Raw Essentails

FAQ

Aren’t bones dangerous?

Dogs and cats have carnivorous jaws and are designed to chew, crush and digest RAW meaty bones.

COOKED bones can be very dangerous as they are brittle and can splinter. Never feed cooked bones to your dog or cat. Many dogs get constipated from cooked bones, or have a splinter of brittle cooked bone perforate the stomach or gut.

Choose raw meaty bones appropriate for the size of your dog to avoid him gulping them in one piece. Dogs and cats need to rip and tear and chew to get the full benefit of their raw meaty bones diet. Top of page


What about the danger from bacteria in the raw meat?

Dogs and cats are designed to eat a raw diet, they have a very acidic stomach which does not allow harmful bacteria to thrive, and a short gut transit time giving the harmful bacteria no time to colonise.
A grain fed dog has a less acidic stomach which may allow the harmful bacteria to thrive and a sluggish transit time as the carbohydrates ferment and allow time for harmful bacteria to colonise. A grain fed dog given occasional bones is more likely to run into trouble.
If you change your dog or cat to a raw meat diet then stay raw to keep their digestion efficient.
Take your normal precautions when handling raw meat in your own kitchen. Clean all utensils and surfaces with warm soapy water and always wash your hands after handling raw meat.
Salmonella, E-coli and Campylobacter are more likely to be a problem for your pet if your pet gains access to a cooked carcass which has been allowed to “ripen”. Dogs presenting with salmonella or campylobacter are likely to have got into the rubbish bin and eaten last nights cooked chicken! Top of page

Will feeding my dog raw meaty bones make him aggressive?

Most sheep dogs are fed on lamb brisket but co-exist peacefully with the herd of sheep. Often a raw fed dog is calmer and more relaxed as he is not consuming additives, flavourings and food colours.
A raw fed dog will take more interest in his food and may initially guard his food more as it really is worth guarding. If you have more than one dog they may need to be fed separately.
Children should not be allowed near any dog when they are eating. Top of page

Is it enough to feed my dog on Raw Meaty Bones?

Your dog needs raw meaty bones, organ meats, and a small amount of vegetable matter. The Raw Essential Range covers all of these. Dogs obtain their glucose requirement from protein and fat. Have a look at this article for a full discussion of "grains or not in a dog's diet?". Read more about the nutritional value of Raw Meaty Bones, Tripe and Offal here. Top of page

Are raw meat diets balanced?

MEAT only diets are certainly NOT balanced. Your pet needs raw meaty bones and some organ meats, the bones are an incredibly rich source of nutrition. Balance is achieved over time. The concept of a complete and balanced diet at every meal is an artificial concept perpetuated by the pet food manufacturers. We balance our own intake over time, even eating seasonally. Top of page

Where do I feed my pet?

Outside is ideal if you can.
In the corner of the kitchen/garage/laundry
In the bathroom
In a crate (especially useful with more than one dog)
Train your dog to eat on a towel or plastic drop sheet and you can feed him anywhere Top of page

When should I feed my dog?

Feeding your dog must fit in with your routine. Find a time that suits you and your dog will be more than happy. Ideally a dog will eat once a day. It suits many people to split the dogs daily allowance between two meals. Top of page

When should I feed my cat?

Cats are best fed morning and evening. Cats are not grazers. In their natural environment they hunt, eat and then sleep, ready for the next hunt. They do not return multiple times a day to the kill - cats eat their prey fresh. Most people are amazed at how quickly their cats adapt to eating twice a day. Top of page


What about hydatids and sheep measles?

Historically dogs became infected with hydatids tapeworm by eating /scavenging on sheep carcasses found dead in the paddock/farm killed, NOT by eating raw meaty bones from the butcher - meat passed for human consumption poses no threat. NZ is now a hydatids free country, but because of the risk of reintroduction from imported live animals, MAF has maintained controls to ensure that dogs do not have access to raw offal (where offal is defined for these purposes as liver and lungs). The biosecurity legislation direction is still to cook the liver and lungs of ruminant and pig origin from home kill/farm kill, before feeding it to dogs. The Raw Essentials range does not include the liver or lung of ruminants or pigs.

Sheep measles are not a human health risk but are viewed as a quality defect in the meat. All sheep and goat meat should be frozen at -10 degrees or colder for at least seven days before feeding it to dogs. Your domestic freezer is easily this cold and likely to be colder.

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Is feeding a raw diet expensive?

Feeding a raw meaty bones diet will save you money. Raw Meaty Bones is an insurance against ill health. The cost equation needs to take into account the cost per day to feed and the reduction in veterinary fees.

The cost per day of feeding a raw diet is comparable to feeding a processed diet. The cost per day to feed is included in the diet guides. Top of page

Can I feed my dog table scraps?

Table scraps used to be an important source of food for our dogs. Wild carnivores eat small amounts of omnivore food, part digested, when they eat the intestines of their smaller prey. Our table scraps count as omnivore food. Table scraps should count for no more than one quarter of your dogs food in take.
Table scraps can provide important nutrition for your dog but read the FAQ below on what to avoid Top of page

Can I feed my cat table scraps?

Cats are very rarely interested in table scraps. And being true obligate carnivores, table scraps are seldom suitable. They are unlikely to provide any nutritional value to your cat. Top of page

Are there some things I should avoid feeding my dog?

You should definitely avoid the following -

Highly processed food ( eg chicken nuggets, pizza, McDonalds etc)
Excessive meat off the bone - not balanced
Cooked bone - is brittle and will cause problems
Small pieces of bone - can be gulped whole and cause a problem
Excessive starchy food such as potato and bread - can lead to bloat
Onions and garlic in excess can be toxic
Fruit stones and corn cobs can get stuck
Chocolate in excess can be toxic (take care at Easter and Christmas)
Mineral and Vitamin supplements can cause imbalance unless given under veterinary guidance. Top of page

How does a raw diet compare to other diets?

Food Rating

Source of Food

Characteristics

Nature’s plan 10

Hunting prey in the wild, Foraging when prey not available

Species appropriate, Rabbit, Hare and Game

The Best You Can Do 9

Raw Essentials Range of Raw Meaty Bones

Species appropriate, Big pieces of raw meat bones

Commercially Available Raw 8

K9natural Range

Ground raw product

Home made natural diet 7

Cooked meat/veg/rice, Often no bones

Labour intensive

Commercial Raw/minimum grain 6

Mighty Mix Frozen

High meat/fat content

Super Premium Brands 5

Organix/Ziwipeak

Meat as first 2-3 ingredients, Few preservatives

Well marketed brands 4

Eukanuba/Hills/Iams

More grain/less meat content, Protein from vegetable source

Supermarket Brands 3

Purina etc

Not highly digestible, Additives/preservatives, Addictive enhancers

Generic Brands 2

Whiskas/Wag

Ultra cheap ingredients, Presevatives

Random unhealthy food 0

Unhealthy table scraps, Highly processed food, Sugar/white flour

No nutritional value

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