FEEDING A RAW DIET
Getting Started
Whether you decided to feed raw from day one or you are choosing to switch to a raw diet from kibble, here is some helpful information to get you headed in the right direction.
We encourage everyone to remember that every pet is different, and feeding a raw diet may look different from one pet to the next. While the information provided here is a good base point, do not hesitate to consult a certified pet nutritionist to address specific needs and health concerns unique to your pet.
DIY or Premade?
Do it Yourself (DIY) raw typically refers to piecing together each meal for your pet yourself. Whether that looks like getting creative each day or meal prepping for several days at one time is up to you, but the beauty of DIY is in the control. By assembling your pet’s meals yourself, you are able to control each and every ingredient, and be certain you are including the things your pet does need, and excluding all the things they do not. Premade raw diets are appealing to many for either, the convenience of having your pet’s food ready to eat right of the package with no prep, or the peace of mind from knowing it comes already “balanced.” Many premade raw diets follow the AAFCO standards, and may also include synthetic vitamins and minerals to achieve them. When feeding a raw diet, be sure to check the labeling and ingredients to make sure it is right for your pet.
PMR, WP, BARF?! What are these and which should I feed?
Ultimately the decision is yours. There are resources out there that support and provide information on a multitude of ways to feed your pet. Our goal is not to choose for you, or to persuade you in one direction or the other. Our goal at Cloven is to provide a quality raw resource for those who do want to feed a raw diet. If you need help deciding the best raw diet for your pet specifically, we strongly encourage consulting a certified pet nutritionist to get you started on a path that is tailored to the needs of your pet as an individual.
Prey Model Raw (PMR) blends usually contain 80% muscle and connective tissues along with some fat (some also contain tripe and non secreting organs like the heart and/or lungs), 10% ground bone and 10% secreting organs (liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, thymus, testicles, ovaries, brain, eyeballs.) These are a great baseline and can usually make up the bulk of the meal. They do not include any added supplements, fruits, or vegetables. Unless they are Whole Prey grinds, or include the organs as found naturally occurring per one animal, try to look for products that tell you the percentages of each ingredient in the blend beyond just the ratios. This will help you be able to better calculate the specific nutrients your pet is or is not getting from the blend, and allow you to better know what supplements or other ingredients may need to be added. Some PMR grinds may have different ratios from the traditional 80-10-10 suggestion. Read the label carefully. If a grind has more or less of something than you typically feed in a single meal, you may consider adjusting the amount of the grind used that day and add/subtract other ingredients to suit your pet’s nutritional goal for that meal. For example, if a grind has more organ than you would typically offer at one time, you could feed less of that grind, but add in more stand alone meat and bone ingredients such as a really meaty edible bone. Do not be afraid to mix and match.
Whole Prey (WP) grinds are quite literally just that. They are made up of the entire animal ground. Some WP grinds remove the hide/hair or feathers, before grinding, and many remove the stomach, bladder, and intestines as well. Always check the label to see. There are many benefits of WP grinds that do include hair and feathers as they are a great source of fiber and manganese! It can work to help keep the digestive tract cleaned out, kind of like a pipe cleaner.
Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods(BARF) diets include around 10% fruits and veggies into the diet. Fruits and vegetables are packed with vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. Some pets are picky eaters and may turn up their nose at whole fruits and vegetables. Using a blender to break them down into a puree is a way to make them more edible and appealing. They can even be mixed directly into a grind to help mask their presence if needed.
Rotation and Variety
When feeding a raw diet, rotation and variety are essential. Different proteins offer different nutrient profiles and by rotating them, you’re able to utilize the benefits of them all. Try to offer your dog at least two to three proteins over a two-week period and then change one or two of those out for the following two weeks. For example, you may would feed beef, pork, and rabbit for two weeks and then offer lamb, turkey, and pork the following two weeks. Rotation options are nearly endless. If you can offer more, even better! If you choose to include fruits and vegetables, be sure to rotate them as well.
Boneless or Organ-less Blends
Some blends may be labeled as a 90/10 and these will often refer to either the lack of bone or organs in the grind. Don’t be alarmed. These grinds have their place.
