Feeding A Natural Diet
FEEDING A NATURAL DIET
Tony and Consuela who own
Our little girl called Luna was bred by Jenny and Marshall of Konigslair Leonbergers. Jenny and Marshall are strong believers in feeding their dogs a natural diet so I asked them to provide some notes about how to do this effectively. We also use raw foods in the kennels to supplement the excellent 4Legs food we usually feed.
Below are the notes provided by Jenny and Marshall.
What is a Natural Diet?
A natural diet is one where your pup/dog is fed mainly raw food. We believe it is both the best diet for your pup/dog and as cheap as, or cheaper, than buying premium commercial dog food.
About 70% of this diet consists of raw meaty bones. NEVER feed your dog cooked bones as they can splinter. The bones we use are mainly chicken necks, chicken wings and carcasses, lamb necks and beef brisket bones. Chicken mince made from whole carcasses is also an excellent food.
The remaining 20% of the diet should be vegetables and fruit and about 10% of the diet should be cereals. Dogs do not digest cereals very well but the fibre helps to keep the bowels in good order.
♦ Remember do not try to make every meal balanced as this is accomplished over a period of one to two weeks.
Why Feed It?
All of the food that is fed on a raw diet is easily digested and readily metabolized in the body. There are no “empty” calories nor high-calorie, low nutrition ingredient "fillers" which are not only difficult to digest, but not very filling, thus requiring your dog to eat a large amount of food before he/she feels full,
An added bonus is that on the raw diet the amount of droppings produced by your dog usually decreases (and the droppings don’t smell as much either). Note, the droppings usually turn white as any excess calcium is secreted out.
How Much Do You Feed.
Factors Determining Proper Serving Sizes
Aside from your pet's size, other factors will impact the quantities of food that you serve.
· Activity level is a factor, as less active dogs may need less food and extremely active dogs will need more.
· Some breeds have a higher metabolic rate than others.
· Medical conditions may require further quantity adjustments to attain optimal health.
· Overweight dogs will benefit from reduced quantities. On the raw diet, losing weight does not mean lowering nutrition. Calories are reduced, but nutrition-vital to healthy weight loss, is increased. Your dog will lose weight and gain muscle, making it easier to maintain his/her optimal weight once he/she gets there.
Recommended Portions By Age and Weight
Age is a serving size factor, as well. For puppies, feed a total of approximately 10% percent of their body weight, divided into three or four meals. If, for example, your puppy weighs 10 kilograms, you would feed a total of one kilogram per day.
For adult dogs, feed 2% to 3% of body weight, divided into two meals. If your dog needs to lose weight, these quantities should be adjusted. An overweight dog should be fed approximately 2% of its body weight until he/she reaches his/her ideal weight. Very active dogs may need more food - begin with 3% of body weight.
Remember these quantities are estimates. Your dog may need slightly more or less. Try to keep your dog lean for a long, healthy life.
♦ It is a good idea to regularly weigh your dog at your local vet clinic to monitor his/her weight.
What to feed
If you have a young puppy, Do not supplement the diet with additional calcium. Raw meaty bones provide the perfect balance of calcium, phosphorous, and minerals. The addition of extra calcium can be harmful and may cause Osteochondrosis Dessicans (OCD) and/or kidney problems.
To ensure an adequate intake of iron, particularly in a young pup, feed a meal which includes some minced beef, lamb or pork along with some offal two to three times each week. This includes such food as lambs fry (liver), chicken livers, lamb, pork or beef kidneys, lamb hearts and chicken giblets. Liver is a very good food but needs to be used in moderation as it is high in fat soluble vitamins, eg Vitamin A. as too much liver can poison your dog.
We also feed tinned mackerel, sardines and tinned tuna, usually twice a week with pasta.
Our dogs are fed vegetables which are raw and have been pureed in our juicer and the juice added back into the mix. Our vegetable mix usually contains bok choy, celery (including the leafy part), cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, sweet potato, apple and garlic. Other vegetables we sometimes use include mushrooms, mung beans and brussel sprouts but do not add raw potatoes or any onion as they can be toxic for dogs. There is also a commercial veggie mix called Vets All Natural. You can find out more information and places to obtain this product at:- http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au We usually add 1-2 tablespoons of the veggie mix into a mince meat and add some offal (eg a pork kidney or a lamb heart) as well as about 1-2 teaspoons of oil. We fed this usually 2-3 times each week. Note: We do not add cod liver oil to our mix if liver is included in the meal.
We also give fresh and stewed fruits. Our dogs are sometimes fed stewed apple or stewed pears with yoghurt or bananas in their porridge mix. They will eat most raw fruits including apples, pears, bananas, grapes, strawberries etc.
We fed a porridge mix once or twice a week using quick cooking rolled oats. Cover the oats with boiling water and cook for a minute or two.. Add a raw egg into the hot mixture along with raw honey, molasses and milk/yoghurt. We use honey as a sweetener in their stewed fruit as well as their porridge mixture. I also feed Vita Brits or Oat Brits with the honey, molasses, milk, eggs mixture etc
We use ordinary cow’s milk and have never had any problems with it. Other products we use are eggs, cottage and grated cheese, and yoghurt.
♦ All fresh food that we use is classed as being fit for human consumption.
♦We DO NOT RECOMMEND dog meat.
Recommended Supplements
Oils – we use flaxseed oil, safflower oil, cod liver oil (available from Health food shops)or virgin olive oil in our veggie mix. (Omega 3, 6 and 9 oils from Natural Animal Solutions are available at the kennels)
Kelp/Seaweed powder/granules/liquid – we recommend a teaspoon be given each day.
