Homemade Raw Diet for Dogs

In recent years, raw diets for dogs have become increasingly popular. This diet consists of feeding a dog fresh, varied foods rather than standard canned or dry dog food. The belief is that this is similar to what a dog would eat in the wild; therefore, it is healthier. Benefits of this diet for your dog include better breath and healthier teeth, less stool production, improved general health and more energy, while the benefits for you are fewer vet bills and less expensive dog food. While starting your dog on this diet can seem overwhelming, it is actually easy to do.

Things You'll Need

  • Fresh meat
  • Fresh organ meat
  • Raw, meaty bones
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Instructions

    • 1
      Experiment with different meats to see which one your dog responds to best.

      Feed your dog raw meat. This includes chicken, turkey, beef, pork, rabbit and fish. Your dog's digestive system, unlike ours, can handle the bacteria in meat, so don't worry about your dog getting sick.

    • 2

      Include organ meats in your dog's diet. When you give your dog liver or kidney meat, it receives a much higher nutrient concentration than it would get from standard animal meat.

    • 3
      Raw, meaty bones have plenty of benefits.

      Give your dog raw, meaty bones. These are bones that still have meat attached to them. Chewing on these bones cleans your dog's teeth and gums as well as developing its muscles in its jaw, neck and shoulders. The chewing action stimulates stomach acid, which makes it easier for your dog to digest food.

    • 4

      Feed your dog whole carcasses occasionally. You can get whole rabbits or chickens from your local butcher. A whole carcass contains all of the animal's meat, bones and organs, giving your dog everything it needs to stay healthy.

    • 5

      Encourage your dog to eat slowly. A dog who has only eaten canned food doesn't always learn how to chew properly, and this can cause it to choke on solid food. Giving your dog bones or whole carcasses often while transitioning it to raw food can slow down its eating.

    • 6
      While humans require fresh fruits and vegetables, your dog doesn't need them.

      Never feed your dog vegetables, fruit or grains as part of a raw diet. Dogs are carnivores, so these types of foods add nothing to their diet. Dogs thrive on a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet.