Husky Nutrition 

What We Feed Our Dogs at Celtic Acres

After quite a bit of research and reading about what ingredients actually go into
commercial dog foods (even some of the most expensive brands in the market), we decided to switch our Siberian Huskies over to a “Raw” diet and have noticed a dramatic difference in the health, appearance, and general well-being of our dogs.  The basic principle is to feed a diet that the animals have evolved to eat, or to put it another way AS NATURE INTENDED.

 

A raw diet provides a range of benefits. These benefits include:

• Reduced doggy odor.
• Naturally cleans teeth - no need for toothbrushes, de-scaling jobs, helps prevent gum disease.
• The time it takes for a dog to chew a raw meaty bones give their stomach time to get the acids moving.
• Produces firmer stools with reduced quantity.
• Can reduce vet bills (healthier dogs)
• Economical to feed in comparison to commercial dog foods.
• Mirrors what nature intended them to eat in the wild.
• Puppies develop at a more appropriate rate and quick growth spurts are avoided. A GOOD breeder will want to stop fast growth in any pup.
• The ripping and chewing involved in eating raw meaty bones develops the jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles of a dog.
• Better weight control which helps to reduce the symptoms of arthritis and obesity.

 

What do our huskies eat on a raw diet?

• Chicken Necks, Wings, Backs, and Quarters
• Pork Neck Bones and Ground Pork
• Ground Meat (pork, beef, lamb, chicken, duck) mixed with such things as organ meats, tripe, veggies, eggs, and apple cider vinegar
• Beef bones
• Duck frames and necks
• Turkey necks
• Goat
• Rabbit
• Fish (Salmon, Sea Bass, Tiliapia, etc)

This is just a sample of what we feed them.  All of the meat is "human grade."  We buy most of our products from C&C Meats in Upper Marlboro, MD and Topqualitydogfood.com in Greenbelt, MD. 

 

Here are some questions I had when I looked into starting my huskies on a raw diet:

Isn't it dangerous to feed dogs chicken bones?

Never ever feed cooked bones as they are more likely to splinter and cause problems in a dog’s digestive system. People have been feeding dogs raw bones for years and rarely report problems.  They are essential for dental health.

How much does it cost?

You can find most products at your local grocery store and pickup food for your dog while doing your weekly shopping for the same cost you pay for most commercial dogfoods.

What about things like salmonella?

The digestive tract of a dog is much shorter than a humans and the concentration of hydrochloric acid in their stomach is much higher. Consequently, they can deal with bacteria that humans can't. Just think of the things that a dog will eat if allowed.... imagine the things they can pick up or lick, these can contain bacteria but they don’t harm them.

How much do I feed them?

An adult dog should eat about 2 to 2 & 1/2 percent of their body weight each day.  So for a 50lb dog you should feed 1 to 1 & 1/2 lbs per day.  Puppies may need 5-10% of their body weight in food per day.  I am happy to discuss this with all new puppy owners.

 

More Questions?

I am happy to answer any questions that you may have on the "Raw" Diet.  I do not claim to be an expert, but I do standby this diet 100%!  Every new puppy owner will get a detailed information packet about the "Raw" Diet in their puppy pack.