
So almost 12 years ago, I was pregnant with my first bub and with my maternal hormones surging, my husband and I decided to really throw ourselves under the bus and get a puppy. Enter Luna, our beautiful black staffy who quickly became and integral and much loved part of our growing family. So when we left the breeder, we were given a bag of ‘premium’ dog biscuits as the very ‘best’ thing to feed her; but not one to accept that a processed diet can be healthy, I wasn’t completely convinced that this was the case. So I asked my local vet, only to be told another brand of expensive premium dog biscuits were best (the brand he sold of course).
Now my Naturopathic food philosophy runs thick and fast through my mind so it, of course, got me thinking of what a dog in the wild would eat. When I further researched this, I happened upon a wonderful vet in Perth (where I was living at the time) who’s dietary philosophy for pets resonated. Her name was Dr. Claire Middle and she introduced me to a bone and raw food diet as the most economical and healthiest diet for little Luna.
It really does make sense that if a whole foods diet is the healthiest way to eat for humans, the same goes for your pets. “Over the last twenty or so years, I have witnessed a significant improvement in the health of many animals coming to my veterinary clinic with chronic health problems with a simple change from processed (dried, tinned or ‘dog roll’) pet food, to fresh, raw food,” said Dr. Claire Middle
What is Wrong with Commercial Pet Food?
Numero uno is that it is heavily processed using poor quality, often genetically modified ingredients, additives and fillers. Like many human processed foods, processed pet food has been heated, treated and then fortified with a heap of ‘essential’ nutrients to allow us to feel we are feeding them a nutritious diet. To my mind, it just doesn’t make sense or feel right to feed any of my beloved pets these highly processed ‘franken-foods’.
According to Dr. Middle “Tinned foods contain cooked meat, and cooking destroys much of the useful nutrients in meat for carnivorous animals. Most commercial dried foods (even premium brands) may contain 25% to 60% carbohydrate. The carbohydrate component is usually present as rice or corn meal. The carbohydrate in dried food makes the food less expensive to manufacture, and gives it a long shelf life. Veterinary physiology textbooks tell us that dogs and cats should have no more than 3% to 5% carbohydrate in their diet, because any more than this reduces the liver glycogen metabolism, thus reducing the detoxification of chemicals and toxins from the liver and fat stores.”
She adds “Full liver metabolism, which can only happen with a very low, or no, carbohydrate diet, will, therefore, reduce the likelihood of degenerative conditions such as autoimmune or infectious disease, liver and kidney disease, arthritis and cancer. It has been shown scientifically that cats are much more likely to suffer diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, bladder stones and hepatitis if their diet contains dried commercial food. It has been shown scientifically that puppies are more likely to develop hip dysplasia on a diet containing carbohydrate.”
So what do you feed them?
Just feed them real raw food, the food they have evolved to eat. This is the food that will provide them with all of the essential nutrients they need to thrive and lead a healthy, disease-free life.
“Dogs are omnivores and cats are carnivores. They obtain their essential nutrients from the raw meat, bone, sinew, offal and fermented vegetable gut contents of the carcasses they eat, plus dogs also eat a lot of dropped, rotting fruit, berries, dung and leaf litter from the jungle floor. Fresh, real food will provide essential nutrients in a more useable form for the animal than as separate additives artificially incorporated into heated and pressurised processed food.” says Dr. Middle.
Meat, Fish and Eggs
Bones from small animals are best – chicken necks, wings and frames, lamb offcuts and roo tails. Dr. Claire Middle recommends fish oil, 1 to 6 gram depending on animal size, or tinned or fresh fish two to three times a week (we feed Luna mackerel intermittently) is needed for the essential omega 3 fatty acids. Whole eggs with the crushed shell 2-3 times a week.
My pets also LOVE bone broth. My dog obstructed her bowel last year (would you believe by ingesting a huge amount of beach sand of all things) and she was so unwell. She was vet treated but even so, was deteriorating rapidly. I was instructed to get her to eat asap but she rejected everything I offered until I got the bone broth out (which I slowly started adding meat and vegetables too). I was so impressed (as was the vet) with her turn around, I often now add a splash to her and the cats dinner (they go crazy for it like they know it’s good).
