Raw Diet

I have received several calls and questions about the raw diet that I feed and so many people are being told that they should feed vegetables and fruits along with the raw meaty bones in order to balance out the dogs diet. I just wanted to take a minute and just address a couple of the questions that i have been asked, and to clear up some of the inconsistencies that i have heard. I have put countless numbers of hours into researching this topic, not just on the web, but talking to other breeders who have fed this type of diet for 10 years plus, and even have reached out to a local business that prepares all raw diets for peoples dogs and cats, for a living.

The fact of the matter is that dogs simply DO NOT need fruits and vegetables to survive, and it is simply not a natural food source for carnivores. Dogs are not omnivorous as much as people want to try to make them human, dogs are not! You can look at a dogs teeth and see the first sign that they are not built for leafy green veggies and sweet fruits. Dogs have huge, sharp, impressive teeth that are built for grabbing, ripping, and shreading meats, bones, and skin. Omnivorous animals like humans, or black bears, etc... have strong flat molars that are built to grind up leafy greens and fruits in order to aid in the digestion of these kinds of foods. It is funny but God made each animal to such detail that they are equipped with the tools that will enable them to eat the diet that will help them thrive.

Another fact that I found interesting while researching this topic is the fact that dogs (Carnivores) are equipped with very powerful jaw and neck muscles that makes them specifically built for taking down prey and chewing meats, bones, and hides of the prey they catch. They are equipped with a jaw that hinges open very wide to enable them to take in large chunks of meats and bones. The way dogs skulls are built is such that it prevents the lower jaw from moving left to right only up and down. The reason being it prevents struggling prey from escape. However in order to eat fruits and vegetables their needs to be some lateral movement in the lower jaw to grind the plant matter in order to properly break down the food for digestion and maximum benefit of the food source.

Another thing about feeding dogs fruits and vegetables that people need to understand is that dogs internal make up is not built for such types of food. Dogs have a rather short length of intestines, they have to eat foods that break down rather quickly because the food source does not spend enough time in the digestive tract to break down and extract the nutrients from the food source. Fruits and vegetables need a considerable amount of time to sit in the digestive system to properly ferment and break down and you would need a larger and longer intestinal track in order to make this happen and dogs are not equipped with this! That is why often times if a dog eats a leafy green it will come out the same way it went in, just like if your dog eats grass, you will see it come out looking like grass. Not only are dogs stomachs and mouths not set up for vegetables and fruits, they are missing vital enzymes that are required to break down starches, cellulose, and carbohydrates. Without the aid of these necessary enzymes, a dogs pancreas has to work very hard to try to break down these substances. Over time the pancreas can become damaged from these types of foods.

Another thing to consider is looking at how wolves in the wild eat their prey! When wild dogs attack and kill and animal, they eat the meat, bones, organs, and sometimes the hyde, depending on the size of the food source. The funny thing is that wild dogs never eat the stomach as most of the animals they eat are herbivores (eat only plants or vegetables and fruits). Often times the dogs will eat everything and will leave the stomach with all of its contents as they know that what is contained inside the stomach is of no nutritional value to them.

The fact of the matter is that we as humans have trouble understanding that what is a necessary part of our diets is not a necessity for other animals. Dogs/Wolves are basically the same as they were from the beginning of their existence. The exception is that humans have domesticated and changed the exterior appearance of dogs to fit the form and function of their needs for the animals. However, we can never change the inner workings of these animals and what is required for these animals to be at their best. Dogs do not need: celery, carrots, spinach, yogurt, dietary supplements, etc.... Do your own independent research, and make the decision that you find to be best supported by facts. Dont let vets, or pet stores, or me or anyone else tell you whats best for you and your dogs! Research and decide for yourself. Good luck and god bless! Paul Jordan.

Feeding a Raw Diet to Puppies

Feeding a raw diet, versus that of commercial dog food is a tough decision for some to make. Many factors may influence a persons' decision on this matter. We have listed the many benefits of a diet full of raw (bone-in) meats, supplemented by organ meats. The benefits are endless! However, we have also learned through personal experience, that some dogs are prone to growing at a rapid rate and can suffer some adverse effects from the high protein that is contained within the raw diet. As many people know, large breed dogs grow at different rates. Many are consistent growers, but some are sporadic in their growth and this is where the problem begins. Proteins, Fats, Calcium, among other nutrients are important elements that contribute to a young dogs' growth. The proper amounts of these nutrients can be vital to a healthy growth pattern for your young pup. If you are feeding raw, your dogs are getting somewhere in the neighborhood of 35-40 protein, inclusive of the organ meats, and any fish that may be fed for omegas. As mentioned before, some pups can handle this perfectly well and will thrive off of a raw diet. However, some will grow too fast from the high amount of protein. If you are feeding raw to young pups, beware of any signs of knuckling over, or any signs of the front/rear legs showing signs of bowing. If you notice any signs that your pup is growing too fast, it is best to immediately change the pups diet to a high quality lower protein kibble. You can reference our link to the "Great Dane Lady" for additional tips and help for knuckling over and bowing of the legs. If you do not have access to any of the kibble that she recommends on her site, we have found that Avoderm Naturals Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Adult formula is a very comparable kibble to Precise Holistic. Good Luck with you new pup!