If you’re considering starting a raw diet for your dog, there are a few things to keep in mind so that your pet receives all of the benefits from the foods that are given. Changing your dog’s diet can be concerning at first because you aren’t sure how your pet will react to the different types of food that are given. A component of feeding your dog raw food is that it needs to have calcium. This is important for the development and maintenance of your dog’s bones. Avoid giving your dog all meat as it won’t get the other vitamins and nutrients that it needs, such as phosphorus and potassium.
Try to feed your organ meats as much as possible. These are nutrient-rich, supplying the needs that your dog might not get from other types of foods. Keep in mind that you want to try to keep your dog’s diet balanced with about 20 percent organ meats and a nice blend of other foods to make up 100 percent of the overall diet. Some of the organs that you could give if you’re feeding your dog raw foods include the liver and kidney.
After you’ve established a routine of organs and calcium, you need to introduce muscle meat. This is what the rest of the diet should consist of as you want your dog to build strong muscles and tissues to support running and playing. Avoid fat as much as possible in the raw food diet as this can pack on the pounds for your pet. Although a few fruits and vegetables are good to give to your dog, you don’t need to focus completely on these options. Another component you want to avoid would be a lot of starch. Offer a variety of foods so that your dog doesn’t get bored with the same meaty flavors.
