Raw Dog Food Recipes For Golden Retrievers

Barf Diet For Puppies

Puppies in the wild eat very similarly to their mothers, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have some additional dietary needs. During growth and development stages, puppies need additional calcium and phosphorus to help their skeletal structures grow.

With a few slight tweaks to the original B.A.R.F. model, you can craft a homemade raw diet for your puppy that will help them thrive. Here are the adjusted diet ratios for puppies:

• 60% lean muscle meat
• 7% other secreting organs
• 7% vegetables
• 3% seeds or nuts
• 1% fruit

The ingredients between the two are the same, but minor adjustments to the quantity of each will ensure your puppy gets the additional nutrients required to grow. As your puppy reaches full size, you can easily transition them to the original BARF diet.

Is Homemade Dog Food Good For Dogs

While I am not a vet, and I certainly cant speak for all animals I can tell you that switching to homemade dog food made the world of difference for Rascal. We had a very unique case with him and his food allergies, but we have also seen other positive changes.

On traditional dog food Rascal was lethargic, he shed in abundance and his appetite was mediocre. He was also low in his weight class, weighing in at just 64 pounds for a full sized male Golden Retriever.

Since the dog food switch he has been energetic, focused, and calmer. He has also put on about 15 pounds in just one year after switching to homemade food. On a traditional diet were vacuuming at least once a day but now 1-2 a week. We no longer have to coax Rascal into mealtime and have finally developed a great eating schedule.

Is It Cheaper To Make Your Own Raw Dog Food

If you want to feed your dog raw food, you will definitely save money if you choose to make it yourself instead of buying raw food that has been premade. That said, keep in mind that you will still spend more feeding your dog homemade raw food than you are likely to if you just fed him traditional dog food, even a moderate-quality brand.

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Where To Get Raw Ingredients

One of the biggest hurdles you’re going to need to get over when you decide to make the switch to raw food is finding a source for all your ingredients. It can be a costly endeavor to buy everything at your local grocery store. While it certainly can be done, you’ll need to make sure that everything is suitable for your dog.

If you choose to shop at your local grocery store, you can communicate with the meat department for more information. Many supermarkets also offer price reductions on products that no one wants. Organs tend to be much more affordable than those prime cuts of steak.

Another great option is to go to a local butcher. You may be able to get a good deal on undesirable bits and pieces. A lot of leftovers get thrown away.

Speak to your butcher and see if they’ll sell these throwaways to you. One great thing about going to a butcher is that you can usually get information about where the meat came from. This can help you avoid potentially dangerous sources.

Reasons To Consider A Raw Food Diet For Your Dog

Even with all of those things to consider, there are still a lot of reasons you may want to give your dog a raw food diet and make it yourself. Some of the most popular reasons include the following, some of which we have already touched on:

• The ability to adjust to your dogs dietary needs or allergies
• The ability to adapt recipes as your dog passes through various life stages
• The ability to control all of the ingredients, including the quality of the source
• The ability to take advantage of bulk buying or sales
• Not having to worry about recalls from dog food manufacturers
• The knowledge that you reduced your environmental impact

Additionally, a raw food diet can be associated with the following benefits for your pup:

• Firmer stools

• more energy
• better digestion and better long-term health of the digestive and urinal tracts

How do you achieve it? Below I’ll list seven of the best raw dog food recipes based on what your dog requires in his diet.

But you shouldn’t simply follow the recipes you need to clearly understand what goes into making safe homemade raw dog food for your Fido.

If possible, which when it comes to raw feeding isn’t always the case, try to work with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist to find out your dog’s exact nutritional needs and adjust the diet based on that.

Your pet’s requirements will vary depending on his age, weight, breed, activity level and overall health condition.

Some of the most important things for your to remember include:

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Chicken And Beef Delight

• 20% 25% Chicken thighs or breasts
• 20% 25% Beef ground, cheek or stewing
• 10% 30% Beef hearts and liver
• 12% 15% Ground chicken bone
• 5% 10% Yams or sweet potatoes a decent source of complex carbohydrates fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients
• 5% 10% Organic broccoli
• 5% Linseed meal an amazing source of healthy omega-3 fatty acids and soluble fiber
• 5% Sunflower meal very high on protein

Simply mix and freeze or serve.

Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Adult

Rating:

Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Adult is one of 14 dry recipes included in our review of the Wellness Complete Health product line.

• First 5 ingredients: Deboned chicken, chicken meal, ground brown rice, barley, peas
• Type: Grain-inclusive
• Profile: Maintenance
• Best for:Adult goldens

Wellness Complete Health Large Breed Adult derives the bulk of its animal protein from chicken and chicken meal. Dry matter label analysis reveals the recipe contains 29% protein, 13% fat and 50% estimated carbs which produces a fat-to-protein ratio of about 46%.

