Supplements used in raw diets are a hot topic in the world of raw feeding. Not a day goes by when people do not debate the different uses of vitamins and oils.  I have created this guide to discuss the health benefits of supplementing your dogs diet and the various supplements available. Please remember, these are suggestions and not requirements. I have personally used them successfully and advocate supplementing your dogs diet, but that choice is still yours.

Oils

There are many kinds of oils you can supplement with. We only advocate the use of premium oils and use them ourselves. Oils have a number of benefits and can provide more than just a shiny coat.

Coconut Oil – Coconut oil is a fantastic addition to not only your dogs diet, but yours as well. First and foremost, Coconut Oil can ward off disease due to its antiviral, anti-fungal and antibacterial properties. When fed regularly, it is known to reduce allergies, prevent and treat skin infections, support the immune system and many other benefits. I suggest using every other day, dogs love it and you can easily add it to food. I suggest starting with a guide of 1/8 – 1/4 teaspoon per ten pounds a day, depending on how sensitive your dogs stomach is. You can easily adjust to fit your dogs needs.

Fish Oils – There are multiple fish oils available.  Whichever you choose, be sure that it is mercury free. If you are unable to find a mercury free product, substitute one of the other oils in this section. Fish oil is proven to aid in skin, coat, allergies and cancer. One human capsule a day will provide enough oils for dogs.  I use a pin to prick a whole in the capsule and disperse onto food. For cats and very small dogs, I suggest half a capsule.

Flaxseed Oil – Flaxseed is a substitute for fish oils, as it is rich in omega fatty acids and has no risk of being contaminated with mercury.  It provides the same benefits as fish oil and is dispersed onto food the same way. One capsule to food every other day is plenty to see benefits, you are welcome to use it daily.  I use it in tandem with coconut oil and feed every other day. As with the fish oil, you should use half a capsule for cats and small dogs.

Vitamins:

Vitamin E – This vitamin is a staple in my dogs diets. It is a wonderful way to treat and prevent disease, promotes healthy eyes and skin and among many other things, it has been successful in treating tumors. For cats, I suggest owners give up to 100 I.U. daily. Dogs come in many shapes and sizes. Thus, treatment for a small dog will be different than that of a large dog. For Treatment of Dogs: Under 15lbs – 100 I.U. Daily, 15 – 30lbs – 200 I.U. Daily, 31 – 45lbs – 300 I.U. Daily, 46 & Up – 400 I.U. Daily. I suggest feeding the above amounts every other day, unless treating disease. 

Vitamin C – Vitamin C is a fantastic tool for treating disease. I recommend that you use it to treat disease, but you may give it for maintenance if you wish. When treating disease, please seek advice from a holistic veterinarian. They will provide you with proper dosage and administration.  To give maintenance doses, I suggest giving your dog berries or fruit rich in vitamin C. It is not only a fantastic treat but provides great nutrients from juices.

Kelp Powders

Kelp and Kelp powder mixes are a fantastic addition to your dogs diet. It is a miracle supplement and can help reduce and prevent tumors, aid in treatment of arthritis and is an excellent anti-inflammatory. Kelp also helps prevent infections, maintain a beautiful coat and many, many other things. There are various brands of kelp on the market, but I suggest you find a human grade and USDA organic version of kelp. I use a simple kelp supplement from a local health food store.  Dosing is as follows:

Cats – 1/2 Teaspoon

Dogs – Up to 25lbs – 1/4 Teaspoon ~ 25lbs – 50lbs – 1/2 Teaspoon ~ 50lbs & Over – 1 Teaspoon.

A Few Warnings and Suggestions

When supplementing your dogs diet, please take care to read ingredients on all supplements. I do not advocate the use of children supplements. These supplements typically contain XYLITOL, an incredibly toxic additive to animals. I always suggest a USDA 100% Organic supplement over anything else, but with Fish Oil remember to only give mercury free capsules. I do not suggest using supplements that are marketed towards dogs and cats aside from Kelp. Pet supplements and food are not as well regulated by the FDA, it is much safer to use a product labeled for humans. At the very least, this product was inspected and approved. Pet supplements are not subjected to the same rigorous testing and enforcement that human supplements are.
Supplementing diets can be a very beneficial tool. Ultimately, it is your decision what you add to the diet of your dog or cat.

Disclaimer: The suggestions in this blog are based on experience and research. They are not meant to replace proper veterinary care.  Carnivore Carry Out suggests researching veterinarians in your area who may be of the holistic variety or who encompasses natural health and its relation to pets before beginning raw diets.  Just as in humans, no diet is one size fits all and a raw-friendly veterinarian may be best at deciding what is right for your pet.  Carnivore Carry Out assumes no responsibility or liability for the use of the information in this blog, as it is provided as a general resource and we are unable to monitor its use with all readers. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, please contact your holistic veterinarian or other competent professional. Please note: If you have an issue with the website, NOT the blog, please contact the owner of the website – you can do so at carnivorecarryout.com. Thank you.

