA: 0.13g AA: 0.07g PORK LEAF FAT, Raw per 100g Calcium: 1mg Iron: 0.09mg Magnesium: 1mg Phosphorus: 19mg Potassium: 31mg Sodium: 5mg Zinc: 0.18mg Copper: 0.009mg Manganese: 0.001mg Selenium: 8µg Thiamin: 0.106mg Riboflavin: 0.065mg Niacin: 1.25mg Vitamin B-6: 0.03mg Vitamin B-12: 0.23µg LA: 6.34g ALA: 0.94g BONELESS PORK FEET, Raw per 100g (no bone-in data currently exists, so your best bet would be to utilise whatever data we DO have, to arrive at a reasonable estimate when feeding pig feet...OR it can be easily factored into a ratio diet; see MY RAW MEATY BONE PERCENTAGE SPREADSHEET) Calcium: 70mg Iron: 0.58mg Magnesium: 6mg Phosphorus: 75mg Potassium: 63mg Sodium: 132mg Zinc: 0.76mg Copper: 0.07mg Selenium: 23.3µg Thiamin: 0.026mg Riboflavin: 0.106mg Niacin: 1.13mg Pantothenic acid: 0.303mg Vitamin B-6: 0.053mg Vitamin B-12: 0.52µg Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) 0.02 mg LA: 0.93g ALA: 0.043g AA: 0.053g GROUND PORK, Raw per 100g Calcium: 14mg Iron: 0.88mg Magnesium: 19mg Phosphorus: 175mg Potassium: 287mg Sodium: 56mg Zinc: 2.2mg Copper: 0.045mg Manganese: 0.01mg Selenium: 24.6µg Vitamin C: 0.7mg Thiamin: 0.732mg Riboflavin: 0.235mg Niacin: 4.34mg Pantothenic acid: 0.668mg Vitamin B-6: 0.383mg Folate: 5µg Vitamin B-12: 0.7µg Vitamin A, RAE: 2µg Vitamin A, IU: 7IU LA: 1.67g ALA: 0.07g AA: 0.08g PORK HEART, Raw per 100g Calcium: 5mg Iron: 4.68mg Magnesium: 19mg Phosphorus: 169mg Potassium: 294mg Sodium: 56mg Zinc: 2.8mg Copper: 0.408mg Manganese: 0.063mg Selenium: 10.4µg Vitamin C: 5.3mg Thiamin: 0.613mg Riboflavin: 1.18mg Niacin: 6.76mg Pantothenic acid: 2.52mg Vitamin B-6: 0.39mg Folate: 4µg Vitamin B-12: 3.79µg Vitamin A, RAE: 8µg Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.63mg LA: 0.77g ALA: 0.08g AA: 0.27g PORK KIDNEY, Raw per 100g Calcium: 9mg Iron: 4.89mg Magnesium: 17mg Phosphorus: 204mg Potassium: 229mg Sodium: 121mg Zinc: 2.75mg Copper: 0.622mg Manganese: 0.123mg Selenium: 190µg Vitamin C: 13.3mg Thiamin: 0.34mg Riboflavin: 1.7mg Niacin: 8.21mg Pantothenic acid: 3.13mg Vitamin B-6: 0.44mg Folate: 42µg Vitamin B-12: 8.49µg Vitamin A, RAE: 59µg Vitamin A, IU: 198IU LA: 0.17g ALA: 0.01g AA: 0.08g BONELESS PORK LEG, Raw per 100g Calcium: 5mg Iron: 0.85mg Magnesium: 20mg Phosphorus: 199mg Potassium: 315mg Sodium: 47mg Zinc: 1.93mg Copper: 0.065mg Manganese: 0.023mg Selenium: 29.4µg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid: 0.7mg Thiamin: 0.736mg Riboflavin: 0.2mg Niacin: 4.57mg Pantothenic acid: 0.685mg Vitamin B-6: 0.401mg Folate: 7µg Vitamin B-12: 0.63µg Vitamin A, IU: 7IU Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 20IU Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 0.5µg Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): 0.5µg LA: 1.69g ALA: 0.14g AA: 0.09g PORK LIVER, Raw per 100g Calcium: 9mg Iron: 23.3mg Magnesium: 18mg Phosphorus: 288mg Potassium: 273mg Sodium: 87mg Zinc: 5.76mg Copper: 0.677mg Manganese: 0.344mg Selenium: 52.7µg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid: 25.3mg Thiamin: 0.283mg Riboflavin: 3mg Niacin: 15.3mg Pantothenic acid: 6.65mg Vitamin B-6: 0.69mg Folate: 212µg Vitamin B-12: 26µg Vitamin A, RAE: 6500µg Vitamin A, IU: 21600IU LA: 0.35g ALA: 0.03g AA: 0.44g DPA: 0.03g DHA: 0.02g PORK LOIN, Raw per 100g Calcium: 18mg Iron: 0.79mg Magnesium: 21mg Phosphorus: 197mg Potassium: 356mg Sodium: 50mg Zinc: 1.74mg Copper: 0.056mg Manganese: 0.011mg Selenium: 33.2µg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid: 0.6mg Thiamin: 0.901mg Riboflavin: 0.248mg Niacin: 4.58mg Pantothenic acid: 0.723mg Vitamin B-6: 0.472mg Folate: 1µg Choline: 69.7mg Vitamin B-12: 0.53µg Vitamin A, RAE: 2µg Vitamin A, IU: 7IU Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.21mg Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 21IU Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 0.5µg Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): 0.5µg LA: 1.11g ALA: 0.09g AA: 0.08g PORK LUNGS, Raw per 100g Calcium: 7mg Iron: 18.9mg Magnesium: 14mg Phosphorus: 196mg Potassium: 303mg Sodium: 153mg Zinc: 2.03mg Copper: 0.083mg Manganese: 0.017mg Selenium: 17.8µg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid: 12.3mg Thiamin: 0.085mg Riboflavin: 0.43mg Niacin: 3.34mg Pantothenic acid: 0.9mg Vitamin B-6: 0.1mg Folate: 3µg Vitamin B-12 2.75 µg LA: 0.12g AA: 0.18g EPA: 0.01g DPA: 0.03g DHA: 0.01g PORK PANCREAS, Raw per 100g Calcium: 11mg Iron: 