You have made the decision to feed raw whole foods to your dog and and/or cat.
Congratulations, as you are on your way to providing superior nutrition and you will be very pleased with the results.

There is a great deal to learn and some rules to follow. The following tips will get you started in the right direction. There are several raw food manufacturers today that are also eager to help and guide you to successful results or you can prepare your own foods at home from whole food you choose yourself.

Purchase whole meats and grind them at home rather than purchasing ground meats at the grocery store. Make absolutely sure you balance the meal with the proper calcium to phosphorous ratio. Add fruits and vegetables to provide complex carbohydrates, phyto nutrients, enzyme, and soluble and insoluble fiber. At mealtime, add a vitamin mineral supplement and essential fatty acids to the meal just before serving.

If you cannot make your own food make sure you purchase fresh frozen foods from a company that follows safe food handling practices. Be certain that the food is made from ingredients you would eat yourself and which are safe for you to handle, as well as safe for your dog or cat. Frozen pet foods vary greatly in quality. Read the ingredient list and find out where the food is manufactured and how it is handled. Find out where they source their raw materials.

Introducing raw food to your pets can be done over night but some animals may want to take a little longer. Cats, in particular, can be processed food junkies and it may take several weeks to help them make the transition. Dogs are much easier to please. Start gradually if necessary, by feeding a very small raw meal. Add a tablespoon of yogurt. Dogs can fast a day, making them more eager to make the transition, but this is rarely necessary with dogs. Cats, on the other hand, may be more difficult. You must get the processed food out of the house, as they will hold out for the food they are addicted to. Do not fast cats! You may take canned food and mix it with a little raw and gradually add more each day until you can eliminate the processed food altogether. Never cook a raw meal, which contains ground bone, and never mix raw food with processed kibbled food. Processed kibble food takes approximately 12 hours to get through the dog’s gastrointestinal tract, while a raw meal takes only 4 to 5 hours. Processed foods contain simple carbohydrates, which are an ideal medium for bacteria, mold and fungi to multiply and this may be the cause of upsets in many dogs and is not recommended! Gastro intestinal upsets are extremely rare in dogs and cats fed a properly prepared raw diet.

Raw food must be consumed within a twenty-minute time frame. When completely thawed the meal is presented. (Some animals like a bit of warm water added to cold food.) Cats in particular, like their food at body temperature and they like it absolutely fresh! Because bacterial exist in all raw foods (including those we eat ourselves) and because bacterial can double their numbers in twenty minutes, providing conditions are ideal, it is important that these nutritious foods do not remain in the feed dish if they are not consumed. This is rarely a problem as most animals love whole raw food nutrition. If the meal is not consumed, place it in the refrigerator and offer the meal later in the same day.

It is very important to wash all surfaces, all food containers and your hands with hot soapy water, just as you would do when you prepare food for your own family.

Use common sense when feeding bones to your dogs. Many fresh frozen products contain ground bone, which is a very good way to balance the important calcium/phosphorous ratio. However, if you find that your dog or cat’s stools are very dry, hard and white, this is an indication that your animal needs more fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Canned pumpkin, without the spices of course, is a quick source of fiber. Ground flax seed is also a good source of fiber and also essential fatty acids. Add more fruits and vegetables to the meal as well.

Be careful what kind of bones you give your dogs. Never feed a cooked bone of any kind! Supervise your dogs if you have given them bones. Many breeds do not have good occlusion (bite) and have a great deal of trouble with bones. Bones can get stuck in the mouth, cause impactions or blockages or may even be sharp enough to puncture the gastro intestinal tract. All of these are medical emergencies, which can be prevented if you use care and common sense. Some dogs can also fracture teeth by chewing on bones. Also, multiple dog families feel competition from each other and may gulp bones as well. Use bones, but use them carefully!

For other questions and answers on the subject of raw foods for dogs and cats, you may contact the writer or go here for frequently asked questions and answers.

 

Kathleen Dawson
B. Sc. Agriculture Animal Science, Physiology and Nutrition
ISLAND FRESH K-9
Tel 250 337 5741
www.islandfreshk-9.com