• Commercial Dog Foods
• Supplements
• Adding Fresh Foods to a commercial diet
• Frozen Raw Food Products
• Raw Food Co-ops and Local Groups
• Balancing a Homemade Diet
• Home Feeding References with links to books and web sites
• Seminars and Talks

• Selecting the best commercial foods
• Canned Foods and Refrigerated or Frozen Cooked Foods
• Dry Foods (Kibble and Dehydrated)
• Dog Food Mixes to which you add meat and other ingredients

How to select the best commercial foods

Here are the things that I look for in a commercial food::

• No generic fats or proteins (e.g., animal fat or meat meal) -- instead, look for named sources such as beef fat, chicken fat or lamb meal (the generic term indicates a mixture coming from a number of sources, a sign of a very poor quality food). I don't consider poultry fat as bad as animal fat, but chicken fat is better. Never feed a food that uses the generic ingredients "meat meal", "meat and bone meal", or "animal fat".
• Human grade ingredients (USDA approved). This item is somewhat controversial, as dog foods by law cannot be labeled human grade, but I look for companies that use human grade meats (not meats that were rejected by the human food industry). For even higher quality, look for hormone- and antibiotic-free meats, especially those that are free-range or pasture-raised (note that all poultry is hormone-free, as it is against regulations to give hormones to poultry).
• Avoid foods that use corn gluten meal, a cheap waste product from the human food industry that provides incomplete protein for dogs. I consider this ingredient to be one of the hallmarks of poor quality foods. Wheat gluten meal, one of the ingredients that caused illness and death due to contamination in the recent Menu Foods recall, is similar -- a cheap source of poor quality protein used primarily by the lower-quality foods. Rice protein concentrate, which was also involved in the pet food recalls, is a little better quality than the other two, but still provides incomplete plant protein rather than the more desirable animal protein. Soy protein has the same problem.
• No meat by-products or digest (meal is OK). There is some disagreement whether whole meat is preferable to meal. Meal has been rendered, but it is also dried, so if a meal is listed as the first ingredient, there is greater likelihood that the food contains more meat than grains. When whole meats such as chicken, lamb, turkey, etc. are listed as the first ingredient, there may actually be much less meat due to the weight of the moisture in the meat. Both whole meats and meals are considered acceptable as long as they are identified and not generic (e.g., not "meat meal" or "meat and bone meal"). By-products may be OK if the company specifies that they are human-grade organs such as liver and kidney, but otherwise they usually signify parts not considered fit for human consumption.
• No BHA, BHT or Ethoxyquin (artificial preservatives), another sign of a low quality food. Ethoxyquin is banned from use in foods for human consumption except for the use of very small quantities as a color preservative for spices. Note that ethoxyquin is used to preserve fish meal, which will not be disclosed on the dog food label since it is added before the fish meal reaches the manufacturing plant. In general, unless the manufacturer provides a statement on their web site that the fish meal in their food does not contain ethoxyquin, you can assume that is does. Contact the manufacturer if you are unsure.
• No artificial colors, no sugars and sweeteners (such as corn syrup, sucrose, ammoniated glycyrrhizin), no propylene glycol (added to some chewy foods to keep them moist, toxic in large amounts).
• As few grains as possible (a whole-meat source should be one of the first two ingredients, preferably two of the top three) -- watch for splitting, such as listing ground yellow corn and corn gluten meal as separate ingredients which together might add up to more than the first ingredient. Note that canned foods often have fewer grains than dry.
• Added taurine. Taurine was added to cat foods in the 70's when cats began going blind and dying due to taurine deficiency. Taurine is thought not to be an "essential" amino acid in dogs because they can convert carnitine to taurine. However, links are now being found between problems such as dilated cardiomyopathy and taurine deficiencies. Some dog food companies have begun adding taurine to their foods, and this is probably a good idea. Taurine is affected by heat, so there would not usually be enough natural taurine in processed dog foods, though foods that have a lot of meat will have more natural taurine. See the following for more info:
• Dietary Taurine Deficiency and Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Dogs (pages 6-7)
• Dilated Cardiomyopathy: a daunting disease of the heart
• Taurine
• Taurine status in normal dogs fed a commercial diet associated with taurine deficiency and dilated cardiomyopathy
• Meets AAFCO Specifications. Although I do not consider AAFCO to know everything there is to know about nutrition, if a food specifies that it meets AAFCO specifications, it should be a complete diet. It is fine to use foods that do not meet AAFCO specifications as part of the diet, but you cannot rely on these foods as the sole source of nutrition without adding other foods and supplements to the diet.

Note that I am not overly concerned about menadione, a synthetic form of vitamin K that has many people worried (see The Dog Food Project, for example). See the section on Menadione in one of my articles on homemade diets for more information on this topic.

Best Diet
There is no "best" food for all dogs, as each dog is an individual, and what works well for one dog may not work at all for another. In addition, it is better for a dog to get a variety of foods, rather than just one food for its whole life. Feeding different commercial diets can help fill in nutritional gaps that a particular food or brand might have, as well as making it less likely that your dog will develop food allergies.

Rather than trying to find a single, "best" food, I recommend that you choose at least two or three different brands, using different protein sources, and rotate between them, anywhere from a daily basis to every few months. Variety is always better than feeding any single food, as it helps to guarantee that all of your dogs' nutritional needs are met and is more interesting for your dogs. The only warning I have about feeding a lot of variety is to not feed every exotic protein available (duck, rabbit, venison, etc.); always reserve one or two in case you ever need to do an elimination diet using a food your dog has never had before to test for food allergies.

In addition, I suggest adding some fresh foods to the diet, no matter what you feed, including eggs and meat (raw or cooked), canned fish with bones (jack mackerel, pink salmon, sardines), dairy (yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese) and healthy leftovers (see Adding Fresh Foods below for more info). This can be used to improve the quality of whatever diet you feed.

When you feed the same food continuously for a month or more, be sure to make the switch gradually to avoid digestive upset, but dogs that are used to getting different foods all the time rarely have any problems with it.

Exotic proteins and limited ingredient diets
Just a note about using foods with exotic proteins, such as duck, venison, buffalo, rabbit, trout, kangaroo, ostrich, emu, beaver, goat, quail, pheasant, eel, etc. These foods are formulated to be able to offer proteins that a dog has never had before for dogs with food allergies. I do not recommend feeding them to healthy dogs who have no allergies. If you feed these foods routinely, then if your dog does develop food allergies in the future, it is going to be very difficult for you to find a protein that he has never had before in order to try an elimination diet. I would reserve most of these exotic protein foods for dogs who  have food problems and need a special diet. Also, if you have a dog with digestive problems, don't just keep trying different foods, as they are more likely to become allergic to new ingredients while problems are occurring. If the first new diet doesn't work, you'll need to talk to your vet about using medications to get the problem under control before introducing any more new foods.

Corn, wheat, soy and other so-called common allergens
Foods considered to be "common allergens" for dogs are simply the foods most commonly fed. In other words, dogs are not inherently more likely to be allergic to corn, wheat, soy, rice, beef or chicken, etc., but they are more likely to be allergic to common ingredients in foods that they've been fed. Food allergies are also more likely to develop if the dog is fed the same food all the time.

There can be other problems with certain foods, especially grains. Gluten intolerance can cause digestive problem for some dogs. Sources of gluten include wheat (including Kamut and spelt), barley, rye, and triticale; oats are considered questionable (oats are gluten-free but processed oats can be contaminated with gluten), while buckwheat, corn/maize, and rice are gluten-free. Certain grains can contain molds or storage mites that can cause an allergic reaction. I don't believe that grains should ever be a large part of a dog's diet, but I don't consider corn or wheat to be worse than other grains, unless your dog has a specific problem with these foods. Keep in mind that corn gluten meal is a waste product from the human food industry used as a cheap source of low-quality protein and is a hallmark of a poor quality food.

I also don't consider it necessary to avoid using products that contain soy, as long as it is a small part of the diet, and used in place of grains or other plant products, rather than as a primary protein source in place of meat. Again, if your individual dog has a problem with soy, then you should avoid foods that use it.

The following web sites have some interesting information on food allergies and intolerances:

Food Allergies
Food Allergy Myths
Dietary Sensitivity--More Common than You Think?
The Pet Food Ingredient Game

High-Protein Diets
Contrary to many myths and popular beliefs, there is no harm in feeding a high-protein diet to dogs of any age, including puppies (see Large and giant breed puppies below) and seniors (see Senior and overweight dogs below and my article on Diet and the Older Dog for more information). Studies have proved that protein does not cause orthopedic problems in puppies, nor lead to kidney disease in older dogs. In fact, protein is extremely beneficial: it supports the immune system and the central nervous system, contributes to wound healing, helps build lean muscle, and is required for skin and coat health.

Even most dogs with kidney disease benefit from a moderate-protein rather than low-protein diet (see my Kidney Disease web page for additional info). There are very, very few health conditions where a lower-protein diet is needed, and even then, it's extremely important to feed adequate protein, as protein malnutrition will cause the body to break down its own muscle tissue to get what it needs, leading to muscle wasting and other serious problems. Even mild protein deficiency can significantly impair immune function. Dogs who get too little protein are also more susceptible to stress, including stress from injury or infection.

Dogs thrive on protein, the more the better. There is absolutely no reason to limit the amount of protein you feed your dog. Look for foods that are high in protein, rather than the typical high-carbohydrate diets that are more commonly available. Dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates; they are used in dog food mostly as an inexpensive source of calories (grains are also used to supply low-quality protein in some foods), and to help bind dry food together into kibble. Studies indicate that high-protein, low-carb foods with moderate amounts of fat also help dogs lose weight better than the traditional high-carb, low-fat (and often low-protein) weight loss diets.

There are a number of newer, high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets now being offered, for both adult and senior dogs. Some of these are also OK for puppies, if approved for them or for all life stages, but be careful of any with very high calcium percentages (best to stick to 2% or less calcium on a dry matter basis for large-breed puppies under the age of six months).

You can also increase the protein levels in whatever diet you feed by adding some fresh, high-protein foods, such as meat, eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and canned fish with bones (jack mackerel, pink salmon, sardines). See Adding Fresh Foods to a Commercial Diet below for more info.

If you have a dog that is hyper-reactive to outside stimuli, you may be interested in How High Carbohydrate Diets Can Affect Some Dogs by noted behaviorist William Campbell suggesting a possible cause being a high carbohydrate diet.

