Raw Dog Food Recipes: A Guide to DIY Raw Feeding

For many pet parents, the idea of creating their own raw dog food recipes is highly appealing. It offers the promise of complete control over ingredients and the satisfaction of preparing a fresh, wholesome meal for their companion.

The internet is full of "how-to" guides, but the reality of making a nutritionally complete and safe raw diet is more complex than it appears. While you already know that raw food is good for dogs, you must understand the significant commitment required to do it yourself.

This guide is designed for those looking into raw meat recipes for dogs and considering a DIY approach. We will walk you through the allure of homemade meals, the crucial scientific and safety considerations involved, and ultimately, show you why a high-quality, pre-made raw diet is often the best alternative.

The Allure of DIY Raw Dog Food Recipes

The popularity of homemade raw feeding stems from a genuine desire to provide the best possible nutrition. Pet parents are drawn to the idea of preparing their dog's meals for several key reasons.

Why Pet Parents Are Interested in Homemade Raw

Some of the reasons people want to make a homemade raw diet for their dog include:

• •Control over ingredients: You choose every piece of meat, every organ, and every bone that goes into your dog's bowl. This level of control appeals to pet parents who have dogs with specific allergies or sensitivities, or who simply prefer to know exactly what their dog is eating.

• •Belief in the "freshness" of homemade: Many people feel that a meal prepared in their own kitchen is inherently fresher than a commercial product.

• •Avoiding commercial processing: The idea of raw feeding is to move away from highly processed kibble. Some pet parents feel that any commercial preparation, even minimal, moves away from the ideal of a truly natural diet.

The Time and Cost Commitment

What often begins as a well-intentioned idea can quickly become a significant undertaking. The reality of DIY raw feeding involves a substantial commitment of both time and money.

• •Sourcing: Sourcing the correct ingredients is difficult. It is not enough to just buy ground beef. You must find reputable suppliers for fresh muscle meat, a variety of organ meats (like liver, kidney, and spleen), and raw meaty bones, all of which can be challenging to find and expensive to purchase individually.

• •Preparation: Preparing the meals is a time-consuming process. It involves grinding meat, chopping organs, carefully measuring everything to the right ratios, and then portioning each meal into freezer-safe containers.

• •Storage: A significant amount of freezer space is necessary. Storing multiple weeks' worth of meat, bones, and pre-made meals requires careful organization and a large freezer, which many homes do not have.

Things to Consider When Sourcing Meat

Finding raw meat for dogs requires a strategic approach that goes beyond the typical supermarket aisle. While you may find some options there, many dedicated DIY raw feeders seek out more diverse and economical sources for a truly varied diet.

Consider these places when you source your ingredients for homemade raw dog food recipes:

• •Butchers: Local butchers often sell meat scraps, organ meat, and raw meaty bones at a lower cost than prime cuts. You can also form a relationship with a butcher who may be willing to save specific parts for you.

• •International Markets: These markets frequently offer a wider variety of organ meats (such as tripe, spleen, and hearts) that are harder to find at a conventional supermarket.

• •Bulk Stores: Warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club can be a great place to buy large quantities of muscle meat, such as beef or chicken, at a lower price per pound.

• •Local Farms: Some small farms sell directly to the public. You can often purchase a portion of a cow or pig from a farm, which can provide you with a variety of cuts at a lower cost.

Should You Process Meat in a DIY Raw Diet?

The decision to feed whole raw meaty bones or ground meat depends on your dog's size, chewing habits, and age. For dogs that can handle whole bones, it provides a great mental workout and natural dental benefits.

It is vital to choose raw meaty bones that are the appropriate size for your dog and to supervise them during mealtime to ensure they chew thoroughly and do not attempt to swallow huge pieces.

For smaller dogs, older dogs, or those who tend to swallow large chunks of food, a ground diet is often a safer option. While grinding meat yourself requires specialized equipment and adds an extra layer of time and effort to the meal preparation process, it eliminates the risk of a bone-related injury. A raw diet can still be highly effective when fed in a ground format.

An Example Raw Dog Food Recipe

Creating your own raw dog food recipes requires you to balance muscle meat, organ meat, and bone in the proper proportions. While this might be a starting point for a balanced meal, it is a simplified example that may need additional supplements.

A typical single meal for a dog might include:

• •80% Muscle Meat: A mixture of chicken thighs and ground beef

• •10% Organ Meat: A small piece of chicken liver and beef kidney

• •10% Ground Bone: A finely ground chicken back

This meal provides a good ratio of muscle meat, organs, and bone, but it is not necessarily nutritionally complete on its own. For a truly balanced diet, you would need to vary the proteins and add essential supplements to fill any remaining nutritional gaps.

It is this complexity that makes the pre-formulated approach of a brand like We Feed Raw a more reliable and safer option for most pet owners.

The Science of a Balanced Raw Diet: It's More Than Just Meat

The biggest risk of a DIY raw diet is not pathogens; it is the potential for nutritional imbalance. Raw feeding is a science, and a meal that looks complete is not necessarily nutritionally sound.

The 80/10/10 Rule and Its Limitations

Many DIY guides reference the "80/10/10 rule," which suggests a diet should consist of 80% muscle meat, 10% organ meat, and 10% finely ground bone.

While this is a good starting point, it is not a complete recipe. Relying on this ratio alone can lead to serious deficiencies. For example, a diet made with only chicken breast and liver would be lacking in zinc, copper, and manganese.

The Risk of Nutritional Imbalance

Dogs require a precise balance of nutrients for optimal health. An improper ratio of calcium and phosphorus, which is common in diets that are bone-heavy or bone-light, can lead to severe skeletal issues, especially in growing puppies.

