Which fruits are veggies are safe and which are not to give to our dogs?

Answer :There are all sorts of fruits and vegetables that you can give to your dogs although you should not make fruits and veggies a large part of your dog’s diet.  Some fruits and vegetables should be used with caution, while others should be avoided altogether.  Here are some examples of these different types.

The are some of the safe food

• All berries- blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries
• Cantaloupes, Watermelons, and Honeydew Melons
• Yams/Sweet Potatoes are ok but avoid regular potatoes
• Certain types of squashes such as Pumpkins, Summer Squash and Zucchini
• Some leafy greens such as Lettuce and Parsley
• Bananas
• Sugar snap peas and Green beans
• Carrots

Fruits/veggies  we should give with precaution

• Mango - Remove the seed. It could be a choking hazard
• Pears - Remove the seeds
• Apples - Remove the seeds. Apple seeds contain cyanogenic acid and are poisonous
• Cherries - Remove the seeds since they also contain cyanogenic acid
• Garlic - In small amounts it is very beneficial as a de-wormer and for keeping flees away, but in larger amounts it can affect the red blood cells and causes anemia
• Apricots - remove seeds, they contain cyanide
• Broccoli - These have the element isothiocyanate, which is fine in small amounts, but in larger portions can cause severe stomach upset
• Plums - remove seeds, they contain cyanogenic glucosides

Foods we should NEVER giver to our dogs

• Grapes and Raisins - Even though grapes and raisins are tolerated by most dogs,some dogs could be very sensitive to them and it can cause acute kidney failure, which is a fatal condition. I recommend not giving them for the sake of trying out to see if your dog is sensitive or not
• Onion, Chives, Shallots, Leeks, Spring Onions or anything in this family - These can cause anemia affecting the red blood cells
• Macadamia nuts - Even though the toxic compound is unknown, dogs can develop tremors and paralysis leading to fatal condition even consuming only few macadamias
• Chocolate (Cocoa) - The darker the chocolate, the worse it is for the dog. Chocolate contains an element called theobromine, which is a stimulant that increasing the heart rate and the blood pressure in humans but even more prominently in dogs. It can lead to a fatal heart attack in dogs when given even in small amounts. Dogs in perfect health condition can tolerate very small amounts, but you should never play with “ fire” and just because your dog tolerates it few times, it doesn’t meant the the 4th or 5th time around will not be fatal.
• Coffee - Can lead to a profuse diarrhea and vomiting
• Avocado - They contain persin, which is toxic for dogs and can cause heart and lung damage
• Hops - Yes, the ones used in beer making in small amounts it should be fine, but in larger amounts it can cause hops toxicity which leads to a malignant hyperthermia and uncontrollable fever. The hound breeds are more sensitive to hops toxicity than other breeds.
• Eucalyptus leaves - they are toxic to eat not only to the animals, but humans. The leaves can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and can even cause them to slip into a coma
• Rhubarb leaves - The contain Oxalic acid and Anthraquinone Glycosides . On its own, Oxalic acid is not poisonous but it forms deadly combination with Anthraquinone Glycosides

When you give fruits and veggies, try to buy organic or locally grown and give them to your dogs in small amounts as treats.  

Is it ok to give my dog fruits and vegetables while they are on a raw diet?

Answer: This is a very controversial topic. Some people do not give any fruits and veggies to their dogs and others give too much. To find the answer we have to go back wolves. First, let’s not forget that, like wolves, dogs are carnivores and their main diet should be meat. According to researchers, a small percentage of the wolves diet consists of fruits and vegetables. These studies were done on well fed wolves who did not need to graze on berries as some wolves have been observed to do when they did not have an abundance of wild kill. The wolves needed this small percent of vegetation because it gives them the necessary fiber to help the proper elimination of meals with heavier bone content. Even though the berries, grass, and fruits do not make up the main source of nutrients the wolves need, they still have an important role in their diet. If wolves eat it, why not the dogs?  Make sure that when you feed your dogs fruits and vegetables, you do so in small amounts. It should never substitute a whole meal and not more than a small percentage of their diet. I usually give them to my dogs as healthy treats each day.  For example, maybe a few berries, or a quarter of an apple, but no more). Fruits are more easily digestible for the dogs than vegetables. If you lightly steam the veggies, they are easier on the dog’s stomach than raw. Be aware that cruciferous vegetables are harsh for your dog’s stomach and give them only sparingly.

In another post I will go into more detail which fruits and veggies are ok, and which ones to avoid giving to your dogs.

Can I give fish to my dogs and what type of fish is good for my dogs?

Answer: Wolves eat fish, why not our dogs? They are excellent source of Omega 3s, good for the joints and the heart. Wild caught sardines, mackerel and salmon have the highest source of Omegas . Make sure you deep freeze wild caught fish for two weeks before giving it to your dogs to eliminate potential parasites. I personally recommend wild caught fish because it has a higher nutritional value of Omega 3s than farm raised fish. Farm fish are often packed with antibiotics and other additives. A small precaution with the wild fish. The wild caught pacific salmon can have a rickettsial organism  which cause Salmon poisoning in some occasions. Salmon poisoning could be deadly to your dog. The best way to avoid this is not to buy Pacific salmon The rest of the wild caught fish is ok, but make sure you deep freeze it for 2 weeks prior to giving it to your dogs to avoid other small ocean parasites.

Only give whole fish to dogs who are experience raw eaters. For inexperienced dogs, remove the head and the intestines (because the heavy fish oil can upset their tummies)

Take caution with lake fish: Make sure you take the guts out of the lake fish, because often they are hooks left in them.