What Is Raw Feeding … And Why You Should Consider It
Copyright Megan Heath 2012

Dogs And Cats Are Carnivores

It is easy enough to prove with cats; they cannot survive without taurine, an essential amino acid that is derived from animal protein. Cats do not produce taurine on their own and a deficiency can lead to a slow, painful death. This is not the only reason they are proven to be carnivorous – cats are predators. They have sharp fangs, claws, a keen sense of smell and the ability to stalk prey in silence. Your fluffy kitten is a natural born carnivore.

Unlike cats, there is a huge debate in the veterinary world as to if dogs are omnivores or carnivores.  Before you assume they are omnivores, consider their ancestors: Wolves.  Dogs are bred from wolves and although they are domesticated, they still share 99.8% of the same mitochondrial DNA (rawfed.com). Like the wolf, their intestines are short and smooth – necessary for digesting raw meat and bacteria, they have teeth that are pointed and designed for tearing and ripping, their saliva lacks amylase – necessary for breaking down carbohydrates and many other similarities that their brother, the wolf, possesses. If you still have doubts, consider reading Raw Meaty Bones, by Tom Lonsdale – your eyes will be opened.

Raw Feeding Is Affordable And Relatively Easy – If You Do Your Research

The majority of people I speak to tell me they either cannot afford raw, or do not have the time to prepare it. This simply is not true.  It is significantly cheaper to feed raw, provided that you have the right resources and it does not take that much time to thaw meat, separate it into baggies and freeze it – essentially, this is what I do every month, once a month – I thaw the small, individualized meals as necessary.

There are many different types of raw available and you may be tempted to feed a pre-made food. If you can afford it, be my guest.  However, the majority follows a Prey Model Raw (PMR) diet and uses a ratio of 80% meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ. I personally add berries, simply because my dogs love them.

There is also a debate on supplements in raw feeding.  You do not have to feed supplements, but I prefer to add extra virgin coconut oil, flaxseed oil and vitamin E.  Many also feed kelp.

Pet Foods are Poorly Regulated, Over Processed and Subject to Extreme Heat – Which Kills Nutrients.  

Not to mention, the market is filled with recalls due to the very disease veterinarians claim feeding raw food causes (salmonella).

To put it simply, basic kibble (Iams, Eukanuba, Purina, etc.) is the dog version of Ramen noodle soup. Sure, it provides protein, carbohydrates and fat, but it is incredibly processed and loaded with artificial flavor additives. I suggest those who feed kibble at least avoid these foods – as they are sure to leave your dog’s health in shambles.

There are premium kibbles available, but these kibbles are not cheap to feed. I suggest using http://www.dogfoodadvisor.com as a guide if you MUST feed kibble, but I also suggest you thoroughly research any form of feeding and use proper judgment.

Often, people will tell me their veterinarians claim raw food will give their dog or cat various diseases and they will die a slow and painful death and that humans have an increased risk of being infected with a food borne disease.  This is a scare tactic and completely untrue. Dogs have short digestive tracts and they do not have food in them long enough to be affected by disease; not to mention the fact that their stomachs are made to process raw meat and bones.  In regards to raw meat and its effect on human health, you are no more at risk feeding raw to your dogs than you would be handling raw meat and putting it into a pan for cooking. As long as you exercise proper clean up it, will not be an issue.  And let us not forget, salmonella is a very real threat in kibble, not just raw. There have been multiple recalls in regards to it being in brands of kibble, including a large recall in May. There have also been recalls for pieces of plastic in food, melamine in food and various other toxins and bacterial contaminants.  Feeding human grade meat is significantly safer when you weigh the chances for contamination.

Ultimately, Raw Feeding is the most natural way to maintain health in cats and dogs. It does take some research, but is completely manageable by even the busiest of people. There is no diet that comes without risk, for pets or for humans. However, some diets are superior to others.

 
Disclaimer: The suggestions in this blog are based on experience and research. They are not meant to replace proper veterinary care.  Carnivore Carry Out suggests researching veterinarians in your area who may be of the holistic variety or who encompasses natural health and its relation to pets before beginning raw diets.  Just as in humans, no diet is one size fits all and a raw-friendly veterinarian may be best in deciding what is right for your pet.  Carnivore Carry Out assumes no responsibility or liability for the use of the information in this blog, as it is provided as a general resource and we are unable to monitor its use with all readers. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, please contact your holistic veterinarian or other competent professional. Please note: If you have an issue with the website, NOT the blog please contact the owner of the website – you can do so at carnivorecarryout.com. Thank you.

Top 5 Myths about feeding your dog a Raw Diet – BUSTED!.