A basic guideline for the daily amount of raw food for your adult carnivore is 2-5% of its ideal weight split into 2 meals. (Example- For 3% use .30 X ideal weight = oz of food) Please remember, this is only a guide. Some will need more, and some will need less. Age, activity level and appetite are a few things that need to be considered. You know your pet best, if it's chubby give it less food, if it’s thin give it more food.
Kittens & pups grow quickly and need to eat several times a day as well as expectant/lactating mothers and working dogs. Because every carnivore is different, there is no exact standard formula. Portions can be weighed (which is a good idea) for exact amounts. You can pick up a kitchen scale for around $15.
Once your pet’s body is fully transitioned to raw food, it will need less food because of its bioavailability. Meaning the nutrient dense raw food is easily and fully absorbed with very little waste. Nourished Pet food does not contain garden vegetables or other fillers so very small almost odorless stools are another great benefit! We recommend feeding our blends alone so all of the nutrients are absorbed fully and properly.
Note: Always return the container with the remaining food to the refrigerator directly after filling their bowl or plate and before serving your pets. This way you will never get distracted and forget to put the food back in the cold frig leaving it out to get warm (like we have in the past.) After thawing in the refrigerator, use within 3-4 days or re freeze.
If you are going to supplement their meals, its best to feed the alternative food or snack separately from their raw feasts. (Typically only raw animal protein will result in small, firm and odorless stool )
Lightly fermented vegetables are a great healthy snack if they will eat them. Some dogs love them and others not so much. A little goes a long way so start with a teaspoon or less to avoid any gastric reactions. For cats, mix a tiny bit into their food to see if they will eat them. The probiotics are wonderful for your pets gut.
Fasting-You can safely fast your healthy dog one full day (24 hrs) once a week which allows their digestive system to rest while the body works on cleaning itself and removing any toxins. A meaty raw bone will keep them occupied at their normal feeding time. (Never fast a cat! Or a thin / unhealthy animal). Raw meaty bones are also a great treat between regular meals for good dental health. Bones can have a lot of fat and cause loose stool for some. Start slow
Rotation-We also want to stress the importance of Rotation feeding. Monthly rotating between the different meat proteins (prey) will give them a needed variety of essential nutrients and fats similar to in the wild. Animals can make many of their own vitamins when they are fed their natural diet. Mix the new protein with their current protein to gradually make the switch. Sometimes just organs from another species is acceptable. Remember access to living grass and micro greens is also essential for a healthy balance.
You can find additional feeding information throughout our site. We are very picky about the quality of our ingredients and use top quality, sold for human consumption, USDA and mostly organic meat. There is too much risk of toxins in anything less.
*Feeding your pet a raw prey based diet is highly recommended by top veterinarians. Know what's in your pets food. If you need a translator to read the ingredients, then it's not from nature and your pets body will not recognize it as real food. Without real food, it's very likely serious health problems will develop. Feed them the best and make your pet a nourished pet.
