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Raw Feeding For Your Frenchie
The easy way ….
By far the easiest way to raw feed is to buy pre-packaged frozen raw foods.
These companies make the diet complete for you – all you need to do is take it from the freezer – defrost and serve.
Companies I Like :
Healthy Paws -- packages of patties ¼ lb each
- Complete diets – beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, salmon etc
- Chicken or turkey mince ( meat with bone only )
Tollden Farms – packages of patties ¼ or ½ lb each
- Meat and Veggie Complete
- Meat and Botanicals Complete
- Meat and organs ( meat, bone and organ only )
Urban Carnivore – boxes ½ lb patties
- Regular and Exotic meats –complete diets
Nature’s Variety – bags of small medallions or ½ lb patties
- Easy to use small medallions –great for travelling
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Tripett
- Canned green tripe – smelly but really healthy !
It is important to give VARIETY using different types of meat complete diets.
Give 3-4 meals per week of fish I use the canned fish from the grocery store ( packed in water – salmon, sardines or Mackeral – take out the bones )
Include some meals that are just plain meat and bone.
I like to feed :
Beef , organ and vegetable in the AM ( complete diet )
Chicken or Turkey meat with bone in the PM ( meat and bone mince )
For puppies lunch can be 1 ¼ to ½ cup grain free kibble OR a can of fish OR a couple hard boiled eggs chopped.
How Much to Feed ?
Puppies 10 weeks old should eat 1 complete patty per meal ¼ lb
If feeding a kibble meal ¼ to ½ cup of dry food ( can add canned tripe or canned fish a couple teaspoons )
As the puppy grows – increase the amount of patties fed per meal, by half a patty each increase.
At or around 6 months of age – the noon feeding can be cut out. At this time increase the AM and PM meals. They should be eating 2 or more patties per meal.
You are the best judge of how much your dog needs. Frenchies should be chunky without being FAT. You should NOT be able to feel the ribs easily, and the dog should not be acting hungry. If they quickly eat and look for more – increase the food – if they are not finishing their meals – decrease the amount fed.
Raw fed dogs should have small, dark, well formed stools – not too much odor – and bonus much less gas !! If the dogs gets a little too much bone –stools may be chalky and white – no problem….. just add veggies to the next meal.
What if my dog has an upset tummy or digestive problems?
This is rare on a raw diet, but can happen.
I put my dogs on regular raw ground beef and you can add a little steamed oats ( a couple tablespoons ) also a great thing for loose stools is canned pumpkin ! …not the pie filling just regular canned pumpkin ( also great for a treat ) Add a tablespoon to the meal – they love it !
Making your own raw food
(1) Meat ( should be the bulk of the diet )
- Ground Beef ( regular course ground is what I use )
- Stewing Beef or Trim ( cut into bite sized chunks )
- Ground Turkey, Lamb, Duck, Venison, Buffalo etc with bone
- Chicken pieces – ADULT DOGS ONLY
(2) Bones
- Raw Chicken necks ( a frenchie favorite! I fed these every night --I hold them for the dogs to crunch and bite off pieces– letting go only when it is safe for the dog to swallow or cut them into bite sized pieces) ADULT DOGS ONLY
- Raw Beef Marrow Bones 3-4 inch ( my dogs are given fresh bones once a week or so )
(3) Fish ( should be fed 3 to 4 times per week )
- Canned mackerel ( canned in water – be sure to drain and remove bones )
- canned sardines, salmon ( should be canned in water only )
- Cooked fish – cod, halibut, salmon ( cooked in oil – be sure to remove bones)
(4) Organ meats ( should be fed 4 times per week or more )
- Tripe – ground or chunked ( or canned )
- Beef liver, heart, kidney -- sliced or chopped or ground
I feed Tripe almost everyday – either as a meal or mixed with ground beef
I feed the organ meats 2-3 times per week only mixed with ground beef
( ¾ beef to ¼ organs –as too much organ meat will cause soft stools )
(5) Eggs ( should be fed 2-3 times per week )
- Large organic free-range eggs are best ( I prefer to scramble eggs lightly or hard boil )
(6) Dairy products ( can be fed daily in small amounts –1-2 tablespoons )
- Cottage Cheese ( full fat )
- Yogurt ( plain )
- Cheese ( I use cheddar )
** A note on Meat ---You can use all raw also as long as you are not adding in any kibble ( this can cause digestive upset as kibble and raw food are absorbed at a different rate )
If you are concerned about feeding raw meat then you can cook the meat – DO NOT COOK ANY MEAT THAT HAS GROUND BONES IN IT !! )
- Add 3-4 inches of water to the bottom of a large pot; add in a sprinkle of salt and ¼ teaspoon of chopped or pureed garlic. Add in meat 3-5 lbs at a time and cook on low heat–( boil ) the meat stirring occasionally. DO NOT DRAIN THE MEAT --serve with all of the juices.
Veggies and Fruit
You do not “need” to add any veggies and fruit to your frenchie’s diet, I give only small amounts occasionally. My dogs do love fruit –Apples, Bananas, Berries, Melon and even oranges !!
I cut the fruit into bite-sized pieces and feed as treats.
If you would like to make a veggie / fruit mix to add to your meat – here is what you can do ….
(1) Mixture of green and orange veggies
Recommended: Green beans, peas, broccoli, romaine lettuce, zucchini
Carrots, squash, Cauliflower, tomatoes
(2) Mixture of various fruits
Recommended: Apples, oranges, bananas, berries, pears
(3) Canned Pumpkin – I add several tablesspoons to my veggie mixes
These veggies and fruits should be put into the blender and pureed. All veggies that must be cooked for human consumption (potatoes) etc should be cooked for the canine. Leave skins on fruit and veggies unless it is something that must be peeled for human consumption ( oranges ).
The veggie / fruit mix should make up no more than 10% of the diet,-- ratio 1 cup meat to 2 tablespoons of veggies and fruit.
Essential Fatty acids
- Omega 3 oils --- cod liver oil, cold pressed fish oil, Flaxseed oil, Hemp oil
- Omega 6 oils --- safflower oil, evening primrose oil
These oils are combined on a 1 to 1 basis – I give 1/2 teaspoon Omega 3 oil and 1/2 teaspoon omega 6 oil per day. The recommended fatty acids to use are cod liver oil or fish oil and evening primrose oil – these are both activated oils and are easier to absorb. *** My frenchies do not like the taste of fish oils …. So I sneak then in when I am feeding fish meals ….I use flax oil on a regular basis and safflower and olive oils intermittently.
Supplements
- Calcium ---Bone meal -- powdered form or 1000 mg of calcium (crushed) once per day Important note on calcium – do not add calcium if you are feeding Meat WITH Bone mixes or chicken necks – this is only for Meat Without Bone –hamburger etc or if you are feeding a cooked meat diet)
- Kelp -- powder
- Alfalfa – powder
- Vitamin C – powder or crystals ( sorbate )
- Vitamin E -- capsules
These supplements are used daily in both the morning and evening meals. The amount for a 20 to 28 lb dog per meal would be 1/2 teaspoon Bone meal
1/4 teaspoon Kelp
1/4 teaspoon Alfalfa
1/8 teaspoon vitamin C -- not to exceed 500mg per day
Daily you can also give 1 capsule 200 IU Vitamin E ( natural source )
Add INS and extras
Occasionally it is good to give other supplements and foods on occasion.
Apple Cider Vinegar – can be given a couple times per week -- 1/2 teaspoon
Cooked Macaroni and Cheese
Mashed Potatoes
Cooked Oatmeal or Baby Cereal
Whole grain toast with butter
It is recommended to stay away from most grains while on this diet – dogs in nature do not consume grains and cannot properly digest or assimilate these products. This includes most pasta, rice, and wheat products. I do give the above foods occasionally in small amounts for variety.
Putting it all together –Recipes !!
For an adult Frenchie 25 lbs – 1 feed 1 pound of food per day ( usually 2 cups )
Here are some tried and true Frog Dog favorite recipes
Meat and Veggie delight
3/4 to 1 cup raw meat – beef, chicken, turkey, duck ……
1-2 tablespoons of pureed veggies and fruit
1/2 teaspoon bone meal
1/4 teaspoon kelp
1/4 teaspoon alfalfa
1/2 teaspoon flax oil
Mix all ingredients together and serve
Steak and Eggs
2 large eggs lightly scrambled or hard boiled and chopped
¼ cup of grated old cheddar cheese
1/2 cup of raw hamburger or stewing beef cut into bite sized pieces
Add eggs still hot to 1 side of the stainless steel feeding dish – sprinkle with grated cheddar. While the eggs are cooling and the cheese is melting – add the beef to the other side of the bowl.
Serve while eggs are still a little warm.