Large and giant breed puppies (or any breed prone to hip dysplasia) should be fed a restricted diet to slow growth. Overfeeding encourages them to grow too fast, resulting in most of the bone and joint problems common in large breeds, including dysplasia, osteochondrosis, etc. Limit the amount you feed to keep your pup lean and slow-growing.
Never give supplemental calcium of any kind when feeding a commercial diet. Feeding an adult food to a puppy may cause excessive calcium intake, as the adult food might have more calcium for the same amount of calories than a puppy food would, while not providing the other nutrients required by puppies.
You should always feed puppies foods that are approved  either for puppies or for all life stages. If you feed a food that is approved for adult dogs only, there will be inadequate amounts of protein, and improper levels of calcium and other nutrients. Large Breed Puppy Formulas may not be the answer, as they often replace protein with carbohydrates. Protein and carbohydrates contain exactly the same number of calories per gram, so reducing protein in favor of carbohydrates provides less needed nutrition without reducing calories. High protein diets are preferred, as puppies need protein to thrive and studies have shown that high protein does not lead to developmental problems, but high fat diets may contribute too many calories, leading to rapid growth. See the following articles for more information:

• "Effects of limited food consumption on the incidence of hip dysplasia in growing dogs", by RD Kealy et al., in JAVMA, Vol. 201, No. 6, Sept. 15, 1992 (pp 857-863), "On the basis of our findings in the long-term study reported here, limited food intake has a beneficial effect on development of the hip joints in growing and adolescent dogs. Labrador Retrievers fed 25% less food than those fed ad libitum had less hip joint laxity when they were 30 weeks old than their ad-libitum-fed counterparts. Furthermore, by maintaining the dogs on the same feeding regimen until they were 2 years old, this beneficial effect was still present at that age, as demonstrated by the significantly lower frequency of hip dysplasia in the limit-fed dogs."
• Are high calcium diets related to bone disease? "While feeding a special formula large breed puppy food to your puppy is not bad, there are no concrete studies that show it is better than a balanced puppy food formulated for all puppies."
• Overfeeding During Growth "Overfeeding during the phase of rapid growth after weaning is linked to a variety of multi-factorial skeletal diseases including osteochondrosis, hip dysplasia, hypertrophic dystrophy and wobbler syndrome. A high protein diet (30% on a dry matter basis) does not increase the frequency or severity of skeletal abnormalities in giant breed dogs. So the excess weight during the period of rapid growth, rather than the protein content of the diet, is probably the factor which alters skeletal development.
• "Relationship of Nutrition to Developmental Skeletal Disease in Young Dogs "Excessive dietary energy may support a growth rate that is too fast for proper skeletal development and results in a higher frequency of skeletal abnormalities in large and giant-breed dogs Because fat has twice the caloric density of protein or carbohydrate, dietary fat is the primary contributor to excess energy intake. . . . Unlike other species, protein excess has not been demonstrated to negatively affect calcium metabolism or skeletal development in dogs. Protein deficiency, however, has more impact on the developing skeleton."
• Dietary Mineral Levels Affect Bone Development in Great Dane Pups "Controlling skeletal growth is considered critical in decreasing the expression of developmental bone disease in large and giant breed puppies. For these puppies, intake of calories and calcium should be restricted to a level that supports an adequate, but not excessive growth rate. If large and giant breed puppies are given unrestricted access from weaning to a puppy food with usual mineral and energy content, high mineral intakes may quickly result in bone mineral changes that could contribute to persistent skeletal problems."
• The optimal growth of large breed puppies "Excessive food intake (calories) during growth results in a higher risk of developing HD. . . . Research into the growth of Great Danes (Nap RC, The Netherlands,) has shown that the protein level of a diet has no significant influence on skeletal development. High protein intake does not result in increased risk for OCD or HD, and there is no effect on the development in the longitudinal growth of the bone."
• Canine Hip Dysplasia
• Unilateral Hip Dysplasia
• Feeding Puppies An Adult Food
• Successfully Raising the Large Breed Puppy

Prescription Diets While I think many prescription diets are inappropriate (particularly those prescribed for struvite crystals), if you do need to feed a prescription diet, IVD (now owned by Royal Canin) appears to be better quality than Purina, Eukanuba or Hill's. Since IVD was bought by Royal Canin, these diets no longer carry the IVD name, but can be distinguished from the Royal Canin brand by the use of the word "Formula" in their names, such as "Sensitive Formula" or "Modified Formula". See them listed under "Limited Ingredient Diets" on the Royal Canin Veterinary Diets site. The Royal Canin Hi-Tor diets for special needs may also be better quality than Hill's or Purina, though I'm not as sure of this; they can be found at Waggin' Tails.  Prescription Diets are also available through RxPetFood.com and National Pet Pharmacy. Your vet must approve a prescription for you to be able to order this food for home delivery.
Wysong has introduced a line of freeze-dried prescription diets for a variety of conditions. These foods can only be ordered through veterinarians. Note I don't recommend their Nephreon diet for dogs with kidney disease as it is high in phosphorus.
Note that prescription diets are not always needed. For example, dogs with liver disease do not need a diet change unless they are showing symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy. Prescription diets for weight loss are high in carbohydrates, which has been shown to be an ineffective method of weight control (see section on Senior and Overweight Dogs above). A prescription diet is not needed for dogs with diabetes -- see the K9Nutrition FAQ for more info; also this article that concludes, "Consumption of diets with low carbohydrate, high protein, and moderate fat content may be advantageous for prevention and management of obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, and diabetes in cats and dogs."
Check my Specific Conditions and Kidney web pages for more information, as well as the K9Nutrition FAQ, and consider joining an email list to learn more if your veterinarian suggests putting your dog on a prescription diet.

Melamine and Cyanuric Acid
As everyone must be aware by now, there was a massive recall of pet foods beginning in March, 2007, due to contaminants that caused kidney failure in death in thousands of pets (see my Recall page for more information). Eventually, the cause was determined to be contamination with melamine and cyanuric acid, ingredients that are often added illegally to foods in China to artificially increase their protein level. Contamination was found first in wheat gluten, then in rice protein concentrate, then in corn gluten (in South Africa), all coming from China (chicken jerky from China has also been implicated in kidney problems and death, but the cause has not been identified). Since that time, most of the better dog food companies have instituted testing for these two substances, and have taken steps to eliminate ingredients sourced from China. Unfortunately, there are a few ingredients that simply cannot be found elsewhere in quantity, including taurine, glucosamine and most B vitamins. Note that companies who say that all of their ingredients come from US companies are being disingenuous, as the original source of some parts could still be China.

Eagle Pack, whose foods are EU (European Union) certified, which requires disclosure of the country of origin of all ingredients, has this to say: "Due to the global economy and worldwide outsourcing, some ingredients or supplements are not made in the U.S. or are not made in sufficient quantity. Most pet food and human food companies and makers of supplements most likely source some supplements from China. Most B vitamins for human and pet consumption come from China. In our supplements, U.S. vitamin maker BASF sources some vitamins from China. This will be true of the vitamin content for most pet foods you buy and for many pet or human vitamins you use. The Glucosamine we humans take as well as the Glucosamine in your pet’s food most likely is sourced from  China. The same is true for human grade Taurine. Some pet food makers seem unaware that some ingredients of necessity must be sourced from China; scary they don’t know."
 

Canned Foods and Refrigerated or Frozen Cooked Foods

Here are some of the better canned foods that I have heard about. This is not a complete list of the high quality foods available, which are growing all the time. For a more extensive list, see the Whole Dog Journal, which publishes an article on the best canned foods each January. You can also write to me for comments on any individual food you may be interested in (my email address is at the bottom of the page). I have added links to Amazon as a source for many of these foods if you are unable to find them locally, though shipping will add substantially to the cost.

Addiction ~ High quality ingredients. Exotic protein (venison, unagi [eel] and brushtail), grain-free, limited ingredient diets suitable for feeding to dogs with severe food allergies. I would not recommend feeding these foods to normal, healthy dogs, as it's better to reserve novel proteins for future use in case your dog ever develops food allergies. Note the vegetarian diet is not recommended (see Don't Bite on the Veggie Dog for more info on this topic).

Artemis ~ Available in Europe and Asia, as well as the US. Human grade, antibiotic- and hormone-free meats. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Back to Basics ~ Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. All canned varieties are grain-free. Pork variety has limited ingredients and an unusual protein that might be used to test for or feed dogs with food allergies. Available at PetFoodDirect.

Blue Buffalo ~ Human-grade, hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients (confirmed with company). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

By Nature, from Blue Seal, offers organic chicken and turkey formulas that look very good. Both are grain-free. Note that the 100% Organic Chicken and Turkey are NOT complete diets and are useful only for supplemental feeding. Their Naturals line of 95% Meat formulas are OK, but make no mention of using human grade ingredients. Available from PetFoodDirect.

California Natural: See Natura below.

Canidae ~ Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. Herring meal is ethoxyquin-free. All ingredients are tested for melamine and cyanuric acid. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Castor & Pollus Organix ~ Over 70% certified organic ingredients. In addition, chicken and turkey are free-range. Products are tested for melamine and cyanuric acid.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul ~ High quality, hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients. Offers higher-protein senior diet.  Available from PetFoodDirect.

Doctors Foster & Smith ~ High-quality ingredients, high meat content.

Dogswell Uses antibiotic-free, cage-free chicken and duck. All canned foods are grain-free. Products are inspected for melamine. Note that the duck products contain other meats (chicken, salmon), so cannot be used as a novel protein for an elimination diet. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Eagle Pack Holistic Select ~ Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. Fish meal is ethoxyquin-free. "Eagle Pack Super Premium formulas are nutritionally balanced so pet owners can mix up to 25% raw food with the Eagle Pack formulas." Products are tested for melamine. Eagle Pack is EU (European Union) certified, which requires disclosure of the country of origin of their ingredients. They have eliminated Chinese-sourced ingredients except where it is not possible to do so (see above for more info). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect. Eagle Pack and Wellness are now owned by the same company, called WellPet.

Evanger's for Dogs ~ In addition to its complete meals, Evanger's also offers "100% Meat Classic" and "Game Meats" formulas that are not nutritionally complete but can be used short-term for elimination diets (to determine if your dog has food allergies) or in combination with other foods. Several varieties are grain-free. Foods are hand-packed at their own facility. Note the Vegetarian Dinner is NOT recommended (see Don't Bite on the Veggie Dog for more info on this topic). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect. WARNING: The FDA has suspended Evanger's license to ship canned foods interstate due to  procedural problems that could lead to the growth of dangerous bacteria in these foods. This problem has been going on since at least April, 2008. Evanger's response says this is a paperwork issue only, and it's possible that the FDA is scapegoating them. No food has been recalled and the FDA has not claimed any actual problems with the food, although a handful of anecdotes say Evanger's have  been unresponsive, dismissive or even abusive towards people who have reported problems with their foods.

EVO: See Natura below.