Vegetables and fruit
Dr. Middle recommends a variety of small quantities of anything that you eat is fine for animals, except onions, spring onions, grapes and raisins. It’s best that they are raw and pulped or grated (great way to use up leftover pulp if you are a juicer). Speak to your vet for more details.
She also adds that cats can tolerate 10% fat diets, so feel free to add cheese, eggs, sour cream, yoghurt, fatty meat off cuts and other fatty foods to taste for cats. No chocolate for pets, it’s toxic.
How to go about it
Because we all live busy lives, it is best to incorporate a feeding routine that best suits. A friend of mine has a small bucket that she fills with leftover fruit and vegetable peelings and pulp or any spoiled fresh produce, to which she mixes though raw meat and bones she gets from her butcher (and then adds kelp and fish oil).
I used to have a similar routine though I now feed my three pets a pre-prepared meat mix containing various ground meats/bone, apples, sweet potato, sugarloaf cabbage, beans, carrots, seasonal vegetables, flax, fish oil, kelp and garlic. The specific producer has lots of variety (meat types and both dog and cat blends) and also an organic range. The one I buy is available frozen in portioned trays and big rolls (for larger dogs).
I also should add that in the past 6 months or so, my now almost 12-year-old dogs digestion just doesn’t handle eating big bones so she only eats them ground (in her meat mix). Just worth remembering for elderly dogs.
FAQ
Is this an expensive way to feed your pet?
Even with adding in supplements such as kelp or fish oils, this is a very economical and sustainable way to feed you pet. Not to mention the money you’ll save on vet bills!
I feed my pet dry food so they don’t do big poos, will this change?
I can honestly say that my dog and cats, all produce small, how can I say – easy to collect and fairy odour free-poos. My cats are both indoor only so I have a very good idea what they produce (gee that was awkward)!
What will my vet think?
I find vets fit into one of two categories – they will either support you or not. If you live in Perth, Dr. Claire Middle is still practicing (lucky people). I have a vet local to me (Currumbin Fair Vet) who is very holistically minded and only advocates a natural diet (they don’t even sell ‘premium’ pet food there). Perhaps if you know of a vet who supports an unprocessed diet, you could add their name and the area they practice from in the comments below, so others may benefit.
Dry food
I do use dry food for treats and as back-up occasionally when I have forgotten to defrost their meat. The only dry I feed my pets is grain-free which is not so easy to come by.
I personally don’t ‘bake’ or make treats for my pets because I simply don’t have the time or I feel the expertise. I just prefer to focus on the bulk part of their diet which is raw.
Important note…
So I have quoted Dr. Claire Middle a lot here because let’s face it, I’m not a vet nor qualified to dispense advice re feeding pets beyond my own experience. I know how insulting it is when I read sketchy nutritional advice written by the internet qualified or unqualified blogger when I have dedicated 10’s of thousands of dollars and 20 years of my life to learning my trade. Nor is this a sponsored post at all.
Claire has a fabulous book which you can find out more about here. Her website has some fantastic articles on it too, take a look here.
Georgia Harding says
I’ve been asked this on social media so thought I’d add that I feed my pets a brand called Canine Country Pet PH – 07 38015005(which I buy from a beautiful pet shop on Currumbin Creek rd). Most pet shops (at least in QLD) sell BARF (bone and raw food) for pets G x
Bel says
Hi Georgia,
I just checked out the BARF range on the Pets Wonderland website and they list garlic as an ingredient. For years I have understood onion and garlic to be toxic to cats and dogs. Any thoughts on this?
Georgia Harding says
Bel – my understanding is that it is all about dosage and that a very, very large dose is required to be toxic. This article explores the advantages and dangers of onion/garlic for pets. I can only speak from experience and I have fed my 12yr old dog food containing garlic most of her life – she never gets fleas and has exceptional health and vitality for a dog of her age. My cats are young, but so far so good. G x http://raisinghealthydogs.com/is-garlic-good-or-bad-for-dogs
Georgia Harding says
Someone on Instagram said there is a butcher in Perth that preps and delivers pet food http://www.petchef.com.au Ph64680180 G x
Chantal says
Great article! We have been taking our puppy with skin allergies to see Claire Middle and can’t recommend her highly enough. If in Perth, there is a great guy who sells minced raw meat and bone for pets at the Mt Claremont Farmers Market every Saturday morning.
