How to Prepare Raw Food for Dogs (Easy Steps & Complete Guide)

You can safely feed your dog a raw diet as long as you know how to prepare the raw food for them. To prepare raw food for your dog, you need to measure out a balance of raw meat, vegetables, vitamin supplement, oil, and fresh water. Once you get the balance figured out, preparing your dog raw food is very easy.

Making a switch to the raw diet for your dog has a lot of nutritional benefits, as long as their food is prepared the right way. Feeding your dog raw food is more than putting uncooked meat and vegetables in a bowl. On this page, we’re going to discuss what you should know about preparing raw food for your dog.

How do you prepare raw food for dogs?

There are plenty of options that you can use when preparing raw food for your dog, however, the most important aspect is that you get the right ratios in their dish. A good structure to follow consists of 1 1/2 cup of raw meat, 1/2 cup of vegetables, 2 tsp fish oil, and a vitamin or mineral supplement as directed on the package.

Don’t forget the water either, it’s very important your dog has plenty of fresh water to drink and stay hydrated.

How do I introduce a raw diet to my dog?

The best way to introduce your dog to the raw diet is by gradually changing its diet. Since your dog is used to a diet of kibble, you should start by mixing the kibble with the raw food, allowing their stomach time to adjust.

As you introduce the raw food to their diet, you will be able to gradually add less kibble until they become adjusted to the raw food. Then you will be able to get rid of the kibble all together.

Do dogs prefer raw food over kibble?

Dogs love the raw food diet because they enjoy nearly every cut of meat. The raw food diet also gives them more variety in their meals to get all their nutritional requirements. When dogs eat the raw food diet, they are not eating the same food at every meal.

A lot of dog owners notice feeding their dog a raw food diet is easy because they enjoy nearly every cut of meat they are given, including necks and feet. 

Is raw food healthier for dogs than kibble?

The reason people want to feed their dogs raw food is that it is more nutritious for the dogs than kibble. When you feed your dog raw food, you know exactly what ingredients they are consuming. 

Kibble features a lot of ingredients that most people are not familiar with. When you feed your dog raw food, you don’t have to worry about what mystery ingredients they may be consuming.

What type of meats can dogs eat raw?

Dogs are capable of digesting a wide assortment of different meats, which means you can feed them a variety of different animal meats. The best type to feed a dog is any meaty bone that contains around 50 % meat. A lot of dogs enjoy a whole carcass of a small animal, like fish or rabbits.

It’s easy to find affordable meats to feed your dog. You can feed them the meat your family is already eating or ask a butcher for cuts that normally aren’t sold, such as feet, necks, or testicles. They will often sell these cuts at very low prices.

What meats should not be fed to a dog raw?

While there are many meats that are great to feed your dog raw, some should be avoided. Salmon, trout, sturgeon, and shad contain a parasite that could make your dog ill. This is often referred to as salmon poisoning or fish disease.

It’s also recommended to avoid feeding them meats that are high in fat and processed. This means you should avoid foods like bacon, ham, pepperoni, and most deli meats. Not only are they high in fat, but they also contain a lot of salt. 

What are the risks involved with feeding a dog raw food?

The biggest risk associated with feeding raw foods to dogs comes from not getting the right balance of ingredients. There are certain nutrients that your dog may not get enough of (or get too much of) if you are not feeding them the right balance. 

Some meat is at risk of containing bacteria if it has not been handled correctly. However, this isn’t as risky for dogs because their stomachs are capable of safely digesting them. 

How can you determine the right balance of raw food for your dog?

We mentioned a great recipe measurement to go by above for raw foods but every dog is different, so that amount may be too much or not quite enough for your dog. The best (and easiest) way to determine the exact balance for your canine is by consulting their veterinarian. 

The veterinarian will be able to assess whether or not the raw diet is right for your dog’s health needs and what measurements they should be eating. This is important because it will ensure that all of their nutritional requirements are being met. 

How much raw food should a dog eat each day?

Every dog will need to eat a certain amount of food each day to ensure their nutritional needs are being met. The easiest way to determine how much food your dog should eat is by their weight. 

A dog needs to consume 2 to 3 % of their body weight each day. If you have a 70 lb dog, they need to eat 1.4 to 2.1 lbs of raw food every day. If the dog is overweight, the food amount should be determined by their target weight.

Is raw food good for senior dogs?

It’s much better to feed a senior dog raw food over kibble because it helps them stay hydrated. Senior dogs need more hydration, so getting their nutrients from foods that naturally contain moisture helps them achieve this.