The raw food diet for dogs combines fruits, vegetables, and meats. Variation in the diet is key, and the same food must not be fed more frequently than four consecutive days. Always make sure meals have green and yellow foods and do not have cabbage, which leads to gas. It is also important to leave out foods such as cucumbers, which are not properly digested.

This diet should be half raw meat, no less. If owners feel discomfort at feeding dogs completely raw meats, something slightly cooked can be fed at first. However, with time, meat must not be cooked at all for the best results.

Acceptable meats are beef, venison, duck, lamb, and turkey. The same meat may be served for three of four days at a time. However, after four days another type of meat should be provided. This is important because feeding the same meals daily can cause hypersensitivities in canines.

Appropriate side dishes include oats. Oats are great because they are easily digested and absorbed. To make them just place them in a boiling pot of water and then cover it. Allow them to cook and soften fully for about twenty minutes. In place of oats brown rice, noodles, or potatoes can also be used also.

Another important component of this diet are vegetables and fruits. Carrots have many vitamins, calcium, and potassium. Adding parsley will help improve thyroid and adrenal gland health, heal the urinary tract, and improve oxygen metabolism. Celery gives a completely natural sodium source that leads to proper fluidity of lymph and the blood. It is also a diuretic that improves arthritis, water retention, and urinary complications.

Spices such as paprika and garlic can also be added to food. Watercress, alfalfa, zucchini, apples, mangoes, or bananas are other great additions. Whatever dogs like to eat that is raw and within this category is a good choice.

Always add foods that are yellow or green to a meal if it is possible. The reason is that these types of foods eliminate toxins from within the body. One of the very best attackers of free radicals is the watermelon.

Once weekly yogurt, a boiled egg, and cheese can be added to a dogs food. First combine them in a blender and then add half a cup water and several vegetables. Then add this to any meal desired. It is important that this is not done more than once a week for an optimal diet.

Never add turnips, beans, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, or broccoli to a dogs food. The reason is these create intestinal gas, which is not a pleasant thing. Onions, cucumbers, spinach, tomato, and peppers must also be left out as they are not easily digestible in canines.

The raw food diet for dogs uses a large amount of meat. This meat is then supplemented with various vegetables, such as celery or carrots. Noodles and oats can be mixed with other foods but the gas producing vegetables like turnips and cabbages must not be included. Foods such as peppers and onions are not digestible and must also be avoided when possible.

Jamie is a family pet health specialist who specializes in raw dog food diets.