A boneless grind allows you to utilize Raw Meaty Bones (RMBs) in your pet’s diet. RMBs are a great way to provide the bone portion of your pets diet while also offering the enrichment and stimulation of getting to engage in natural behaviors like gnawing and chewing. Plus, by adding in the RMBs yourself you can really get creative with multiple proteins in one meal.
Organ-less blends refer to a lack of secreting organs and offer a similar opportunity for variety and creativity. Adding in stand alone secreting organs is a great way to change things up in a meal. Organ less blends may also be a better options for certain pets.
Raw Meaty Bones (RMBs)
RMBs are quite literally raw bones that still have meat attached. This may include muscle tissue, fat, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, and/or bone marrow. They are a great way to provide the bone portion when feeding a raw diet, or to offer as a chew and snack. RMBs are an excellent way to promote dental health and the gnawing and chewing behaviors are a great source of mental stimulation and enrichment.
Always supervise you pet while eating/chewing RMBs! Safety first! If ever any unsafe eating or chewing behavior is observed, remove the item immediately. Always assess each bone for hazards before feeding and to check to make sure each bone is the proper size for your pet. Bones that can be swallowed whole are too small and pose a choking hazard.
Cooked bones should never be fed as they can splinter and cause damage, injuries, and/or blockages to your pet.
Weight Bearing Bones: Weight bearing bones are the bones that carry and support the weight of the animal. For example, a rib bone does not carry any of the animal’s weight, but a femur or knuckle bone does. Weight bearing bones in large animals such as cattle and bison for instance, are very hard and dense. In most cases these bones cannot actually be eaten and will not make up the bone portion of the diet. Many people choose to offer them as a recreational chew. These bones may pose a concern as they can crack or break teeth or fracture jaws in some pets. It is your responsibility to know your pet and supervise them carefully if you decide to offer a dense weight bearing bone for chewing. On the other hand, dense, weight bearing bones are great for making bone broths!
Machine Cut Bones: Machine cut bones are often found in meats purchased at grocery stores or butcher shops intended for human consumption. They can have very sharp edges and/or small pieces and fragments. Beware of these types of bones and be sure to thoroughly look over any bones you choose to feed for hazards such as these.
Organs
Organs are a very essential part of feeding a raw diet and can be divided into two groups. Secreting and Muscular.
Secreting Organs are those that are referred to when you read ratio percentages or when a blend is referring to its organ content. They provide essential vitamins and nutrients to your pet’s diet. Liver, kidney, spleen, pancreas, thymus (sweet breads), testicles, ovaries, milt (fish sperm sac), eyeballs and brain are all secreting organs.
Muscular Organs are included in the meat portion of the diet. Muscular organs include: Heart, lungs, trachea, tongue, gullet, tripe, tendons, gizzards, uterus and pizzle.
Fruits and Veggies
If you chose to include fruits and vegetables in your pets diet, there are many great resources available to help you pick the right ones for your pet. Some pets are picky eaters and may not eat whole fruits or vegetables. Blending them down into a puree is one way to help make them more appealing or to mix them in with a grind and mask their presence.
Supplements and Toppers
Supplements and toppers can be a way to really add variety and extra boosts of nutrients when feeding a raw diet. Working with a certified nutritionist can really help you understand what additional things should be added specifically for your pet. Unless your pet has a particular health concern that has caused you to be advised differently, some great supplements to add can be things like pre and probiotics, microgreens, coconut oil, phytoplankton and bone broth just to name a few.
How much should I Feed?
A rule of thumb for an adult dog is to feed 2-3% of their ideal body weight, however dogs that are very active or under extreme working conditions may consume as much as 5% of their body weight.
How active is my dog?
Activity levels can be described as follows:
- Sedentary (2%): Very little activity. Mostly indoors. A dog may have this low of an activity level if it’s elderly, injured, or unwell.
- Average (3%): 30-60 minutes of normal walking per day and moderate play.
- High (4%): A 60-minute walk per day, with energetic play.
- Working (5%): Farm dogs, cattle, and sheep herding dogs. Obstacle course show dogs. Police dogs, etc.
- Puppies: Feeding puppies is a little different. They are constantly growing and their body’s nutritional requirements are different from that of an adult dog’s.