A typical day in our raw-fed household looks something like this:
2 Newfs - both almost 7 years old
Weight = 110-115 lbs
Energy level = low (sloth-like)
Fed approximately 1 1/2 lbs a day spread over two meals each day
Meals include a mixture of the following (I buy everything in bulk, portion it and each meal consists of a number of these items):
- pork heart
- chicken feet
- green tripe
- turkey necks
- liver (from various animals)
- kidney (from various animals)
- whole mackerel
- 80/20 beef mix
- whole chickens
- anything else that looks good when I'm at the meat packers
Things I personally stay away from (from bad experiences):
- pork necks
- any turkey bones
- beef bones (except a knuckle bone for recreational chewing)
- salmon
- anything that is sourced from Asia
I do not feed any veggies or fruit, except as a treat or add-on. I essentially follow the prey model. 80% meat, 10% bones, 10% organs (of which, 5% is liver). I usually package my meals by a main protein source. For example, I have bags with fish as the main protein and then other bags with pork or chicken. Then I just alternate proteins with each meal. Everyone will do this differently and I think as long as you are giving them a variety of options on a regular basis, you'll be fine. It's all about balance over time, not in every meal, which is hard sometimes for kibble feeders to adjust to. I have literally fed my guys just a meal of nothing but green tripe. No big deal! Because I know their next meal will have other stuff in it. I consider raw feeding a lot more in-line with how we feed ourselves. We do not sit down and eat the same thing for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day and sometimes we eat more balanced than other days. I feed my dogs somewhat like that too. Today, maybe they will get a bunch of fish, but tomorrow they will get turkey necks... That's the beauty of a raw diet!
I do weigh all my meals, but lots of folks don't. I do this because my female can gain weight just looking at a meal, so I have to watch her intake very closely.
I also do not concern myself with any ratios like calcium/phosphorous, etc. I think as long as I am giving them variety and a good mix of meat, bones, and organs, there is no need to stress over it.
I, like Violet, am trying to figure out what a raw food diet would look like for my Newfs. I hadn't even thought about the issue of a kennel not allowing raw food diets, though it certainly makes sense for their liabilities.
I've been doing a bit of reading and I find a lot of different opinions on the amount of (or even inclusion of) fruits and veggies. One forum I read said 2-4% of the dog's weight in raw food (so, 2-4lbs for a 100lb dog depending on activity level, etc).
I realize every Newfie is different and diets will have to be adjusted to what their calorie requirements are, but I'd love it if those of you who feed your dogs a primarily raw diet would post the dog's age, weight, and what a day's meals would consist of (items and amounts). Also, how much variety do shoot for in a week's meals - different meats every day, generally whatever meat you're cooking for yourself...?
Thank you all so much for the input!