Fromm Four Star Nutritionals ~ USDA inspected meats, high quality US-sourced ingredients. We pay more for our fish, whitefish, and salmon to not be treated or preserved with ethoxyquin." Several varieties are limited-ingredient and grain-free, with unusual proteins, which can help dogs with food allergies. One variety, "Chicken Thighs," includes bones cooked to softeness, a natural source of calcium and other nutrients. Available from PetFoodDirect.

Go! Natural from Petcurean ~ Human grade ingredients. Now available in Germany, Israel and several Asian countries. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Halo Spot's Stew from Halo Purely for Pets. Web site used to say they used human-grade ingredients, but this has been replaced with "highest quality ingredients," and there is no mention of whether their meats are homone- and antibiotic-free. Note these foods are higher in moisture (broth) than most canned foods, meaning you'll probably have to feed more than you would of other foods. Available from PetFoodDirect.

Innova: See Natura below.

Instinct: See Nature's Variety below.

Life4K9 Human grade ingredients.

Merrick Several varieties are grain-free, including their new Before Grain line (which is not a complete diet; includes a tripe variety). Merrick is available from SitStay, Amazon and PetFoodDirect

Natura makes several varieties of recommended foods. All foods are tested by an independent laboratory for melamine and cyanuric acid (see press release).  "We have also directed our buyers to source ingredients from domestic sources and, in the few cases where an ingredient is only available offshore, we have instituted an elevated level of control and testing." Innova, EVO and California Natural are available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

California Natural a limited ingredient diet that can be helpful for dogs with food allergies

Innova

Evo grain-free, high in protein and fat (both of which are good for dogs, though fat should be limited to more moderate amounts for inactive dogs) and low in carbs. Now offering beef, chicken/turkey, duck, rabbit and venison varieties.

Natural Balance ~ Human grade ingredients. Products are tested for melamine and cyanuric acid. L.I.D. Limited Ingredient Diets are grain-free and may help dogs with food allergies. Also see the new Eatables line, and they now offer cooked Frozen Loaves in select locations. Dry and canned foods available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Nature's Variety Instinct, Prairie and Homestyle ~ Instinct is higher-protein, lower-carb and grain-free. The Venison variety should not be fed to large-breed puppies due to high calcium levels (the other varieties have much less calcium and should be OK). Homestyle is offering several new flavors that use unusual proteins (salmon, pork, bison), but they are mixed with more common proteins (chicken, turkey, beef), so not appropriate for dogs who need a limited-ingredient diet, and remember to save some of those exotic proteins for the future in case they're needed if your dog develops food allergies. Available from SitStay, Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Newman's Own Organics Now offering grain-free Beef and Liver varieties that are 95% organic meat, with no carbs. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Party Animal "Organic" Gourmet Dog Food Uses organic (hormone- and antibiotic-free) meats and other high-quality ingredients. Several varieties are grain-free. Limited availability, can be found at Whole Foods (see their store locator for other sources).

Performatrin Ultra ~ Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients

Pet Promise ~ hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients from animals raised humanely on family farms. Available from PetFoodDirect.

Solid Gold ~ Solid Gold offers a Green Tripe canned dog food with very limited ingredients, which can help dogs with food allergies. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Tiki Dog from Petropics. Human-grade ingredients, most appear to be from Thailand. All foods include fish that is sustainably caught.

Timberwolf Organics Offers four new canned foods, all high-protein and low-carbohydrate. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

VeRUS Pet Foods Human-grade ingredients. Chicken is antibiotic-free. Available from PetFoodDirect.

Vets Choice Holistic Health Extension Human-grade ingredients, but no mention of antibiotics and hormones. I have been told third-hand that this company is privately owned in Long Island, NY. Limited availability.

Wellness from Old Mother Hubbard ~ Human grade ingredients. Products are tested for melamine and cyanuric acid. "Wellness® only uses ethoxyquin-free protein sources." Old Mother Hubbard also makes 95% Meat Formulas that are not complete diets but can  be used as a mixer, similar to adding plain meat. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect. Eagle Pack and Wellness are now owned by the same company, called WellPet.

Weruva Approved for human consumption. Chicken is antibiotic-free. Some varieties are grain-free. Non-Kobe varieties are very high moisture percentage (lots of water), so you will likely have to feed more than with other canned foods. Available from PetFoodDirect.

Wysong ~ Wysong also makes Au Jus all meat diets that are not complete diets but can be used as a mixer, similar to adding plain meat. They include some exotic proteins (duck, rabbit, venison) that can be used in an elimination diet to test for food allergies. Check out their new Uncanny dehydrated products, which are high-protein and low-carb, with low heat processing, but very expensive and designed for supplemental feeding only (not a complete diet). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

ZiwiPeak ~ New Zealand food made from human-grade, free-range, antibiotic- and hormone-free meats. Products are 85% meat-based and grain-free. Limited ingredients, may be good for dogs with food allergies. Varieties include Lamb, Venison, and a mixture of those two meats with lamb and venison tripe. "Where to Buy" link indicates it is available at limited locations in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, including K9RawDiet. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

"All Meat" Diets

All meat diets can also be used to supplement dry or canned dog food (as can fresh meat, cooked or raw). If you do this, I would stick to the more common meats rather than feeding exotic proteins, which should be reserved in case they are needed in the future for food allergies. See the section on Adding Fresh Foods below for more info.

There are two supplements that can be used with all meat diets to provide complete nutrition:

• Wysong's Call of the Wild supplement is designed to balance out all meat diets (home made diets that do not include bone), though it does not guarantee to meet AAFCO guidelines.
• See Spot Live Longer is offering a new product called Homemade Dinner Mixes, designed to balance out a meat-based diet. This product is from the developer of Steve's Real Food for Dogs, a complete raw diet.

Canine Caviar makes a canned Beaver diet that is nothing but processed beaver meat (from animals harvested to control their population). This company also makes canned Duck (with sweet potato), Turkey and Venison Tripe all meat varieties with nothing else added. Beaver variety is available by the case at Whole Pet Foods. Canine Caviar also offers frozen all meat Beaver and Turkey varieties. Available from PetFoodDirect.

By Nature, from Blue Seal, offers canned organic all meat chicken and turkey varieties. They also offer these same meats combined with limited vegetables and supplements. The all meat diets are definitely not complete, and there is no mention of meeting AAFCO guidelines even on the varieties that have added veggies and supplements, though they may. These foods contain only 20 kcals per ounce, which is lower than most canned foods, so you'd have to feed more of them. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Tripett offers canned beef and lamb tripe with very little added (just garlic and vegetable gum, plus fish oil and glucosamine/chondroitin in the lamb variety). Warning: tripe smells awful, but dogs love it. Available from SitStay, Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

PetKind Venison, Duck and Salmon has fish oil added, but is still not a complete diet. Due to having three different proteins plus fish oil, it would not be a good choice to use to test for food allergies. There is no mention of using human-grade ingredients. Available from SitStay, PetFoodDirect and NationalPetPharmacy.

Wellness makes 95% meat formulas designed to be added to kibble (they are not complete diets). They add natural flavors, cassia gum, and carrageenan, which should be avoided if you're trying to feed a true elimination diet to test for food allergies, but are otherwise OK. Varieties include chicken, beef, venison, salmon and turkey. Available from PetFoodDirect.

Abady (Natural Electives) also makes all meat canned foods, but they do not use human grade ingredients.

Refrigerated or Frozen Cooked Foods

Country Pet Pet Food is a frozen, cooked diet made from hearts, lungs, livers, kidney, meat and bone from range-raised lamb, beef, chicken and poultry, free of antibiotics and hormones. Also uses eggs, and one variety has a small amount of veggies. No grains. Made in New Zealand and available at some retailers such as Whole Foods. Note that Country Pet is made by Canz, who also make Butch and Real Meat labels. These foods appear similar and it's not clear what the differences are between the three lines. There is no AAFCO nutrition statement, probably because these foods are made in New Zealand. Their shopping site states that both Country Pet and Real Meat are "complete diets" and the Butch site says "All Butch products are made from fresh ingredients including beef, lamb, chicken, fish, eggs and cereals, which are scientifically blended with a range of vitamins and minerals for a perfectly balanced, complete diet for your dog or cat."

Freshpet makes two fresh (not frozen) refrigerated products: Homestyle Select and Deli Fresh. Both are pasteurized and "gently cooked with minimal heat." Both Homestyle Select and Deli Fresh are made up of approximately 70% meat and 30% vegetables and grains. All ingredients are human grade, but there's no mention of whether meat is hormone- and antibiotic-free. Homestyle Select is available at some Costco and grocery stores. Deli Fresh is available at Petco, PetSmart and other stores.

Culinary Crossing offers several human-grade diets for adult dogs. These diets are lightly cooked and come refrigerated or frozen. Available from PetFoodDirect but is very expensive due to shipping cost.
 

Dry Foods (Kibble and Dehydrated)

ACANA from Champion Pet Foods (also see Orijen below) ~ Premium Canadian pet food, uses human-grade, antibiotic- and hormone-free ingredients. Offers higher-protein senior and light diets, and a large-breed puppy food with appropriate amounts of calcium and protein. All ACANA diets are high in protein (most are over 55-60% meat ingredients) and low in carbs. Their new Acana Provincial line offers three grain-free food. Available throughout Canada and in many US states, plus Australia and some European countries.

Addiction High quality ingredients. Addiction uses novel proteins (kangaroo, venison, brushtail), and limited ingredients suitable for feeding to dogs with severe food allergies. Offers raw dehydrated foods as well as regular dry foods. I would not recommend feeding this food to normal, healthy dogs, as it's better to reserve novel proteins for future use in case your dog ever develops food allergies. Note the vegetarian diet is not recommended (see Don't Bite on the Veggie Dog for more info on this topic).

Annamaet Human grade chicken and brown rice (not sure about the other ingredients). Adult variety is suitable for dogs who need a very low fat diet. Ultra is high-protein and high-fat, suitable for very active dogs.

Artemis Human grade, antibiotic- and hormone-free meats. Weight management variety not recommended for that purpose (see above for more info), but might be good for a dog prone to pancreatitis or fat intolerance. Now offering a high-protein, low-carb, grain-free variety called Maximal Dog. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect. Also available in Europe and Asia.

Back to Basics Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Blue Buffalo Human-grade, hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients (confirmed with company). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

By Nature, from Blue Seal, offers an organic chicken formula that looks very good. Their regular formulas are OK, but make no mention of using human grade ingredients. They have a pork and sweet potato variety that might be helpful for dogs with food allergies, though it also contains other ingredients. Available from PetFoodDirect.

California Natural: See Natura below.

