Preserve the Tail Wagging is supported by pet mother and father. I often earn a fee (at no extra price to you) whenever you click on by means of an affiliate hyperlink to certainly one of my favourite merchandise. Thanks on your assist. Learn Extra

Two widespread questions from canine homeowners are “How a lot uncooked ought to I feed my canine?” and “How a lot does uncooked feeding price?” A number of uncooked feeding calculators can be found on-line, and most comply with a share by physique weight calculation primarily based on a canine’s age and exercise stage. I’ve created the next uncooked feeding charts to provide you an concept of what and the way a lot uncooked to feed your canine.

Why I Feed My Canine Uncooked

I used to be initially drawn to uncooked feeding to heal a canine with digestive points. Because of feeding recent meals, Rodrigo lived greater than ten years longer than a veterinarian predicted. I transitioned my canines to uncooked in 2013, and over that point, I’ve seen the next advantages:

• improved intestine well being
• improved immune system
• decreased irritation
• small, much less smelly poop
• beautiful coat, wholesome pores and skin
• decreased allergy signs
• no fleas and ticks (knock on wooden)
• slowed getting old
• fewer veterinarian visits

As I acknowledged, the canine who impressed this variation lived 10-1/2 years longer than predicted. I’ve misplaced two canines to most cancers; one lived 5 weeks longer than anticipated, and the opposite lived 1-1/2 years longer than anticipated. I credit score this to feeding recent meals, utilizing complete meals dietary supplements that promote a wholesome intestine microbiome, encouraging a sturdy immune system, and selling general wellness.

What I Feed My Uncooked Fed Canine

I begin with a basis of 80% muscle meat, 10% organ meat, and 10% bone. I combine in a base combine by Dr. Harvey’s and boiled canned oysters (for zinc). In my canines’ particular person meals, I add seafood, fur (rabbit ft), a hen egg, duck ft, and different “facet dishes.” I weigh their meals to keep away from overfeeding.

Listed below are just a few examples of what I feed my canines; this listing relies on what’s obtainable in my space and is inside my finances.

• Proteins: beef, duck, emu, guinea hen, pheasant, pork, rabbit, venison
• Uncooked Meaty Bones: quail, cornish sport hen, pork ribs, duck frames, duck ft, duck necks, rabbit ft
• Organs: beef (coronary heart, lungs, liver, spleen, pancreas, inexperienced tripe)*, lamb (coronary heart, liver, kidneys), pork (coronary heart, liver, kidneys)
• Seafood: green-lipped mussels (cooked/frozen), mackerel (canned and recent), oysters (boiled/canned), salmon (canned), sardines (canned and recent)
• Greens (grown in my backyard): cabbage, carrots, celery, collard greens, kale, tomatoes (ripe), yellow squash, zucchini

I don’t comply with the directions for the bottom combine, which is meant so as to add to muscle meat alone. As a result of my canines are gaining vitamins from an 80/10/10 mix and oysters, I really feel comfy utilizing much less base combine. I’ve confirmed that the weight loss program I’ve formulated for my canines is assembly their dietary wants. I alternate the primary protein each 5 days.

*Coronary heart and inexperienced tripe are historically fed as muscle meat; I embrace them as organs as a result of they’re included in a mix I order by means of my native uncooked meals co-op.

How I Use a Base Combine

As a result of I begin with 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ meat, I exploit much less of the bottom combine than is advisable on the bag. Do not hassle attempting to calculate 80/10/10 -instead, go to the Feed Actual Institute’s calculator, which can assist you to calculate the quantities wanted in a recipe.

For each 10-15 kilos of an 80/10/10 mix, I add 1-1/2 to 2 cups of base combine and one can of boiled oysters. That is it.

Sometimes, I will combine in different components to strive one thing new with my canines, however not fairly often.

Dietary supplements I Give to My Canine

There are various wonderful dietary supplements, and I prefer to alternate between a number of manufacturers. Nevertheless, I’ve two fundamental dietary supplements that I exploit day by day with my canines:

Day by day Dawg by Actual Mushrooms is a complete, veterinary-curated mix of extracts on your canine’s basic well being upkeep made with licensed natural mushrooms, antioxidants, and natural adaptogens.

