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Food & Supplements

I am a firm believer that we are what we eat. That does not stop with us; it very much has an effect on our pets as well. The quality and type of food you choose to feed your dogs directly affects their behavior and ability to make good choices.

This page was created to answer the many questions that I get pertaining to what I feed my dogs, what supplements I use, and why. In a nutshell, when home, we feed a Prey Model Diet, rotating the proteins. This is what I am going to break down for you below.

When we are on the road, I use a prepackaged freeze-dried raw food by PawTree. This is a simple way to stay true to my diet choices for my dogs, while keeping it simple. This is also the food I choose to feed my puppies until they are ready to transition to a Prey Model Diet. I have more info at the bottom of the page about the PawTree products I use and recommend.

People new to the concept of feeding raw are often overwhelmed with how to get started. Many turn to their vets for assistance, only to be told by many (but not all) that they do not recommend it. The bottom line is, we all need to do what is best for our dogs. I am here to share what WE do. These are the same guidelines that many of our clients also choose to follow.

There are only a few hard and fast rules in canine nutrition, no one has all the answers, especially not me. But this also includes the pet food makers, veterinarians, and even canine nutritionists. You will find that just like us when we eat a whole food diet, our health improves, as do our pets. You will see this in their temperament, coats, and oral health.

Key Points to Remember for a Prey Model Diet

Be Prepared

• When making the switch, go "cold turkey"! I recommend fasting for 12-24 hours, then offering their first raw meal. Whole food and kibble digest at different rates, by offering both, the body has a harder time digesting, and we could be creating an undue dietary upset.

• Balance overtime - each meal will be different, you will not give everything at once. One meal may have more bone, another may have more meat or organs.

• Our goal is 80% meat, 10% edible bone, 5% liver, 5% other organ meat.

• Protein sources you can use (but are not limited to) chicken (eggs too), turkey, pork, beef, and fish. You can also get creative if you have access to elk, venison, bison, buffalo, bear, etc.

• When feeding pork or fish, make sure to freeze the meat for at least 2 weeks before feeding to reduce the small risk of parasites.

• NEVER feed cooked bones of any type. When they are cooked, they become brittle and can easily splinter piercing the stomach or intestines. Raw bones are soft and will easily digest.

• Avoid feeding weight-bearing bones such as leg and knuckle bones of large animals, such as beef. These bones are too dense and could cause damage to teeth.

• Bone is calcium, too much bone in the diet will cause constipation.

• Hearts are considered meat, nor organs.

• Feel free to feed "strange" things such as chicken/turkey feet, beef trachea, tails, lungs, and kidneys. Feet and trachea are excellent sources of natural chondroitin and glucosamine.

• If possible feeding grass-fed animals are best, if this is not possible, I look for animals raised in the US. The younger the animals the better, as they will have had less time to pick up environmental toxins.

• We do not recommend the addition of grains, I do not believe they are a natural part of a dog's diet. Dogs are carnivores, they do not have the ability to digest grains properly. By feeding grains, we are putting extra strain on their livers to process said food.

When you decide to make the switch, you will need the proper supplies in order to be successful, these will include:

Scale - many choose to use one when they first get started; these are very handy until you have a feel for the amount that each of your dogs eats.

Freezer - buying in bulk is cheaper and you need a place to store it. I have used both a chest freezer and an upright. I prefer the upright. Here is my freezer just after an order.

Zip Bags - I thaw my bulk meat purchases to the point that I can repackage. I choose to package in gallon sizes. Others do smaller bags. Some even go so far as prepare each meal in a bag. For me, that is WAY too much work. I choose to freeze like products in one bag, defrosting as needed.

Freezer Containers - I also have containers that I can store meat in, easy to go from freezer to fridge and feed right from them. However, I can fit more using bags, so I do both depending on what suits my need at the time.

Prep Space is important. Many choose to keep defrosted food in their personal fridge; I took it to the next level and purchased a small mini-fridge for my dog room. This allows me to keep my food and treats, plus anything else I need, in a common area for easy prep and clean up. This also keeps my family from having to look at the "strange" things that I feed from time to time.

In addition to the mini-fridge, I have a large countertop that makes prepping meals easy. This is actually a large stainless toolbox, the kind you put automotive tools in. It works great to keep bowls, toys ,and every other dog-related item stored away nice and neat. These items are not a necessity; I share them, as they have made my world easier.

How Much to Feed

The recommendation for this diet is to feed two to three percent of their ideal body weight per day. When you first start, I recommend starting with 2% and adjusting as needed. As an example, a 60lb dog will eat 1.2lbs per day. When feeding puppies, it is important to feed them based on their projected ADULT weight, not their actual weight. This is where that scale can come in handy.

You must also keep in mind your dog's breed, current weight, and energy level. I personally do not measure, I watch my dog's body condition. For example, I have a 35lb Border Collie that eats as much as my 80lb Rottweiler; different breeds, different ages, and definitely different energy levels.

I choose to feed my dogs twice per day; many raw feeders only feed one time. If you have a puppy, it is important to break down their meals so that they are starting out at 3-4 meals per day, then moving to 2-3 until they are ready for the "adult schedule".

