Hi Everyone,
There is so much great info on feeding raw here but it really is overwhelming. Does anyone know of a good book that would provide a step-by-step guide to switching over from kibble to raw?
I'm really looking for something to tell me: if your dog weighs this much, start Week 1 day 1 meals with X, then Week 1 day 2 meals with Y etc...
Thanks,
Jean
Feeding guideline: Feed 2-3% of your dogs weight per day. If your dog weighs 60 pounds, feed 1.2 to 1.8 pounds per day. This might have to be increased or decreased depending on your dogs activity level and age.
First two weeks:
Fast your dog the first day, no kibble or treats or raw food. Water is ok.
NOTHING but bone in chicken. This means for your sized dog:
Chicken backs or frames (feed several per meal 2-4 depending on size)
Chicken quarters (feed one per meal)
Chicken thighs (feed one or 2 per meal)
Give one meal in the AM and one in the PM
Third week:
Add in turkey on alternating meals (chicken meal in AM, turkey in PM). This means:
Turkey necks (feed one per meal)
Turkey wings (feed one per meal)
Turkey frames (feed 1/2 to 1 per meal)
*** pretty much a whole turkey can be fed, but butchered up into portions.
Fourth week:
Add in pork alternating days with chicken and turkey (feed chx AM, pork PM...then next day chx AM and turkey PM...then chx AM and pork PM....so on and so forth). This means:
Pork neck bones (feed one per meal)
Pork ribs (feed a good sized slab, you should be able to eye ball a meals worth)
Fifth week:
Add in fish alternating days with chicken, turkey, and pork (feed chx AM, fish PM...next day chx AM, turkey PM...next day chx AM, pork PM....next day chx AM, fish PM...so on and so forth)
Sixth Week:
Add in beef, same routine as before. This means:
Beef heart (eye ball a good sized meal chunk)
Ground beef (not ideal source of beef but it will be ok if fed only once a week)
***You should strive to feed a different protein source everyday of the week, and then start over with your rotation again the next week. Add in as many protein sources as you can afford or what is convenient (you could even be on a two week schedule if you have that many choices of meats).***
DO NOT add organ meats (liver and kidney) until 2-3 months into raw feeding. Add in VERY slowly and in VERY small amount to an already well established meat meal (ie chicken meal) once every 2 weeks. Then gradually work it into your rotation weekly.