• intestine well being, immune system, joint and muscle well being, protects towards free radicals, hormonal and stress administration, cognitive well being, and promotes a pure detox

Gussy’s Intestine Day by day is an natural mix of freeze-dried greens and different whole-food components that assist intestine well being, promote a wholesome detox, and defend towards free radicals whereas supporting general well being and wellness.

How A lot I Feed My Uncooked Fed Canine

When calculating how a lot to feed my canines, I alternate between low exercise (winter months, highly regarded days) and reasonable exercise. If a wholesome canine must drop some pounds, I will lower their meals barely and enhance train; if a canine wants to achieve weight, I feed extra meals.

Exercise Ranges for Canine

Three exercise ranges are sometimes referenced when figuring out how a lot to feed our canines.

• Low Exercise – lower than an hour of train day by day; an everyday stroll on a lead
• Average Exercise – 1 to three hours day by day; a number of walks, visits to canine parks, simple hikes, working round a big property
• Excessive Exercise – 3 to six hours day by day; that is sometimes a working canine

I think most canines fall into the “low exercise” and “reasonable exercise” columns famous beneath. Nevertheless, that is not the place it ends as a result of every canine is exclusive. The exercise ranges give us an concept of what number of energy a canine might burn day by day, however I’ve realized to observe every canine’s weight and regulate how a lot I feed to forestall weight achieve or loss.

The next chart calculates the quantity of meals fed day by day primarily based on a canine’s weight and exercise stage.

How A lot Uncooked Canine Meals Prices

The price of uncooked pet food relies on what you are feeding and the way a lot. For instance, feeding industrial uncooked to a small breed canine can be less expensive than feeding industrial uncooked to a large breed canine. Connections with homesteaders, farmers, and hunters might assist you to purchase muscle meat, organ meat, and bones at a decrease price than shopping for these components on the grocery retailer.

On common, I attempt to preserve my finances at $325 monthly for my massive canines. More often than not, I can keep inside my finances by feeding DIY uncooked pet food as a substitute of economic uncooked, and solely purchasing by means of a native uncooked meals co-op and gross sales, stocking up on meals, treats, and dietary supplements when marked down considerably.

On the time of this publish, I had three canines that weighed between 55 lbs and 80 lbs. They eat 4 kilos of meals day by day except I am feeding Options Pet Meals, which is extra nutrient-dense. When feeding Options, I feed 2.16 kilos day by day.

My 2024 Uncooked Feeding Price range

1 – RAW DOG FOOD: I spend roughly $700 per quarter on components to make pet food and treats. There are industrial manufacturers in my finances, however these are supplemental blends, not full meals. I additionally purchase particular person components. The one premade, full uncooked model I buy is Options Pet Meals. I buy 1 case per quarter at an area pet retailer at 20% off. I purchase treats on the similar sale. I additionally replenish on objects at outlet grocery shops and ethnic markets.

2 – REAL DOG BOX: I spend $60 month-to-month on a Actual Canine Field subscription for treats and chews. My subscription features a wellness bundle as a result of I belong to their associates program.

3 – SUPPLEMENTATION: I spend roughly $400/12 months on supplementation. I purchase in bulk on BOGO gross sales. I additionally get particular reductions from some manufacturers I can’t share.

4 – FREE PRODUCTS: I get free merchandise from manufacturers in change for promotion, working occasions, writing articles, and their generosity. I’ve chosen to take free merchandise over cost as a result of I would use the cash to purchase the merchandise anyway.

This is not one thing everybody can do. I’ve been granted this lavish perk due to my years within the trade, running a blog expertise, and following. Because of this some manufacturers have additionally given me particular low cost codes to cross alongside. Subscribe to my free e-newsletter for reductions.

5 – FRIENDS WITH FARMS: Lastly, my buddies increase their animals, fish, and hunt. I can safe free meat, organ meat, and seafood from these sources.

MY TOTAL BUDGET: I spend roughly $325/month, however it could enhance relying on my canines’ wants. My finances doesn’t embrace vet appointments, testing kits, pet insurance coverage, canine toys, or our canine walker.

The place I Supply My Canine’s Meals

If you happen to stay in Western Washington, the next listing can be useful. Nevertheless, when you stay in one other state, you’ll be able to nonetheless get some concepts from my favourite sources.

*you’ll be able to join with native farms, homesteaders, and hunters by means of social media teams or by inserting an advert on the Fb Market or Craigslist.

Uncooked Canine Meals Recipes