2.13mg Magnesium: 17mg Phosphorus: 234mg Potassium: 197mg Sodium: 44mg Zinc: 2.62mg Copper: 0.09mg Manganese: 0.157mg Selenium: 40.8µg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid: 15.3mg Thiamin: 0.105mg Riboflavin: 0.46mg Niacin: 3.45mg Pantothenic acid: 4.56mg Vitamin B-6: 0.46mg Folate: 3µg Vitamin B-12: 16.4µg LA: 1.45g ALA: 0.09g AA: 0.57g BONELESS PORK RIBS, Raw per 100g ("bone-in" data can be found in Monica Segal's book) Calcium: 22mg Iron: 0.85mg Magnesium: 21mg Phosphorus: 193mg Potassium: 318mg Sodium: 63mg Zinc: 2.78mg Copper: 0.078mg Manganese: 0.011mg Selenium: 32.3µg Thiamin: 0.375mg Riboflavin: 0.253mg Niacin: 3.08mg Pantothenic acid: 1.61mg Vitamin B-6: 0.539mg Choline: 81.4mg Vitamin B-12: 1µg Vitamin A, RAE: 2µg Vitamin A, IU: 8IU Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.23mg Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 29IU Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 0.7µg Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): 0.7µg LA: 0.862g ALA: 0.04g AA: 0.031g PORK SHOULDER (Boston Butt), Raw per 100g Calcium: 16mg Iron: 1.12mg Magnesium: 20mg Phosphorus: 190mg Potassium: 318mg Sodium: 61mg Zinc: 3.09mg Copper: 0.096mg Manganese: 0.011mg Selenium: 26.2µg Thiamin: 0.52mg Riboflavin: 0.353mg Niacin: 4.24mg Pantothenic acid: 1.45mg Vitamin B-6: 0.486mg Choline: 73.3mg Vitamin B-12: 0.91µg Vitamin A, RAE: 2µg Vitamin A, IU: 8IU Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.22mg Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 30IU Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 0.7µg Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): 0.7µg LA: 1.4g ALA: 0.063g AA: 0.074g PORK SHOULDER, Raw per 100g Calcium: 15mg Iron: 1.05mg Magnesium: 18mg Phosphorus: 182mg Potassium: 302mg Sodium: 65mg Zinc: 2.7mg Copper: 0.084mg Manganese: 0.011mg Selenium: 25.5µg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid: 0.7mg Thiamin: 0.767mg Riboflavin: 0.275mg Niacin: 3.83mg Pantothenic acid: 0.719mg Vitamin B-6: 0.348mg Folate: 5µg Choline: 60.6mg Vitamin B-12: 0.74µg Vitamin A, RAE: 2µg Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.19mg Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 70IU Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 1.7µg Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): 1.7µg LA: 1.6g ALA: 0.13g AA: 0.1g PORK SPLEEN, Raw per 100g Calcium: 10mg Iron: 22.3mg Magnesium: 13mg Phosphorus: 260mg Potassium: 396mg Sodium: 98mg Zinc: 2.54mg Copper: 0.131mg Manganese: 0.072mg Selenium: 32.8µg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid: 28.5mg Thiamin: 0.13mg Riboflavin: 0.3mg Niacin: 5.87mg Pantothenic acid: 1.06mg Vitamin B-6: 0.06mg Folate: 4µg Vitamin B-12: 3.26µg LA: 0.19g PORK STOMACH, Raw per 100g Calcium: 11mg Iron: 1.01mg Magnesium: 11mg Phosphorus: 130mg Potassium: 140mg Sodium: 75mg Zinc: 1.85mg Copper: 0.169mg Manganese: 0.038mg Selenium: 31.1µg Thiamin: 0.051mg Riboflavin: 0.201mg Niacin: 2.48mg Pantothenic acid: 1.22mg Vitamin B-6: 0.034mg Folate: 3µg Choline: 195mg Vitamin B-12: 0.3µg Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.04mg LA: 0.724g ALA: 0.021g AA: 0.11g BONELESS PORK TAIL, Raw per 100g Calcium: 18mg Iron: 0.99mg Magnesium: 8mg Phosphorus: 50mg Potassium: 349mg Sodium: 63mg Zinc: 2.31mg Copper: 0.084mg Manganese: 0.011mg Selenium: 2.7µg Thiamin: 0.21mg Riboflavin: 0.11mg Niacin: 2.06mg Pantothenic acid: 0.673mg Vitamin B-6: 0.37mg Folate: 5µg Vitamin B-12: 0.88µg LA: 3.19g ALA: 0.28g AA: 0.21g PORK TENDERLOIN, Raw per 100g Calcium: 6mg Iron: 0.97mg Magnesium: 27mg Phosphorus: 243mg Potassium: 393mg Sodium: 52mg Zinc: 1.87mg Copper: 0.089mg Manganese: 0.014mg Selenium: 30.3µg Thiamin: 0.982mg Riboflavin: 0.337mg Niacin: 6.61mg Pantothenic acid: 0.837mg Vitamin B-6: 0.765mg Choline: 79.7mg Vitamin B-12: 0.52µg Vitamin A, IU: 2IU Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.22mg Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 10IU Vitamin D (D2 + D3): 0.3µg Vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol): 0.3µg LA: 0.476g ALA: 0.016g AA: 0.054g PORK TONGUE, Raw per 100g Calcium: 16mg Iron: 3.35mg Magnesium: 18mg Phosphorus: 193mg Potassium: 243mg Sodium: 110mg Zinc: 3.01mg Copper: 0.07mg Manganese: 0.011mg Selenium: 10.4µg Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid: 4.4mg Thiamin: 0.49mg Riboflavin: 0.485mg Niacin: 5.3mg Pantothenic acid: 0.641mg Vitamin B-6: 0.24mg Folate: 4µg Vitamin B-12: 2.84µg Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol): 0.29mg LA: 1.7g ALA: 0.08g CHECK OUT MY PREVIOUS "NDAG" POST NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- BEEF NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- TURKEY NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- SEAFOOD NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- LAMB NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- CHICKEN Hope this was helpful to some! Follow me on instagram @nolorlin for more raw feeding content & recipes! xoxo
