My first post, but an important topic to me...
PLEASE consult a veterinarian before feeding a raw diet.
Yes, it's true that most veterinarians are NOT proponents of raw diets, because to do it RIGHT is a LOT of work. You're right that there are issues with premade dog food, but not all of them are crap. And veterinarians, for the most part, recommend packaged foods because they have undergone food trials and are required to meet certain levels of nutrients (although those are pretty flimsy rules, they're rules nontheless). Packaged diets are also "balanced bite-for-bite" which means that every bite of food that your pet takes (or every meal) will be contain all the same nutrients in all the same ratios. For the OP, if all you're feeding is raw beef and a few raw bones a week I seriously, SERIOUSLY doubt that you are feeding your dog a balanced diet and your dog is likely going to be facing dangerous nutritional deficits.
Nutritional problems are especially insidious because they don't present right away. If you are a little off one week but correct the next, you'll be fine (which is true for most humans' diets). But if you're off week after week after week...it can still take a months (!) to show that your dog is deficient in one area or another.
And DON'T feed cooked bones of ANY kind - they are very likely to splinter and you'll either be spending a lot of money at the vet to fix your dog...or euthanizing.
I want to clear some thing up. I feed her other things also for variety, she gets pork on occasion and I also will cook her chicken sometime (she won't eat raw chicken) I also feed some table scraps and give her homemade treats once in awhile.
It IS more work. I spent about a month researching it every day before I started doing it. I certainly do not suggest jumping into it.
As far as balanced diets go every dog is different just like every person is different. A pit bull and a miniature pincher with varying energy and activity levels levels need different things - also just naturally all dogs are different. I did trial and error with my dog until I found out what she liked to eat, how much kept her weight steady and I paid attention to her poop to make sure it was solid.
As for it being natural - dogs digestive systems in the wild compared to dogs digestive systems that have been domesticated are the same. Dog food is a very new idea, only in the last 50 years or so has it been commonplace so dogs, even in captivity, have been eating raw and cooked diets for most of the time.
Their digestive system did not change or evolve in 50 years.
For instance, compare our digestive system with wild tribal people, they are the same. I want to say its not natural for humans to go to the doctor but it makes us live longer. It is natural for us to eat organic and raw foods (salads, fruits) these also make us live longer. We can improve on systems but whats good for us never changes.
If people do not want to do this feeding better made dog food is a good idea.
Almost every name brand is crap no matter how well it is marketed. Beneful is one of the worst for pretending to be top quality while being crap. (I always compare good marketing to how Budweiser calls itself the King of Beers and gets away with it
)
Look online for good brands and look for reviews. You can even make your own kibble that will last a long time.
I want to stress again. DO NOT jump into anything like this without research, you actually can hurt your dog.
Its my opinion that dogs do not need vegetables but some people think they do. Since there is no school or scientists that test these things it up to you to make the choice. Dogs can survive on almost any type of food, they are omnivores and can even live on a vegetarian diet although this is not recommended at all.
Cats, however, MUST have meat or they will die in no time. That is why cat food is more expensive.
Benefits I have noticed after switching: she gets fleas less often, she is better hydrated, her fur is softer, she begs for food less, she is not hungry as often, she has lost weight (she was overweight before), she has more energy, she seems happier, her mouth and teeth look much healthier and brighter, her breath no longer stinks, she has less waste coming out of her, her arthritis does not bother her as often + other things.
She is 10 years old.
How I prepare is a weigh out the ounces on a postal scale, stick them in plastic zip lock bags, put them all in the freezer. Everyday I take one and put it in the refrigerator to thaw out for the next day while giving her the already thawed one from the day before. Very easy if you buy for a few weeks at a time. I only buy beef that is under $2 a lb. She is old and picky and will not eat as much cheaper meat like chicken..remedy for hat would have been starting the diet at a young age.
