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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 raw meal. Please feel free to ask questions in the comments.
Easy Raw Dog Food Recipe
Emu, Raw Eggs, and Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance
Emu
I order a couple of hundred pounds of emu every summer for my dogs. I like to feed emu because it's another red meat and I believe that our dogs need red and white meat in their diet due to the variety of amino acids and nutrients. Emu is also very lean, which is great for my girls, who are ROCKIN' their diet (down 8 pounds each). And emu is great when you have a dog that has a protein intolerance to many of the common proteins – Rodrigo has trouble with chicken, turkey, and beef.
I order the emu through our local raw food co-op. It comes in chubs (ground), although I can also order it in chunks. I prefer ground because it takes up less space in our freezer. I order enough to last five months when alternating with other proteins.
Raw egg
I treat raw eggs as a multi-vitamin because they're packed full of nutrients. One thing I learned recently is that it doesn't matter if you feed raw eggs or boiled eggs – the act of cooking the egg doesn't change the nutrient profile by much – crazy, right? I choose to feed raw eggs because it's easy, however, if I had smaller dogs, I would boil the egg to allow me to feed in separate servings.
Not only are raw eggs a good source of protein and fat, but they also add Vitamin A, B12, and D to our dogs' diet. Eggs support the heart, eyes, skin and coat, and the liver.
Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance Base Mix
I swore off base mixes when I transitioned to DIY raw feeding and liked it! I believe that a base mix is a great way to add fresh food to a dog's diet without stressing over nutrients and balance. Looking back, I'm not a fan of the base mixes I fed to my dogs in the past because of the starch in the ingredients. While potatoes aren't terrible for dogs, I often wonder if the potatoes played a small role in Rodrigo's continued digestive issues and Sydney's weight issues.
Benefits of a Base Mix
A base mix is great for people new to making their dogs' food. A quality base mix makes feeding fresh food so easy that it allows more people to transition kibble to feeding a homemade diet to their dogs.
- Base mixes are easy, balanced, and nutritious.
- Base mixes can be used with a raw diet or a cooked diet.
- Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance is Non-GMO certified and made in the US.
- Base mixes can be prepared by anyone, including a pet sitter.
- Base mixes make traveling with dogs easier.
- Base mixes are great when you're running low on food or forget to thaw raw.
- Base mixes are a lifesaver if you're sick and have to do meal prep.
Ingredients in Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance
When I read the ingredients panel for Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance, I was blown away. FINALLY!!! Someone created a base mix that doesn't have grains and a ton of starches. The squash and pumpkin are considered starchy vegetables, but I think their health benefits outweigh any negatives that starches bring to the diet and often add yellow squash to my fermented vegetables. Check out these ingredients:
- Broccoli
- Green Beans
- Squash
- Carrots
- Celery
- Cabbage
- Crushed Eggshell
- Spinach
- Pumpkin
- Beets
- Raw Goat’s Milk Powder
- Apples
- Blueberries
- Bone Meal
- Sesame Seeds
- Chia Seeds
- Shiitake Mushrooms
- Green Lipped Mussel Powder
- Milk Thistle
- Ginger
- Spirulina
- Kelp
- Parsley
- Eggshell Membrane
Mixing Raw with Raw Vibrance
I prefer to make my dogs' food in large batches and because I'm feeding four dogs, adjusted the feeding guidelines to allow me to create a batch of food for 2-3 days.
- Add Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance to the bowl: I added 10 scoops each to two 8-quart mixing bowl (total of 20 scoops).
- Add hot water and allow to sit for 8 minutes; the amount of water is in the feeding guidelines. However, I added 2x more because my dogs prefer a liquid consistency when I feed raw using a base mix.
- Add protein choice to the bowls; I added 5 pounds of emu to each bowl (8 pounds total).
- Add oil of choice (fish oil, hemp oil, MCT oil, coconut oil, olive oil); I added 3 tablespoons of emu oil by Ewegurt to each bowl. I received some to try out and thought “why not?” Emu oil is made from the fat of emus (nothing goes to waste), and it's high in Omega 3 fatty acids, promotes the body's anti-inflammatory response, and supports joint health.
My Dogs Thoughts on Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance
My dogs licked their bowls clean in record time. I didn't think the dogs would have an issue with their new food, but one thing that surprised me was how fast Scout ate his food. He usually takes his time, which is fine because this is better for his digestion. With Raw Vibrance, not only did he dig in without hesitation, he licked his bowl clean then came to me for more. Wow! That is a HUGE endorsement from my somewhat picky boy.
Ordering Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance
You can order Raw Vibrance on the Dr. Harvey's website.
Supplements for DIY Raw Feeding
When I feed Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance, the only supplements I add to my dogs' diet are their joint supplements, which, to be honest, I give to them after they eat.
