Bones and Raw Food Diet

BONES AND RAW FOOD DIET


Q: I believe I read an article that raw meat is good for dogs.
A: Raw meat is a dog's natural food. A dog's mouth is not designed to chew ground, cooked, extruded kibble that is flavored and colored to please the human senses, and preserved for extended shelf life.

Q: I always thought raw meat had a danger of bacteria, don't they???
A: To a human, yes. To a healthy dog, no. A dog's stomach acid is exceptionally strong, and is designed to destroy these types of bacteria. In addition, the intestinal tract of a dog is short, and is designed to move food quickly and efficiently through and out.

Q: And also, is it only raw chicken, or all kinds of raw meat you guys feed your dogs (beef, pork, etc.
A: I feed raw chicken WITH the bones, turkey with the bones, raw beef, beef kidney, heart, tripe, and a small amount of liver. No pork currently.

Q:Also, is it only BONES, or do you feed actual raw meat?
A: Both.

Q:Is this their regular diet, or a supplement to their regular diet?
A: It is the regular diet, and is supplemented with about 10 to 15% kibble.

Q:What: are the benefits and/or disadvantages of feeding raw meat?



BENEFITS

* A natural raw diet has been shown in many cases to eliminate MANY dogfood-related problems such as:


1) Problems with anal glands.


2) Skin problems.


3) Allergy problems.


4) Weight problems.

* You are not feeding your dog the artificial preservatives and colors contained in many dog foods.

* The raw diet does not expand in the gut as dry kibble can,

* Palatability is excellent.<O:p</O:p

* There are no rancid or questionable fats.<O:p</O:p

* Dogs who "wolf their food SLOW DOWN.

* Picky eaters SPEED UP.<O:p</O:p

* Condition of dogs on a proper BARF (Bones and Raw Food) diet is amazing. Muscle mass, coat condition, energy levels, are all greatly improved on a raw diet.
<O:p
* Dogs on a BARF diet do not require veterinary dental care. The chicken bones and the larger knuckle bones clean the teeth and stimulate the gums naturally.

* I also find my personal dogs more relaxed and happier on this diet. They get to spend a much larger amount of time processing with their jaws natural food items.

* This obviously is very mentally satisfying to the dogs.


DISADVANTAGES

* Switch must be done gradually to avoid problems with toxin release. As a dog is switched from a dog food diet to a natural diet, the body releases stored toxins that have built up over a long period of time. The switch must be done very gradually so that the excretory systems can cope with this release.

* Less convenient. Meat must be found, purchased, and stored properly. It must be thawed completely before use. This requires more thought and time than opening a can or a bag.<O:p</O:p

* Vegetables and fruits must also be included. To be assimilated properly, they must be juiced or ground. More time.

* Traveling with this diet can be difficult, although it can be done. Instead of frozen meat, it can be purchased daily wherever you are. This is why I continue to feed a small amount of kibble. If necessary, I CAN use the kibble.

A couple of good books on the subject are Richard H. Pitcaini's Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide To Natural Health for Dogs and Cats and Ian Billinghurst's Give Your Dog a Bone.


~ Rebekah

YIS</O:p

 

This post is superb. Thanks Dr for sharing wonderful information. I will keep these tips and information in my mind. Everyone should read this post.

 

Nice. I don't agree that fruits and veggies must be included, but overall, very nice article!

 

Very informative article Even I also prefer giving Raw to my Lab it really help hin to get more healthy

 

I think these days most folks are on prey model rather than barf.

 

What is prey model?

 

when you feed whole prey items i.e. a whole rabbit with organs

 

