[FONT="]The idea behind these recommendations is to provide a diet that approximates
that which dogs have evolved eating (and will still eat, given a choice). In
spite of the fact that they have traditionally been classified as
carnivores, dogs evolved as hunters and scavengers who will eat the whole
body of their prey, gorge themselves when food is present and go hungry
(fast) when it is not.
Therefore, these recommendations consider both the content of the diet and
the frequency of feeding.
A dog's natural diet includes both meat and vegetable matter.
On making a kill or finding a previously killed animal, the wild canid will
eventually consume the entire carcass. They begin by eating the contents of
the abdominal cavity ­ liver, stomach, intestines and their contents,
followed by the other organs in the abdomen and chest cavities. The last
part of the carcass the dog will eat is the muscle meat and bones, and
perhaps the hide and hooves. Dogs will also graze on herbs and wild plants,
seeking out specific types of plants.
This is the diet we are trying to imitate.
Healthy adult dogs should be fed once daily.
Your dog should have access to the food for 20-30 minutes, after which any
remaining food should be discarded. Nothing further should be given, except
water, until the next day. Once every 7-10 days healthy dogs should be
fasted for a day, receiving water or broth only.
These breaks between meals give the digestive tract time to fully process
the food, to rest and regenerate, to optimize enzyme formation, and to
cleanse before being asked to work again. By feeding once daily, we see that
our companions come to their meal hungry and will eat with gusto. The
periodic fasts mimic the feast and famine cycle of the wild canid.
This schedule should be tailored to the individual situation based on the
dog's age, health status, special needs and family schedule.
It is important to recognize that there is no single diet that meets the
needs of every dog. A good starting point is to divide the meal into three
food groups ­ meats, vegetables and grains ­ each group in equal volume.
Once the dog has been on this diet for a time, it can be fine-tuned for the
individual.
Dogs do vary, particularly in their needs for grains. Most individuals will
do well on a diet that is 40% meat, 40% ground or finely chopped vegetables
and 20% (or less) overcooked grain ­ with all components being measured by
volume.
The grain portion of the diet should be overcooked, enhancing their
digestibility and mimicking the partially digested grains found in the
stomach of the prey and the cooked/fermented grains found in scavenge. We
recommend cooking the grains at least twice as long as you normally would.
To do this you will have to add extra water. This will result in a mushy,
porridge-like consistency of the grain portion of the diet. Grain choices
include (but are not limited to) oatmeal, barley, wheat, millet, spelts,
quinoa, grits, bulgar, cous cous, rices and pastas. Whole and raw grains are
preferable to processed grains.
The vegetable portion may be raw, lightly steamed or sautéed, pureed, finely
chopped, ground or juiced (pulp and juice). The processing simulates partial
pre-digestion and is done to break down the plant fibres, making the
material more digestible to the dog. Vegetable choices vary with season and
availability. Fresh is better than frozen, and frozen better than canned.
Some options are carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, squash, zucchini, cabbage,
celery, parsley, yams, green beans, spinach, pumpkin, bell peppers,
tomatoes,Š. Fruit may be substituted for 10-15% of the vegetable portion.
Produce needs to be washed thoroughly to remove any pesticide and herbicide
residues.
The meat portion should be given raw or lightly cooked. A good balance of
meat over a period of a week includes one or two meals of ground or chopped
meat (beef, chicken, turkey, venison, pork,..), one meal of organ meat
(liver, kidneys, .. Though called organ meat, heart and gizzards are muscle
meats.), and the remainder of the meals of bony meat (chicken or turkey
necks, wings or backs, oxtails, whole Cornish hens or rabbits,Š.). The bony
meats should be given raw so that the bones will be soft, pliable and
digestible. Cooked bones may pose a health hazard for some dogs.
Cottage cheese, yoghurt, and eggs (raw or lightly cooked) may be substituted
for a portion of the meat.
Ingredients produced without chemicals and pesticides are optimal. However,
the lack of availability of such sources, organic or otherwise, should not
prohibit you from providing a fresh, whole food diet. Explore options such
as home grown products, farmers markets, direct purchases from family
farms,Š Fresh and whole foods, even from the supermarkets, are far superior
to any packaged and processed commercial food.
Supplementation of the diet might include 1-2 cloves of garlic, Vitamin C
(start with 500mg daily and increase to bowel tolerance), a vitamin/trace
mineral/digestive enzyme supplement recommended for dogs, and any special
needs supplements recommended by your veterinarian.
The liberal use of culinary herbs such as parsley, basil, thyme, and sage is
also encouraged.
In dogs who are not receiving raw nutritional bones, the Calcium: Phosphorus
balance of the meat portion of the diet must be corrected. To do so, add
1200 mg elemental calcium per pound (approximately two cups, measured as raw
meat) of boneless meat fed.
Many dogs (and their caregivers) may need to be introduced to this type of
diet slowly to allow their systems to adjust.
To begin feeding this diet, mix a small portion of vegetables, overcooked
grains and cooked ground meat with the usual diet, maintaining the same
total volume of food. Over a period of 7-10 days increase the home-prepared
portion and decrease the commercial portion. Once the dog is managing well
with a home-prepared, partially-cooked diet, make the transition to a
raw-based ration by decreasing cooking times over the next week until
everything except the grains are being given raw or lightly cooked. At this
point, if you are going to use them, you may start adding the bony meats to
the rotation. If you do not add bony meats, you must add Calcium based on
the amount of meat that is being fed.
As you increase the whole food portion of the diet, you will see changes in
your companion's appetite and relationship with food. S/he will come to the
meal more enthusiastically, may have fewer food cravings and seem more
satisfied on a smaller volume of food. As you monitor your companion's
response to this fresh and whole food diet, you may need to make adjustments
in the volume and proportion to achieve and maintain optimal condition for
the individual.
It is not unusual to see loose stools, or mucoid stools, as you make the
transition to a fresh and whole food diet. This happens as the body adjusts
to the new food and releases stored toxins from the system. Loose stools and
mucous should present no problem, as long as the dog remains bright and
active.
The only two hard and fast rules with this diet are variety and moderation.
As long as you keep this in mind, you will have your pet on a wholesome,
nutritious and balanced diet.[/FONT]