Benefits Of Raw Feeding

Improved Oral Health

Cleaner teeth and less “dog breath”.

Though they might smell of tripe for a short while (after a tripe meal) it won’t last long.

Improved Digestion

In other words, smaller poos!

Dogs have short digestive tracts intended to help a raw food diet to travel through the intestines as quickly as possible. They utilise a lot more from a raw diet, and there is less waste and it doesn’t even smell as strong .. which is a double bonus when picking up after them!

They also don’t drink as much water, so please don’t be alarmed as raw food is naturally high in water content, which means that a dog’s renal system doesn’t have to work so hard.

Improved Coat and Skin

Which could mean less trips to the vet!

Many of our customers start raw food as a last resort after spending £100’s visiting vets due to allergies and skin conditions which can, a lot of the time, be caused by food additives, preservatives, and artificial flavours added to kibble.

Improved Protection

Reduced allergies.

Some dogs have gluten allergies too, which can affect their skin, coats and ears. We’ve seen almost instant improvements in dogs with allergies (within a week), once their owners have ditched the kibble and started on a raw diet.

Improved Temperament

 Happy dogs!

Dogs enjoy eating natural, raw food. Chewing on a bone or our chunky minces is what their teeth were designed for and it gives their jaws a great work out. Raw food gives dogs immense pleasure when eating and contributes to improved oral hygiene, digestion and better coats and skin.

Frequently Asked Questions
Should I gradually change our dog on to a raw diet?
No, we suggest you feed your last kibble meal in the evening, then start a raw diet the next morning, following a good raw diet starter plan that is on our website and then we can help you, if you need it, just email or call.
What ratio should be used when feeding a raw diet?

We suggest a ratio that is loosely based on raw whole prey, which is 80% meat, 10% bone, 5% liver and 5% other offal. For dogs, this is kidney, spleen, brain, testicle. (Pancreas can be used but should be restricted as it produces a hormone. It’s good if fed to dogs with pancreatic disease, but please consult the advice of a ‘pro raw’ vet if your dog suffers from this and you want to feed raw pancreas.)

Alot of  our  Meals are based on the ratios above. This balance can be achieved over a week or even two, if balancing the meals yourself, which is referred to as DIY. The diet doesn’t have to be balanced daily.

Will feeding my dog raw food make them blood thirsty or aggressive?
Not at all! If anything you should see hyperactive or manic dogs become calmer throughout the day and at meal times as they’re not being filled with the artificial additives that are often found in kibble.
Do I need to add fruit and veg?

Only if you really really want to. Wild dogs and wolves will occasionally graze on fruit, grasses, wild herbs, etc, but due to their short digestive tract these things are difficult for them to digest as they cannot break down cellulose. There are two trains of thought, those who believe you should and those who believe you shouldn’t. It is up to the individual. I always add veg on top of their daily food allowance

Our advice is if you want to add veg, green leafy veg is better than veg high in natural sugars, as sugars can promote yeast. Blitzed or partially cooked veg are the only way for your dog to gain any benefit, or there are preparations of dehydrated vegetables/herbs/fruits/seeds for sale on the market.

We would always suggest feeding veg to dogs who need to lose weight as a filler to stop them scavenging for food.

Can I add potato, rice or pasta?
Dogs cannot easily digest carbohydrates. They also have little nutritional benefit whatsoever to dogs and are only used as a filler.
What quantities do I need to feed?
We recommend feeding a dog of 12 months and over between 2-3% of their bodyweight. Puppies need a higher % and that can be found in our Raw Food Calculator. Dogs with high levels of exercise may need a higher amount than 3%, whilst older dogs or dogs with less exercise might need just 2%. Ask for advice if you are unsure.
What proteins can I feed?

To get as much nutrition as possible, you should be aiming for 4-5 different proteins from different parts of the animal. We call this nose to tail feeding. Ox (beef), lamb, pork, chicken and duck are the most common but we stock quite a few extras that we’re sure your dogs will enjoy.