Why is my dog always hungry on a raw diet? It is expected behavior in the dog when they are fed raw meat. Dog likes the flavor of raw food; thus, they
In the raw feeding canine world, the BARF style of raw feeding is 1 of 2 popular ratio diets followed by many pet parents. BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods and typically includes plant matter & fruits within the diet. Feeding fruits and vegetables to dogs can be a hot topic for some because many believe it is best to try to mimic what wolves feast on in the wild- whole prey or as close to whole prey as you can get (aka the Franken Prey model, but we'll touch on that in my PMR diet post), which means no vegetables and no fruits. To that I say, good thing I'm not meal prepping for a wolf. No, but seriously, while it is okay to hold that view and opt to feed what is essentially an "all meat diet" (meat, bones, organs, fur..) void of leafy greens and supple berries, choosing to include nuts, seeds, fruits and/or vegetables within your canine's raw diet is not a "bad thing." Thanks to the National Research Council (NRC), we know the nutritional requirements of domestic dogs (and cats), thus we are able to provide our fur babies with sufficient amounts of all necessary nutrients within a raw diet. Some nuts and seeds contain high amounts of essential fatty acids or minerals, some vegetables can be a great source of magnesium and added fiber, and safe-to-feed fruits can offer various nutrients as well! Knowing this, why would it ever be considered a "bad thing" to provide your pooch with safe, unprocessed foods that provide bioavailable nutrients which can help meet recommended allowances, set forth by the NRC!?! What...is it supposed to be a bad thing just because wolves don't go foraging for blueberries and spinach? Well wolves don't wash their ass with all-natural non-toxic pet-safe shampoo either, but my dog sure does. Should I just stop grooming him altogether too? Because wolves don't go to the groomers every month. Yes our domestic pooches are closely related to wolves, but wild candids (wolves, coyotes) don't have human handlers to go in and provide them with foods that fill nutrient gaps, instead, they live with nutrient deficiencies because that is their only option. Domestic dogs have us and we are able to supply them with the foods necessary to meet their nutritional requirements (as defined by the NRC). It is also important to remember, nutrition IS NOT an exact science. It has never been. Not for humans and certainly not for animals. We have RAs from the NRC and nutrient analyses from the USDA (and other countries) that provide us with averages that we can then use as guides when formulating recipes for our pets. Because of this, there will always be multiple roads one can take to arrive at the same final destination- balance. Because we have access to this information (nutrient analyses of various foods), we are able to see where ratio diets fall short in terms of the NRC's nutrient requirements & recommended allowances. This has led to the understanding that following a strict ratio diet (like the BARF model), leaves several nutrient gaps within your pet's diet! But, no need to panic, there is an easy fix. I have already shared how to fill these nutrient gaps in a previous post, so check that out if you're unsure of what may be missing from your BARF diet: Nutrients Commonly Lacking in Ratio Diets. Below I have shared a simplified version of the breakdown of the BARF raw feeding diet for adult dogs and puppies! And just to reiterate, feeding these ratios alone, without the addition of whole foods or supplements that help fill nutrient gaps (listed in the link above) means you are not providing balance within a raw diet for your pet. ADULT DOGS 70% MUSCLE MEAT - Ground Meats, Chuck, Loins, Shoulders, Cheek (typical cuts of meat), Gizzards, Lungs, Tongue, Hearts, Lips, Tendons, Green Tripe, Raw Fat all count. 