Pointers on Getting Started on Feeding a Raw Diet

#1 Read this website to dispel any myths you may have about raw feeding, such as it's dangerous etc. http://rawfed.com/myths/index.html

#2 There is no one "correct" way to raw feed. Everyone does it a little differently, so do what ever works best for you and your dog(s)

#3 A guideline to follow is 65% raw meaty bones, 35% muscle meat with no bone, and 5% offal (organs like liver and gizzards.) Some people also feed things like "green tripe", which is cow stomach, but I can't find it around here and doubt I would feed it anyway, as they say it's really terrible smelling! :o)

Feed as much of a variety as you can of any kind of raw meat and poultry. I skin chicken, and turkey, because it tends to make my dogs throw up, but some dogs tolerate the skin just fine. I also feed eggs, plain yogurt and fish, but the fish is the only exception to the raw rule. It should be cooked, because it has a parasite that is very dangerous, so I stick to canned Mackeral or canned Salmon and I rinse it well first to get rid of most of the sodium content. In the summer I give a fish or salmon oil capsule with their ground meat/eggs/offal meals and in the winter I give a Cod Liver Oil capsule. Some add The Missing Link to the ground meals instead of the fish oil or cod liver oil, but if you feed a variety of foods, it isn't really necessary. If your dog tolerates it and it doesn't cause any imbalance, it's fine.

#4 As to amount to feed, usually it's 2% of your dogs ideal weight per day, (10# dog X 2% = 1# of food per meal), but I go by how my dogs look. If they are too thin, I feed more. If they start getting too fat, I cut back a little.

MidAmerica Border Collie Rescue is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization