The Complete Diet for Dogs

This diet is designed to approximate the normal, natural diet that dogs would eat if they lived in the wild. It is actually higher in nutrients than a wild diet, and this helps with stresses in a domestic environment. This diet is based on animal protein sources and has a low grain, high vegetable, carbohydrate ratio. Suggested supplements are also included, but other regimens can be substituted.

The diet supplies all the basic requirements for a healthy dog.  Fasting your companions one day every seven-to-ten days is also beneficial. Light, chicken broth can be fed several times on these days. 

The diet directions are the daily requirement for a 12 kg dog of moderate activity. That is, a dog which exercises about 2-3hrs per day.  If your dog is more athletic, muscular and lean, then you may need to increase the amounts by 10-15%. If your dog is more sedentary, overweight, or elderly, then decrease the quantities by 10-15%. Very small dogs may also require more as their metabolism may be higher. The daily amount can be divided and fed twice daily if your companion prefers.  Puppies need more meals per day. Diet quantities are individual, and if your companion requires more or less to maintain their optimum weight, that is the amount you should be feeding.

Use the guide below to adjust this diet to the weight of your dog:

Weight	Multiply Quantities by:
5.5 kg dog	0.20
2.5 kg dog	0.50
12 kg dog	1.00
23 kg dog	2.00
33 kg dog	3.00
50-55 kg dog	4.00

• 4 UNITS PROTEIN, Meat (poultry, beef, lamb, rabbit), Fish, Dairy (yogurt or cottage cheese), and eggs. Eggs shouldn’t be fed more then twice a week. One Unit can be organ meats such as liver, kidney or heart. Raw meat is the optimum and the most natural, or you can sear the meat lightly. Organic is always preferable.
• 3-4 UNITS CARBOHYDRATES
• 1 tbsp Olive or Canola oil (extra virgin or cold pressed is best)
• Approximately 1200mg calcium (1/2 tbsp Bone Meal or use calcium carbonate, lactate, gluconate, or chelated calcium)

TREATS:  Raw chicken or turkey necks and chicken wings can be fed to all dogs. All parts of raw chicken can be fed to medium and large dogs. This can be a treat, or if fed in quantity, reduce the units of protein and the amounts of calcium accordingly. Sardines are a healthy treat.

Micronutrients - give the following amounts daily, according to body weight:

• A multi-vitamin, once daily
• Salmon Oil or other Fish Oil, one-two capsules daily. Mix in food. Omit this on days you feed sardines or fish as the main protein source.
• Vitamin C - 250-500mg
• Vitamin E - 100-400 IU's daily

Equivalents - each amount below equals One Unit

Protein

Meat, Liver or Fish	57 Grams
Eggs	1 medium
Cottage Cheese	85 Grams (equals one unit of Carbohydrates also)
Yogurt	120 Grams  (equals one unit of Carbohydrates also)

Preferred Carbohydrates: Raw or cooked, chopped or blenderized.

• Green beans, broccoli, brussell sprouts, greens like spinach and kale, squash and zucchini, cabbage, cauliflower – 1Cup
• Carrots and fruits such as berries, bananas, and melon -  1/2 Cup
• Cooked Beans, Chickpeas, and lentils  - 1/4 Cup

Unfavorable Carbohydrates: Feed as little as possible, or not at all.
Cooked Oatmeal or Barley are preferable. Rice, couscous, bread, millet or quinoa. 1/3 Cup

**When possible, the ratio of Protein to Carbohydrates should be maintained for every meal**

If your dog will eat them, certain raw vegetables can be increased in this recipe without adjusting the other ingredients. You can add extra spinach, lettuce, bean sprouts, broccoli, cabbage or cauliflower