Diet for an active 90 lb.  Rottweiler X

A.M.: 12-18 oz. raw meaty bones (chicken backs, chopped or ground turkey necks, chicken necks with the skin, lamb necks, beef necks, lamb breast, turkey wings, turkey carcasses, etc.)

OR:  12 oz. Ground or chunk meat replaced with canned mackerel or sardines or salmon (2X a month), 1/2 c pulverized veggies, 1 t. salmon oil or flax oil, 1 T. organic cold pressed olive oil, ¼ t. kelp, 2 t. wheat germ, 2.5 oz. Liver or kidney or spleen or lung or heart or green tripe (3-4 days per week), 1 egg 3X a week, 2 t. un-sulphured blackstrap molasses 1-2X per week, 500 mg Vit. C, 200IU Vit. E.

P.M.   If you fed the ground mixture in the a.m. then feed your raw meaty bones in the p.m.

Some dogs have a hard time digesting the raw meaty bones when fed alone so you can divide her meal half and half.  If she is eating 12 oz. bones or 12 oz. meat mixture then feed 6 oz. of each.  Feed the meat mixture first so the bones are not being fed on an empty stomach.

Alternatives to add to the ground mixture for variety:

¼ c. cottage cheese, ½ c. goats milk yogurt (from antibiotic/hormone free sources if possible i.e. Redwood Farms brand from Trader Joes), 1 T. organic apple cider vinegar, 3 T Wheat Bran, 2 t. alfalfa (grind to a fine powder in spice mill), 1/4 t. spirulina, 1/4 t. garlic powder, 4 t. raw honey,

1 T. ground Pumpkin, sunflower, walnut, sesame, macadamia, almonds, pecans (seeds/nuts), 1 t. carob powder, 1 t. cod-liver oil.

Once a day you can give 1 T. either dried un-sculptured fruit or fresh fruit as a treat between meals.  If your dog is diabetic, it is better to keep sweet treats out of her diet.

Variety is the key to the fresh food diet for our dogs.  I like to vary the meat protein and occasionally feed organic whole cooked grain.  I soak the grains overnight on the woodstove or cook them on very low heat in the crock-pot.  The grains I use are quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat and millet.  Add 1 ½ times as much water as they call for and let the grain soak or cook until it is fairly mushy so it is easier for your dog to digest.  I give my dogs about 1/3 to ½ cup per 50 lb. dog.  You can add steamed sweet potato, fresh applesauce, yogurt and supplements to this meal.  I never add meat to a grain meal since grains and meat digest at different rates.

I  give our dogs leftovers from our meals, everything except cooked bones.  NEVER, EVER give your dog a cooked bone.

Always have available, fresh, filtered water in stainless steel bowls.  I also feed my dogs in stainless steel bowls so I can wash them with soap and hot water between meals.

This is only a sample of what you can feed your dog.  It is not a complete list of what your dog can and should eat.  All dogs have different needs throughout their lives and their diets should reflect those changes. Keeping a diary of what you feed your dog and how she responds in a physical as well as mental way will help you to determine in the long run what works best for you and your canine friend. If you can find a veterinarian who will support your decision to switch your dog to a fresh food diet, it will help ease your mind when health issues arise.  Remember to keep an open mind and listen not only to your intuition, but also to what your dog is telling you about her needs.