10% BONE - Bones in Raw Meaty Bones (like Wings, Necks, Heads, Feet, Frames, Tail, Ribs etc), Bone Meal or Calcium Carbonate could be supplemented when RMBs cannot be fed. When following a ratio diet, you want to factor the meat on your RMBs into your 70% muscle meat portion of the meal! Not sure what percentage of meat there is to bone on your RMBs? Check out my Raw Meaty Bone Percentage Spreadsheet! 7% VEGETABLES - Leafy Greens must be steamed, boiled, puréed raw, fermented raw or simply minced raw before feeding for optimal digestion & nutrient absorption. Starchy Vegetables (like Sweet Potato, Squash, Beets etc) should always be cooked before feeding (boil, bake, or steam, doesn't matter). 5% LIVER - Liver from ruminant animals is highly recommended because they are more nutrient dense & can help meet Vitamin A & Copper recommended allowances! I'd always opt for beef liver over chicken liver any day! 5% OTHER SECRETING ORGAN - Brains, Testicles, Ovaries, Kidneys, Spleen, Pancreas, Thymus all count. 2% NUTS OR SEEDS - Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds & Hemp Hearts DO NOT need to be soaked prior to feeding; they can be ground down a bit, but because very little is needed to meet any fatty acid recommended allowance, the minimal amount of phytic acid is no cause for concern! When feeding things like Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds etc, be sure to soak them in clean filtered water overnight (or for 24hrs if possible), strain & rinse (to further remove the phytic acid that has been released), then mince or grind before feeding! Want to know what nutrients some of these seeds & nuts contain to help fill nutrient gaps in a ratio diet? Check out my post- Nutrients Commonly Lacking in Ratio Diets; I also go over the NRC's recommended allowances for those specific nutrients! **TIP** When following a ratio diet, for meals heavy in white meats (like chicken) or raw pork fat, feeding chia or flax seeds would be best. This is because Chia & Flax Seeds are high in Alpha-Linolenic Acid, while poultry & pork fat often contain higher amounts of Linoleic Acid. Meals higher in red meats (like beef or lamb) & minimal poultry or pork fat may tend to be lower in Linoleic Acid, thus benefiting from the addition of Hemp Hearts. This is because Hemp Hearts/Hemp Seeds are high in Linoleic Acid! This is something I picked up from Ronny (cert. CN), but it didn't make much sense to me the first time around because I don't follow ratio diets when feeding Nolo. Now having spent more and more time trying to educate myself & gain a better understanding of ratio diets, while also now understanding how to balance meals on my own, I see the math for myself, I understand the logic behind her recommendation & so it all makes much more sense now! 1% FRUIT - safe to feed fruits typically don't need any special preparation... PUPPIES Descriptions are same as above, the percentages are the only difference! 58% MUSCLE MEAT - Ground Meats, Chuck, Loins, Shoulders, Cheek (typical cuts of meat), Gizzards, Lungs, Tongue, Hearts, Lips, Tendons, Green Tripe, Raw Fat all count. 17% BONE - Bones in Raw Meaty Bones (like Wings, Necks, Heads, Feet, Frames, Tail, Ribs etc), Bone Meal or Calcium Carbonate could be supplemented when RMBs cannot be fed. 7% VEGETABLES - Leafy Greens must be steamed, boiled, puréed raw, fermented raw or simply minced raw before feeding for optimal digestion & nutrient absorption. Starchy Vegetables (like Sweet Potato, Squash, Beets etc) should always be cooked before feeding (boil, bake, or steam, doesn't matter). 7% LIVER - Liver from ruminant animals is highly recommended because they are more nutrient dense & can help meet Vitamin A & Copper recommended allowances! 7% OTHER SECRETING ORGAN - Brains, Testicles, Ovaries, Kidneys, Spleen, Pancreas, Thymus all count. 3% NUTS OR SEEDS - Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds & Hemp Hearts DO NOT need to be soaked prior to feeding; they can be ground down a bit, but because very little is needed to meet any fatty acid recommended allowance, the minimal amount of phytic acid is no cause for concern! When feeding things like Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds etc, be sure to soak them in clean filtered water overnight (or for 24hrs if possible), strain & rinse (to further remove the phytic acid that has been released), then mince or grind before feeding! 