Canidae Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. Herring meal is ethoxyquin-free. All ingredients are tested for melamine and cyanuric acid. Note their dry formulas were changed in June, 2008, which caused problems for some dogs (there's even a class action law suit because of it). New higher-protein, grain-free formulas now available (Beef & Fish Formula is lower in fat). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Canine Caviar Human-grade, hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients. Meats are raw and dehydrated (cooked for 6 seconds). Offers a high-protein, grain-free Venison & Split Pea variety that may be helpful for dogs with food allergies, though it contains a number of other ingredients. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Castor & Pollux Organix Over 70% certified organic ingredients. Products are tested for melamine and cyanuric acid. Available from Amazon.

Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover's Soul High quality ingredients. Offers higher-protein senior diet. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Doctors Foster & Smith Good ingredients, though no mention of human-grade.

Dog Lover's Gold Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free, free range ingredients. Also available in Europe.

Dogswell Uses antibiotic-free, cage-free chicken and duck. Products are inspected for melamine. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Eagle Pack Holistic Select ~ Human grade, hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients. Fish meal is ethoxyquin-free. "Eagle Pack Super Premium formulas are nutritionally balanced so pet owners can mix up to 25% raw food with the Eagle Pack formulas." Offers higher-protein senior diet. Dry foods are manufactured in their own plant. Products are tested for melamine. Eagle Pack is EU (European Union) certified, which requires disclosure of the country of origin of their ingredients. They have eliminated Chinese-sourced ingredients except where it is not possible to do so (see above for more info). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect. Eagle Pack and Wellness are now owned by the same company, called WellPet.

Evanger's for Dogs ~ Human grade ingredients. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

EVO: See Natura below.

FirstMate Offers a number of rain-free, limited ingredient diets that may be beneficial for dogs with food allergies. All ingredients sourced from North America (except Australian lamb) and "are 100% ethoxyquin free." Senior and "Trim and Light" varieties not recommended as they are low-protein, high-carb.

Flint River Ranch (multiple distributors) ~ Human grade, hormone-free ingredients. "All Flint River Ranch pet foods and pet treats are Guaranteed Free of BHA, BHT, and Ethoxyquin."

FrommFour Star Nutritionals and Gold Nutritionals ~ USDA inspected meats, high quality ingredients (note the Classic line is much lower quality and not recommended). "We pay more for our fish, whitefish, and salmon to not be treated or preserved with ethoxyquin." Surf & Turf variety is higher-protein and grain-free. Dry food available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Go! Natural: see Petcurean below.

Halo Spot's Stew New dry-food options from a company that used to only offer canned. Web site used to say they used human-grade ingredients, but this has been removed, and there is no mention of whether their meats are homone- and antibiotic-free. Available from PetFoodDirect.

Horizon Pet Nutrition New company in Saskatchewan, Canada manufactures their own food using human-grade ingredients. Legacy line is high protein and grain-free. Offers higher-protein senior diet that is low enough in fat for dogs who need a low-fat diet. Also offers a raw food diet called Horizon Pure. Available only in Canada.

Innova: see Natura below.

Instinct: See Nature's Variety below.

• Life4K9 Human grade ingredients.
• Merrick Pet Foods ~ Human grade ingredients. Now offering a new Before Grain grain-free line of foods (the dry foods are complete diets; the canned are meat only). Merrick is available from SitStay, Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Natura makes several varieties of recommended foods. They use human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. Dry foods are manufactured in their own plant. All foods have been tested by an independent laboratory and found to be free of melamine and cyanuric acid (see press release). "We have also directed our buyers to source ingredients from domestic sources and, in the few cases where an ingredient is only available offshore, we have instituted an elevated level of control and testing." In 2009, the company announced that no ingredients are sourced from China. All are available from PetFoodDirect.

• Innova offers adult, puppy and large-breed puppy and senior varieties. Both their Senior Plus and their Large Breed Senior diets are higher in protein. Available from Amazon.
• EVO is a high-protein, low-carb, grain-free diet. The ingredients look very good, but I have heard reports of some dogs having problems on this diet, especially when used long term (problems include excessive water drinking in a number of dogs, probably due to the high protein content, and dry coat in a few, possibly due to the high calcium in the regular variety). I think it is better used as part of the diet, or as part of a rotation of foods, rather than fed all the time. Regular is quite high in fat, suitable for feeding to very active dogs who are not overweight. Regular and Reduced Fat EVO varieties should not be fed to large-breed puppies under 6 months olddue to the high calcium content. The Red Meat variety is lower in calcium and so it is safer, though the amount of calcium is still higher than is recommended for large-breed puppies. Mixing EVO half and half with a variety of animal protein sources (boneless meat, eggs, dairy, etc.) will reduce the overall calcium percentage in the diet to a more acceptable level. Available from Amazon.
• California Natural Often recommended for dogs with allergies, has the fewest ingredients. Available from Amazon.
• HealthWise Available from Amazon.
• Karma Organic Ingredients are good, but this food is lower in protein and higher in carbs than I like to see. Adding some fresh, high-protein foods such as eggs and meat would improve the overall diet. Available at Amazon.

• Natural Balance Ultra Premium ~ Human grade ingredients. Products are tested for melamine and cyanuric acid. Three L.I.D. limited-ingredient, grain-free varieties available, which may be good for dogs with food allergies: Potato & Duck, Sweet Potato & Fish, and Sweet Potato & Venison. Note that their Dog Food Rolls make great treats, but are not recommended as a major part of the diet due to the high amounts of sugar (sucrose). As always, the Vegetarian Formula is NOT recommended (see Don't Bite on the Veggie Dog for more info on this topic). Dry and canned foods available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Natural Planet Organics ~ Many organic ingredients. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Nature's Variety Prairie and Instinct ~ Human grade ingredients. Instinct is higher-protein, low-carb and grain-free (it uses tapioca). Instinct  is quite high in fat, suitable for feeding to very active dogs who are not overweight. The Chicken variety of Instinct should not be fed to large-breed puppies due to high calcium levels (the Rabbit variety has much less calcium and should be OK for large-breed puppies, and the Duck & Turkey variety is in the middle). Available from SitStay, Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Newman's Own Organics ~ Human grade, hormone and antibiotic free ingredients. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Orijen from Champion Pet Foods (also see ACANA above) ~ Premium Canadian pet food, uses human-grade, antibiotic- and hormone-free ingredients. Fish meal is ethoxyquin-free. All foods are high-protein, low-carb and grain-free, including their senior and puppy diets. Puppy diets have the proper amount of calcium (not too much, as is found in some high-protein foods). Also offers a 6 Fresh Fish variety that may be beneficial for dogs with allergies, though it includes a number of ingredients. Highly recommended, I've heard nothing but good feedback from those who feed Orijen. Available throughout Canada, and in many US states, as well as Australia and some European countries. ORIJEN is also now available from Waggintails.com and from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Performatrin Ultra ~ Human grade, hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients
• Pet Promise ~ hormone- and antibiotic-free ingredients from animals raised humanely on family farms. Their "Healthy Weight & Aging" formula is lower-fat but still higher-protein. I'm not thrilled with their use of corn gluten meal and soy flour, both of which are sources of incomplete, poor-quality protein, but feel their commitment to humanely-raised animals and high-quality meat products still makes this a superior food. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Petcurean offers several formulas, all using human-grade ingredients. Now available in Germany, Israel and several Asian countries.
• Go! Natural Includes a limited-ingredient Salmon & Oatmeal diet for dogs with food allergies and high-protein Grain Free Endurance Formula. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Now! Grain Free  Note these foods have normal protein and fat levels (many grain-free foods are high-fat, suitable for very active dogs who are not overweight). Higher-protein senior formula (recommended). Available from PetFoodDirect.
• Summit Holistics
• Solid Gold ~ Offering a high-protein, low-carb, grain-free variety called Barking at the Moon for adult dogs (not recommended for large-breed puppies under the age of six months due to high calcium content). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Taste of the Wild ~ several higher-protein, lower-carb, grain-free formulas. No mention of human-grade ingredients, and this food is made by Diamond, so it's unlikely. Exotic proteins are used, but not exclusively, so most of these foods wouldn't be a good choice for a dog with food allergies (for example, the High Prairie Canine Formula contains both bison and venison, along with lamb, chicken eggs, fish and other ingredients), but might help a dog who has problems with grains. Remember too that it's a good idea to reserve at least some exotic proteins for future use in case needed for an elimination diet or to treat severe food allergies. This food appears to be better quality than other Diamond brand foods, but is not in the same league with other grain-free formulas listed here. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• Timberwolf Organics Offers two grain-free varieties: Ocean Blue and Wild & Natural (the latter is also high-protein and low-carb). Note that ingredients for some products have changed recently (as of 12/07), and in June, 2008, they recalled some batches of Dakota Bison and Ocean Blue, so if your dog begins experiencing problems after doing fine in the past, it may relate to the change in formulas. See the Dog Food Project and Timberwolf Organics for more info (ingredient comparison here). Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.
• TLC Whole Life Dog Food Ingredients are not human-grade or antibiotic-free, but uses whole grains and natural preservatives, including ethoxyquin-free salmon. Also offers free shipping.
• VeRUS Pet Foods Human-grade ingredients. Chicken and lamb are antibiotic-free, lamb is free-range and grass-fed. Weight management variety not recommended, as it is low-protein, high-carb. Available from PetFoodDirect.
• Vets Choice Holistic Health Extension Human-grade (some organic) ingredients, but no mention of antibiotics and hormones. I have been told third-hand that this company is privately owned in Long Island, NY. Limited availability.
• Viand from PHD Products. Company encourages the mixing of raw meat wtih this diet. This company also makes a dehydrated product called Aelyon (see below), and another dry food called CoMend, which is lower in protein (not recommended).
• Wellness from Old Mother Hubbard ~ Human grade ingredients. "Wellness® only uses ethoxyquin-free protein sources." Also offers Simple Solutions using exotic protein sources (duck and venison) for dogs with food allergies. NEW: now offering high-protein, low-carb, grain-free product line called CORE for adult dogs, including a reduced-fat version (good for dogs who need to lose weight, or who have problems tolerating too much fat), and a fish-based variety called Ocean. All products are tested for melamine and cyanuric acid. Wellness and CORE are available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect. Eagle Pack and Wellness are now owned by the same company, called WellPet.
• Wenaewe ~ Organic, also available in Europe and South America. Made in Uruguay.
• Wysong ~ Human grade ingredients. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect. In addition to their regular foods, Wysong has introduced a line of freeze-dried prescription diets for a variety of conditions. These foods can only be ordered through veterinarians.

