Talk to me about raw food

[Fudgeface123]

I'd like to put my 2 yr old choc lab on a raw food diet, she has a few health problems which I think the raw food will benefit. I have no idea what a raw food diet consists of, it is just any raw meat and veg? Does anything need doing to the raw meat to make it safe for dogs to eat, that's probably a really stupid question I know, but I have no idea where to start.

Any advice welcome and appreciated.

[Adarajames]

Hiya
Great that you're thinking of switching, it really does help with a host of health issues and just general fantastic health
You don't need to feed fruit / veg, they really do only need raw meat 70% ish, bones 20% ish and organs, particularly liver 10% ish, but those proportions are over day a week, no none we I balance each meal so exactly! Are you in UK? If so, most meet will be fine if human grade, my irk also lives fish, many people reccomend 3 weeks freezing before feeding as can area a parasite, and not to feed some of more exotic fish, but otherwise no safety issues. Look up a guy call d Tom Lonsdale, he writes really knowledgable on the subject, especially in his book Raw Meaty Bones. Is also a UK yahoo group of same name that has some great articles on getting started, a few people on There are somewhat militant, but most aren't and give great advice.
I buy meat in bulk from catering suppliers, way cheaper than from supermarkets so worth a look
Good luck

[Adarajames]

Irk? Girl hat should be, alth she does irk me at times!

[BagelwithButter]

Hi Fudge If you can, join FB group "Raw Feeding UK" Loads of advice, info and files, including files on suppliers etc.

Some people are "full-on", as in they pick up roadkill and feed to their dogs but also more standard owners.

I fed my 2 foster dogs on raw and they both loved it. Doesn't need too much freezer space (unless you're ordering in bulk obviously). Raw2Go does a sample pack, Morrisons apparently has good bargains.

Look at dogsdinner2.webs.com/ (which is referred to by FB group). It's really not too difficult once you get into the swing of things... Good luck!

[Chattymummyhere]

We raw feed and are the almost crazy lot we don't pick up road kill but do pick up whole animals from farmers.

We do 80-10-10
Meat
Bone
Offal

A word of advice don't join hardcore raw on facebook if you do not wish to see whole animals including still borns being fed to dogs.

Raw helps with lots of issues dogs can have the general rule of thumb is 2-3% of weight given daily.

Their poo will tell you if your feeding the right mix of meat offal and bone.

Depending on your area depends who you can order from but I know a lot in East anglia side if your around that area.

[Fudgeface123]

Thanks all for your advice, I'm not on FB but I'll do a bit of googling later.

[lougle]

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