The number of choices can be overwhelming when considering what to feed your dog. The process is much simpler once you outline what you want in a diet.
The most commonly used raw feeding models for adult dogs are the Biolligically Appropriate Raw Food Diet (BARF), Prey Model Raw Diet (PMR), Real 6X Ancestral Diet, and a combination of these three. Feeding puppies require some alterations in these diets.
Remember, every dog is different. Your goal is to feed the dog in front of you, which may require you to alter it to accommodate your dog’s needs.
Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet (B.A.R.F)
Dr. Ian Billinghurst started this model back in the late 1980s. He then published his book, “Give Your Dog A Bone,” and created a raw feeding movement. Another veterinarian, Dr. Tom Lonsdale, observed the health of his dogs declining when fed kibble. This led him to research fresh food. Soon after, he published “Raw Meaty Bones Promotes Health.”
BARF, Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet, is a raw food diet for dogs that consists of raw muscle meat and raw meaty bones, as well as vegetables and fruits, and excludes any processed foods.
The recommended guidelines for a BARF diet include the following:
- 70% muscle meat
- 10% raw edible bone
- 7% vegetables
- 5% liver
- 5% other secreting organs
- 2% seeds or nuts
- 1% fruit
BARF diet feeding ratios differ from PMR diet feeding ratios in that they incorporate vegetables, seeds, and fruit.
Real 6X Ancestral™ Diet
The ancestral diet varies slightly based on theory. the Real 6X Ancestral™ diet consists of six primary components:
- 63-65% Muscle meat
- 10% Seafood
- 10-12% Bone
- 5% Liver
- 5% Other Secreting Organ
- 5% Fiber or Fur
The Ancestral diet is similar to the BARF diet, with the main difference being the emphasis on feeding seafood and fur or feathers. It also ensures your dog gets five to nine different forms of protein per month. Most BARF ratio diets stop with basic proteins (beef, chicken, turkey, and pork). However, the ancestral diet includes extra proteins from lamb, duck, and other available species for variety, as well as the addition of seafood to compensate for Omega-3/6 ratio imbalances due mainly to the diet of modern-day livestock.
Supplements are kept to a minimum when feeding the ancestral diet. It’s recommended that food sources are utilized first, and supplementation is only done when there is a need and purpose.
Prey Model Raw Diet
Wild dogs, like coyotes or wolves, hunt small prey animals to consume. The prey is considered to be a complete meal. Prey model raw, or PMR diets, mimic this feeding style.
In a PMR diet, the entire animal is left intact, fed with fur or feathers, blood, and all organs. Ideally, whole wild prey is utilized, but domestic prey animals can also be used in this diet.
Common domesticated animals that are fed include whole rabbits, ducks, and quail.
Franken Prey
Most raw feeders who choose the PMR diet utilize the Franken Prey method, piecing the meal together from a mixture of animal parts. The recommended guidelines for a PMR diet include the following:
- 75-80% muscle meat
- 10% raw edible bone
- 5% liver
- 5% other secreting organs and 5% animal-based fiber (fur or feathers)
PMR diets generally don't include plant or dairy products.
Hybrid
When feeding a 100% fresh diet isn't possible or desired, you can incorporate fresh food into an ultra-processed diet to improve it. This is known as a hybrid diet. Small changes can make a huge difference, such as adding the kibble toppers listed below.
- Seafood: Salmon, anchovies, cod (avoid tuna, swordfish, and tilapia)
- Raw, meaty bones: Chicken or turkey feet, chicken neck, turkey neck
- Organ meat: Liver
- Muscle meat: Chicken breast, ground turkey, pork
- Fruits: Apples, blueberries, strawberries, mango
- Probiotics: Yogurt
There are varying opinions on how much raw to add to the kibble-based diet. The one consistency is that the raw toppers must be accounted for in the total daily caloric intake of the dog. Providing 10-20% of the meals as whole-food kibble toppers will provide significant health advantages for the dog.