1% FRUIT - safe to feed fruits typically don't need any special preparation... ---- IMPORTANT NOTES 1. Puppies NEED balance within their meals, DAILY! Do not try to balance their meals over an extended period of time, like you would for an adult dog. And do not do a slow transition into raw feeding with puppies! Opinions may vary on this, but I am strongly against slow transitioning for developing puppies because they absolutely NEED all necessary nutrients FROM THE START in order to properly grow & develop! If you are worried about an allergic reaction to a certain "protein", then opt for meats that are not commonly known to be troublesome for many dogs- if you have access to it, starting with novelty/"exotic" proteins like camel & kangaroo could be a safe starting point as well! Where you source your meats from & how the animals were raised can also play a HUGE role in how your pet's immune system responds to said meats (we'll chat more about this another time)... 2. When following ratio diets, even when adding whole foods & supplements to fill nutrient gaps, it is imperative you rotate your "proteins" as often as you can. This is to ensure you are offering a wide enough range to supply an adequate amount of necessary nutrients. Meaning- if possible, it would be fine to switch up the cuts of meat, organs, vegetables, raw meaty bones etc...daily, weekly or bi-weekly. So if you have access to a ton of variety, say I feed lamb ribs, venison, rabbit chunks, venison liver, beef kidney, chicken breasts (and so on...) today, tomorrow maybe I'll feed some duck necks, pork tenderloin, bison chunks, lamb liver, rabbit kidney (and so on..). If you are more limited, switch up whatever you are able to, as often as you can. Example: Today I'm feeding chicken frames, lean ground beef, beef chuck, beef liver, beef kidney, spinach, sweet potatoes (and so on...). The following day (or a few days later or a week later...) I could feed pork ribs, lean ground turkey, pork tenderloin, beef chuck, beef liver, beef kidney, fermented cabbage, squash (and so on...)! These were just examples to help further illustrate my point and do not represent complete meals. 3. It is best to ensure at least 50% of the meat being fed is "red meat." Red meat is much more nutrient dense than white meat! 4. Things you CANNOT balance over time: water-soluble vitamins! Excess will always be excreted & not stored within the body. ---- We will go over PMR diets in a separate post, so stay tuned for that! Want to know more about the nutrient breakdown of some commonly fed cuts of meat or organs? Check out these posts: NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- SEAFOOD NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- BEEF NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- TURKEY NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- CHICKEN NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- PORK NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- LAMB In the meantime, you can follow me on instagram @nolorlin for more raw-feeding content & recipes- I post every single week! xoxo
For top tips, advice and info about feeding your dog raw food, check out our Raw Feeding Guide! Got a question about our guide? Drop us an email.
A complete guide on raw bones for cats. Learn all about bones cats can chew on, raw meaty bones for cats, and more in this detailed guide.
My quick start guide to raw dog food shows you how to easily transition your dog from kibble to raw dog food using the gentle hybrid method.
As a vet, I am frequently asked whether dogs can eat raw chicken, and whether dogs can eat raw chicken bones. Let me explain...
Raw feeding has become increasingly popular among dog owners in recent years. With a focus on providing a more natural and nutrient-dense diet, many are eager to make the switch to a raw dog food diet. However, there are common mistakes that pet owners make when it comes to raw feeding, which can have adverse effects
We have teamed up with our friends that are raw feeding experts to bring you 100 raw dog feeding recipes along with helpful information when it comes to raw feeding your pet. The ultimate raw feeding guide is not only for French Bulldogs, it can be useful for any breed as well as cats.