Dehydrated Foods

• Addiction ~ Offers raw dehydrated foods as well as regular dry foods. Note that Herbed Lamb & Potatoes variety is high in fat, which is only suitable for very active dogs who are lean. See above under Dry Foods for more information.
• Aelyon from PHD Products. Dehydrated product that can be fed alone, or combined with meat, eggs, etc. Claims to be a complete diet, though there is no mention of AAFCO on their site. Replaces NDF.
• Grandma Lucy's True Grain-Free Dog Food 1-800-906-LUCY ~ Human-grade ingredients. Approved for all life stages. Available at SitStay.com and PetFoodDirect.
• N-R-G ~ Dehydrated Canadian pet food, uses free range human grade meats. Available only in Canada.
• The Honest Kitchen ~ Offers dehydrated foods that can be used as complete diets, but  are designed so that you can add your own fresh foods (Preference variety must have fresh foods added). Includes some grain-free versions (Force, Embark). Embark and Thrive are suitable for puppies and for pregnant and nursing mothers. Also available at K9RawDiet, SitStay and Amazon. Foods are made in a human food manufacturing facility, and are tested for melamine.
• Sojo's Complete Dog Food Mix New food from Sojourner Farms that adds dehydrated turkey, making it a complete diet.
• ZiwiPeak ~ New Zealand dehydrated food made from human-grade, free-range, antibiotic- and hormone-free meats. Products are 85% meat-based and are grain-free with little or no carbs. Limited ingredients, may be good for dogs with food allergies. Also good for use as training treats. Widely available online; "Where to Buy" link indicates it is available at limited locations in the US, Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. Also offers a canned version. Available from Amazon and PetFoodDirect.

Soaking Kibble It is best to soak any kibble in warm water or broth (watch out for too much sodium), to help with digestion. Soaking dry food in heated water for 10-15 minutes starts breaking down the binders in the kibble, releasing some of its tasty fat and flavoring and cutting down the time it takes the stomach to break it down for its trip through the small intestine. Note that once dry food has been soaked in water, it cannot be left out or it will go bad, so this can only be done with food the dog eats right away. Also, the Purdue Bloat Study showed a link between soaking kibble that contains citric acid and bloat, something to be aware of if your dog is deep chested or from a breed prone to bloat. Contrary to popular belief, hard kibble does not  keep teeth clean, though chewing on bones, chew toys and whole pieces of meat, etc. helps to reduce calculus and gingivitis, and there are certain types of oral hygiene kibbles designed to be chewed that can help to slow calculus accumulation, though they won't remove it. The best thing you can do to prevent periodontal disease is brushing your dog's teeth at least three times a week. This is especially important for small dogs, who are most seriously affected by periodontal disease due to the small size of their mouths which leads to crowding of the teeth and reduced bone for anchoring teeth. Existing calculus can only be removed by cleaning under anesthesia (not the type of scaling done by groomers, which does not get under the gums where the real problems lie). See the following articles for more info:

• Periodontal Disease & Dental Home Care
• Canine Dental Care
• Oral Disease in Dogs and Cats
• Wysong Dentatreat
• Canine Nutrition and Oral Health

Dog Food Mixes

These foods appear to provide a complete diet when fresh foods are added per instructions:

• The Honest Kitchen (866) 437-9729 ~ The Honest Kitchen offers dehydrated foods that can be used as complete diets, but  are designed so that you can add your own fresh foods (Preference variety must have fresh foods added). Includes some grain-free versions (Force, Embark). Embark and Thrive are suitable for puppies and for pregnant and nursing mothers. Available at SitStay and Amazon. Foods are made in a human food manufacturing facility, and are tested for melamine.
• West Coast Canine Life (250) 598-8370 ~ West Coast Canine Life offers several different varieties, including different mixes for those who feed raw meaty bones (where the bone is consumed), and for those who don't. They also have a mix especially for puppies, and a number of mixes for specific health problems, such as gluten-free.
• Sojo's Original Dog Food Mix (formerly called European-Style) 888-867-6567 Sojo's also offers Grain-free Dog Food Mix (formerly called Europa) and Monzie's Organic Müesli. All of these mixes are designed to be balanced when you add fresh meat. Sojo's now offers Sojo's Complete Dog Food Mix, which includes meat. Available from Amazon.
• Urban Wolf (866) 530-0322 ~ Urban Wolf is a Grain-Free mix uses Sweet Potato and vegetables. Also offers a Dietary Balancer for Puppies. Available from K9RawDiet.
• Know Better Dog Food 1.866.922.6463 ~ Know Better offers two varieties: My Master’s Choice, which includes dried liver, and Better in the Raw, to which you add liver, in addition to meat, oil and other healthy foods.
• Furoshnikov's Formulas 612-388-2315 ~ Offers two Furoshnikov's Formula products: one is a mix of organic brown rice and dehydrated carrots, the other is a vitamin-mineral mix meant to balance out a limited homemade diet.
• Wendy Volhard's NDF (Natural Diet Foundation) marketed by Handcraft Collars, 800-837-2033 ~ Now available as a single mixture (NDF2) in addition to the original AM and PM separate mixtures. I have a report that one dog with EPI (Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency) was put on NDF and is thriving -- no more yellow stools, food is being digested well. She also takes pancreatic enzymes. Also see the K9-EPIGlobal email list for more information on this condition.

• Noah's Kingdom 800-662-4711 ~ Noah's Kingdom is also carried at California Pacific ~ 888-766-9725
• Happy Dog Food 800-359-9576 Happy Dog Food is similar to Noah's Kingdom but much cheaper, includes separate vitamin and herbs powder
• Dr. Harvey's Canine Health (866) 362-4123 ~ It is not clear how much calcium Dr. Harvey's product contains, and whether it would really provide a balanced diet. It would be fine to feed occasionally, but look for a product that gives you more information for long-term use. Available from Amazon and SitStay.
• Essex Cottage Farms 866-530-0322
• Spectrum Pet Care's "Just Add Base Mix" and "Mix & Fix" 866-354-2832
• Birkdale Pet Mix 1-888-524-7247

• The Honest Kitchen (866) 437-9729 ~ Preference is the only variety must have fresh foods added. See the first section in this category above for more information on The Honest Kitchen foods.
• Solid Gold Holistique Blendz 800-364-4863 ~ Solid Gold says this food "was created to be used as the nutritionally balanced base, to which additional raw (or cooked) meat, vegetables, Buckaroo Beef or canned food can be added." See page 11 of the Solid Gold catalog for more info. See the Canned Foods and Dry Foods sections above for more information on Solid Gold.
• EVO by Natura 800-532-726 ~ "Use EVO alone or as a supplement to your raw or home cooked pet food for a complete and balanced natural feeding." See the Canned Foods and Dry Foods sections above for more information on EVO.
• Black Forest Canid Formula from Timberwolf Organics 407-877-8779 ~ From the FAQ: "Our Black Forest Canine Formula was designed to be mixed with meat." See the Canned Foods and Dry Foods sections above for more information on Timberwolf.

• See Spot Live Longer is offering a new product called Homemade Dinner Mixes, a combination of whole foods and synthetic supplements designed to balance out a meat-based diet. This product is from the developer of Steve's Real Food for Dogs, a complete raw diet.
• Wysong's Call of the Wild supplement is designed to balance out all meat diets (home made diets that do not include bone).
• Furoshnikov's Formulas offers a mixture called Vitamins & Minerals for Home-Cooked Dog Food, designed to balance out a limited, high-carbohydrate diet.
• Balance IT is a supplement designed to balance a very limited, high-carbohydrate diet (similar to the supplements added to commercial foods). I don't recommend their recipes, which are extremely high in carbohydrates with minimal amounts of protein, but you can enter "VIN" or "Wal-Mart" or "homemade" in the Promo Code to get a free recipe (not sure if these codes are still good). If possible, choose one that says "high protein" (even the "high protein" diets are high in carbs, but not as bad as the others).

Following is some general information on a variety of supplements. However, you may want to consider supplementing your commercial diet with food, rather than (or in addition to) vitamin supplements. See the section above on Adding Fresh Foods to a Commercial Diet for more information.

1. Fish Oil or Salmon Oil: An important source of omega-3 essential fatty acids. Omega-3 EFAs are beneficial to the immune system, the nervous system, the heart, and help stop inflammation, such as in arthritis and allergies. They also support brain development of puppies and fetuses. This is probably the most important supplement to give, no matter what you feed, as Omega-3 EFAs are hard to find even in a natural diet, and are highly perishable when exposed to heat, light or air, so they do not survive in commercial foods even if added. Omega-3 EFAs are found in fish body oil, not liver oil. They are also found in flax seed oil, although that form is not as well utilized and some dogs can be allergic to flax. Recommended amount is 1000 mg fish oil (containing 300 mg combined EPA/DHA) per 30 pounds (14 kg) of body weight. Maximum dosage for dogs with health problems would be 1000 mg fish oil (300 mg EPA/DHA) per 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of body weight. You can also use sardines in place of fish oil supplements; one small sardine supplies over 100 mg EPA/DHA. Vitamin E should also be given whenever oils are supplemented (even small amounts are adequate, but highest recommended dosage would be 100 IU per day for small dogs, 200 IU for medium-sized dogs, and 400 IU for large dogs). Note that fish oil is not the same as cod liver oil, which is high in vitamins A and D. Never add cod liver oil to a commercial diet, as they are already high in vitamin D, and too much is harmful.
2. Probiotics: Probiotics are the beneficial bacteria that live in the intestines and help control yeast and harmful bacteria, as well as helping with digestion and intestinal health. These friendly bacteria are destroyed whenever antibiotics are given, and can also be flushed out of the system if your dog has diarrhea. It is recommended to use probiotics for six months following any antibiotic usage. Dogs that are under stress or that have digestive problems or problems with yeast (usually manifested as itchy skin, ear infections, and chewing at feet) may benefit from routine probiotic supplementation. A supplement that contains multiple bacterial strains is preferable to those that have only a single strain (usually acidophilus). There are two strains that have been found to be particularly beneficial for dogs: Lactobacillus sporogenes (see dosage recommendations for dogs here) and Enterococcus faecium (found in many supplements, including Jarrow Formulas Pet Dophilus and Berte's Ultra Probiotic Powder). Supplements that also contain prebiotics, which are foods that nourish the beneficial bacteria themselves, such as FOS (fructooligosaccharides), chicory (found in Ark Naturals Gentle Digest and others), inulin, and larch (arabinogalactin -- see dosage for dogs here) may be especially helpful to dogs with diarrhea. You can use products made for dogs, or human-grade probiotics that you would find in a health food store. Kefir, which is easy to make at home, is also a good source of beneficial bacteria. Plain yogurt can also be used, though most brands contain only acidophilus. Most probiotics must be kept refrigerated.
3. Vitamins and Minerals: Although commercial foods include a minimal supply of added vitamins (the original ones are mostly destroyed by processing), supplementing can be beneficial, especially vitamins E, C (with bioflavonoids), and B-complex. Unfortunately, many pet multi-vitamins, such as Pet Tabs, contain too little of these vitamins to be very useful. You need to be more careful about supplementing minerals, except in whole food form, due to the potential for overdosing or not using proper combinations (for example, zinc can be dangerous if given in large quantities or not properly balanced with copper). In general, I don't recommend supplementing individual minerals without a vet's OK, but the amounts contained in most multi-vitamin and mineral supplements should be safe. See below for some recommended brands.
4. Digestive Enzymes: Since enzymes are destroyed by cooking, commercial foods are enzyme dead. Adding digestive enzymes may be beneficial if your dog suffers from digestive disorders, liver problems, pancreatitis, or is otherwise unhealthy and may benefit from getting additional nutritional value from their food. Animal-based enzymes derived from pancreatin help more with the breakdown of nutrients, while plant-based enzymes, such as bromelain and papain, seem to help more with gas and inflammation. Note that while digestive enzymes are helpful for some dogs, they can make other dogs worse, so don't use them if you don't see improvement.