How to Get Started

Now that you have a plan and have your supplies, it is now time to get started!

Weeks 1-2

Pick your protein to start; I recommend chicken. It is easy to find and is normally economical to purchase. I am a fan of using leg quarters and backs to start. Alternating them at each meal for the first few days. You are looking for consistency in the stool. If you don't see this, don't panic; if your dog has been eating kibble, there are potential toxins that need to work their way out of the body. At this point, I would recommend using the Digestive Blend Essential Oil (see below for details), as well as a good live probiotic. Additional chicken ideas can include feet and hearts (remember...hearts are considered meat, not an organ).

Weeks 3-4

By now you will start to see a change in your dog; gut health will be improving, teeth will start to look whiter, the breath will start to smell better, and their skin and coat will start to look shinier. At this stage, I add in Turkey. I personally do not use turkey legs, as I find them to be too hard for most dogs, though the giant breeds may do just fine. I like to feed feet, hearts, wings, and breast meat. Keep in mind once you add the new protein, rotate it with the previous. If I find any dietary upset, I use the Digestive Blend EO to assist. At this point, many people will start to add new protein sources at one-week intervals. I personally like to keep my new protein on a two-week schedule; this allows me to see if my dog has a sensitivity to a certain protein and if so, I know for certain which it is.

Weeks 5-6

The next protein I add is either fish or pork. Again, watching for a dietary upset and supporting as needed, while rotating the previous meat protein. An example of that would be chicken leg quarter one meal, chicken back and turkey hearts the next, chicken feet and pork, etc.

Weeks 6-7

As you can see, we are now in a pattern. This week I add in either fish or pork, and follow the same guidelines as used previously.

Week 8

This week I add in the beef. Now the cost of beef can be a bit high, when you find it on sale, buy it! Add it in following the same guidelines above. Once I know that their gut is good (no loose stool), I then start to add in the organ meat. Now, to be honest, this has happened on small scale along with the chicken backs I have been feeding, but it is important to make sure you are adding it in. Too many organs can cause a dietary upset. I choose to give a little bit every few days, over giving a large chunk, I have found this works best for my dogs.

Continued Success

Now that your dog has been introduced to all the primary meat proteins, this is where rotation over time comes into play. Once my dogs are completely on the Prey Model Diet (after week 8), they may have the same meal 2-3 times in a row, as this is how I package my meat. They also get less beef than the other protein-based on cost. You have to find what works best for you, but make sure you rotate; this is where they get all the vitamins and minerals needed to support their system.

As you find additional protein sources, add them in, your know-how. As time continues to watch their stool, this is the best gauge to let you know what they need. A loose stool needs more bone; hard/white stool, they need less.

MANY PEOPLE WORRY ABOUT MAKING SURE THE DIET IS BALANCED. FOR THIS REASON, I USE A FEW SUPPLEMENTS TO SUPPORT MY DOGS. Keep reading to learn more.

Supplements for Overall Health

NuVet Plus

Strengthens the immune system

Promotes healthy skin & coat

Supports healthy eyes & ears

Safe for pets of all ages

Made in the USA, since 1997

Made in an FDA registered laboratory following GMP standards

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NuVet Plus® is the culmination of 8 years of research and development, formulated with the goal of creating a nutrient-rich formula that would surpass mere vitamin replenishment. Instead, the supplement provides full-spectrum nutritional support that focuses on boosting your pet’s immune system and overall health.

Keeping your pet’s immune system strong is crucial in today’s environment. Household toxins, fertilizers, pesticides, and even many of today’s pet foods leave your pet’s immune system susceptible. Regular and even premium brand pet foods can contain toxins, bad bacteria, and “meat by-products” (an industry term for anything other than meat). Other common ingredients are fillers like corn, wheat and barley. These food ingredients and other environmental factors are prime sources for poor health in your pet.

Our team of pet industry scientists, veterinarians, and medical specialists created NuVet Plus® to be a high-quality supplement that incorporates a precise formula of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, enzymes, herbs and more. NuVet Plus® brings together vital ingredients that perform synergistically to help improve your pet’s health and keep them healthy. Our supplement is made using Natural ingredients that are formulated in a FDA Registered Facility using CGMP standards.

NuVet Plus® ingredients and nutrients are compounded to maintain their integrity and bio-digestibility for complete cellular infusion. We use special “paddle dried,” whole chicken liver that provides vitamin potency, as well as a taste your pet will love. Please view our full Ingredient List and descriptions to understand how these essential elements can help your pet get started on a path to optimal health as well as help them maintain a quality life full of vigor, vitality, comfort, and energy.

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Wild Alaskan Salmon & Pollock Oil

100% natural

Over 15 Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids

Nutrient-rich, supports healthy growth and development

Promotes an optimally-functioning immune sysem

Supports healthy skin & coat

Supports eye & ear health

Made in the USA

I give 1-2 pumps of oil per day on top of food.

Providing essential fatty acids is critically important to your dog's overall health; pawTree's nutrient-rich Wild Alaskan Salmon & Pollock Oil contains over 15 healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids. Not all fish oils are the same; many are lacking. That is why we have made the switch for our dogs.