[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]VEGETABLES
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Dogs have actually eaten vegetables the whole period of their evolution, and that's a long time! As such, vegetables, particularly green leafy vegetables should form part of the domestic [/FONT][FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]dog's healthy diet[/FONT][FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]. Dogs need vegetables because they contain many important health promoting nutrients. The fiber your dog obtains from raw vegetables includes both soluble and insoluble fiber. Vegetables supply many other nutrients. Many of those nutrients are the ones that have been found to be in short supply in the modern dog's "civilized" diet. This includes difficult to obtain omega 3 essential fatty acids, most of a dog's vitamin needs, masses of enzymes and various anti-aging factors, including antioxidants and phytochemicals. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Broccoli
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Broccoli is one of the most nutrient dense foods. It is dense in vitamin C, beta carotene, folic acid, calcium and fiber. It is also a good source of chromium. Like other members of the cabbage family, broccoli has demonstrated remarkable anticancer effects. Broccoli contains several important phytochemicals: beta carotene, indoles, and isothiocyanates and over thirty-three cancer preventative compounds. Research suggests that phytochemicals prevent carcinogens from forming, stop carcinogens from getting to target cells and boost enzymes that detoxify carcinogens.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Spinach
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Spinach contains twice as much iron as most other greens. Like other chlorophyll and carotene -containing vegetables, it is a rich source of antioxidants. Besides beta-carotene, it also supplies two other carotenes, lutein and zeaxanthin. Spinach has long had a reputation of being very high in nutrients. It is a good source of fiber, calcium, potassium and vitamins A, B6 and K.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Celery[/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Celery is rich in calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium and iron, as well as vitamins A, B, C. The phytochemical 3-n-butyl phthalide, one of the components that gives celery its characteristic smell and taste, is especially potent as an anti-tumor agent. Along with the compound sedanolide, an aromatic ingredient also found in celery, 3-n-butyl phthalide significantly reduces the incidence of tumors in laboratory animals. It is said to decrease nervousness, and is used as an acid neutralizer.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Carrot
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]The carrot is the king of the vegetables. It is the richest source of pro-vitamin A carotenes among commonly consumed vegetables. But unlike vitamin A, beta carotene and other carotenes in carrots do not cause toxicity. Beta carotene is also a powerful antioxidant. Carrots also contain vitamins B, C, D, E, K, riboflavin, niacin, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, sodium, and iron. Carrots have repeatedly shown to nourish the optic nerve and significantly improve eyesight.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Cayenne Pepper
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]This is an excellent source of many essential nutrients. By weight, red peppers have three times as much vitamin C as citrus fruit. Moreover, red peppers are a very good source of beta carotene, and they offer a good amount of fiber and vitamin B6. Because cayenne pepper stimulates circulation and enhances blood flow, it is considered food for the circulatory system and as a digestive aid. Red peppers are one of few foods that contain lycopene, a phytochemical that may help prevent various forms of cancer.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]FRUIT
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Yes, dogs can and do eat fruit. Wild dogs - domestic dogs, they all do it! Remember dogs are omnivores. They can eat almost anything. Fruits are mostly water. After that, the major nutrient in fruit is soluble carbohydrate. That is simple sugars. Energy foods. Fruit contains lots of fiber. It also contains vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants. Because fruit is a whole food, it also contains minerals, small amounts of protein and small amounts of fat. Two nutrients present in most raw fruits, vitamin A as carotene and vitamin C, make fruit a valuable food for your dog. The enzymes present in raw fruit, also make it important as part of your dog's diet, particularly if your dog is past middle age and showing the beginnings of degenerative disease. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Is it essential that dogs eat fruit?