Here are some examples of supplements that may be beneficial, listed in alphabetical order by category. It is not necessary to use more than one of these at a time, but doing so should cause no problems. If you like more than one, you might want to alternate using them daily or weekly, particularly for those which contain herbs, such as Hokamix , as herbs may lose their effectiveness if given continuously, better to give off and on. Just as with diet, providing variety by rotating between different supplements is preferable to always using the same one.

Whole Food Formulas:

• Animal Essentials Herbal Multi-Vitamin 1.888.463.7748. Also see their Animal Essentials Plant Enzymes and Probiotics. Available from K9RawDiet. Some Animal Essentials products are available from Amazon.
• Dr. Harvey's Golden Years Geriatric Supplement, E-mune Boost Immune Support Supplement, and MultiVitamin, Mineral & Herbal Supplement 866-362-4123. Available from Amazon.
• Essentials 4 Life 519-372-1818 (Canada)
• Feed-sentials 905-655-3833 This is a "homemade" product by a GSD breeder in Toronto, Ontario. There are a few American distributors as well, such as Stalworth Kennels. It has everything but the kitchen sink, but the ingredients are all healthy.
• Genesis Resources Canine Antioxidant Formula 720-406-7475 ~ available at Only Natural Pet Store
• Hokamix 800-825-1669 ~ Hokamix is an herbal supplement that provides "vitamins, amino acids, enzymes, antioxidants, trace elements, essential fatty acids, chlorophyll, fiber, proteins,  carbohydrates and other nutrients that occur naturally in the herbs." Available from SitStay.
• Invigor from The Honest Kitchen 1-866 4-DRY RAW (1-866 437-9729) ~ Invigor is a whole food antioxidant blend. Also see their other whole food supplements, Sparkle (Skin & Coat Support) and Perfect Form(digestive support). All are available from SitStay. and K9RawDiet.
• Missing Link 800-774-7387. Available at some pet supply stores and also from Amazon.
• Nupro 800-360-3300 ~ Available from Amazon. I have stated in the past that Nupro had too much vitamin D, but the company provided me with a more recent nutritional analysis showing this is no longer true. This supplement provides an appropriate amount of vitamins A, C, D and many of the B vitamins, along with an assortment of minerals. It is fine for adult dogs and puppies, whether added to commercial food or homemade. Write to me privately if you'd like a copy of the new analysis (my contact info is at bottom of page).
• PHD Wellness 1-800-863-3403 ~ Wellness is a "Multiple Vitamin, Mineral / Herbal Blend" containing both whole foods and synthetic ingredients. Also see their Unleash probiotic and enzyme powder (also available in tablet form), Boost antioxidant formula, and Activator (formerly Endurance) supplement for working dogs. Available from Amazon.
• Standard Process Canine Whole Body Support 800.807.8080 ~ Standard Process supplements are frequently recommended by holistic vets. Hard to find other than through vets, but now available from Amazon.
• Super Immunity from Organic Pet Superfood, (303) 523-9406. Blend of nine mushrooms designed to enhance the immune system. Available at Only Natural Pet Store
• Volhard Immune Booster vitamin-mineral mix,  Endurance supplement for working dogs, and Digestive Enzymes. Marketed by Handcraft Collars, 800-837-2033.
• Wellness Super5 Canine Supplement from Old Mother Hubbard 800-225-0904
• Wholistic Canine Complete from The Wholistic Pet 1-888-ILASAND (452-7263) ~ They also offer a Joint Mobility version that adds glucosamine, chondroitin and MSM in appropriate amounts. Available from Amazon.
• Wysong AddLife (replaces C-Biotic) 800-748-0188, 1-517-631-0009 ~ Also see Wysong's Call of the Wild supplement, which is designed to balance out all meat diets (home made diets that do not include bone), and their Wild Things veggie and fruit formula. Available from Amazon.

• All Systems Go! Total Health Aid from Aunt Jeni's 301-702-0123 ~ All Systems Go! is a whole food green blend with herbs.
• Animal Essentials Organic Green Alternative Herbal Blend 1.888.463.7748. Available from Amazon.
• Ark Naturals Nu-Pet Granular Greens 800-926-5100
• Berte's Green Blend 866-368-2728 ~ Berte's is a sea blend, good for trace minerals. It can be combined with Berte's Daily Blend Plus (below, formerly called Immune Blend). Don't combine it with Berte's Daily Blend, which already contains kelp and alfalfa.
• EarthGreens and EarthOrigins from Urban Carnivore in Canada, 1-888-665-0856
• Monica Segal Fortified Blend
• PHD Super Greens
• Preference from The Honest Kitchen, 866 4379 RAW. This is not a supplement but a dog food mix designed to be combined with fresh foods. It contains alfalfa, sweet potatoes, cabbage, celery, apples, spinach, organic kelp, coconut, bananas, zucchini, and honey. Available at SitStay.
• Solid Gold Seameal Powder 800-364-4863

• Alive! from Nature's Way 800-962-8873 ~ This is a human supplement that includes whole foods as well as synthetics. It seems to offer a good blend, including green foods, veggies, fruits and enzymes. Give full human dose (3 tablets) to large dogs, 2 tablets to medium-sized dogs, and 1 tablet to small dogs daily. Also sold through KV Vet.
• Azmira Mega Pet Daily 800-497-5665 ~ Mega Pet Daily is "a high potency, quality, nutritional supplement of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in a base of Alfalfa, Watercress, Parsley, Rice and Lecithin."
• Berte's Immune Blend 866-368-2728 ~ Immune Blend is a multi-vitamin supplement with selenium that is good for healthy dogs, and those that are ill. It contains small amounts of probiotics and digestive enzymes, along with l-glutamine, which is good for intestinal problems. I would give half the recommended dose. You can also use Berte's Daily Blend but I think it is better for dogs being fed a home made diet, as it contains vitamin D, and commercial dog foods are already high in vitamin D (again, I think it is fine to give half the recommended dosage).
• Canine Basic Nutrients and Canine Basic Geriatric Nutrients from Thorne Veterinary (303) 702-1986. Available from Wellvet 303-702-1986, and HolisticPetInfo 877-5-PetCare (877-573-8227) ~ Basic Nutrients are combinations of whole food and synthetic nutrients, designed to provide "optimal levels of most important nutrients for optimal body functions." Thorne Research vitamin supplements are hypoallergenic and contain no fillers, so may be a good choice for dogs with food allergies. The geriatric formula contains acetyl-l-carnitine plus alpha lipoic acid, which have been shown to aid memory and ability to learn in older dogs. See Nutritional Supplements Improve Memory in Old Dogs for more information.
• Canine Plus and Canine Plus Senior from Vetri-Science. Available from HolisticPetInfo 877-5-PetCare (877-573-8227), KV Vet, and VetAmerica. Also called Top Dog from Mountain Naturals, and Canine Discovery from US Animal Nutritionals. These products are made by the same manufacturer as Cell Revive below.
• Cell Revive 440/880 888-340-1995 (always check their Specials for current discounts) ~ Cell Revive is an antioxidant supplement that provides a variety of vitamins and minerals. It does not include a B-complex vitamin, which should be given separately. Note this supplement is identical to Cell Advance by Vetri-Science (also available at KV Vet) and Cell Discovery from US Animal Nutritionals. Also available at Amazon.
• Doc's Best Multi A human additive-free supplement that can be used for dogs with allergies.
• Dr. Ian Billinghurst's Canine Nutritional Supplement from Veterinary Nutrition Essentials (866) 616-BARK (2275) ~ Contains vitamins, minerals, digestive enzymes (from pancreatin), probiotics, glucosamine and chondroitin, some from whole foods. Mineral amounts are high; I would not give more than half the recommended amount if you are feeding a commercial diet. This supplement is quite expensive, so if you don't need everything it contains, you could probably find something more reasonable.
• Dynamite Showdown (360)736-9150
• EarthGreens from Urban Carnivore in Canada 1-888-665-0856
• Grandma Lucy's Vitamin Balls 1-800-906-LUCY ~ Combination of human-grade whole foods and synthetic vitamins and minerals. Available from SitStay.
• Small Animal Antioxidant and Immugen from Thorne Veterinary (303) 702-1986. Available from Wellvet, 303-702-1986 and HolisticPetInfo 877-5-PetCare (877-573-8227).

• Allergy Research Nutricology Multi-Vi-Min This is a human supplement that is often recommended for dogs who have severe food allergies. There are multiple versions available. In general, I would recommend the one with iron and copper.
• Doc's Best Multi Another human additive-free supplement that can be used for dogs with allergies.
• Canine Basic Nutrients from Thorne Veterinary are "hypoallergenic and do not contain unnecessary additives such as flowing agents, fillers, binders or lubricants," though they do contain some whole foods and their web site says they contain "natural bacon flavoring." See Canine Basic Nutrients above for more info on where to buy Thorne supplements.

Not Recommended: Pet Tabs have been found to be contaminated with lead by ConsumerLabs in both 2007 and 2009. Pet-Tabs Complete Daily for Dogs was most recently found to be contaminated with 6.45 mcg of lead per tablet. California requires warning labels on supplements for human use that contain over 0.5 mcg of lead per day.

Please be sure that any supplement containing ground Flax Seed or oil is kept refrigerated, as it will go rancid otherwise.

For more information on supplements for all diets, see Vitamins and Supplements and http://www.critterchat.net/vet5.htm
Also check out The Canine Vitamin Advisor, lots of info on vitamins and herbs tailored to your specific dog.

See Shopping for Dog Supplements for some information on how to identify better brands. This article refers to NASC members, which you can see here. For the most part, of the names that I recognize, I agree that these are good companies, with a few noted exceptions: I do not recommend Hartz Mountain products, some of which have been investigated and recalled by the FDA, and Consumer Labs recently found that Nutri-Vet joint supplements had far less glucosamine and chondroitin than specified on the label. I also have some reservations about Sergeant's Pet Care Products.

