We are all about feeding a healthy, balanced diet here at Foxboro Doodles! We raise our puppies and adult dogs on a balanced diet consisting of both kibble and raw ingredients. We know what you're thinking... "Wait! Is that safe?" The answer to that is... YES! The myth regarding the dangers of feeding raw and kibble together due to different digestion rates has been debunked! While it is true that not every dog will thrive on a diet consisting of both kibble and raw, those dogs likely do not thrive on kibble alone anyway, so would do best on 100% raw regardless.
When we start to introduce semi-solid foods to our puppies (our "puppy mush", as we call it), we start off with TLC Puppy Kibble soaked in goat's milk and blended to create a mousse-like consistency. We slowly phase out the goat's milk and replace it with warm water as the pups get older. We eventually eliminate the blender from our feeding regime as their puppy teeth continue to come in, and start introducing raw and fresh snacks and treats into their diet so we know our pups are eating lots of variety and absorbing as many fresh nutrients as they can. Don't get us wrong - we adore TLC and know their kibble is very high quality! However, we believe fresh ingredients are also a hugely important component of any dog's diet. We do recommend feeding your raw ingredients at separate times from your kibble meals if you're concerned about digestion rates or if your dog has a sensitive stomach.
For anyone interested in reading more about dog-safe raw foods or switching over to a partially or fully raw diet, we suggest you visit https://perfectlyrawsome.com/ or https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/nutrition/ for some great information. Speaking to your local butcher or raw dog food provider is a great idea as well.
Some commercial raw food companies only offer pre-mixed meals with fixed ingredients that are usually a "one-size-fits-all" type meal plan. However, some dogs are sensitive or allergic to certain ingredients, so those pre-made meal plans can sometimes cause problems. By slowly introducing your dog to a raw diet over time and by introducing ingredients one at a time, you'll be able to provide a completely customized approach that you know will work for your dog.
We love to bake our own treats here at home so we know our dogs are eating healthy snacks. We offer a variety of all-natural baked, dehydrated, frozen and even gelatine treats for dogs, in a variety of shapes and sizes, all freshly made to order. Contact us if you'd like to spoil your pet with some healthy, preservative-free treats!
A wide variety of meat sources is very important in a raw diet, as each animal provides different nutrients. We do not supplement our dogs' diets at all with pills or commercial supplements (unless they are pregnant or nursing puppies). We are able to obtain all of the essential vitamins and minerals our dogs need from the foods and treats we feed by carefully calculating every meal. We believe that feeding fresh whole foods is so much more beneficial for filling in any nutritional gaps, when compared to using man-made supplements.
We follow a B.A.R.F. feeding model (awful acronym - we know!), which stands for "Biologically Appropriately Raw Food". When a dog is fed a wide variety of meat sources and the meals are properly balanced with the right ingredients, this feeding model provides the vital nutrients that cannot be obtained by feeding meat alone. For the raw component of our dogs' diets, we feed them using the following ratios:
This section includes any raw, unprocessed and unseasoned red or white meat or connective tissue, as well muscular organs such as heart, green tripe, gizzards, etc.
https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/muscle-meat/
This section includes any raw, edible bone safe for dogs. It is important to only feed size-appropriate bones covered in meat and connective tissue to aid in safe digestion. https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/raw-meaty-bones-rmb/
This section includes the liver of any dog-safe animal source, including beef, pork, chicken, rabbit, turkey, deer, water buffalo, etc. https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/liver-other-secreting-organs/
This section includes any other secreting organs, not including the liver. Other secreting organs include: kidney, pancreas, spleen, brain, testicle, thymus, ovaries, etc. https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/liver-other-secreting-organs/
This section includes the many vegetables that are dog-safe. It is best to feed a rainbow of colours when it comes to veggies, and take care to prepare each vegetable properly for safe digestion and optimal absorption. https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/vegetables/
This section includes any dog-safe nuts and seeds that are properly prepared to allow for optimal nutrient absorption. Examples include: hemp seed hearts, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, almonds, etc. https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/raw-seeds-nuts/
This section includes all dog-safe fruits. Just like with vegetables, it is best to feed a rainbow of colours to obtain the most variety of nutrients. Fruits selected should be low in sugar and high in antioxidants, like berries. https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/fruits/
This section includes all dog-safe fatty fish, fed for Omega 3 fatty acids, EPA and DHA. If feeding fish whole, the fish is deducted from the total daily food intake. If just feeding meat, it is deducted from the faily meat intake. https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/fatty-fish/
Unfortunately, even with following a perfect BARF Diet, there will be a few nutritional deficiencies. These gaps can be filled with certain foods to help provide your dog with a well-rounded and balanced diet. https://perfectlyrawsome.com/raw-feeding-knowledgebase/whole-foods-for-essential-nutrients/
Foxboro Doodles Inc.
Madoc, Ontario, Canada
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