If the hybrid method is used for transitioning to a raw diet, the percentage of raw is increased over time. However, due to the differences in the stomach acid pH for a high carbohydrate diet and a fresh protein-based diet, once the percentage of whole food is 50% or more, it is best to split the meals. The kibble portion can be fed as the morning meal and the fresh food as the evening meal. Feed the raw meaty bones on an empty stomach for proper digestion.
Meat, fish, and dairy products stimulate greater stomach acid secretion than carbohydrates, lowering the gut pH. When entering the small intestine, the pH of the food bolus (chyme) triggers the release of bile and pancreatic digestive enzymes. A highly acidic chyme will trigger the release of enzymes required to digest protein and fats. In contrast, the lower acidic chyme will trigger a different cascade of pancreatic enzymes to digest the carbohydrates.
Commercial Raw Foods
Rather than feeding a homemade raw diet, you can choose a commercial diet you find at the local pet or grocery store. Most commercial diets are available in two forms: wet and dry. Some are also in a dehydrated version that must be rehydrated before feeding. Choose the type that best fits your dog, and then research which pet food companies interest you.
A commercial raw diet is not always the cheapest option, mainly when using a high-quality protein source. It likely is if a price appears too good to be true. If you compare foods and discover that some are more expensive than others, you must determine why. Look at the labels and determine what differentiates the more costly brands from the less expensive ones.
The nutritional analysis will aid in this endeavor. If it is high in fat, trim is likely the primary ingredient and the reasoning behind a less expensive price tag. If the company doesn't offer full transparency, take that as a red flag and move on to the next brand. Search for a company that provides full transparency, lists out specific animal body parts, and not blanket statements (i.e., cow heart, cow liver, and not just “beef”), who is willing to answer your questions, and isn't hesitant to inform you of their sources.
Lightly Cooked Homemade
Cooking with high heat can destroy the meat's nutrients. Lightly cooking your dog's food will maintain the nutrients and alleviate your concerns about cross-contamination, especially if you have immuno-compromised people in your household.
Cooking destroys enzymes in food. These enzymes help the body digest food more efficiently. Dogs produce these enzymes, but they can also benefit from other sources. For example, raw meat contains beneficial bacteria that help digestion and improve the immune system. Cooking destroys these bacteria along with the enzymes. Cooking meat above 158°F destroys most enzymes and makes it harder for the body to digest it properly.
Gently cooking can involve boiling meat at low heat until the meat is no longer raw. Another way to cook a homemade diet for your dog is to use a slow cooker. The slow cooker method involves heating the ingredients on low heat for 4-6 hours. Vegetables need some processing to be properly digested by your dog. You can lightly steam, puree, or finely dice them.
Never provide your dog with cooked bones. You must never feed the cooked bones if you cook your dog’s food. You can feed the bones raw or use an alternative calcium source , like bone meal, egg shells, or calcium citrate powder.
Do Your Homework
We recommend you research the various diets to determine which suits your dog's (and your) needs. The Feed Real Institute offers a comprehensive dog nutrition course tailored specifically for dog parents to learn why and how to feed fresh food to their dogs. Virtual DIY real dog food workshops are another option for learning how to meal prep.
The Feed Real calculator simplifies homemade meal prep! Click on those information and question buttons for additional information to help you make your dog’s meals easily.
Takeaway Bites
- The guidelines are not strict for feeding methods but rather aid you in determining how to best meet your dog’s needs.
- Choose a method that best suits your dog, along with your preferences.
- If you choose to continue feeding your dog kibble, add toppers to its food to improve its health and overall well-being.
References
- Billinghurst, I. (1993). Give your dog a bone: The practical commonsense way to feed dogs for a long healthy life. I. Billinghurst.
- Lonsdale, T. (2001). Raw meaty bones: Promote health. Rivetco P/L.
- Brady, C. (2020). Feeding dogs dry or raw? The science behind the debate. Farrow Road Publishing.
Course Links
Articles from future units will be accessible once you have completed that unit.
Unit 3: Feeding Puppies