Domestic dogs are genetically indistinguishable from their ancestor, the grey wolf, and a dog’s health can benefit greatly from a diet that is similar to what wolves would eat in the wild – meat and bones, digested plant matter from their prey’s stomach, fish, eggs, raw fruit and vegetables, grass and herbs – all eaten raw with enzymes intact to unlock nutrients.

The staple of a natural diet for a dog is muscle meat and raw bones. Ideally, these should be fed in equal amounts by weight and comprise about 60% of a dog’s daily food. Remember bones must always be fed raw, as cooked bones can splinter and cause dogs harm. In addition to muscle meat, organ meat is a key component of a natural diet and should comprise about 10% (or 1-2 meals a week) of a dog’s diet. Other forms of protein can include fish (fresh or canned) and eggs.

In addition to meat and protein, dogs in the wild eat plant matter, such as vegetables and fruit. As typically these come partially digested from the stomachs of their prey, it is best to blend vegetables and fruit with a little water. Note: onions, raw or cooked, should never be given to dogs, as they can be toxic.

Finally, dog owners can work ground seeds and nuts, a little dairy (such as ricotta, goat’s milk or cottage cheese), fish oil and dietary supplements (i.e. Missing Link) into a dog’s diet.

Some dog owners may be wondering – where is the grain? A dog and its digestive system are not designed to eat grains. In fact, many itchy, scratchy and smelly dogs are reacting to the high grain component in many commercial foods.

So, how much should a dog be fed? A dog should be fed 2-3% of its ideal body weight daily, taking into account whether they are a couch potato or a rough, tough working dog. While feeding raw is important, you can include home-cooked meals – they are far superior to commercial dog food.

While there are many benefits to natural feeding, it does not have to be a lot of work. Don’t stress about making the perfect meal every day, as your dog will build his nutrient store over time with a variety of natural foods. On your busy days, plan quick meals, such as sample meal D, and on less busy days, whip up something like sample meal A or B. Just remember to have fun feeding your four-legged friend!

FEEDING TIPS

• Shop monthly for meat, weigh portions into plastic bags and freeze. Then just pull out a day’s serving in the morning and let it defrost to serve your dog at night.
• Collect the day’s scraps on a plate – leftover boiled egg, juicer pulp, fruit peels, vegetable cuttings, skin from chicken, etc. Give it to your dog at night with a raw meat and bone and watch as he or she enjoys a ‘jungle floor feast’. You’re not wasting anything and your dog is getting great variety in their diet.
• Kids love to help. Young children can get involved by pressing vegetable or fruit pulp from your juicer into ice-cube trays and freezing them. Each frozen cube will weigh about 20g and is easy to add as the plant component of a meal. Plus, it’s a great treat on hot days!
• Older children can blend a mixture of pulped vegetables with a little water once a week. Store in an airtight container and spoon the correct amount over your dog’s meal.

MEAL SUGGESTIONS

Here are some sample natural feeding meals. These are based on 2% of a dog whose ideal weight is 25kg. Total daily food is 500g.

Meal A

• 150g leftover stew
• 150g raw chicken wings
• 50g raw egg (large egg – no shell)
• 120g cooked, mashed butternut
• 20g cottage cheese
• 1 tbs fish oil ( 10g)
• Dietary supplement (Missing Link or similar)

Meal B

• 150g raw chicken necks
• 150g minced chicken
• 50g raw offal
• 140g pulped, raw veges (e.g. carrot, peas, avocado)
• 1 tbs fish oil
• Dietary supplement

Meal C

• 400g raw lamb necks (good ratio of meat to bone)
• 100ml raw goat’s milk

Meal D

• 500g raw chicken carcass

—

Erica Williams has been researching natural food for animals for some 10 years. Her book, ‘FeedWell, the Dog Guardian’s Guide to Natural Feeding’, will be available in May 2008.