So, why exactly don't veterinarians support raw feeding for dogs? With all of the information that we've learned combined with thousands of firsthand accounts from pet parents, I expected that the days of veterinarians taking a strong stance against raw feeding would be a thing of the past. Turns out that I'm wrong Recently, I
WHAT'S IN YOUR RAW FED BOWL? 🐣 Quail Hatchling 🥚 Quail Egg 🐓 Chicken Feet 🐷 Pork Loin 🫀 Pork Heart 🐄 Beef Chuck 🐮 Beef Liver 🐟 Mackerel 🐚 Green Lipped Mussels 🥬 Spinach (cooked) 🟠 Butternut Squash (cooked) 🫐 Blueberries & Raspberries 🦠 Probiotic Powder 🦟 Bug Off- Flea + Tick Powder (whenever temp rises, I go back to adding a little Bug Off just to be safe!) 💊 Vitamin E, Zinc + Kelp 🐩 Some additions included in Nolo’s meals are not necessary to meet his nutritional requirements, but are beneficial to his overall health & are rotated into his weekly feeding schedule. ⚠️ All raw/cooked meals are nutritionally balanced, following NRC guidelines, to meet Nolo’s specific dietary needs. Please consult your vet before switching your pup’s food and be sure to verify you are meeting all nutrient requirements for your furry friend. Follow me on instagram @nolorlin to see more raw bowls like this one! xoxo
Discover wholesome puppy dog food recipes & tips. Ensure your pup thrives with balanced meals rich in nutrients & tailored to their growing needs. You’ve welcomed a rambunctious ball of fur into your…
Percentages in raw feeding like 80/10/10 or 80/10/5/5 are important if you make DIY raw meals. Also: 2-4% of target body weight per day.
In the raw feeding canine world, the BARF style of raw feeding is 1 of 2 popular ratio diets followed by many pet parents. BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods and typically includes plant matter & fruits within the diet. Feeding fruits and vegetables to dogs can be a hot topic for some because many believe it is best to try to mimic what wolves feast on in the wild- whole prey or as close to whole prey as you can get (aka the Franken Prey model, but we'll touch on that in my PMR diet post), which means no vegetables and no fruits. To that I say, good thing I'm not meal prepping for a wolf. No, but seriously, while it is okay to hold that view and opt to feed what is essentially an "all meat diet" (meat, bones, organs, fur..) void of leafy greens and supple berries, choosing to include nuts, seeds, fruits and/or vegetables within your canine's raw diet is not a "bad thing." Thanks to the National Research Council (NRC), we know the nutritional requirements of domestic dogs (and cats), thus we are able to provide our fur babies with sufficient amounts of all necessary nutrients within a raw diet. Some nuts and seeds contain high amounts of essential fatty acids or minerals, some vegetables can be a great source of magnesium and added fiber, and safe-to-feed fruits can offer various nutrients as well! Knowing this, why would it ever be considered a "bad thing" to provide your pooch with safe, unprocessed foods that provide bioavailable nutrients which can help meet recommended allowances, set forth by the NRC!?! What...is it supposed to be a bad thing just because wolves don't go foraging for blueberries and spinach? Well wolves don't wash their ass with all-natural non-toxic pet-safe shampoo either, but my dog sure does. Should I just stop grooming him altogether too? Because wolves don't go to the groomers every month. Yes our domestic pooches are closely related to wolves, but wild candids (wolves, coyotes) don't have human handlers to go in and provide them with foods that fill nutrient gaps, instead, they live with nutrient deficiencies because that is their only option. Domestic dogs have us and we are able to supply them with the foods necessary to meet their nutritional requirements (as defined by the NRC). It is also important to remember, nutrition IS NOT an exact science. It has never been. Not for humans and certainly not for animals. We have RAs from the NRC and nutrient analyses from the USDA (and other countries) that provide us with averages that we can then use as guides when formulating recipes for our pets. Because of this, there will always be multiple roads one can take to arrive at the same final destination- balance. Because we have access to this information (nutrient analyses of various foods), we are able to see where ratio diets fall short in terms of the NRC's nutrient requirements & recommended allowances. This has led to the understanding that following a strict ratio diet (like the BARF model), leaves several nutrient gaps within your pet's diet! But, no need to panic, there is an easy fix. I have already shared how to fill these nutrient gaps in a previous post, so check that out if you're unsure of what may be missing from your BARF diet: Nutrients Commonly Lacking in Ratio Diets. Below I have shared a simplified version of the breakdown of the BARF raw feeding diet for adult dogs and puppies! And just to reiterate, feeding these ratios alone, without the addition of whole foods or supplements that help fill nutrient gaps (listed in the link above) means you are not providing balance within a raw diet for your pet. ADULT DOGS 70% MUSCLE MEAT - Ground Meats, Chuck, Loins, Shoulders, Cheek (typical cuts of meat), Gizzards, Lungs, Tongue, Hearts, Lips, Tendons, Green Tripe, Raw Fat all count. 10% BONE - Bones in Raw Meaty Bones (like Wings, Necks, Heads, Feet, Frames, Tail, Ribs etc), Bone Meal or Calcium Carbonate could be supplemented when RMBs cannot be fed. When following a ratio diet, you want to factor the meat on your RMBs into your 70% muscle meat portion of the meal! Not sure what percentage of meat there is to bone on your RMBs? Check out my Raw Meaty Bone Percentage Spreadsheet! 