Frequently Asked
Questions
Why feed a raw food diet?
Commercial dog food may be more convenient, but it is
decidedly less healthy for your Ridgeback. Kibble contains poor-quality protein
that is often not humane grade, as well as additives, preservatives and
countless chemicals. It’s basically like raising your dog on McDonalds.
A raw diet, by contrast, is bioavailable and uses only
the freshest ingredients. Nutrition is the cornerstone of health, and will keep
your puppy’s immune system vibrant. That, along with limiting vaccines, will go
a long way to ensuring your dog’s long-term health.
What can I expect from a raw-food diet?
First off, your Ridgeback will be lean and will grow
slowly and consistently. He will have less of an odor than kibble-fed dogs, and
will be far less likely to get allergies or ear infections, a common problem in
the breed.
Your dog’s stool will be much less than a kibble-fed
dog – about a third – and it will not smell as foul, because it contains no
preservatives. If you forget to scoop it, after a week or so it just turns
white and disintegrates. Poof!
Are there any disadvantages to feeding a raw food
diet?
As with anything in life, there are safeguards to
consider. Bacteria in raw meat does exist, but most healthy canine digestive
systems are well equipped to handle things like salmonella and E coli. Human
digestive tracts, however, are not, so it is important that you observe proper
hygiene and wash your hands and your work area, just as you would if preparing
raw meat for yourself. Be sure to clean the dog’s bowl with hot soapy water
after each feeding.
If you have immunocompromised humans in the household,
or very young children, as I do, you can simply cook or sear the meat?
Impaction and perforation are a concern if you are
feeding whole bones, but since the Armellino’s meat is ground up, this is not
an issue.
The biggest risk to feeding raw is “migrating” off the
diet and not providing the proper bone content. If you follow the above
guidelines, you’ll be fine.
How do I know if I am feeding the right amount?
In this, use common sense: If your dog looks to thin,
feed him more; if he looks to chubby, cut down on the amount you are giving
him.
Rule of thumb: The average raw-fed dog consumes about
2 percent of his body weight in meat daily.
Can I feed anything else other than the poultry-veggie
mix during weekdays?
I suggest the poultry because it is most affordable,
at $2 for a 2 ¼ pound tube. But Armellino’s also sells ground lamb necks,
ground veal necks and ground duck, all with veggies, for $3.50 a tube. All of
these have similar bone content, and you could substitute any of them for a
weekday feeding – in fact, the more variety you can provide, the better.
