Why Raw? What are Dogs Designed to Eat?

As a kid we fed our dog’s kibble. It’s what our parents taught us and it’s easy to go to the grocery store, grab a bag of kibble and a few cans of wet food, chuck them in the grocery cart amoungst the people food and a way we go.

We have been programmed over the years, that dry kibble and canned dog food is the best food for our furry friends. But why is it that fido has horrendous doggie breath, whew!, or fur that feels kinda oily and gross or huge stinky poops….did you ever think it has something to do with the food they eat….Kibble basically is Junk food for dogs

Dogs are carnivores. Their canine companions; the wolf have been eating a raw food diet- naturally & instinctively - for thousands of years!!

Did you know that in 1993 dogs & wolves were officially designated as the same species: canis lupus. Their gastro intestinal systems are identical - uniquely designed to digest entire prey - bones & all!

Their stomach environment is acidic (pH1) - able to dissolve raw meat & bones, and to deal with food-borne bacteria that would overwhelm a human whose stomach is alkaline (pH4).

A canines digestion begins in the stomach (carnivores' mouths have no digestive enzymes or "grinding' teeth). Grains (rice, corn, etc.) are not readily assimilated. Fats (not grains) are your dog's natural energy source. Dogs need fat.

Their intestinal tract is much shorter than a human's. Digestion of the raw food takes place quickly (4-5 hours) - thus avoiding putrefaction. Cooked, grain-based food can take up to 15 hours to digest! and just sits in their stomachs until they litterly poop it out.

Anatomically, their teeth and jaws are built to pierce and rip (skin/flesh) and crush/shear (bone). Being stalkers of prey, their eyes are set toward the front of the skull (typical of carnivores) rather than at the sides (like their herbivore prey).

The concept of “feeding raw” can be a little unnerving, might be a little confusing, and possibly overwhelming!  With CHOW BELLA we want to make the transition as easy as possible for you and your dog and we will help you every step of the way. The overall health benefits you will see in your dog will make you wonder why you never switched before.

 
The Transition:

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Each and every dog has their own particular requirements when it comes to the question of how much to feed. After feeding a raw food plan for several weeks you can make any feeding adjustments as you determine your dog's overall condition. If your dog is loosing weight, simply increase the amount fed. On the other hand, if your dog shows signs of becoming overweight, then make adjustments by decreasing the amount fed.

Along with a healthy diet, ensure your dog has access to fresh water and receives appropriate exercise. Maintaining proper body weight throughout a dog's life contributes to longevity and prevention of diseases. The ribs should be barely visible and can be easily felt upon palpation. An overweight dog's ribs will not be visible and an overlying layer of fat can be felt.

Before you start, you need to know the weight of your dog. The standard raw feeding guide for a full grown dog is 10 grams of raw food per pound of your dog. For example a 60 lbs dog will eat 600 grams of food a day. This is an easy way to figure the appropriate portions for daily feeding. Split the feeding as follows:

•           over 6 months old – split into 2 meals per day

•           4-6 months old - split into 3 meals per day. Puppies are a little different because they are growing. In general Puppies require                      6% of their adult weight in food.

•           under 4 months - split into 4 meals or more per day.

APPROXIMATE FOOD  RATIOS

• meat, muscle meaty/carcasses/necks/backs                              65-75%

 
• veggies, crushed/juiced                                                              20-30%

 
• organs, heart/liver                                                                       5-10%

 
• bones, large knuckle/marrow                                                     5-15%


We suggest you go cold turkey …. Please resist the half-kibble/half-raw dietary transition. This is a no- no as it only confuses your dogs digestive system and leads to “explosive” diarrhea. Remember you are replacing the Kibble, or doggie JUNK FOOD with a real healthy natural raw food diet.

When you start; Do a fast for 24 hours before the switch, this helps to purge the dogs system of the kibble you fed them the day before. Keep in mind that if your dog's been on kibble for a long while, or if they have been on medications, had vaccines, flea preventatives, they will go through a period of detox, expelling all these chemicals from their bodies, usually through the skin.  Not all dogs, but some may experience itchy skin, itchy ears, runny eyes, bad breath, diarrhea….this all sounds awful, don’t  worry…. ride it out! all these symptoms are signs that the body is cleansing itself naturally.

Over the next few days keep checking your dog’s stools - you are looking for stools that are not too loose and not too firm, just like Goldilocks, you are looking for "just right”

Continue to feed the same meat type for a couple of weeks before considering choosing another meat type.  Whichever meat type you choose next, follow the same slow, introductory procedure.  Once your pet is switched over completely, it's important to introduce a variety of foods. For example, in a typical week you might feed: 1-2 days Tripe; 3-4 days of chicken with bone (or other white meats); 1-2 days of red meats. In addition to these proteins, you will also add crushed veggies, oils, & supplements, and BONES (recreation and/or necks or carcasses.) CHOW BELLA has complete mixed meals to make all this so much easier!

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The Benefits                                                               

It took about 4 weeks for us to start seeing the results of a raw feeding plan for our girl Lyelah

a Maremma Sheep dog ( she was a rescue who was fed store bought kibble since  she was born)

First thing we noticed was a little pep in her step!! Tail high, always smilin!!, breath not stinky 

and her coat was loosing that gross oily feeling.  After about 8 weeks

she had no pink fur in between her pads or in her ears or chewed her feet from a food allergy.