Give your dog(s) fish once a week, but avoid giving it too often , because it can interfere with vitamin B absorption.
Avoid giving large ocean fish as tuna and swordfish, because of the high mercury content in them.
Try not to give canned fish as well. Canned fish is cooked and very high in sodium.

Can I feed my dogs wild game?

Answer; Yes, you can feed your dogs any wild game ( deer, elk, moose, boar, bear, raccoon, ground squirrel, emu,kangaroo, pheasants, quails and etc...) Wild game meat is very rich in nutrients and Omega 3s, very important for the heart and joint health. Preferably (if you can afford, or have an easy access) feed wild game only. If you do, your dog will not need any additional supplements in their diet. If you have a tight budget (like me) try to feed wild game a few times a month. The oldest recorded dog in the world, Bluey, an Australian cattle dog, lived to the age of 29 years. His diet was primarily wild emu kangaroo and table scraps..

Wild animals are generally healthier than their domesticated counterparts, but if you worry about intestinal worms in the meat, remove the intestines first, then deep freeze the wild meat for two months before giving it to your dog.

Is a Raw Diet a well balanced diet?

Answer: In order for dogs to have well balanced diet, it is recommended they have a large variety of meat, including all parts of the animal: head, feet, stomach and internal organs; as well as fruits and vegetables in small amounts. About 2, 3% of the gray wolf diet includes wild berries and plant matter. Even though some people believe that dogs don’t need anything else but meat , I thoroughly believe that since wolves need some plants in their diet, why not our dogs too? I am going to cover this in more detail in another topic. For larger breeds, to avoid a choking hazard with “gulpers”, give large pieces of meaty bones. As a rule of thumb, make sure the piece of bone/meat is as large as the dog’s head. .Later on, I will provide a calculator with meat-to-organs ratio and how much to feed. I will break the types of meat into two groups, domesticated and wild game.

Meat from Domesticated Animals

Chicken: Feed all parts. Avoid giving wings or necks to large and medium dogs if they are not attached to the carcass (to avoid choking with gulpers)

Duck: Feed all parts. In this case you can feed necks and wings detached of the carcass, but try to break the wings at the joint ( the anatomy of the wing could be a choking hazard for new and inexperienced dogs on raw)

Turkey: Feed all parts, but remove the skin. Turkey skin is not very well digested by some dogs. For small dogs, who are new on raw avoid giving the legs. Those are the only bones, I’ve seen actually splinter and even though I never had problem with those, nor most of the dogs owners I know, I will recommend giving them to your dog after he starts chewing the meat more thoroughly

Beef: Feed all parts with exception of the femur and vertebra bones. Ribs are perfectly fine, as long as you give them large pieces , connected together for the larger dogs. Avoid small butcher cut from the store, or ask the butcher to cut you larger pieces.

Pork: Pork is perfectly fine to give to your dogs as long as your deep freeze it for 2 or 3 of weeks to avoid trichinosis, which is caused by intestinal roundworm. Some people recommend never to feed pork, but I never had any problems with it and our dogs love it, and you will never do as long as you deep freeze it for the 2 weeks time. You can feed all parts and again - not femur bones, not vertebra bones. Pork is very rich meat and more fatty and might cause runny poops in some dogs with sensitive stomachs. You can start by trimming all fat and giving small amounts.  If your dog appears to handle the fat well enough then you can slowly increase the amount until you can give them the meat untrimmed.

Lamb: Feed all parts. Lamb is very rich also, so try starting with small amounts and gradually increase. One exception are lamb chops, which includes weight bearing bone, but lamb bones are not as dense as the bigger animals and you can feed it safely to the dogs

Goat: Feed all parts (no weight bearing bones as well)

Rabbit: rabbit meat is very good for your dogs, the bones are soft and you can feed all parts. If your dog is more experienced with raw food, you can feed the rabbit whole, including fur

In the next post will talk about feeding wild game.

Are raw bones dangerous?

Answer : Not as long as three simple guidelines are followed.

1. Never give your dogs weight-bearing bones of big animals( cow , bison, pig, emu, ostrich, elk , bison, etc...)
   Wolves in the wild usually don't eat the weight-bearing bones like femur bones . The only animals who can handle those type of bones are the hyenas with their powerful jaws.
   

   Weight -bearing bones are only ok when they belong to small animals, like any type of birds or small rodents (chicken, duck, turkey, quail, pheasant, other game birds, rabbits...)

   Example for weight -bearing bones of big animals ( femur bones, vertebra ( spine) bones)

   
   

   Non Weight bearing bones, good to give your dogs are ( tail , neck bones, ribs- short or flat)

   
   
2. Never give your dog cooked bones. When cooked, the consistency of the bones are changed and can splinter.  So NEVER give your dog cooked bones!

3. Always give meaty bones to your dog , not only the bone itself.

Why raw diet?

Our “puppies” are decedent from ancient wolves who spend their time hunting in packs or savaging carcasses of dead animals. Although their temperament has changed, their gastrointestinal (GI or digestive) systems has not.  A small pancreas and short GI tract are strong proof of their similarity to their cousin The Wolf.   By providing them with a diet that is appropriate for them you will ensure your pet lives a long and healthy life.  Dog guardians who allow their pets to experience a diet appropriate for their species testify less vet visits, stronger immune systems, lower rates of sickness, and generally higher levels of energy, over pet owners who give their dogs primarily kibble.