The classic, grain-inclusive, large breed design contains no meat by-products and no BHA or other cancer-causing synthetic preservatives. Easily recommended for adult goldens.

Sample buyer reviewOur dog had developed a bit of a gas issue with another leading brand that featured mostly red meat, so I wanted to go back to a food with mostly chicken. After a lot of research, I settled on Wellness Complete, and weve been very happy with it. Our dog readily goes for the food, and for the first time with any kibble, she will eat a few pieces out of our hand as a treat. I am impressed by the nutritional balance and the glucosamine and chondroitin since she is 80+ pounds, and it seems to have eliminated the gas problems.

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The Ultimate Golden Retriever Homemade Dog Food Guide

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Homemade dog food for Golden Retrievers should be just as nutritious and tasty as any other type of dog food.

There is no reason why your golden should eat bland and boring dog food all the time. This guide will teach you everything about feeding your Golden Retriever homemade food.

Golden nutrition can be tricky. They have very different nutritional needs than other dog breeds, so cooking for them is not that simple.

Before you get out the apron, read these tips on how to make homemade food for Golden Retriever, nutritional guidelines to follow, our favorite home food recipes for Goldens, and more.

• Other Food Options

Best Homemade Dog Food Cooking Practices

Its vital you discuss your Golden Retrievers specific nutritional needs with a veterinary nutritionist as every dog is different.

Why is this important?

A study published in the Journal of Nutritional Science found that 48% of home-prepared diets for dogs had no precise determination of ingredients and quantities and that 71.3 % of pet owners lacked information on how much to feed the animal.

As you can see, while most dog parents want the best when it comes to their furry friends nutrition, most of them dont have a proper understanding of dog nutrition. Thats why getting professional guidance on how to properly plan a home diet for Fido will minimize the risk of exposing your Golden Retriever to nutritional deficiencies due to a bad diet.

Here are some general guidelines to follow when cooking for homemade dog food for your Golden Retriever:

• Never use unsafe or toxic ingredients for your dog
• Cook all animal products thoroughly to kill harmful bacteria
• Cook all grains, beans, and starchy vegetables to make them easier to digest
• Research every ingredient before using it for safety
• Follow the recipe as instructed
• Add supplements to their diet as needed
• Understand the impact of dietary changes
• Run any questions by a veterinary nutritionist

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What To Look For In A Good Golden Retriever Food

To ensure that your golden retrievers basic nutritional needs are met, its best to choose a large-breed dog food formulated for his life stage.

Here are some other things to look for in a good dog food for Golden Retrievers:

• Made from wholesome, natural ingredients with no fillers, by-products, or artificial additives
• Rich in lean protein from high-quality animal sources like poultry, meat, and fish
• Limited fat and calorie content to control growth in puppies and maintain lean mass in adults
• Controlled calcium and phosphorus levels with glucosamine and chondroitin for joint health
• Nutritionally complete and balanced according to AAFCO nutrient profiles

In addition to making sure your Golden Retrievers food meets these requirements, you should also check to see if it comes in a bigger kibble size.

Large and deep-chested breeds have a high risk for bloat which is exacerbated by eating too fast or eating too much at oncebigger kibble means that your dog gets the same nutrition in smaller portion sizes.

What Type Of Food Should I Give My Golden Retriever

Nowadays, dog food selections are on the increase than ever before. While the variety of products offers food options for every pet breed, dog owners are spoilt for choice.

You may be wondering which type of food is right for your Golden retriever.

Let’s get this straight!

The best type of food depends on variables like your pet’s age, weight, and activity level. That’s not all your lifestyle and preferences may also be a major influence on your dog’s feeding choices.

To help you make smarter decisions, let’s shed light on the different types of food you can feed your pet.

Superfoods w/ Salmon

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Diy Homemade Dog Food

Want to start your dog on homemade dog food tonight? This recipe from Damn Delicious is one of the fastest recipes on this list.

INGREDIENTS:

• ½ cup peas, canned or frozen

DIRECTIONS:

• Cook rice according to package instructions and set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a large stockpot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add ground turkey and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes, making sure to crumble the turkey as it cooks.
• Stir in spinach, carrots, zucchini, peas and brown rice until the spinach has wilted and the mixture is heated through about 3-5 minutes.
• Let cool completely before giving it to your dog.

Raw Feeding A Golden Retriever Puppy

If you dont prefer commercial foods for your pup, raw feeding is possible for a Golden Retriever puppy, so long as you consult your vet and adhere to guidelines. Make sure that the raw food, especially meat and other perishables, are handled properly.

Furthermore, a balanced meal should be observed. Throw in a mix of meat, veggies, liver, organs, bones, and the like from the wet market or grocery store, which will help with their protein and nutrient intake.