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Chantal – yes I haven’t seen Claire for well over 10 years (because we moved to QLD), but I remember her as a vet with her heart in the right place. Thanks for the meat tip – great for my Perth family and friends. G x
Elizabeth Smit says
Great Vet in northern rivers NSW (based at Uki)…. see on FaceBook : The Healing Vet (Dr Edward Bassingthwaighte). Home visit practice… 0428 278 630. Very much supports natural diet. And BARF etc from Kelly at Raw Health 4 Dogs (Cabarita … also on FaceBook) with home delivery available ….how could it get any easier to really look after the furry members of the family !!
Kat says
Hi just wondering who makes the pre prepared mix you use?
Georgia Harding says
Kat I’ve given details in the comments below (and some other sources also included depending upon where you live) G x
Kat says
Thanks
Georgia Harding says
That’s fabulous Elizabeth – thanks so much for contributing, really appreciate it G x
Bella says
The pet food industry is pure marketing much like most modern processed food I guess. I think it’s just a way to make some money out of what would ordinarily be waste product (unfit for humans). There is a fabulous book called ‘give your dog a bone’ written by the guy who developed BARF
Georgia Harding says
Yes, I have heard this is a good book. Yes so true – the processed food industry is very good at convincing us/and the vets that sell their product that it is superior to what nature has given us and our pets (i.e.; ‘real’ food). Thanks for your comment Bella G x
Diane Goggin Turner says
My JR x boy was diagnosed with Diabetes at age 7. He was not overweight, just saying, there was a reason for his Diabetes but it’s quite a long story, for another day. I started cooking for him right away (now 3 years ago) and was told had to be fairly bland with no rice bread or any other ‘fillers’. I combine minced chicken and beef (human consumption) approx. half a kilo of each into some chicken broth, and many vegetables (but no potato, onion or other carb varieties) I cook this in a large boiler and once cooked thicken with Purina Light and Mature. He has been doing great on this and has held his weight well. He’s very healthy now for a ten year old and goes for an hour walk three times a week. I’m very surprised that one of these big firms hasn’t taken on the ‘Diabetic’ feeds regime, because sometimes I just wish I had a quick and easy alternative, especially when we go away.
Kelly Davidson says
Hi Georgia. I posted on your Facebook page a while back about raw food for dogs. I
just wanted to update everyone on delivery areas – from Palm Beach to
Brunswick Heads and surrounding areas in between. Delivery fees and
minimum order requirements vary (check out the website: http://rawhealth4dogs.com.au/delivery-pickup/). I have also added two new supplements to the website today (1st September) – Joint Formula & Pre Pro Biotic.
SUPPLEMENTS – $28 to $60
http://rawhealth4dogs.com.au/supplements/
1. Joint Formula for dogs with injury, joint pain and inflammation or
arthritis. Not just for the oldies! $60 – 300g
2. Pre Pro Biotic for digestive and gut health. I recommend this for all
dogs with sensitive stomachs. Can be very beneficial when changing a
dog from kibble diet to a raw diet. $28 – 300g
Interested people can go to the website read the list of super
ingredients that go into these supplements.
Georgia Harding says
Thanks Kelly G x
Kylie B says
Hi Georgia, my partner is a vet who practices (and is qualified in!) a combination of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, Acupuncture and conventional medicine. He is a housecall vet based in Tamborine Qld and services the local area as well as Gold Coast, Logan and Bris South. Thanks for allowing us to link here: http://www.balancevet.com.au
https://www.facebook.com/BalanceVeterinaryCare/?fref=ts
Georgia Harding says
Thanks so much for including his details Kylie – thrilled to have someone recommend to those areas G x
Erika Eder says
It’s awesome that we have the knowledge and awareness to keep ourselves and our families well nourished, but did you know it’s just as important to look after our pets and be mindful of what we are feeding them?
I stock only 100% Australian Made doggy treats, free of all preservatives, additives and chemicals. My treats are all natural, healthy & slow-dried – none are manufactured, processed or extruded – just meat! And most important of all, they are all Australian – no nasty irradiation, poisons, bleaches, fillers & glues.