Her teeth became pearly whites!! and her poops where half the size

She’s a happy, healthy ole girl now!!

Lyelah at 18 months, she is now 9 years old

The common benefits you will see are:

• Shiny, soft coats: The Raw eating plan will make your furry pal have a beautiful luster. Heads will turn at the dog park; horns will honk on your walks……add alittle Fish oil supplement daily , added health benefits and a more noticeable shine to their coats.

• Pearly whites: Eating health food not junk food will clear up any plaque deposits and leave your dog’s teeth gleaming. Chewing and crunching on natural raw meaty bones is better than any brushing or flossing that we could ever do. Plus it reduces bad doggy breath.

• Lower vet bills: By eating food the dog is evolutionarily designed to eat, it will take care of the allergies and minor illnesses that account for most vet visits.

• Lower costs: You can also search out those grocery store bargains in the reduced for quick sale bins. Dogs don’t care if it’s a little freezer burnt or a wee bit “off” , grab it up, keep in the freezer for that just in case I run out. While expensive kibble can be $big bucks$ per month, feeding raw is about $2.50 + /day depending on the size of your dog and it is so much healthier for your pet.

• A happy, long-living best friend: Your dog will live a healthier, fuller life on a raw eating plan. Think of you, it’s human and how you eat…..if you ate fast food all the time, chocolate( oh but that’s good stuff) prepackaged junk food….how healthy do you feel. It is the same for your pet….a Healthy dog is a happy dog!

• Firm, odorless poop: Yep where gonna talk about Poop…… Fillers in commercial dog foods cause huge amounts of stinky poop. ….on a raw eating plan, a dogs poop is small, hard, and without much odor. It also turns into a white powder after a few days, making cleanup effortless. Have you ever seen a dog drag their bottoms on the floor? This usually means the dog wants to empty the anal sac which is filled with foul smelling liquid. On a raw eating plan, the added strain of passing hard stool will naturally express your dog’s anal glands, rendering another expensive vet trip obsolete

• Enhance Immune System and Reduced Allergic Reactions. (Grains, by products and the preservatives in commercial dog food often cause allergies.

• No more hot spots, fleas or flaky skin

• Fewer ear infections - The yeast and grain content in commercial food can contribute to chronic ear problems.
 • Bloat management - Raw food does not contain fillers that can expand in the stomach and thereby decreasing the possibility of bloat.

• Fewer Musculoskeletal Problems - Puppies that are fed raw grow more slowly than dogs raised on commercial foods, allowing their skeleton and muscles to grow at a rate that makes them stronger and healthier.

• The overall vitality and energy are unequaled and most important of all.

DOGS LOVE IT!!!


Common Concerns

 
IS RAW A BALANCED DIET? One common concern with raw feeding is that it is not ‘complete and balanced’. This is untrue for two reasons. Firstly, no one truly knows what complete and balanced is for a dog, so it is difficult to make this claim. Secondly, balance can occur over time just as we do with our own meals; every meal does not need to be completely balanced as long as the nutritional needs of the dog are met over the long term. You don’t calculate the exact percentages of protein and carbohydrates, or the exact amount of vitamins and minerals in each of your own meals, and you don’t have to do it with your dog’s meals. If you feed a variety of meats and organ meats, then it will balance out over time.


Don’t dogs choke on bones?

Not on raw ones. Cooked bones splinter, and they can get lodged in a dog’s throat. Raw bones are pliable, and the calcium content is absolutely integral to a dog’s health. Plus, chewing bones keeps the teeth clean. No more astronomical dental bills!

What about food-borne bacteria? Isn’t raw meat dangerous?
Wolves seem to do just fine eating days-old carrion. Dogs’ stomachs are equipped to handle bacteria in much the same fashion, so don’t worry about contamination. Wash your dogs bowls at every feeding and wash the area where you feed like your kitchen counter…..Still, humans are vulnerable, so wash up!

What if my dog is constipated?
Again, the straining is actually good for your dog. But if it absolutely refuses to come out, a little raw canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling) will do the trick. Raw pumpkin also firms loose stools.

How much should I feed?
Let’s use a sixty-pound retriever as an example. Assuming your pooch gets plenty of exercise, feeding 600 grams is plenty. Everything varies from dog to dog, of course. If you can’t feel its ribs, reduce the food. If its ribs are a little too prominent, feed more.

Just meat?
Vegetables should be added to your dog’s diet. In fact it is recommended that 20% + be veggies Many of the CHOW BELLA products are complete meals. For added doggie fun, give them a Carrot, they are fun to crunch, and broccoli, spinach, and celery can be ground up and added to a mixture of any CHOW BELLA ground meat. Supplementing with fish oil is also recommended for a shiny, healthy coat.

A Healthy dog is a Happy Dog…..

Your dog is an incredibly eager eater, and watching the transformation is a true joy to behold. Go slowly and listen to your instincts as a Primal eater yourself.

New Baby,Great Pyrenees 

All about feeding RAW!

Go cold turkey. Do not mix kibble and raw together.