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Whats In Your Dogs Kibble

For example, take a look at your dogs food ingredients. Many cheaper brands the first listed ingredient is a meat by-product. How many people know what a by-product is? If you did would you still feed it to them? How many people know what chemicals are put in their foods? Why is there so many grains in the food? In general a dog would never eat grains in the wild. I could go on and on about kibble. The main reason people dont go the way of a raw food diet is because of convenience and cost. Kibble is not only cheaper, its also easier to give.

Now Im not talking about a diet where we feed cooked meat that includes bones that will splinter when chewed. The diets we advocate are meats that have been frozen to eliminate parasites, or foods that have been cooked without bones in them. Recently I saw a post about raw meats stating that they are not good for dogs. Seriously? Thats a bit ironic, because in the wild meat is nearly their entire diet. They need meat for protein, for sustenance, and its readily available. To say that raw meat is not good for dogs, is saying that the evolution of dogs to be carnivores is unnecessary because humans exist. Thats hogwash.

Ingredients For Raw Dog Food Recipes

Before I get down to specifics, I thought it might help to give you an example of how to put together your dog’s raw meals.

Although there are a LOT of variations, you need to use some basic food groups in the correct ratio/balance each time.

It’s pretty impossible to balance every meal perfectly so your aim is for nutritional balance over several meals, or a few days.

You achieve this by offering your dog a wide range of different ingredients. It’s similar to the way we eat ourselves.

We don’t eat the same meal every mealtime, every day. Over time we eat a variety of foods and get our nutritional needs met. Feeding Fido works in the same way. And of course you can tailor your own personalized recipes to suit your dog’s taste.

Here’s a look at the basic structure for a raw meal designed for dogs:

• 1 1/2 cups of raw meat
• 1/2 cup vegetables/fruit
• 2tsp of fish oil
• Vitamin/Mineral supplement as directed on product
• Plenty of fresh water to drink.

Now you’ve got an idea of what you’ll be using to prepare your dog’s meals, let’s take a look at some specific figures:

• An adult dog needs to eat just over 2% of his bodyweight in food each day . So, for a 10lb dog that’s just under 1/4lb of food for a 50lb dog just over 1lb, and for a 100lb dog about 2.5lbs. You can use this guide to figure out how much your dog needs, but of course bear in mind that all dogs are different and that these figures are guidelines only.
• Ratio can be 75% – 95% meat/bones/organs and 5% -25% vegetables

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But Why Is Homemade Food Specifically Beneficial For Golden Retrievers

The NZ Veterinary Nursing Association reports that Goldens Retrievers are among the dog breeds highly prone to developing food allergies.

Why is this important to know? Well, food allergies in Goldens tend to manifest themselves on their skin, most likely into a condition known as Atopic Dermatitis. This allergy skin disease is common in Golden Retrievers, and it can cause mild to severe itching, which, as a result of scratching or rubbing, often leads to further skin damage, irritation, infection, and discomfort.

Reducing allergic reactions start with a diet that has the vitamins, fatty acids, and minerals to decrease inflammatory responses, and homemade dog food has those critical components. Whats more important is that home cooking for your dog allows you to pick only those ingredients that you know wont cause an allergic reaction on your Golden Retriever.

If you dont know what foods your Golden Retrieve is allergic to, read our Dog Allergy Test guide, so you can identify which foods to avoid in his next meal.

Home Made Food Recipes For Golden Retrievers

Generally, when you bring a dog home, you feed him/her commercial canned food or just raw meat from the butcher shop. If its a puppy then plenty of milk. And, this is ok, but just like with us humans, no food is better than homemade.

At times, people understand this the hard way, when their dog develops rashes or dry skin. Matter of fact, dog food is made of basically fillers, meat byproducts and useless junk and if your dog is more than a dog, you will want to give better food.

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What Should You Do If You Want To Switch Foods

Once youve found a food you think would suit your dog, youre going to need to do the switch.

However, as you may already know, its not the best idea to simply change from one type of dog food to another overnight. This can give your pup an upset stomach, which isnt going to be fun for either of you.

Start by replacing a small amount of the old food with the new food and gradually increase this daily until youre feeding 100 percent new food. This gives your dog a bit of time to adjust.

PetMD suggests doing this over five days, replacing 20 percent of the old food with new each day. However, if your pet has a particularly sensitive stomach, you can spread this out over a slightly longer period, such as a week to 10 days.

The Dangers Of Beg And Grain

We touched on this earlier, but in recent years, DCM has increased in golden retrievers, according to this study.

There seem to be two potential causes of this.

When they surveyed what these dogs were eating, more than 90 percent of products were grain-free, and 93 percent of reported products had peas and/or lentils.

So when choosing which food to feed your puppy, you may want to think twice before you decide to go grain free.

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