Vitamin E tablets – should be given whenever your dog is given oil.
Garlic – we recommend 1 clove of garlic to be added to the veggie mix. Garlic is a natural insecticide and helps in the control of fleas.
The following foods provide:-
Omega 6 Fatty Acid - chicken and pork fat, corn oil, safflower oil, sunflower oil, canola oil, fish, avocado
Omega 3 Fatty Acid - egg yolk, flaxseed oil, corn oil, soybean oil, oats, mushrooms (also contain Vit K), baked beans, spinach leaves, bananas, lamb’s liver, rabbit, avocado, fish
Essential Amino Acids - meat, eggs, cheese, cottage cheese, milk, baked beans
Minerals and Calcium - meaty bones eg) lamb, beef, pork and chicken, organ meats, dairy foods, seafoods, brewer’s yeast, kelp
Vitamin A - green part of plants, carrots, corn, pumpkin, squash, leafy vegetables, eggs, legumes, butter, cod liver oil(care must be taken with dosage as too much can be toxic)
Vitamin B - brewer’s yeast and liver (contain almost the complete range of Vit B), vegemite (high in salt), egg yolk, yoghurt, milk, kidney, green vegetables, peas, fruit
Vitamin C - fruit and vegetables
Vitamin D - sunshine
Vitamin E - green plants, vegetable oils, eggs (particularly yolks), whole grains, germ of grains, liver, butter
Vitamin K - fresh dark green leafy vegetables such as outer leaves of lettuce, cauliflower, broccoli, brussel sprouts, spinach; fresh liver, fish.
This is an example of one day’s meal for a puppy.
Breakfast - porridge with milk, honey, yoghurt and fruit,
Lunch - Meaty bone/s such as chicken wings or necks, or a lamb neck (excess fat removed).
Dinner - chicken mince (with mince and bone) or beef or lamb mince mixed with a large tablespoon of vegetables and/or offal meat.
This is an example of one day’s meal for an adult dog.
Breakfast - porridge with milk, honey, yoghurt and fruit,
Dinner - Meaty bone/s such as chicken wings or necks, or a lamb neck (excess fat removed).
♦ IF YOU DO DECIDE TO SUPPLEMENT WITH A COMMERCIAL FOOD, PLEASE ENSURE IT IS ONE SUITABLE FOR THE AGE AND LIFESTYLE OF YOUR DOG.
Commercially Available Foods
Barf
Pre-prepared Patties available: are Beef, Chicken, Kangaroo, Lamb, Pork, Rabbit and a Combination pack (beef, lamb, pork,)
Further details at:- http://www.barfaustralia.com
Also available from All Breeds Kennels.
Vets All Natural – Bruce Syme
Natural food for dogs, cats, puppies, kittens. This is a scientifically formulated combination of air dried cereal grains, mixed vegetables and fruits, garlic, wheat grass, yeast, kelp, lecithin and vitamin C. It is designed to reconstitute by soaking in water, then combining with raw minced meat.
Premium Choice 100% raw, unprocessed ingredients. The meat is top quality, and free range. It is mixed with a blend of raw crushed and rolled cereal grains (but no wheat, flour, or fillers), vegetables, parsley, garlic, and a range of natural vitamin and mineral supplements. It is scientifically formulated to create a fully balanced, nutritionally complete, every day dog and cat food.
Further details and other products at:- http://www.vetsallnatural.com.au
References - Books/Websites
Switching to Raw – by Susan K Johnson
A simple, but comprehensive book on Raw feeding from the
Raw Meaty Bones – Tom Lonsdale
The most authoritative and complete reference in print on the benefits of a raw food diet for you dog. Exhaustively researched and clearly written. Provides a suggested diet, feeding tips and do's and don't's. Reviews health problems associated with feeding canned and dry pet foods and explains why authorities, scientists, and vets have been recognize them. Provides practical solutions that pet owners and veterinarians can adopt for themselves. If your vet is sceptical, give him or her a copy of the book!
Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones – by Tom Lonsdale
In Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones, Australian veterinarian Dr. Tom Lonsdale inspires us to see a dog's dietary needs from a dog's perspective taking into account Nature's teachings, easily understood science, and sound common sense. Work Wonders provides essential information for dogs and their owners, veterinarians, educators and anyone interested in dogs, diets and health. Eight entertaining and informative chapters lead you through the practical essentials of dog feeding including how to find sources for fresh, healthy meat as well as how to safely store and prepare a diet of raw meaty bones. It is easier than you think!
Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats - Kymythy Shultze
Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats" was written as the result of requests by students in the author's workshops. Schultze builds a strong case for feeding cats and dogs raw diets, including meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, and added supplements. She emphasises food groups and balance instead of a rigid regimen of sameness, day after day. That is not how we feed our human families; why should we treat our pets differently? This book provides a fine basis for feeding raw. Readers who are confused by the wide variety of ingredients listed may want to follow up by reading other material with more specific recipes.
Raw Dog Food: Make It Easy for You and Your Dog - by Carina Beth Macdonald
Carina's book explains in simple, friendly and understandable terms the logic behind this approach. In this fun and slightly irreverent book author Carina MacDonald, shows how feeding your dog a raw diet can be economical and easy for you, and healthy for your dog.
Ian Billinghurst (Australian Vet) has written “ Give Your Dog A Bone” “Grow Your Pups On Bone' and “the Barf Diet”.
Tom Lonsdale books are available as e-books or as hard copies from :- www.rawmeatybones.com or as a hard copy from http://www.amazon.com