I do believe that we should add supplements to our dog's meals based on their individual needs. While each of my dogs is different, I believe that all of my dogs benefit from the following supplements, which I add to their meals at least four days a week:
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.
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
Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received payment, food, and products in exchange for freelance writing, social media promotion, and sharing my honest thoughts on Dr. Harvey's Raw Vibrance dog food. Thoughts shared in this post and on social media for Keep the Tail Wagging®, are honest and based on my experience with my dogs, products I use, try or test, and the research I've done in an effort to raise my dogs naturally. If you have any questions about this or other sponsored posts, please feel free to contact me via the contact page of this blog. Thank you.
When it comes to gland issues, if I notice my dogs scooting around, I know that they need a combination of more fiber and digestive support; I also double check their diet for the week to make sure that they’re getting enough fat (Omega 3 fatty acids). To increase fiber, I add vegetable or animal pelt (fur). I also add Olewo carrots (https://amzn.to/2VaycK9) to the next one or two meals; it clears everything up quickly.
I tried to transition one of my dogs over to raw using Dr. Harvey’s base mix with the intent of switching all three of my boys over. Unfortunately it resulted in two trips to the vet for my boy as he had anal gland issues — scooting and licking his butt almost non-stop. I hear some dogs have anal gland issues when eating raw. Any advice on how to resolve the issue? I sadly and frustratingly ended up mixing some kibble with raw, as well as, adding some Glandex which has resolved the problem. BUT I would love to transition all my boys to a base mix and raw.
Hi Jill – yes, this is what I do. Most of the time, I’m feeding a diet that is based on the 80/10/10 so I add less of the base mix. If I feed muscle meat only, then I follow the serving recommendations on the bag.
Thank you for the great post! Question for you… what if I want to add the Raw Vibrance to an 80/10/10 blend of muscle meat, organ, and bone? Should I just add less base mix? Any suggestions on how much less? Thanks!
Nope. You just need to add meat. That’s the beauty of this base mix. I sometimes add just meat and sometimes I add Raw Vibrance to a blend of meat and organ (I just add less of the base mix).
Hi Kimberly, I so appreciate the example you are for us baby raw feeders trying to learn and get educated. I just purchased your book and am looking forward to reading it. I’ve recently started the raw journey with my baby girl mini schnauzer 🙂 and was looking for a product like Raw Vibrance. I am going to order and am excited to give it a try !!
My question is: do we need to add organ meat to the mix ? I do know we are to add our choice of muscle meat however, wasn’t sure about the organ meat. Thank you again Kimberly for the encouragement you offer this community \0/
Do you frequently add carrots? I bought a fresh bunch from the local market but I wonder how much to add to my veggie mixes or what other veggie do I substitute with them.
Great recipe Nancy. Thanks so much.
Hi Kimberly,
Glad to hear you like the Raw Vibrance base mix. I’ve been looking for other foods to try that don’t contain all the legumes and potatoes. Currently, I’m feeding my 4mth old pup Primal and Stella and Chewy’s freeze dried raw and would love another good option since I’m not ready to take the plunge into total raw right now. I think you can order a sample on Dr. Harvey’s website.
I have used WONDERCIDE and CEDARCIDE both with GREAT SUCCESS with both dogs.
I also add Geranium Rose to a carrier oil because ticks HATE Geranium Rose. Have not seen a tick in years – 2 dogs – I put it on daily, on shoulder blades and at the tail. Use a blue dropper bottle from Whole Foods. For my GSD I tie a piece of cotton hem tape around the metal loop in his collar and I put the Geranium Rose and Almond Oil mix on the “wings” of the hem tape. NEVER a tick. NEVER NEVER. From NC.
Recipe: TICK MOSQUITO DESTROYER 40 Drops G Rose, 20 drops Lavender. 2 TBS Almond Oil (or any carrier) mix in bottle with dropper. Use two drops on shoulder blades, one at the tail. I cheat and use several on my Golden Retriever. I put several drops on the wings of the hem tape for the GSD. THIS WORKS > And I still use the CEDARCIDE too every 3 days. Dogs always smell good.
I’m really loving the Raw Vibrance base mix.
I did hear about the news and it makes me so thankful that I’ve always chosen natural solutions. I use Wondercide products to repel fleas and ticks. They also repel mosquitoes too.
Thank you so much for this post! This is exactly the type of base mix I was looking for. I was trying to look for one with no grains, extremely starchy vegetables, and a “vitamin and mineral premix”, just all natural ingredients. Finally my picky needs have been met. ?
Have you seen the news about flea and tick collars? (You most likely have, but just in case here’s a link.)
https://www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/NewsEvents/CVMUpdates/ucm620934.htm