7% VEGETABLES - Leafy Greens must be steamed, boiled, puréed raw, fermented raw or simply minced raw before feeding for optimal digestion & nutrient absorption. Starchy Vegetables (like Sweet Potato, Squash, Beets etc) should always be cooked before feeding (boil, bake, or steam, doesn't matter). 5% LIVER - Liver from ruminant animals is highly recommended because they are more nutrient dense & can help meet Vitamin A & Copper recommended allowances! I'd always opt for beef liver over chicken liver any day! 5% OTHER SECRETING ORGAN - Brains, Testicles, Ovaries, Kidneys, Spleen, Pancreas, Thymus all count. 2% NUTS OR SEEDS - Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds & Hemp Hearts DO NOT need to be soaked prior to feeding; they can be ground down a bit, but because very little is needed to meet any fatty acid recommended allowance, the minimal amount of phytic acid is no cause for concern! When feeding things like Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds etc, be sure to soak them in clean filtered water overnight (or for 24hrs if possible), strain & rinse (to further remove the phytic acid that has been released), then mince or grind before feeding! Want to know what nutrients some of these seeds & nuts contain to help fill nutrient gaps in a ratio diet? Check out my post- Nutrients Commonly Lacking in Ratio Diets; I also go over the NRC's recommended allowances for those specific nutrients! **TIP** When following a ratio diet, for meals heavy in white meats (like chicken) or raw pork fat, feeding chia or flax seeds would be best. This is because Chia & Flax Seeds are high in Alpha-Linolenic Acid, while poultry & pork fat often contain higher amounts of Linoleic Acid. Meals higher in red meats (like beef or lamb) & minimal poultry or pork fat may tend to be lower in Linoleic Acid, thus benefiting from the addition of Hemp Hearts. This is because Hemp Hearts/Hemp Seeds are high in Linoleic Acid! This is something I picked up from Ronny (cert. CN), but it didn't make much sense to me the first time around because I don't follow ratio diets when feeding Nolo. Now having spent more and more time trying to educate myself & gain a better understanding of ratio diets, while also now understanding how to balance meals on my own, I see the math for myself, I understand the logic behind her recommendation & so it all makes much more sense now! 1% FRUIT - safe to feed fruits typically don't need any special preparation... PUPPIES Descriptions are same as above, the percentages are the only difference! 58% MUSCLE MEAT - Ground Meats, Chuck, Loins, Shoulders, Cheek (typical cuts of meat), Gizzards, Lungs, Tongue, Hearts, Lips, Tendons, Green Tripe, Raw Fat all count. 17% BONE - Bones in Raw Meaty Bones (like Wings, Necks, Heads, Feet, Frames, Tail, Ribs etc), Bone Meal or Calcium Carbonate could be supplemented when RMBs cannot be fed. 7% VEGETABLES - Leafy Greens must be steamed, boiled, puréed raw, fermented raw or simply minced raw before feeding for optimal digestion & nutrient absorption. Starchy Vegetables (like Sweet Potato, Squash, Beets etc) should always be cooked before feeding (boil, bake, or steam, doesn't matter). 7% LIVER - Liver from ruminant animals is highly recommended because they are more nutrient dense & can help meet Vitamin A & Copper recommended allowances! 7% OTHER SECRETING ORGAN - Brains, Testicles, Ovaries, Kidneys, Spleen, Pancreas, Thymus all count. 3% NUTS OR SEEDS - Flax Seeds, Chia Seeds & Hemp Hearts DO NOT need to be soaked prior to feeding; they can be ground down a bit, but because very little is needed to meet any fatty acid recommended allowance, the minimal amount of phytic acid is no cause for concern! When feeding things like Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds, Sunflower Seeds etc, be sure to soak them in clean filtered water overnight (or for 24hrs if possible), strain & rinse (to further remove the phytic acid that has been released), then mince or grind before feeding! 1% FRUIT - safe to feed fruits typically don't need any special preparation... ---- IMPORTANT NOTES 1. Puppies NEED balance within their meals, DAILY! Do not try to balance their meals over an extended period of time, like you would for an adult dog. And do not do a slow transition into raw feeding with puppies! Opinions may vary on this, but I am strongly against slow transitioning for developing puppies because they absolutely NEED all necessary nutrients FROM THE START in order to properly grow & develop! If you are worried about an allergic reaction to a certain "protein", then opt for meats that are not commonly known to be troublesome for many dogs- if you have access to it, starting with novelty/"exotic" proteins like camel & kangaroo could be a safe starting point as well! Where you source your meats from & how the animals were raised can also play a HUGE role in how your pet's immune system responds to said meats (we'll chat more about this another time)... 