We post Australia Wide ?
https://m.facebook.com/doggyandmeaustralia/
Georgia Harding says
Perfect – thanks for sharing your details G x
Jessica says
http://organicbone.com.au won’t work. Suggestions?
Georgia Harding says
Strange it works for me Jessica, perhaps try again. G x
Emelia says
I order a product called Buster’s Brew which is a dehydrated bone broth for dogs and cats. You just add it to warm water to make the broth. It only contains ingredients that are safe for pets. They seem to love it! https://bustersbrew.net
niki says
Our dog is fed raw chicken wings and cooked vegies. Water they are cooked in is also used. vet always asked what we did as she looked so good,had healthy teeth and shiny coat.
Looked after sons dog for a few.months. When she came she had smelly poop and disgustingly could smelling gas. Changed her diet and both disappeared. For a treat they get a lamb shank each.
Georgia Harding says
Beautiful story Niki – such great re-inforcement of the importance of pets eating what nature intend G x
Pania says
Just found this section and couldn’t agree more! We have found Wendy at Jaimon Boarding Kennels Alligator Creek QLD (South of Mackay). Wendy has immense knowledge of dogs a love for them that is limitless.
We are fortunate enough to be able to purchase raw food (special blend) from her and our 2 doggos have never been so healthy and happy
Georgia Harding says
Fabulous, thanks for sharing. Thankfully more and more raw food for pets advocates and suppliers are popping up. So great G x
Sylvia says
What is Bone Broth and where do you get it or how do you make it, please.
Georgia Harding says
Hi Sylvia, bone broth is home made chicken stock (so any bones, cooked or raw simmered for 24-48 hours) and the liquid drained. This is may recipe https://wellnourished.com.au/bone-broth-for-the-soul/ G x
Peter Oh says
A good deal of this article is opinion based, not fact based.
It’s correct, the BARF feeding approach has many advantages (fact not opinion).
But there are disadvantages, this needs careful research; the info is available on the web.
Dogs need ZERO carbohydrates.
Dogs (wolves, wild dogs etc) are CARNIVORES, they naturally hunt down prey & eat it. Generally “all of it” but stomach & intestine contents are not a first pick. It’s generally agreed that the intestines & stomach wall will be eaten but the contents rejected. his is not my opinion but observed behaviour.
It is highly unlikely that dogs/wolves would eat berries or fruit, at least to th extent that such might become a significant proportion of their diet.
My recommendation is avoid any action based on the incomplete & wrong contents of this post.
Jamie-lee says
Hello do you have a recipe you go by or you just make it up on the spot?
Georgia Harding says
Hi Jamie-lee. I actually buy BARF (bone and raw food) pre-made from my local pet shop. It’s pretty widely available these days. Hopefully you can source it otherwise check out Claire’s website linked in the post G x
Gina Hitch says
Dear Georgia, I desperately need some help for my Cavoodle Teddy who is 9 years old and recently diagnosed with being diabetic. In the last few months he has lost 5 kilos by refusing to eat diabetic food of all sorts. Although I have tried creating some meals for him, I have lost the battle miserably.
Please is there any advice you could give to help me with Teddy?
Desperately awaiting your kind response.
Gina
Georgia Harding says
Hi Gina, sorry, I’m not a vet but if you’d like a holistic approach, perhaps try contact https://www.claremiddle.com/ or check out her books. She might be able to recommend a holistic vet in your area even. Good luck with Teddy G x
Rick says
One of the replies reminded me, I read an article on Dingos/Wolves and how they have different genetics to digest carbohydrates only one expression of the gene involved. Modern dog , have been altered by there association with humans and have more copies of the gene required to digest carbohydrates. There is variation among breeds, huskies and I’m guessing the other primitive breeds are closer to Wolves/ Dingos . This means Dingos/Wolves etc branched off long ago and are suited to a different diet.
Rick says
One of the replies reminded me, I read an article on Dingos/Wolves and how they have different genetics to digest carbohydrates only one expression of the gene involved. Modern dog , have been altered by there association with humans and have more copies of the gene required to digest carbohydrates. There is variation among breeds, This means Dogs branched off long ago and are suited to a different diet.