Raw Dog Food Rule #1: Go lean with your meats
Raw meat-based diets tend to be high in fat, which can cause problems for many dogs, especially those prone to pancreatitis, obesity and gastrointestinal issues. Fat also contains more than twice as many calories per gram as protein and carbohydrates. Because dogs typically eat to satisfy their need for calories, dogs who consume less of a higher-fat food may not obtain enough vitamins, minerals and other important nutrients, while those who consume more may become obese. Fortunately, preparing your own raw diet enables you to control the fat content.
My rule: Select lean meats that contain no more than 10 percent fat.
Raw goat milk to supplement a dog’s raw diet
Raw goat milk is a great source of protein, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, electrolytes, and trace elements. It acts as a natural probiotic, relieves joint pain, and fights yeast.
Either pour some into a bowl as an extra liquid treat, or mix it into your dog’s raw food. Raw goat milk can also easily be turned into refreshing summer treats – just pour some in silicone molds, freeze overnight and offer them to your pup!
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Bovine colostrum powder is derived from a mother cow’s first milk shortly after having given birth and is a natural source of concentrated antibodies.
Besides its immune system boosting qualities, it’s also an anti-inflammatory, helps battle the symptoms of arthritis and leaky gut, and is used to treat and prevent cancer.
Just mix it in with your dog’s raw food. Since it also heals wounds, it can be administered to a dog externally (mixed with distilled water) after surgery as well.
Hemp Oil for a dog’s raw diet
Hemp oil is derived from hemp plants. It reduces inflammation and has the perfect ratio of Omega 6 to Omega 3 fatty acids, which makes it great for joint health, coat & skin health, as well as a cancer preventative.
Just mix it in with your dog’s raw food. I supplemented my pup Missy’s immune system with it after her second cancer diagnosis this year. I wish I would have known about it back in 2014 when she was first diagnosed with it.
Do I need to give my dog any supplements when feeding raw?
I became a firm believer in nourishing our dogs’ bodies with superfoods rather than synthetic supplements in late 2014.
That’s when my Boxer mix Missy was diagnosed with cancer for the first time, and I began researching alternative ways of boosting her immune system and ways to prevent illnesses from surfacing in her brother Buzz.
Although Missy ultimately died of cancer in April 2018, she ended up being in remission from it for 3+ years.
I believe that her raw food diet that I supplemented with superfoods contributed to her improved health, and that it’s been keeping her brother Buzz free of illnesses so far (knock on wood).
That being said, it’s not necessary to add a cocktail of superfood supplements to your healthy dog’s raw diet as long as the diet is an overall balanced one.
You could pick two and feed them on a daily basis for illness prevention. I’m thinking kelp powder, along with bone broth or turmeric paste.
Offer other supplements on an as-needed basis during periods of recovery from surgery or illness. Supplements to consider are colostrum powder or hemp oil.