Additionally, feeding only one type of organ meat or relying on one source of protein can lead to deficiencies. For a truly complete diet, you must incorporate a variety of organ meats (e.g., liver, kidney, spleen) from different animals to provide a broad spectrum of vitamins and minerals.

The Role of Supplements in DIY Raw Dog Food

Even with a perfectly balanced diet of muscle meat, organs, and bone, some nutrients are difficult to provide in sufficient quantities.

To ensure a complete diet, it is often necessary to add supplements. Many homemade raw food recipes require the addition of omega fatty acids, zinc, iodine, and vitamin E. Without these essential supplements, the dog's diet may be lacking in key nutrients.

Prioritizing Safety: A Critical Consideration for Homemade Raw

Another significant risk of making raw dog food at home is the potential for pathogen contamination. While dogs' digestive systems are better equipped to handle bacteria than ours, it is still a risk that must be addressed.

The Dangers of Pathogens

Grocery store meat is intended to be cooked for human consumption. It is not processed with raw pet food safety in mind and may contain pathogens.

Additionally, preparing raw meat in a home kitchen increases the risk of cross-contamination. Surfaces, utensils, and containers used for raw meat can become breeding grounds for bacteria if not meticulously cleaned, which can pose a risk to both pets and humans.

The We Feed Raw Safety Advantage

At We Feed Raw, safety is our top priority. We provide a level of safety that is simply not possible in a home kitchen.

• •High-pressure processing: We use a cold-pressure process known as high-pressure processing (HPP) on all our raw recipes. This advanced technology uses intense water pressure to inactivate pathogens without heat, ensuring the food is safe from bacteria and viruses.

• •USDA-certified facility: We produce our food in a USDA-certified facility that meets the same high-quality standards as those that handle human food. This strict adherence to cleanliness and safety protocols eliminates the risks inherent in a home kitchen.

• •Pre-portioned and safely packaged: Our meals come pre-portioned and safely packaged, so you never have to worry about cross-contamination in your kitchen. You simply thaw and feed.

A Smarter Way to Feed Raw: The We Feed Raw Alternative

While the idea of making your own raw dog food recipes is appealing, the time, effort, and risks involved are substantial. We offer a better way to provide your dog with all the benefits of a raw diet without any of the hassle.

Convenience Without Compromise

Our frozen raw recipes (beef, chicken, turkey, lamb, and duck) are complete and balanced meals, ready to thaw and serve.

We also offer freeze-dried raw recipes for adult dogs, which are shelf-stable and require no refrigeration. This provides ultimate convenience for travel, hiking, or as a kibble topper.

We take care of all the sourcing, grinding, and portioning, so you can enjoy the peace of mind that comes with feeding a truly nutritious and safe raw diet.

Expertly Formulated Recipes

Our recipes are formulated by a PhD nutritionist and are AAFCO-approved, so you never have to worry about balancing the diet yourself. We guarantee that every meal we provide is nutritionally complete and balanced for your dog's specific life stage, ensuring they get all the vitamins and minerals they need without the risk of deficiencies.

Quality and Transparency

We are committed to quality and transparency. Our recipes are made with USDA human-grade meats, and we are proud of our transparent sourcing practices. We believe that dogs deserve the best, and our products reflect that commitment.

Raw Made Easy

The allure of making your own raw meat recipes for dogs is understandable, but the reality of a DIY raw diet is complex. It requires a significant commitment of time and money, a deep understanding of canine nutrition to avoid dangerous imbalances, and an extreme level of care to prevent pathogens.

We Feed Raw provides a smarter way to feed raw. We take on all the sourcing, formulation, and safety measures so you can enjoy all the benefits of a raw diet with none of the risks or hassle. By choosing We Feed Raw, you are providing your dog with a complete, balanced, and safe meal that is scientifically backed and perfectly suited for their health and happiness.

Ready to provide your dog with the best raw food diet? Take our quiz now to get started on a personalized meal plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the biggest risks of using homemade raw meat recipes for dogs?

The biggest risks of using homemade raw recipes are nutritional imbalance and pathogen contamination. Without a deep understanding of canine nutrition, it is easy to create a diet that is deficient in key vitamins, minerals, and the proper calcium-to-phosphorus ratio.

Additionally, preparing raw meat from the grocery store at home carries a risk of pathogens and cross-contamination.

Do DIY raw dog food recipes require supplements to be nutritionally complete?

Yes, most DIY raw dog food recipes require supplements to be truly nutritionally complete. While the 80/10/10 ratio of muscle meat, organs, and bone is a good starting point, it often lacks essential nutrients that dogs need.

Pet parents typically need to add supplements like omega fatty acids, zinc, and iodine to ensure a complete and balanced diet, which is a key reason why professionally formulated raw food is a much safer option.

How do you ensure the safety of bones in a DIY raw dog food recipe?

When using bones in a DIY raw dog food recipe, safety is paramount. You should only use raw meaty bones and avoid cooked bones, which can splinter. 

Select bones that are the appropriate size for your dog's jaw and chewing style. Grinding meat and bone together is another option for dogs who are not suited for chewing whole bones.

How does a commercial raw diet compare to DIY raw dog food recipes in terms of convenience?

A commercial raw diet offers a level of convenience that DIY raw dog food recipes cannot match. A company like We Feed Raw handles all the sourcing, grinding, and portioning for you. The recipes are delivered frozen, pre-portioned, and are ready to thaw and serve, saving you hours of preparation time and the hassle of sourcing and storage.