a great dog shows how we feed a raw food diet to our Chow and shih tzu puppies
A great dog's Version of the Barf Diet
There are many versions of the Barf Diet with many different ingredients that some feel are critical and necessary. Our version is based the Prey method which mimics what a wild animal, wolf, coyote, fox or wild dog would eat. These animals thrive and are much healthier than the domesticated family dog and live longer lives. We try to copy their diet and apply to the feeding of our dogs and puppies. As todays foods are not as they were centuries ago and many times not available, supplements are needed to augment the balancing of the diet. Dogs have zero use for carbohydrates and need only meat, fat and calcium. Feeding a dog carbohydrates, which they can't ferment and metabolize causes health issues, a weak immune system, parasites and results in high poop volume.All prepared food is fed Raw or dehydated with minimal heat damage. All necessary microbes and digestive enzymes needed for digestion are in the food and naturally occuring thus complete utilization of the food with little waste. This allows for lower food volume, and feeding costs.
We use a nutritional approach for balancing nutrition that promotes healthy cells. There are many chemical, enzmatic, moleculer and homonal reactions that healthy cells need to perform their functions. It has been shown that 95% of all health issues have the root cause of a poor diet. If the body’s cells are not healthy, the food cannot be broken down and transformed in energy, which the dog needs and uses. The puppy won’t grow correctly. After a while symptoms begin to occur. You then have the Vet treat the symptoms but the poor cellular health continues. This goes on till finally your dog is overcome by so many problems and conditions that the end result is a death sentence. There are many things a dog needs such as vitamins, certain essential fatty acids, minerals and amino acids. Without these, the cells cannot function and the DNA, RNA and mitochondria cannot do their jobs and the dog’s health deteriorates.
We use software do determine the exact amount and ingredients that are required for best cellular nutrition. We try to get the nutrients from whole foods as much as possible, but some supplementation is needed when whole foods are unavailable.Organ Meats We use organ meat for specific natural nutrients. Organ meat, Spleen, Kidney, Liver and Green Tripe are the main organ meats and additions we use that are available to us. There are others, but we have a hard time sourcing those in our area. Supplements We add a few supplemants to assure our dogs are getting sufficient nutrient and mineral levels. These are bone meal, Pumpkin Seeds, Sea Kelp, and Fish oil (Krill or Salmon), Zinc, Vitamins D3 and E, magnesium and selenium..We provide each puppy a list of ingredients with a NRC balanced diet recipe for the correct amount and weight of each ingredient. A profile showing the balance will also be provided. These nutritional amounts will need adjustments as the puppy grows. A kitchen scale will be needed for ensuring proper amounts.
Preparing the Barf diet for Shih Tzus
A great dog grinds meat for the Shih Tzus and blends organ, muscle meat and bones for a complete wholesome base ration.We use chicken leg quarters with the bone, which has the ideal Raw Meaty Bone (calcium) for the dog. Chicken Gizzards are sometimes added as additional muscle meat.We use Krill oil or Salmon oil. Krill and Salmon oil is high in antioxidants and Omega 3 fatty acids believed to enhance the coat qualities of a dog and is essential for good celluler health.
We also use specific amounts of Organ meat, Speen, Kidney, Liver, sometimes Heart and Tongue as well as Green Tripe. We grind this mixture. These are as a base but individual nutrients and calories need also addressed.
We add ground Pumpkin Seeds for some minerals and, Zinc, Selenium and Sea Kelp as a source of other needed minerals and iodine as well as Vitamins D3, E and B1. This will give you healthy cell that can function as designed and a healthy immune system.
Why supplements? Wolvers didn't have access to supplements so why am I using them?
Wolves had access to the entire animal. They ate body parts that are not readily available to us, such as thyroid gland, brains, pancreas, testes and ovaries etc. If you have access to these on a regular basis supplements would not be needed. You would still need to audit the diet to ascertain levels as the health of the animal is not known.
If you cannot make your own dog food, we recommend Titan Red or Blue premade AAFCO balanced Pet foods. Visit their website at http://www.titandogfood.com
Sometimes our base meat of Bone in Chicken Leg Quarters are hard to source. Here are alternate beef recipes to use in such emergencies.
If you are a customer of A Great Dog, email us for exact quantities to use for these formulas free of charge.
Organ grinding
We grind Spleen, Kidney, Liver and Green Tripe (sometimes heart and tongue when available) and add over top of meat grind. I use Chicken Breast, Liver and Beef Lung for dehydrating to be given as treats.
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