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Welcome to Raw Foodie Friday where I'll be sharing recipes of what I feed to my dogs.  Every week, I receive an email from someone who wants me to give them a balanced raw food recipe.  I've attempted to do this many times in the past, and I found that I didn't have the experience; especially back when all of my raw meals were made with a base mix.  Today, I make raw meals on the fly daily, and my dogs are thriving, and I'm excited to share those meals with others who need inspiration.

I no longer focus on balance per meal. Instead, I balance over time which allows me more flexibility.  If I'm running low on an ingredient, I don't panic because my dogs' raw meals will be out of balance.  Instead, I add something else and adjust their diet later in the week or the following week.

Ask yourself – do you eat a balanced diet each meal or per day?

So here is a recent recipe…please feel free to ask questions in the comments.

Easy Raw Dog Food Recipe

Ground Duck Wings, Organ Blend, Carp Eyeballs

Duck Wings

Rodrigo has trouble with chicken and turkey, but he does great on duck and quail, so these two proteins are a big part of my dogs' diet.  I order the duck wings by the case through our local raw food co-op.  I grind the duck wings because it's easier to store in the freezer and because when my dogs ate duck wings whole, I found large pieces of sharp bones in their poop.  So, to air on the side of caution, I grind the wings.

Organ blend

I have a hard time finding a good variety of organs (offal) so I add an organ blend from GreenTripe.com. The organ blend is a “freshly frozen blend of beef heart, lungs, liver, spleen, and pancreas with green tripe,” and comes in a 2-pound chub.  I order this by the case.

Fermented vegetables

When I do meal prep, I thaw several packages of the protein of the week and mix it with fermented vegetables.  I feed fermented vegetables instead of a standard vegetable mix because I'm not only getting the antioxidants, nutrients, and fiber, I'm also getting a natural source of probiotics which helps to promote a healthy gut biome.  Many of the longest living pets are credited with having a healthy gut biome, so that is my main focus when feeding my dogs.

Carp eyeballs

I source all of the carp that I feed to my dogs from Scout and Zoe's.  Carp is an invasive species in US lakes with no natural predator.  The owner of Scout and Zoe's now makes food and treats for dogs.  Carp has more Omega 3 fatty acids than salmon, it has fewer to no toxins, and my dogs love it!  I added the carp eyeballs partly to gross out my boyfriend and partly because the dogs love them.

Raw Dog Food Ingredients

I make this in bulk and then serve based on each dog's individual needs.

• 20 pounds of duck wings
• 4 pounds of the organ blend
• 6 cups of fermented vegetables (two containers)

Supplements for DIY Raw Feeding

I believe that we should supplement our dogs' meals based on their individual needs, so no two of my dogs get the same set of supplements.  However, I do believe that all of my dogs need the following:

• Omega-3 fatty acids
• Digestive supplement and probiotic
• Joint supplement
• Spirulina

Supplements can be purchased, or they can be provided through whole food sources.  For instance, I can buy a joint supplement, or I can support my dogs' joints by adding more duck feet, beef trachea, and other foods high in glucosamine.  I tend to add both.

• My Supplement List
• Nutrients In My Dogs' Diet

Sourcing for Raw Meat for My Dogs

I purchase everything for my dogs through a local raw food co-op.

• Shop Through a Raw Food Co-Op to Save on Raw Dog Food
• How to Start a Raw Food Co-Op (I Think)
• 4 Examples of Craigslists Ads for Raw Feeders
• 21 Ways to Save Money on Raw Dog Food