2. When following ratio diets, even when adding whole foods & supplements to fill nutrient gaps, it is imperative you rotate your "proteins" as often as you can. This is to ensure you are offering a wide enough range to supply an adequate amount of necessary nutrients. Meaning- if possible, it would be fine to switch up the cuts of meat, organs, vegetables, raw meaty bones etc...daily, weekly or bi-weekly. So if you have access to a ton of variety, say I feed lamb ribs, venison, rabbit chunks, venison liver, beef kidney, chicken breasts (and so on...) today, tomorrow maybe I'll feed some duck necks, pork tenderloin, bison chunks, lamb liver, rabbit kidney (and so on..). If you are more limited, switch up whatever you are able to, as often as you can. Example: Today I'm feeding chicken frames, lean ground beef, beef chuck, beef liver, beef kidney, spinach, sweet potatoes (and so on...). The following day (or a few days later or a week later...) I could feed pork ribs, lean ground turkey, pork tenderloin, beef chuck, beef liver, beef kidney, fermented cabbage, squash (and so on...)! These were just examples to help further illustrate my point and do not represent complete meals. 3. It is best to ensure at least 50% of the meat being fed is "red meat." Red meat is much more nutrient dense than white meat! 4. Things you CANNOT balance over time: water-soluble vitamins! Excess will always be excreted & not stored within the body. ---- We will go over PMR diets in a separate post, so stay tuned for that! Want to know more about the nutrient breakdown of some commonly fed cuts of meat or organs? Check out these posts: NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- SEAFOOD NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- BEEF NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- TURKEY NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- CHICKEN NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- PORK NUTRITIONAL DATA AT A GLANCE- LAMB In the meantime, you can follow me on instagram @nolorlin for more raw-feeding content & recipes- I post every single week! xoxo
If you've ever sat down to work out a recipe for your raw fed pet, then the chances of you sitting there trying to calculate how much muscle meat is on the raw meaty bone (RMB) are probably very high. It is also possible that many of you reading this right now, are not even aware that you are supposed to factor the muscle meat on your RMBs, into the muscle meat portion of a raw meal for your pet... While this is not a post discussing how to balance the amount of bone or muscle meat fed in a species appropriate raw diet, I did want to take some time to share my "bone percentage spreadsheet" with my fellow raw feeders! Not all RMBs are created equal. It is your responsibility to feed the appropriate bones to your pet! That means feeding ribs from appropriate animals & in pairs (or groups of 3+), steering clear of weight bearing bones (like knuckles or femurs from cows or pigs etc...save those for some diy bone broth!), but it also means selecting appropriately sized RMBs for your pet. For instance, while chicken drumsticks may be a "safe" raw meaty bone to feed, my dog, Nolo, is a "smol boi." Feeding him a drumstick, turkey wing, or even a pig foot could potentially lead to a chipped/cracked tooth or even worse complications, so instead of taking the risk, I choose to err on the side of caution when feeding RMBs. This narrows my selection to bones like duck or chicken feet & necks, duck wings, chicken heads, rabbit bones, quail etc... If you head on over to my Instagram Highlights, under my "Sourcing" highlight, the first 4 slides go over appropriate and safe to feed- RMBs, and I also share some general guidelines for what cuts count towards muscle meat versus secreting organs, and some safe seafood options! With that being said, if you didn't already know, I live for structure, organisation & any chance I get to colour-code something! So, below, you will find my personal "bone-to-muscle meat-percentage" spreadsheet! **IMPORTANT NOTE** Remember the nutrient content in every RMB varies. Substituting one for another may impact the nutrient breakdown of your recipe, so be sure to do your research before swapping out bones in a balanced recipe! Nutritional data can be found on the United States Department of Agriculture FoodData Search site! In some instances, external resources are required when gathering the nutritional data on some raw meaty bones because they are not listed on the usda's site. I have personally purchased additional reading materials that detail animal/canine nutrition and provide specifics on some RMBs. If available to you, Monica Segal's books are one source that can provide such information to you as well! Hope this was helpful to some! Follow me on instagram @nolorlin for more raw feeding content & recipes! xoxo
Complete with herbs, oils, and supplements!
Dr. Conor Brady's new book, 'Feeding Dogs: The Science Behind the Dry Versus Raw Debate,' is a well-written, well-referenced thorough examination of the raw dog food debate. Pet parents everywhere need to read it and recommend it to their veterinarians.
Our fresh whole Goat pancreas was sourced from USA-farmed lambs that are raised for human consumption. Product are approved & processed in a local USDA facility. Availability is on a limited supply and may not be available all year. Do you have questions about this product relative to dosing when feeding pets with EPI? Start with feeding around 10% pancreas to start. If the desired results are not reached, you can increase the amount as needed. Pancreas can also be fed as an organ to pets who do not have EPI or other pancreas issues. Pancreas is a secreting/filtering organ along with liver, kidneys & spleen, organ should make up 10% of your raw-fed pet's diet. The Benefits Of Pancreas For Dogs - Dogs Naturally (dogsnaturallymagazine.com) How To Use Raw Pancreas For Dogs To Support Digestive Health - K9sOverCoffee