Fish Feast in a hurry
1/2 can of Jack Mackerel in water
1/2 teaspoon of cod liver or cold pressed fish oil
Drain fish and remove all bones, break up fish into bite-sized pieces, add oil -- serve
Farm Dog’s Breakfast
3/4 cup of meat ( ground turkey, chicken, beef etc )
1/2 teaspoon of bone meal (delete if you are using a meat and bone mix )
1 egg lightly scrambled
¼ cup of cottage cheese
½ teaspoon of flax seed oil
¼ teaspoon kelp powder
¼ teaspoon alfalfa powder
Add meat to 1 side of the bowl, adding in the supplements and mixing. Lightly scramble the egg and add to bowl, add cottage cheese and serve. I keep all things separate in the bowl .. my dogs like it best that way !
Stinky Beef Bonanza
½ cup of Beef ( ground or stewing beef cut in bite sized pieces )
½ cup of Tripe ( ground, canned or cut into bite sized pieces )
½ teaspoon safflower oil / or flax oil
½ teaspoon of bone meal ( delete if using a beef and bone mix )
Add beef to the serving bowl – mix the oil and bone meal with the tripe and add to the top of the beef -- serve
Crunchy Chicken Necks with Cream
½ pound of chicken necks ( 3-4 )
¼ cup plain yogurt
Hold the necks 1 at a time for the dog to crunch and bite off pieces– let go only when it is safe for the dog to swallow smaller pieces, or cut into small pieces
Give a small bowl of yogurt to finish off the meal
Frogdog Fish cakes
½ cup cooked fish
¼ cup mashed potatoes
¼ teaspoon of bone meal
¼ teaspoon kelp powder
¼ teaspoon alfalfa powder
½ teaspoon cold pressed fish oil
Mix all ingredients together and serve warm, can be rolled into bite-sized fish cakes if your frogger prefers that !
Liver lovers dinner
¾ cup of raw beef ground stewing beef cut into bite sized pieces
¼ cup of raw beef organs ground or cut into bite sized pieces ( heart, liver, kidney )
½ teaspoon of bonemeal
½ teaspoon flax oil
¼ teaspoon kelp powder
¼ teaspoon alfalfa powder
Mix all ingredients together and serve
Chicken and Vegetable Pasta
¾ cup of raw chicken ( can also substitute for cooked or rotisserie chicken cut into bite sized pieces )
¼ cup of cooked prepared Kraft dinner or any cooked pasta and cheese ( left over )
2 tablespoon of pureed fruit and veggie mix
½ teaspoon bone meal powder
½ teaspoon safflower or olive oil
Add chicken to the bowl – stir in veggies, oil and bone meal. Top with warm pasta and serve.
Cheesy Tuna Sandwich
1 tin of canned chunk Tuna in water
¼ cup of grated old cheddar cheese
1 slice of whole grain bread
1 pat of butter
Toast the bread lightly and butter –cut into bite sized pieces and add to the bottom of the bowl. Drain tuna and add on top of the toast, sprinkle with grated cheese and serve. I heat up this dish a little so the cheese melts.
Quick Frenchie Omelet
2 eggs light scrambled
¼ cup grated old cheddar
¼ cup of beef organs or tripe --ground or cut into bite sized pieces
Add organs or tripe to the bowl, Scramble eggs lightly add to on top of the organs, top with cheese. Serve still warm.
Feeding puppies
It is best to feed puppies 3 times per day until the age of 6 months; the lunch or midday meal should be the smallest.
Allow the puppy/ dog to chew on raw meaty bones a couple of times per week – marrowbones are best for this. Custom cut 3 inch at the butcher.
Where to buy
FISH --- I buy this from the grocery store
FRUIT AND VEGGIES ---fresh or frozen – Grocery stores – or farm markets in the summer
OILS – Global Pet Foods – or the Pharmacy
SUPPLEMENTS (Bone meal, Kelp, Alfalfa, Sorbate) Global Pet Foods
MEATS
Ground Beef, Stew Beef and Liver– local butchers or I get mine from a meat wholesaler --delivered
Chicken necks – Urban Carnivore or Tollden farms 1lb bags
Ground Organs – grocery store or butcher, Healthy Paws, Tollden Farms
Ground mixes – meat and bone patties -- Healthy Paws, Tollden Farms
Tripe – Healthy Paws, Tollden Farms, Urban Carnivore or canned Tripett (global pet foods )
