Raw Beef Diet

[BrendaZ]

I know some of you feed raw diets to your dogs.

I am looking to start the dogs on a raw food diet soon. They occasionally do get the raw beef liver.

Since I live on a dairy farm I have the ability to raise our own animals. Since I have been debating with myself about this idea and decided to go for it, I needed to find an available animal to feed the dogs. Well we had no steers available, so I found a heifer. I know on some of the treads they talked about beef was good, because they are feed grasses to start. Well ours start out on grains. The heifer that I have picked did go on a grain/hay/corn silage for awhile, and has now been moved to an all grain diet.

I know the dogs should have some fruit and vegetables in there diet.

I know they also need calcium. Our dogs are given the opportunity to drink raw milk, I know they say dogs/cats can be lactose intolerant, but I have had no issues with it.

Does any know if just a beef only diet would be bad for them, they would also get the liver from the beef? (by beef only, I mean no other types of meat)

The dogs do get fish oil pills in there diet now. Would I need to feed them any other supplements?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[mellie]

I don't feed a raw diet but I do know that ground eggshells supply absorbable calcium. It's great that you can raise your own beef. There are threads about raw feeding so check them out too.

 

[Tabitha]

Like mellie, I don't know a lot about raw feeding. I would recommend that instead of supplementing with fish oil, use coconut oil. When I gave them FO I really didn't see much, if any, difference in their coat. But when I switched it to a tea spoon of CO, not only did their coat improve, but F-kap's energy started returning and his hips don't seem to bother him anymore. I have now been able to switch his joint pills down to standard strength, the change never even fazed him!

 

[ClantyreSheltie]

I know the dogs should have some fruit and vegetables in there diet.

I know they also need calcium. Our dogs are given the opportunity to drink raw milk, I know they say dogs/cats can be lactose intolerant, but I have had no issues with it.

Does any know if just a beef only diet would be bad for them, they would also get the liver from the beef? (by beef only, I mean no other types of meat)

The dogs do get fish oil pills in there diet now. Would I need to feed them any other supplements?

I fed raw for two years. The key is variety. Feeding a single source of food isn't good for humans or animals. And no fruits and veggies needed.

I fed beef, pork, chicken, and whatever other fun meats I found at the local Asian markets. I fed mostly chicken livers for the liver requirement, but beef is OK.

 

[Toffee's Mom]

I fed raw for two years. The key is variety. Feeding a single source of food isn't good for humans or animals. And no fruits and veggies needed.

I fed beef, pork, chicken, and whatever other fun meats I found at the local Asian markets. I fed mostly chicken livers for the liver requirement, but beef is OK.

I agree, I do feed only raw (for about two years now?) and it is imporant to have a variety of meat, and also no vegetables or fruit needed at all.
I am envious of your ability to pick out your own cow, so I would still do that but would need to supplement other meat sources a few times a week, if you're going solely raw.
The best deal you're getting are the rib and neck bones, such a great source for dental health, and bone marrow, good for the joints. Can you keep the tripe, too? That is also super good for your dog! Liver ABSOLUTELY, and the heart omg and tongue etc etc. So much great stuff there for your dog! One BIG or I should say small bonus of natural, raw feeding with no preservatives is that dogs are able to absorb most of the nutrients from the food, leaving small quickly degradable poop!! lol


I don't think unpasteurized milk would be bad for the dog, but don't have any experience whether it is actually good for them or not. But your dogs bowel flora changes when you feed raw and they can handle a lot more stuff than they can on kibble, I guarantee you that
I haven't looked back since I started, so good luck, and I hope you're able to maybe trade with some others to get some chicken and lamb and pork and fish for a few good steaks and stuff Wish I lived closer, I know we could come to an arrangement!!

 

[Margi]

Been feeding raw for 11 years, and have seen all manner of natural diets touted by the "experts" over the years. IMHO, finding the right amount of food to feed your dog daily, balancing the percentage of muscle meat, bone, and organs as best you can (80-10-10 is considered good), and giving them enough omega 3 should lead to a healthy happy dog!

I've fed chicken, turkey, duck, beef, pork, venison, rabbit, quail, fish...basically anything I can get my hands on cheap. I feed eggs and yogurt, but no other dairy than cheese as a treat since they wouldn't have dairy naturally. Would it hurt them to have it? I doubt it Dogs are omnivores and can survive on all kinds of food!