The benefits of species-appropriate, raw food is so important that even a once-a-week meal is well worth doing, according to top canine nutritionist, author and consultant Steve Brown.
There are conflicting views on how much raw food to feed dogs and cats, and the amount can vary significantly depending on your pet’s metabolism and level of activity.
Daily feeding guidelines will also vary by manufacturer. When starting a new diet, the best way to gauge how much raw food to feed your dog or cat is to closely monitor their weight for the first month to six weeks. You can do this by weighing them once or twice a week or by physically inspecting them (feel their ribs, hips, etc.). ) for indications of weight gain or loss, and modifying your feeding practices as necessary.
It’s Not Natural for a Dog. Dogs are hunters, not grazing animals. They hunt, kill, and then devour their prey. When they eat, they gorge because they don’t know when their next meal is coming. As opportunistic feeders, dogs are hard-wired to behave this way. By design, they may not know how to “snack” or eat small amounts throughout the day.2. It’s Likely to Cause Weight Gain. If your dog can’t gauge when he or she is full and should stop eating, weight gain is inevitable. This can occur with any food, but dogs are at an even higher risk of weight gain with processed pet food. Preservatives, palatability enhancers, additives, synthetic ingredients and other chemicals make it addictive. Couple that with a high carbohydrate content and we have a recipe for weight gain. A couple of extra pounds never hurt anyone, right? Wrong. It increases your dog’s risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoarthritis, and cancer. According to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, excessive weight in pets can decrease life expectancy by up to 2.5 years.3. It’s Difficult to Monitor How Much Your Dog is Eating. Knowing how much your dog eats is important in case you need to adjust their diet. With free feeding, you’re in the dark on when and how much your dog eats. Plus, appetite is often an important indication of health. If you don’t’ know when your dog eats, how will you know if they stopped eating or something isn’t quite right?4. It May Affect Digestion. When a dog’s body signals hunger, hydrochloric acid in the stomach builds. In nature, this tells your dog it’s time to hunt. When stomach acid is at the appropriate pH, it’s better able to digest food. And it’s better equipped to handle high loads of bacteria without causing harm. Leaving the food bowl out all day doesn’t put your dog into the “hunt and kill” mode. In turn, it could affect digestive abilities.5. Makes Training Harder. If you don’t know when your dog is eating, it’s harder to judge bathroom habits. What’s more, if food is always available to your dog, they have less incentive to “work” for treats. When food is always available, you lose it as leverage. And this may make motivating your dog with food more difficult, or even impossible.6. Can Have A Negative Effect on Manners. If food is left out, it could breed guarding issues and cause trouble for multi-dog households.7. Hygiene is the Biggest Issue – Leaving any food out can attract pests. But leaving raw food out is flat out unsanitary. Raw food will spoil and begin to smell. It’s also not recommended to leave raw (or any pet food) out if you have small children in the house that could get into it. This is a no brainer.
For these reasons, I don’t support free feeding in any case: for kibble or raw diets. Other raw feeding experts agree. Luckily, there are similar, yet better options for raw feeders who want to feed differently. See a few of them outlined below.
Free feeding is different from this because the portion is still regulated. You’re feeding your dog a specific amount. They may eat enough for one to three days, after which they will fast. However, you feed larger amounts every few days rather than a set amount every day. When fasting, water, recreational bones, and broth should be available. Until it’s time to start up again with a regular feeding schedule, some dog owners continue to feed snack-sized meals. Some people choose to feed this way regularly. Others participate in Gorge and Fast feeding on special occasions, such as following a hunt or to get a great deal on a dead animal. This BFFLO usually occurs outside in a yard, weather permitting. Others might decide to forage on a tarp in a basement or garage. This feeding method is obviously not for the weak of heart. And it’s not for everyone. Skip it if you prefer a more “civilized” or contemporary style of eating.
Another name for this method of feeding is “gorge and rest” or “gorge and fast.” ” It’s more common with whole prey feeding. And it’s especially popular with Prey Model diets. This method of feeding entails consuming multiple days’ worth of food at once. Why do it? • It resembles the natural eating habits of wolves and other wild dogs. • Purchasing whole animals or large cuts of meat is advantageous for hunters or dog owners. • It’s more practical because food doesn’t need to be cut, weighed, or bagged. How do you do it? First, your dog needs to gradually get used to it. You will feed larger and larger meals until you reach the desired number. But in essence, you would discard a large carcass or an entire animal and let your dog feast on it. Then you would give your dog a few days of rest or fasting.
Mixing Raw with Dry Kibble or Canned Food
The majority of manufacturers advise feeding raw food separately from dry or wet food. You might think about feeding kibble or canned food along with raw pet food in the morning and raw in the evening.
It is strongly advised that you transition to a completely raw food diet for at least 1-3 months if you are switching to raw due to any health issues, such as allergies or inflammatory bowel disease. The length of time your pet should be fed a raw diet depends on how sick they have been. Try gradually introducing canned, kibble, dehydrated food, or freeze-dried food after the initial period of time on raw food to see how your pet responds.
Dehydrated and Freeze-Dried Raw Pet Food
These formulations are created from raw meat, fruits, and vegetables that have had the water removed either through dehydration or freeze-drying. Just add water before giving your pet a meal.
These can be simpler to handle and prepare than raw foods while still providing all the nutritional benefits. Since they are more expensive than dehydrated formulas but are very lightweight, freeze-dried formulas are typically used for cats and small dogs. Dehydrated food is slightly more expensive than dry kibble (about a dollar per day for a 40-pound dog), but it is also significantly healthier. (Think of the difference between corn flakes and fresh salad. ).
FAQ
How often should I feed my dog raw meat?
If you’re wondering how frequently you should feed your dog raw meat, we suggest feeding puppies between two and four times per day and older dogs between one and two times per day as part of a fully balanced meal. Feeding your dog twice a day could help with begging behaviors.
Can dogs eat raw meat occasionally?
Because it doesn’t provide the balanced nutrition your dog needs in their diet, the American Veterinary Medical Association advises against feeding your dog raw meat. Eating raw meat regularly can increase risk of nutritional deficiencies.
Do vets recommend feeding dogs raw meat?
The American Kennel Club (AKC), American Veterinary Medical Association, and other organizations advise against giving dogs uncooked or raw meat, eggs, or milk. Raw meat and dairy can carry pathogens, like E. Salmonella, E. coli, and listeria are bacteria that can kill people and pets.
How much meat should a dog eat a week?
Here are a few examples of adult dog feeding amounts based on weight: A 40 kg dog will eat roughly 800 to 1200g of raw meat each week. A 20 kg dog will eat between 40 and 600g of raw meat each week. A 5 kg dog will only eat 100–150g of raw meat each week.