Pit bulls are perhaps one of the most popular breeds today. Around 18 million pit bulls are owned in the United States today, which makes up for about 20% of the larger dog population. This breed is known to have a muscular built and an energetic disposition. Naturally, these dogs require a good diet to maintain a healthy life. Most experts believe that raw dog food recipes for pitbulls are some of the best meals owners can try to prepare for their pups.
If you want to learn more about pits and the best raw recipes you can prepare for them, the details are below.
Pitbull Dog Profile
One of the more energetic dogs out there, a pit bull takes patience and discipline to raise. There are actually several types of pit bull today—there’s the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Stafford Shire Bull Terrier among others. All of them generally have the same size, ranging anywhere from 35 to 60 pounds.
This makes them BIG eaters, especially when it comes to raw dog food. The rule of thumb when it comes to raw food diet is for dogs to eat around 2 to 3 percent of their body weight. Dog food delivery service platforms already take this into account when customizing meals for pets. One brand that offers raw diets is We Feed Raw that can also personalize based on your pooch’s needs.
Why a Raw Dog Food Diet?
Other than the amount of homemade food you serve a dog, it’s also important to look into the quality of the food itself. With this in mind, it’s not surprising that many dog owners are trying to make their own raw dog food as a way to promote their dog’s health. This is because raw dog food has been credited to help with digestive issues and can deliver vitamins and minerals in their direct format. A homemade diet also means there are no added preservatives in the food as opposed to commercial meals. Check out the comparison between raw vs fresh dog food to know the difference. Since owners have complete control over the raw dog food recipe, certain ingredients can be taken out depending on the dog’s food sensitivities.
Homemade Dog Food Recipes For Pitts
Many pit bull owners search online for homemade dog food recipes, which is perfectly fine. Your canine companion deserves the best and in some cases, this means preparing them food at home. But what recipe is best for this large and energetic dogs? A popular regimen today is the BARF diet which stands for Biologically Appropriate Dog Food.
This diet usually encourages this composition of food:
- 70% muscle meat
- 10% raw edible bone
- 5% liver
- 5% of other organ meat
- 10% fruits and vegetables
Following this diet, here are some recipes you can try out for your dog:
Chicken with Carrots
- 50% of chicken thigh or breasts
- 25% Chicken heart and/or liver
- 10% Ground chicken bone
- 5% lightly boiled or raw eggs
- 5% carrots or brown rice
- 5% green beans
Preparation: Use a food processor for all the vegetables and egg. Lightly chop the protein sources before combining the components together. Sprinkle some of the chicken bones and mesh thoroughly.
Turkey with Greens
- 50% turkey lean meat
- 20% turkey heart and/or liver
- 10% lettuce
- 5% sweet potatoes or yams for the complex carbohydrates
- 5% zucchini
- 10% turkey gizzard
Preparation: Chop and mix all the animal produce and put them in one bowl. Now put all the other ingredients in the food processor and blend. Combine the two together and serve.
Beef and Greens
- 50% ground beef
- 20% beef kidney and liver
- 10% beef tail bones
- 10% green apples
- 5% celery
- 5% kale
Preparation: finely chop the beef dinner and set aside. Use a processors to finely mix the fruit and vegetables before combining it with the meat. Serve this raw dog food recipe and watch your dog enjoy! Put in some fish oil if you want your dog to have an extra shiny coat.
Note that your pit bull’s health should guide the kind of ingredients added into the food. Additional ingredients like salmon oil, olive oil, and all the vitamins can be introduced as powder to help supplement the overall meal.
To figure out how much to put in each recipe, just work your way back in the formula. Ideally, the raw meal should be 2 percent of your dog’s weight. So if your dog weighs 50 pounds, his meal for the entire day should be 1 pound. Following the formulas above, around .5 pounds should be made of chicken meat and so on. You can look for other recipes online if you want more choices.
Food You Should Never Serve a Dog
Don’t forget that there are some natural ingredients that your dog could NOT eat. Everyone knows chocolate should never be fed to dogs [1], but you should also prevent consumption of onions, grapes, garlic, avocado, yeast dough, milk, and macadamia nuts.
You’re free to do some experimentation when it comes to your dog’s food. However, always make a point of checking online for all your dog’s meals. Monitor your dog after switching to raw dog food and ALWAYS introduce the new recipes in small bite sized pieces. Do a slow transition by gradually changing 10% of your dog’s meal into raw and letting him get used to it for a week or so.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to make cheap raw dog food?
Your pit bull’s appetite doesn’t have to be limited to a particular recipe with expensive ingredients. You can try putting in cheaper food products using the raw diet. You can try getting fruits and vegetables in season so it won’t be as expensive. As long as you follow the prescribed ratio, you should be able to produce a decent raw diet using healthy ingredients.
Can pitbull puppies eat raw meat?
Yes, but you have to be careful though. Introduce raw dog food recipes in small bite sized increments. You also want to pay attention to the dog 24 hours after feeding. Do they seem fine and is their poop firm and regular? Puppies should also have regular deworming if you’re feeding raw food.
What raw meat is good for pitbulls?
If you’re going to feed a fun and delicious meal for pit bulls, make sure you’re getting high quality meat from reputable sources. As long as you’re sure of the source of the meat, then your pit bull raw meals should be perfectly fine.
How much raw meat should I feed my Pitbull?
Measure your dog’s weight and multiply that by 2 or 3 percent. The resulting amount in pounds should be your dog’s daily consumption of raw foods. Note that this means that the total amount should be divided into two so you can serve two separate meals.