[/FONT][FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]No. All of the nutrients present in fruit can be obtained from other sources. However, by adding fruit to the diet, we ensure a wide variety of healthy foods. This gives the greatest chance of providing a balanced diet with plenty of longevity and immune system promoting nutrients. Any fruit can be fed to dogs, however tropical fruits are a particularly valuable food as they contain lots of antioxidants. Scientists have discovered that the enzymes and antioxidants present in fruit, many of which have not yet been identified, keep the skin and indeed the whole body free of degeneration and old age diseases. [/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Whole Apple
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Unpeeled apples are especially high in non-pro-vitamin A carotenes and pectin. Pectin is a remarkable type of fiber that has been shown to exert a number of beneficial effects. Due to its gel forming fiber, it can improve the intestinal muscle's ability to push waste through the gastrointestinal tract. Pectin also binds to and eliminates toxins in the gut. Apples are also rich in beta carotene and vitamin C as well as several B complex vitamins including vitamin B6, folic acid and lots of potassium.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Whole Pear
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Pears are an excellent source of water-soluble fiber, including pectin, which makes them useful in toning the intestines. Fresh pears contain potassium, which is necessary for maintaining heartbeat, muscle contraction, nerve transmission, and carbohydrate metabolism. Pears also contain Vitamin C. An important antioxidant, Vitamin C is essential for helping prevent free radical damage.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Whole Grapefruit
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Grapefruit is a good source of flavonoids, water soluble fibers, potassium, vitamin C, and folic acid. Grapefruit, like other citrus fruits has been shown to exert some anticancer effects in both human and animal studies. Grapefruit pectin has been shown to possess similar cholesterol lowering action to other fruit pectins. The whole fruit contains more pectin than the juice. Recently, grapefruit has been shown to normalize hematocrit levels. The word hematocrit refers to the percentage of red blood cells per volume of blood. Low hematocrit levels usually reflect anemia. High hematocrit levels may reflect severe dehydration or an increased number of red blood cells. Grapefruit seeds are well known as an anti-fungal agent in that their consumption kills many different types of parasites and assists the body in producing beneficial bacteria. A biologically active natural ingredient found in the seeds kills strep, staph, salmonella, e.coli, candida, herpes, influenza, parasites, fungi and traveler's diarrhea, and is used as an antibiotic, anti fungal, antiprotozoan and antiviral.[/FONT]
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Whole Orange
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[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif][/FONT]
[FONT=Comic Sans MS, sans-serif]Everyone knows that oranges are an excellent source of vitamin C, but they have more to offer nutritionally than just this nutrient. One orange contains generous levels of folate (folic acid), potassium, and thiamin, as well as some calcium and magnesium. Equally important to the nutritional value of oranges is their supply of flavonoids, making oranges a valuable aid in strengthening the immune system, supporting connective tissues, and promoting overall good health. Oranges have been shown to protect against cancer, and fight viral infections.[/FONT]


~ Dr. Billinghurst

YIS
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I agree, the dog has evolved to fit a niche at man's camp. Over the thousands of years I truly do believe they have evolved the ability and need for plant matter. not in large portions of course. I went the meat/bone/organ way when i first switched to raw. i was not 100% satisfied. I started to add veggie pulp twice a week and my boy bloomed. unfortunatly feeding raw all the time was just too expensive for so now so I feed a little of high quality kibble.

 

look at the premium dog foods blue 24lbs for $51.00, Innova 25lbs for $64.00, Instinct $69.00 for 25.3lbs.

lets say i cant afford to feed kibble. i buy 50lbs of chicken for roughly $33 and that last about a month and a half for one dog. the viggies i keep it simple buying the big 101oz canned turnip greens at Sams club and add 1 tablespoon to the feed. rice is cheap used as a filler. if you do it right its as cheap as the cheapest dog food, but as good for the dog as the best premium stuff out there.

 

Exactly right Hardluck. I agree.

 

it is much cheaper if you have the room to buy in bulk. I don't, i only have enough room for about month's worth of raw in my fridge. When my income tax comes in i plan on buying a big freezers and going raw for good!!

 

How many you feeding Kristi?

 

I plan on feeding raw to my next pup. Researching what I can. Not sure how to do raw or how I could do prey. I remember chickens but my father would clean it first and remove some bones. If I remember correctly he had a theory as to which bones cause problems.. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

 

Cooked bones.

 

Spokane Boot Camp

 

Hi guys,....
I read out all the post.All the post very informational about the dieting
of the dogs.Bones and raw food is the best diet for the dogs.

 

Where in the heck do you buy 50lbs of chicken for $33? if you don't mind answering and if you have the time, what are the feeding guidelines when it comes to raw? I have three dogs ranging from 50lbs to 85lbs, how would I know how much to feed them. I currently spend about $45 a month on kibble for all of them but of I can feed them raw for about thesame price, count me in.

 

I honestly say that it was the best ever post that I ever could find on this topic.
Thanks a lot for sharing. Now, I just need a little justification of "* Vegetables and fruits must also be included. To be assimilated properly, they must be juiced or ground. More time."

 

i was wondering if could give mine meat once a week?