2 of 12

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 2

was related to their weight somehow, but humans are supposed to eat no more food than the size of their fist at any given meal. But the size of the dog's paw is pretty tiny, and I really thought they needed a little more than that. So, I talked with my friends again, who told me that an active dog should have 10% of its weight in meat, a senior or inactive dog should have about 5% of its weight in meat. They should have complete access to at least three different kinds of vegetables at all times. They should also have at least one, preferably two, different fruit choices at all times. That sounded like very sound advice to me, so I immediately implemented it, much to the delight of my dogs.

The benefits that I've seen, directly, from feeding a raw food diet include the dog's body's ability to find and maintain it's ideal weight. I also discovered increased energy, more zest for life, and fewer cases of unknown vomiting episodes. I also witnessed faster healing times. Another benefit of feeding the raw food diet is far fewer visits to the vet's office than ever before. I used to take my two dogs to the vet, on average, about once every three months. We went for outside of the routine checkups, for blood work, for trying to figure out the latest stomach upset, as well as for normal checkups. They've been in to the vet's office only once, since we switched their diet, for their routine checkup - where they both got a completely clean bill of health.

My current recipe for their raw food diet is between 7% and 8% of their weight in raw meat, but I adjust that up or down depending on the weather and how busy they are. On any given day, I make sure they have access to four different types of vegetables and up to three different kinds of fruits. Each morning, they get one teaspoon of flax oil, one vegetarian digestive enzyme pill, one Sun Chlorella tablet, and a tablespoon of a liquid probiotic. As far as ensuring my dogs get their allotment of omega fatty acids, I use a combination of flax seed oil, wild caught fish oil, and krill oil (krill is the best of the three choices). I leave the fresh veggies and fruits out for them to eat as they will throughout the day and include everything from spinach, carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, snap peas, squash, zucchini, tomatoes to cantaloupe, apples, lime, star fruit, kiwi... Basically, any fruit or veggie they'll eat save onions and grapes, which are poisonous to a dogs' system for the same reasons that chocolate is. Coconut oil is a special treat in my house and we all enjoy it straight from the container (1 tablespoon for me, 1 teaspoon for them). I leave the fruits and veggies out all day long because they clean their teeth more often that way. Then, in the evening, they get their single meat meal.

It's really pretty simple. I have found that they don't much appreciate liver, but love chicken hearts. This combination of raw foods and human quality supplements has given my dogs the nutritional value their systems require. Not only did I completely avoid the rat poison in the kibble products that scared the nation in 2007, but my dogs are now far more healthy than when we began.

Learn more about this author, Jayme Hunt.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

• << previous page
• 1
• 2

Add your voice

Know something about Dog food choices: The homemade alternative?
We want to hear your view. Write now!