See the section on Dog Food Mixes above  for supplements that can be added to incomplete homemade diets to help balance them and make them complete.

Click here for my web page on diet and supplements for specific medical conditions. Here are additional supplements I've seen recommended for specific needs:

• Cholodin for canine cognitive dysfunction and helping to keep older dogs mentally alert. It contains choline and phosphatidylcholine, along with a few additional nutrients. See Alzheimer's in Dogs and Cats for more information. Also see Cognitive Disorder, Alzheimer’s Disease for more information on this topic from the same author.

It is generally better to add animal protein sources rather than plant foods (grains, legumes and vegetables), since commercial diets are usually high in carbs and dogs have no nutritional need for them, while protein provides a number of benefits (see High-Protein Diets above for more information). Animal source proteins, including eggs, meat, organs and dairy are the best foods to add. If you are feeding a large percentage of homemade food, then it's OK to add some carbs, such as pasta, oatmeal, sweet potatoes, etc., but animal products should always be at least half what you add.

Most dogs do fine when fresh foods, whether raw or cooked, are added to commercial diets, but a few may have problems. If your dog develops diarrhea or any other digestive problems when you add fresh foods, try feeding the two types of food separately. You can also experiment with different foods and different ways of preparing them -- some dogs may do better with raw food, for example, while others do best when the food is cooked.

Here are foods you can add to a commercial diet:

• Eggs: raw or cooked, such as lightly scrambled, soft- or hard-boiled. Whole raw eggs are fine, as the yolks contain plenty of biotin to make up for what the raw egg whites destroy. One of the healthiest and easiest to add foods.
• Muscle Meat (including Heart): any kind of meat, either ground or chunks (small enough to avoid choking). Feed raw or lightly cooked (never feed cooked bones). Add 1/2 tsp. ground eggshell (you can grind them in a clean coffee grinder or blender), or around 1,000 mg calcium from any other source, per pound of meat to give the proper calcium/phosphorus ratio. Adding calcium  is not necessary if the added meat is only a small portion of the diet, or if you are adding raw meat with bone that is consumed.
• Liver and other Organ Meat: feed small amounts of liver at a time, as it is rich and can lead to diarrhea, but it is very dense nutritionally and good to feed. Kidney is similar, but not quite as rich. Most other organ meats, like hearts and gizzards, are nutritionally more like muscle meats and can be fed in greater quantity, though a few dogs will react to these as well if too much is fed at one time.
• Canned fish with bones: Sardines (preferably packed in water rather than oil), Jack Mackerel and Pink Salmon: Full of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and provides trace minerals. Bones are cooked to softness and are safe to feed (no need to add calcium to this food, since the bones supply it). Never feed raw salmon or trout from the Pacific Northwest (California to Alaska), as it may contain a parasite that can be fatal to dogs. I don't recommend feeding much tuna, as it is more likely to be contaminated with mercury, and does not include bones, which are nutritious. Sardines can be used to replace fish oil supplements; one small sardine has over 100 mg of the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA.
• Yogurt: plain, preferably organic. Whole milk (rather than low- or non-fat) is fine unless your dog needs a low-fat diet. Kefir is another cultured milk option. Dogs who have problems with cow's milk products may do better with those made from goat's milk.
• Cottage Cheese or Ricotta Cheese: low-fat or whole milk.
• Garlic: may help repel fleas (although this is anecdotal) and has other health benefits as well. Garlic can be toxic in  large quantities. Give no more than 1/2 to 1 small raw crushed clove (one small part of a bulb) per 20 pounds of body weight daily.
• Canned Pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix): great for digestion, helps both diarrhea and constipation. Use in small amounts, as too much can also cause diarrhea.
• Veggies: preferably pureed raw or can be steamed (whole raw veggies, such as broccoli or carrot sticks, are not harmful but can't be digested by dogs so they don't get any nutritional value from them). Good veggies include carrots, celery, all kinds of greens (kale, collard greens, mustard greens, bok choy, dandelion greens, cabbage, spinach, chard, parsley, cilantro, etc.), lettuce (anything but iceberg, which is not very nutritious), broccoli, Brussels sprouts, zucchini, asparagus, turnips, parsnips, etc. Do NOT feed onions. Warning: If your animal is having any symptoms of arthritis, inflammation, respiratory problems or any other conditions that involve swelling or mucous, stay away from the nightshade family (potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and eggplant).
• Pasta, Grains and Starchy Vegetables: some dogs with allergies, digestive problems, seizures or arthritis do better if grains are removed from the diet (this may also apply to starchy veggies). Dogs who need to lose weight will do better with added high-protein foods rather than carbohydrates (see Senior and Overweight Dogs above for more info). Commercial foods are high in carbohydrates, so it's best not to add more unless you are feeding a high percentage of homemade food -- if so, it's OK to add some carbs, but animal products should always make up the majority of what you add. Grains and starchy veggies, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes and winter squashes, need to be cooked in order to be digestible. Grains include white rice, brown rice, oatmeal, quinoa, barley and more.
• Fruit: banana, papaya, apple, pear, blueberries, avocado, etc. Note that avocado pits and skin are toxic to dogs. The fruit from Guatemalan avocados is also somewhat toxic, while the fruit from Mexican varieties is not. The popular Hass variety is a hybrid with some Guatemalan heritage, I'm unsure what it's level of toxicity is. See my post for further info.
• Green Tripe: not the bleached kind you get from the supermarket (which is not harmful but has very little nutritional value). Green tripe smells awful, but dogs adore it and it's quite healthy for them. See my list of known green tripe suppliers and the section on Frozen Raw Foods to locate a supplier near you.

Recreational bones can help keep the teeth clean, avoid gum disease, and provide a great deal of chewing pleasure and exercise. I like to give large beef ribs, and take them away once all the meat has been removed, but these bones may be consumed by larger dogs and more aggressive chewers. Knuckle bones are good recreational bones, especially for large dogs. Marrow bones are OK but can be a problem if the dog can get them between their molars and crunch down, as they are very hard and can cause broken teeth. The marrow is also very rich and may cause diarrhea (you can scoop some of it out with a spoon before feeding to help). Bones get harder as they dry out, so to avoid problems with broken teeth, it's better to take the bones away after a reasonable amount of time (anything from a few hours to a day or two). Bones should always be fed raw, as cooked bones become hard and brittle, which can be dangerous if consumed.

Foods to Avoid or Restrict
While most foods safe for people are also safe for dogs, there are a few notable exceptions. Here are some foods you should not feed your dog:

• Onions: can cause a form of anemia. Reaction is dose-dependent and will build up over time. Small amounts are not harmful, but there’s no reason to feed them.
• Grapes and raisins: cause kidney failure in a few dogs for unknown reasons.
• Macadamia nuts: toxic to dogs, even in very small amounts.
• Raw salmon, trout and related andromadous fish from the Pacific Northwest (California to Alaska): can carry a parasite that causes Salmon Poisoning in dogs. Cooking will destroy the parasite. Note that canned salmon is cooked and therefore safe.
• Chocolate and caffeine: toxic to dogs.
• Xylitol, a natural sweetener, is toxic to dogs. It is found in some water additives, such as C.E.T. AquaDent and Petrodex Breath Spray For Pets, made by Virbac Animal Health, BreathaLyser Plus and AQuala, made by imRex, Inc.. It is also found in many human products, including sugar-free gum, mints and children's vitamins. See New Findings on the Effects of Xylitol Ingestion in Dogs for more information.

• Garlic: beneficial in doses up to 1 small clove per 20 lbs of body weight, but can cause anemia if given in larger quantities.
• Avocado: fruits of Guatemalan species are mildly toxic to dogs, causing digestive upset, while fruits of Mexican species are safe. Note that the popular Hass variety is a hybrid and toxicity level is unknown. Pits and rinds of all species can be toxic.
• Cruciferous vegetables are very healthy, but can suppress thyroid function if large amounts are fed raw. Feed in limited amounts, or cook first. The cruciferous family includes include arugula, broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, kale, collard greens, mustard greens, turnips, turnip greens, watercress, rutabaga, daikon, kohlrabi.
• Spinach and swiss chard should also be fed in limited amounts due to their high oxalate content.  Cooking removes some of the oxalates, though in this case you should not feed the water, as that’s where the oxalates go.
• Potatoes (the regular kind, not sweet potatoes), tomatoes, peppers (all kinds) and eggplant may aggravate arthritis pain, but are otherwise fine to feed. Grains and starchy veggies may also aggravate arthritis and other forms of inflammation.

• Widely Available
• Local or Limited Availability
• Specialty Products
• Grass Fed and Organic Products
• Canadian Suppliers
• Australian Suppliers
• European Suppliers

Widely available complete raw diets (meeting AAFCO guidelines):

• Bravo! Balance Raw Food Diet ~ 860-693-0632

Distributors in many states.
Bravo! is now offering a new product called Bravo! Balance that "meets the AAFCO standard for 100% complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages." Chicken, Beef and Turkey varieties, made with human-grade antibiotic-free poultry, hormone-free, grass-fed red meats, organ meats and bones combined with Grade A vegetables and fortified vitamins and minerals. Bravo! also offers a wide variety of incomplete products, including mixes (ground meat, bone, organs and veggies) and unusual meats (kangaroo, buffalo, ostrich), plus green tripe. Mixes are not complete and do not meet AAFCO guidelines. You can formulate a complete diet from their products, but don't just feed the mixes with nothing added (eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and canned fish other than tuna are good to add). See below for more info on how to ensure that you're feeding a complete diet. See the booklet Bravo Beginnings for good information on how to put together a complete diet for your dog from Bravo products. Also see the How-2 web page put together by a Bravo distributor who is also a friend of mine.
 
• Steve's Real Food for Dogs

Eugene, Oregon 1-888-526-1900 or (541) 683-9950
Retailers across the country in most states.
Steve's is a complete diet consisting of ground meat and bones, organ meat, vegetables, and a variety of supplements. All ingredients are human-grade. Has a tiny amount of rice bran, but no other grains. Chicken, Turkey, Beef and "Turducken" varieties available. Now available in patties as well as nuggets, which are bulkier and more expensive to ship. Freeze-dried version is also available, but very expensive. "All formulas of Steve's Real Food for Pets are formulated using the AAFCO nutrient profiles to meet the nutritional requirements for all stages of your dogs life from weaned puppy through seniors."
 
• Stella & Chewy's

Wisconsin (888) 477-8977
Retailers around the country and available online from SitStay, Amazon and PetFoodDirect(freeze-dried only)
Stella & Chewy's offers frozen and freeze-dried Chicken, Beef and Lamb products. "Steaks" are 96% human-grade, free-range meats and bones, and 4% organic fruits and vegetables. Hormone- and antibiotic-free. "All food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages." Opened their own processing plant in May, 2007, and they have a documented food safety and testing program. Calcium percentages are not given, so unsure whether they're OK for large-breed puppies.
 
