If you’re new to raw feeding, or have recently changed brand, you might be wondering if you are getting it right? I'm here to help you ensure that your dog is getting the right balance in his diet.
What Is A Raw Menu?
A raw diet typically consists of 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% offal. As well as the various nutritional benefits of each element, broadly speaking the offal helps your dog to go to the toilet and the bone content helps to bind him up.
There are a number of other things that you can add to the diet, such as vegetables, fruits, oils or herbs, but Unique Raw and Durham Animal Food have been designed with this 80/10/10 base in mind so that you can adjust the menu to suit your unique pet. The key is to find what suits your dog, and the best way to do that is to monitor what comes out the other end…
Poo Watch
If you are raw feeding your pet to give them a healthy diet then, as unpleasant as it may seem, checking your dog’s waste as you pick it up can give you an insight into her digestive health. Your dog should be passing small, firm, light to dark brown stools, and any changes can either indicate what they have eaten, suggest a tweak required to the diet, or if there is a need to speak to a vet.
The Clue’s In the Poo – Consistency
A raw fed stool should be firm and will require a little effort to pass, which is what helps express the anal glands naturally. But if your dog is really struggling to go and appears constipated, you should ensure that he is fully hydrated, then you can do a few things to help.
You can reduce the bone content of the diet, add some leafy green veg and / or a little coconut oil to the diet to help pass each motion. If your dog’s stool is very crumbly, chalky and white, then the menu has a bit too much bone for him. This could either be that the bone content in the food is too high for your dog – remember that 80/10/10 is a guideline only and many smaller dogs require less bone – or it could simply be that you gave him a recreational bone during the day. In either case you can feed either a lower bone or bone-free meal alternately with an 80/10/10 mix, or just on the days that you give a heavy bone such as a rib. Unique Raw has two flavours with 5% bone (Beef, Lamb) and one bone-free option (Venison & Lamb Tripe).
Conversely, if the poo is softer and larger than normal, then he has either eaten too much offal, vegetables or carbohydrate, or is not getting enough bone in his diet. If this is a regular occurrence, you can either increase the bone content in the meal or consider adding a recreational bone during the day, such as a wing or neck. Unique Raw has an option with 20% bone (Rabbit & Turkey). A loose stool can be caused by too much running around and excitement, particularly in puppies, or detoxing after medication, but could also be the result of a rich protein, too much carbohydrate, or not enough bone content. A calmer atmosphere and time off medication will resolve the first two issues, while adjusting the diet to a blander protein, removing vegetables and increasing the bone content should help firm up the stool naturally. If what is being passed is almost completely liquid and the dog has little control, then continued diarrhea should be referred to a vet.
The Clue’s In the Poo – Colour and Content
Some changes in colour of your dog’s stool can simply reflect what he has eaten – feeding only poultry can often make the stool a lighter brown to yellow in colour, excess carrot can lead to an orange poo, while a lot of tripe or organ meat can turn the stool very dark.
- Temporary changes in colour reflecting the diet are common, but if your dog’s poo is consistently discoloured or has signs of fresh or old blood you should consult your vet.
- Likewise a grey stool can indicate that there is too much fat in your dog’s diet, which is something that should be investigated.
- If your dog’s poo is covered in mucus, it can indicate that her digestive system is cleaning itself. This could simply be from the change in diet (particularly from a very poor previous diet), a bacterial infection, or after having a chemical treatment such as a wormer. A healthy digestive system should be able to deal with a small infection quite quickly and slippery elm can help settle the gut, but if the mucus persists then you should consult your vet.
- Stools with a greasy sheen or grey in colour can indicate too much fat in the diet. Again, this is something that might simply reflect an indulgent meal, or could be an indicator for pancreatic issues, so if it continues it is wise to seek medical advice.
- Grass and fur can be seen in stools, particularly if the dog has had a hairy treat or is prone to eating sweet spring grass, but if you see worms in your dog’s stool you should administer a worming treatment.
The Key is Change
As with the balance of a raw menu, these are all guidelines and if you have more than one dog, or walk with a friend’s dog, you will notice that each animal has its own peculiarities. Some dogs can tolerate or need a higher bone content, some need less or no bone. Some dogs, and particularly cats, require a higher fat content, while others put weight on easily or have pancreatic issues and require a lower fat content. Some dogs love their veggies, others will pick around them, likewise fish can be a love or hate item.
The key is to learn what is normal for your dog and to get the right balance of meat, bone and offal. Take note of any changes to their eating or toileting habits and if altering the diet doesn’t address the issue, then it’s best to seek medical advice from your vet.