What does the diet consist of ?
Ingredient #1 : Raw Ground Turkey I buy my turkey from a butcher. Call a local butcher and ask him to order a box of ground turkey - 38 - 40 pounds. It will arrive frozen. The butcher will then cut that chunk into at least 1 pound blocks and package it for you. Just take a package out of the freezer and put it in the fridge the day before to thaw. Estimate roughly 50% of the meal to consist of meat. Ingredient #2 : Softened Oats There are many different types of grains which can be used but I prefer to feed oats because they seem to digest more completely. Just cover oats with boiling water and let soften for 20 minutes.
Ingredient #3 : Raw, Freshly Juiced Vegetables I put the veggies through a juicer and use the juice only. Carrots - Vitamin A, B, C, D, E, G, K, potassium, calcium. I use carrots as the base and add a few others to vary the juice daily. Apples - Vitamin C Greens: Vitamin A, C, potassium, chlorophyll. Kale - has the same nutrients as cabbage, helps with digestive disorders Swiss Chard - high in Vitamin A Watercress - intestinal cleanser Parsley - an herb, helps with oxygen metabolism with the adrenal and thyroid glands, healing for the genito-urianry tract. Celery - Contains organic sodium (maintains fluidity of blood and lymph). Natural diuretic helpful for arthritis, water retention, urinary problems, chemical imbalances. Beets - Copper, manganese, potassium. Builds red corpuscles and tones blood. Add only a small slice to the daily juice once a week due to beet's cleansing properties. Alfalfa Sprouts - The highest source of Vitamin A.
Notes on Juicing The juicer masticates or chews up the veggies, separating the juice from the fibre so that the nutrients are digested in a matter of 30 minutes. Because dogs have very short small intestines, they do not have the time to break down and assimilate chunks of vegetables, therefore, juicing is just what is needed to help them in their digestion. Not only are the vegetable juices providing the dog with the necessary nutrients to support the immune system, but they are also providing some "Juice Therapy" to help correct imbalances all over the body. Juicing is beneficial for dogs of any age and will help with the symptoms of arthritis, hip displasia, kidney and liver problems, digestive difficulties and much more. A variety of vegetables is important to provide all of the vitamins and enzymes required. Some vegetables, like broccoli , brussels sprouts, beans, turnip and cabbage cause intestinal gas which you want to avoid. Potatoes onions, peppers, spinach and cucumbers are also to be avoided; they don't digest very well.
Ingredient #4 : Supplements Most of the nutrients that a dog will require will be found in the diet. However, a few supplements are required to maintain good health. Some examples: Multi Vitamin and Mineral - I recommend Royal Jelly. Royal Jelly comes from bees. When the bee mixes honey and pollen, Royal Jelly is created. Royal jelly is found to be a rich source of complete protein, containing all the essential amino acids, unsaturated fats, natural sugars, minerals and the B-complex vitamins. Royal Jelly is useful for many things including strengthening the immune system, helps with arthritis, degenerative conditions, weakness, convalescence, digestive disorders. Flaxseed Oil - for Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids to maintain a healthy coat, appropriate weight and to keep fluid in the joints.
Putting it all Together The amount of food to feed each dog will vary. If your dog normally eats 4 cups of kibble daily you would make up approximately 4 cups of the Natural Raw Diet and feed once a day. If your dog wants more or less simply adjust the size of the recipe to suit their needs, keeping the proportions the same. This example recipe is for a large dog. 1) I thaw 1 package or roughly 1 pound of turkey. 2) Have 1 cup of oats softened (which plumps up to more when softened). 3) Juice enough veggies for 1/2 cup of juice (for example: 2 carrots and 1 large leaf of swiss chard). Vary the combination of veggies daily using carrot as the base. 4) Supplements : 1 Tablespoon flax seed oil, 1 Royal Jelly Capsule (dig out the royal jelly from the capsule and mix in with the meal), or use 1/4 teaspoon of frozen Royal Jelly. Mix all of the ingredients together with about 1\2 cup warm water.