FAQ

Raw (also called, natural feeding) aims to give the dogs a diet that is much better suited to their digestive system than dried kibble. Kibble often has carbohydrates, meat derivatives and sugars in them – all of which a dog does not need.  Raw food contains no sugars, starches, additives, preservatives or flavour enhancers. It is simply a combination of meat, bone and offal.
Dog’s pH level is lower than that of humans and lends itself to digesting the raw food very well. Raw feeding promotes a much healthier gut bacteria, which in turn helps the body function much better. 
Therefore if you have a dog with a sensitive stomach, raw feeding often settles this. Allergies and food intolerances are often overcome.  

Their poos are much harder, hardly smell and are much easier to pick up.  

Anal gland problems can greatly reduce. Fresher breath and cleaner teeth.  

You can easily change the protein in their diets to ensure they get a varied amount of vitamins and minerals and also tailor to individual needs regarding possible health issues.

Providing you are sensibly hygienic when handling the food (just as you would when preparing meat for yourself), dishing it out and then promptly washing food bowls in hot soapy water, it is very unlikely for your dog to contract any bugs. The food suppliers have to send their food away to be checked regularly, which gives you peace of mind also.

There are different schools of thought here.  This website goes through the different options in a very simplistic way – Primal Pooch.
Keep a close eye on your dog’s poos (you’ll be fascinated by their poos when raw fed – if you’re like me and a lot of others!!). If they are chalky and crumbly then you need to adjust the amount of bone content and give more muscle meat and/or organ meat. Equally, if they are having diarrhoea, you may be transitioning too quickly or that protein doesn’t agree with them. Any problems at all, please ask us for advice.  Once your dog has fully gone over to raw, the raw feeding world is yours to play around with. Introduce new proteins gradually to check your dog’s tummy is okay with them. We will guide you through each step, as there is no “one rule for all”. We will try our very best to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible, taking into account any possible health problems and likes/dislikes of your dog.

ABSOLUTELY – as long as they are suitable for your dog and they are not cooked. Weight bearing bones are obviously very hard and not recommended for aggressive chewers, as broken teeth can occur.  Also chicken wings and smaller bones are not suitable for dogs who gulp these down. If you select the right bones (just ask if you’re unsure), your dog will end up with gnashers to be proud of!

This depends on their activity level and age.  Fully grown adult dogs should have on average, 2 to 3% of their ideal weight so for example, a dog weighing 10kg should have between 200g and 300g per day.  We will help you work out how much to feed if you just ask. Please note that puppies need more food, so again just ask us.

This is fine to do once but it is not advisable to do this for a second time. Please make sure the food does not get up to room temperature.  Defrosting in the fridge is best.

There is a real split in the raw feeding world as to whether dogs should have fruit and vegetables added to their diet.  I have changed my opinion on this, due to the fact that nutrients are not coming down the food chain.

Fruit and veg can cause yeast problems, so with dogs prone to yeast problems it is really important to feed one type of fruit or veg at a time, to check the yeast problem is not exacerbated.  Try to ensure anything you add is organic, as they’re then less likely to be full of nasty chemicals.

Due to the fact dogs can’t naturally break down plant cells very easily, we always recommend that you cook them well and then puree, to ensure your dog can digest them as best as possible. A good idea is to batch cook and then freeze in ice cube trays, so that you can just pop one out as you need.

Personally I feel they should, as omega 3 and 6 oils are just great for promoting and maintaining good skin and coat condition. Often there is an imbalance between the 3 and 6 oils which can cause various problems. This can occur, no matter how good a diet you feed.

Absolutely not – this is a pure myth. I actually believe the opposite is more likely, as they are not having any additives or preservatives, they are likely to become calmer.  I have 7 beautiful, nutty border collies and I have not been eaten alive….yet 😉

If you give a balanced raw food diet with LOTS of variety, then there is no reason why your dog should not thrive.  If you only gave the meat and no bone or offal then over time this could cause problems.  You have to use common sense at times and be prepared to learn.  I don’t profess to know everything and love learning new ideas to help my dogs.  There are some great articles online so do your own research and don’t just take my word for a raw diet being fab 🙂

There is a great book by Conor Brady called “Feeding Dogs : The Science Behind the Dry Versus Raw Debate” which is absolutely fantastic and tells you in easy to understand language the whys and wherefores of the science.

The Raw Pet Medics are fab to follow on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/rawpetmedics