Here at Dinovite we get lots of questions about the raw homemade diet. How does it work? Should I cook the meat? Will my dog get sick? Here are some of our top questions about the raw homemade diet.
Do I Have To Cook The Meat?
No, a dog's digestive system is designed to withstand bacterias and contaminants. Let's put it this way, when your dog gets in the garbage he's usually pretty happy after eating two day old PB&J, last night's chicken scraps and dirty diapers. YUCK! His body pH is more appropriate to handle bacteria than a human's, making it less likely for him to be affected by the same things we are.
Will Feeding Raw Meat Make Him Mean?
No, this is an old wive's tale. Yes, a dog should have a "taste" for meat because by design he is a carnivore. An opportunistic feeder who loves meat. This means by nature a dog is a hunting animal, a predator. This does not mean that if you feed him raw meat that he will suddenly become crazed and attack everything. His body is designed to eat meat and digest meat. Canines need meat otherwise they will become nutritionally deficient.
Will My Dog Get Salmonella From The Raw Meat?
Dogs are opportunistic feeders and scavengers by nature. Dogs have a short digestive tract with strong stomach acids that protect them from getting sick from bacteria on food. This is how a dog can eat garbage and not become deathly ill.
With all the recent recalls going on, this question is on the top of the list for people considering a switch due to tainted foods. A dog's natural body pH is somewhere around 1 or 2 and works to kill off offending bacteria. However, if your dog has an immune disorder, I would recommend possibly par boiling the meat. (parboiling means boiling the meat for a very short time to kill bacteria.)
If you are worried about this, wash your dog's dish after each meal to ensure your home stays clean. Using food safety handling methods when working with raw meat of any kind, the same as preparing a meal for your family.
Why Don’t You Suggest Vegetables In Your Homemade Dog Food?
Dogs are mainly carnivores and have a short digestive tract. It is ill equipped to digest vegetables and absorb nutrients from them. Most just pass through as roughage.
If you are determined to feed vegetables they need to be “predigested” so to speak. Cook and pulverize them to simulate them going through the digestive tract of a herbivore. Then add them to the homemade dog food.
Why White Rice Instead Of Brown Rice?
Remember dogs have a short digestive tract. A dog’s short digestive tract does not effectively digest brown rice, which contains the hull. The vast majority of any nutritional benefit to your dog just passes through undigested. White rice is more easily digested by dogs.
Why Feed A Dog Sweet Potatoes & Not Not Regular Potatoes?
Sweet potatoes like any other carb, are a "filler" there to help maintain a steady weight. (Especially elderly dogs and very active/working dogs) and help him feel full. Sweet potatoes contain a lower amount of starch than regular potatoes however; they have a higher sugar content, so the difference is minimal. All carbs break down into sugars in the body anyway so if your dog is prone to yeast infections (yeast overgrowth) than I would not recommend feeding any carbs or starches.
If I'm Feeding Raw, Do I Still Need To Use A Supplement?
Much of our own food is lacking in specific nutrients. Fields and soil are depleted and even our vegetables and fruits can be deficient. Mass produced meat can lack in nutrients as well. Adding a whole food supplement that contains vitamins, minerals, enzymes, fatty acids and direct fed microbials can support immune function and digestive function. Dinovite for Dogs is a good choice in canine supplements.
How Much Food Do I Feed For My Dog's Size?
Here is a how-to video showing how much food to feed, and how to make your own homemade diet! Raw Diet video.