You can also add eggs and fish. Add fish to the diet slowly and build up gradually, as some dogs are not keen on the texture and will regurgitate it. Do not panic if they do and if they choose to re eat it, then thats fine and what dogs do.  Due to allergies, some dogs can only have one or two proteins, but finding the balance within those proteins and feeding from as many different parts of the animal as possible will give a good balance.

Will my dog get all the nutrition it needs? And can I add supplements?

Yes, if you use as many different parts of the animal (nose to tail), from as many different proteins as you can source, your dog will get all the nutrition he/she needs. If you are still worried then add veg, fruit,seeds and herbs. Add supplements if your dog needs them, i.e a joint aid for bad joints or salmon oil or coconut oil for dry skin. We add nothing except raw meat, bones and offal into our food. You choose to add in any extras

Will my dog become ill from eating a raw diet? And can I get ill from feeding it?
Raw food is what dogs should be eating; fancy term (species specific diet) they have the teeth for it and their digestive tract is designed for it. Their digestive enzymes and stomach acidity can cope with bacteria (come on, they eat poo and dig up food they buried days ago and eat it). We eat meat and prepare raw meat (obviously vegetarians don’t) but as long as we practice good hygiene standards, i.e. wash our hands and surfaces and bowls, then it is perfectly safe for us all.
Is it safe to re-freeze raw dog food? And can I feed frozen?

Yes, it’s fine to defrost, re-portion and re-freeze dog food that has already been frozen. Our tip is to not let it get up to room temperature. It’s best to partially defrost, chop up then re-freeze.

As for feeding frozen, we don’t recommend it. Many people do it but it’s not natural for dogs who don’t live in Arctic conditions to eat frozen food and there is also the chance of your dog choking on their food. 

Some owners make ice lollies which contain bone broth (a broth made from bones and other goodies) for their dogs during the summer months. That’s fine .. liquid defrosts very quickly.

My vet has told me that raw food isn’t safe and can harm my dog. Are they correct?
Yes and no. A raw diet that hasn’t been researched and that isn’t balanced and is loaded with bone will not be great for your dog. But a raw diet that is balanced and is varied is the best species-specific diet on the market today, in our opinion. Vets don’t actually have a lot of training regarding pet nutrition, and the training they do undertake is often sponsored by the kibble companies, who’s food they are selling in their reception areas. There are some mainstream vets feeding raw food who are advocating the diet, however they are few and far between.

Our advice is to join some raw feeding forums and ask for advice on there. BARF UK on Facebook have a vet as a member and lots of lovely experienced raw feeding members who’s advice is invaluable.

Can I feed cooked bones?
No. Cooked bones can splinter and puncture throat, intestines and stomach walls.
Do I have to feed bones?

You don’t have to feed bones if you are scared or nervous to do so, but for nice shiny teeth try feeding something like large chunks of tripe or large chunks of meat. Dogs benefit from using their jaws and most dogs love it. We produce minced poultry so you can feed that, or there is minced bone in our 80-10-10 range.

Which are the best bones to feed to my dog?
Apart from the obvious answer (raw ones), it all depends on your dog. If they gulp and don’t really chew then the bigger the better. A bone can always be taken away after they’ve had their ration or (traded) – never take food away unless you have something to replace it with as resource guarding can develop.

Carcasses are good for gulpers, or dogs that eat too fast and ribs, spine etc. You can teach dogs who haven’t quite got the hang of chewing bones by holding one end whilst they chew the other. A pair of mole grips and gloves will come in handy. Recreational bones can be given to dogs which aren’t aggressive chewers, as dogs which chew aggressively can damage teeth on hard recreational bones or weight baring bones. Always supervise your dog when it is eating raw bones.

Why is my dog’s poo white & crumbly?
Too much bone in its diet, so feed a meal which has no bone. The occasional white poo is not a problem as long as you rectify it by feeding a meal, 1 day or even 2 days without any bone, but constant white poo is not what you are seeking to achieve. If you have made the switch to raw food, you will become an avid poo watcher and strive to achieve the perfect poop.