• Primal Pet Foods

San Francisco, California 415-566-4652
Available at retailers around the country, including Whole Foods. Also available online from Only Natural Pet Store.
Primal makes both complete diets (Formulas) and blends that are not complete (Grinds and Mixes, see below for more information on how to use these products as the basis for a homemade diet). Grinds are meat, bone and organs only (82% meat, 8-9% bone, 7-8% organs); mixes add fruits and vegetables as well (same proportion of meat, bone and organs, plus 20% produce). All use heart to supply muscle meat, liver as their organ meat. 100% human grade, hormone, antibiotic and steroid free meats, poultry and game, certified organic produce, certified organic minerals and unrefined vitamins. Formulas are available in chicken, duck, beef, lamb, pheasant and venison varieties. Grinds and mixes come in turkey, chicken, beef, lamb, buffalo and sardine varieties. Only the venison formula has an appropriate amount of calcium for  large-breed puppies, the rest should not be fed due to high calcium content.
 
• Home Made 4 Life

American Manufacturer: Aunt Jeni's ~ 877-254-6123 or 301-702-0123 (Maryland)
Canadian Manufacturer: Pets 4 Life ~ 519-372-1818 (Ontario)
US Retailers in many states, also several Canadian distributors.
Home Made 4 Life offers six complete diets consisting of ground meat and bones, organ meat, vegetables, and a variety of other healthy ingredients, with no grains. Chicken, Lamb, Beef and Rabbit varieties have a ratio of 65% meat to 35% veggies and other ingredients; Turkey and Goat are 75:25. All ingredients are human grade, grass-fed or free-range, hormone- and antibiotic-free. Jennifer Boniface (Aunt Jeni), MS, is an Animal Nutritionist and quite knowledgeable about canine diets. "Home Made 4 Life has been formulated and analyzed by qualified, degreed, experienced Animal Nutritionists not only to meet but to exceed CVMA, NRC, and AAFCO requirements." However, the goat variety is not appropriate for large-breed puppies due to high calcium content.
 
• Dr. Billinghurst's BARF Diet

Available through distributors in the US and Canada, or can be ordered online, shipping charge is $25 minimum.
BARFWorld offers complete diets (BARF Diet), as well as mix and match minces (BARF Mates -- see below for how to use these as a basis for a homemade diet). Chicken, Beef, Lamb and Combination varieties. "These commercially prepared diets are balanced and complete portions (based on AAFCO’S feeding protocols) that are designed to give your dog an adequate amount of nutrition at every meal. We still advocate that a variety of several different choices be given to offer your dog the best opportunity to gain maximum nutritional value."
 
• Northwest Naturals

Portland, OR 1-800-782-6328
Retailers in many states.
Northwest Naturals offers complete raw diets that meet AAFCO guidelines. Mixes are about 78-80% meat and include ground meat and bone, organ meat, vegetables, and a variety of supplements, no grains. Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Bison, and Chicken with Salmon varieties. Available in the form of both nuggets and "dinner bars", for easy storage and feeding. Meat is human grade. Although AAFCO is not mentioned on their web site, in private communication they have assured me that "The products are balanced/complete and meet all AAFCO objectives." Calcium percentages are not given, so unsure whether they're OK for large-breed puppies.
 
• Paw Naturaw Organic Frozen Raw Diets

Wisconsin (866) 729-4738
Retailers at several locations in the Milwaukee-Madison-Chicago triangle. There are distributors in several states and Canada. Also available through Amazon.com with free shipping! Can also be ordered from LocalHarvest.org, PoochieHeaven.com, and BARFDirect.com.
Paw Naturaw are complete diets meeting AAFCO nutritional guidelines for all life stages. Beef, Bison, Chicken and Turkey varieties are all grain-free and made with 100% human-grade ingredients. The company makes its foods at its own processing plant, to ensure quality control. All of the organic chickens, turkeys and bison are purchased directly from documented family farmers, humanely transported, processed for human consumption in USDA inspected facilities, and shipped directly to their own manufacturing facility.
 
• Healthy Pet Products

Canton, Georgia 1-877-475-7195
Available in many states.
Healthy Pet Products offers complete diets in beef and chicken varieties. Meat is organic, hormone- and antibiotic-free, and grass-fed/free-range. Available in both frozen and freeze-dried form. Also offers freeze-dried green tripe. "Healthy Pet Products is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for all life stages."
 
• FarMore

Not sure this product is still available, as their web site is gone. Used to be available in Canada in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Ontario, and available in US in many states. Carried at Pet Food Express stores in Northern California.
Farmore is a mix of ground meat, bones, organ meat, veggies, grains (beef and buffalo varieties only), and supplements. Varieties include Beef, Chicken and Buffalo. Meat is human grade, free-range and antibiotic-free. Chicken is grain-free, while beef (oatmeal) and buffalo (barley) have very small amounts of grains. "FarMore Beef Diet is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by AAFCO Nutrient Profiles for all Stages of Life." Ingredients are limited, so I'm not certain this statement is true, or applies to the other two varieties -- I would rotate among the different varieties and maybe add a vitamin-mineral supplement if feeding this diet for long periods. Calcium percentages are not given, so unsure whether they're OK for large-breed puppies.
 
• Natural Balance Gourmet Frozen Loaves (800) 829-4493

Natural Balance raw foods are available in California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii and Michigan so far. "Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog food nutrient profiles for all life stages." Calcium percentages are not given, so unsure whether they're OK for large-breed puppies.
 
• Nature's Variety

Distributors in many states.
Nature's Variety uses 95% fresh meat ingredients including ground raw bones. Varieties include Organic Chicken, Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Venison and Rabbit. Freeze-dried version and whole raw meaty bones also available. Note that rabbit meat is sourced from China. All varieties are "formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog & Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages." However, the Rabbit variety should not be fed to large-breed puppies due to high calcium content. Note that Nature's Variety is much higher in calories than the other frozen foods listed above. It appears to have much more fat than the minimum amounts listed in their nutritional analyses, based on the calories they show. Freeze-dried version available from SitStay and Amazon.

Not recommended:
Animal Food Services (will not identify the parts they use, claiming that information is proprietary; some products appear to contain no muscle meat at all; unclear whether meat is really human-grade, and whether foods meet AAFCO specifications)
Abady Frozen Diets (includes meat meal, corn and other grains, soy, and does not use human grade ingredients)
Bil-Jac Fresh Frozen (contains meat by-products and other foods from unnamed sources, cereal waste products, and other low quality ingredients)

Widely available incomplete raw blends (see below for how to use these as the basis for a homemade diet):

• Oma's Pride

From Miller Foods, Inc. in Avon, Connecticut ~ (800) 678-6627, 860-673-3256
Distributors in many states, also available at WagginTails.
Oma's Pride offers unusual meats (emu, rabbit, ostrich, duck, venison), tripe (not from USDA approved source), whole raw meaty bones, as well as mixtures of ground meat and bones, organ meat and veggies. Mixes are not complete and do not meet AAFCO guidelines. The mixes are high in bone (70-80% meat/bone at a 50/50 ratio) and low in muscle and organ meat. You can formulate a complete diet from their products, but don't just feed the mixes with nothing added (additional muscle meat and organ meat, as well as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese and canned fish other than tuna are good to add). See below for more info on how to ensure that you're feeding a complete diet.

Local or limited availability products

See the following for commercial raw food products in the US, Canada, Australia and Europe, as well as Specialty Products and Grass Fed and Organic Products:

US (listed alphabetically by state):

• The Wholesome Hound in Dothan, Alabama 334-685-0002 ~ Offers a selection of raw meaty bones, meat, organs, etc., plus several commercial raw diets.
• Grandad's Pet Foods in Lodi, California 209-368-3025 ~ Distributors in California, Oregon and Washington. Will ship throughout the Western US. Delivery to much of California available for $7.50 and up with a minimum 30 pound order.
• Wagalicious Natural Pet Foods, in Mar Vista (Los Angeles), California (310) 508-8660 ~ Will deliver to Los Angeles and Orange Counties, will ship elsewhere. Offers blends of meat (turkey, lamb and chicken) and veggies, some with liver. Uses eggshell calcium rather than bones. Meats are human-grade, antibiotic- and hormone-free, and foods are produced at a human-grade facility using locally sourced ingredients. According to the people who make this food, "It has been lab tested and meets AAFCO standards for complete and balanced for all life stages for both cats and dogs." Calcium percentages range from 1.8-1.9% on a dry matter basis, so they're OK for large-breed puppies.
• K9 Raw Diet in Westlake Village, California 805-379-0227 ~ Bravo distributor, will deliver to local area. Also offers supplements.
• Halshan Premium Raw Food in Southern California 888-766-9725 ~ Shipping to California, Utah and Nevada is $15 per 50 pound box, all other states are $100. Offers a variety of ground meat and veggie mixes. Antibiotic and hormone free meats are used. Meat types include chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, venison, ostrich, buffalo, duck and fish. Green tripe is also available. You need to add your own calcium to all boneless mixes (add 1/2 teaspoon ground eggshell per pound of meat).
• Feed This in Forestville, California 707-823-7001 ~ Delivers as far north as Willits, East to Sacramento, South to Santa Cruz and throughout the Greater San Francisco Bay Area for a nominal fee. Available at a number of retailers around the San Francisco Bay Area, including Sonoma County and Vallejo. Now also shipping across the US. Offers meaty bones, "Bogey Balls" (a variety of mixtures that include meat with and without bone, eggs, fish, organs and/or veggies) and supplements. Can order individual items or various meal plans.
• Only Natural Pet Store in Boulder, Colorado 888-937-6677, also available through mail order. Carries Bravo!, Nature's Variety, Primal and more.
• Natural Kravings in Denver/Colorado Springs/Boulder areas, Colorado 303-814-2891
• Companion Animal Meals in Miami, Florida (305) 893-1440 ~ Mixes include veggies and grains, as well as ground raw meaty bones and organs, delivered to your door.
• Good Doggie in Nokomos, Florida 941 966-0482 ~ Carries multiple raw foods, free delivery in Sarasota and Manatee Counties
• Raw4Dogs several distributors in Florida. Offers mixes plus individual ingredients, including chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, rabbit and lamb (all with bone) and other unusual meats, plus green tripe, organ meat, and whole raw meaty bones.
• Raw Health  in Florida 866-862-5379 ~ Offers chicken and rabbit blends of raw meaty bones, organs and veggies (these are not complete diets, see below for how best to use blends such as these).
• Golden Choice in North Metro Atlanta, Georgia 770-425-5412
• Health Connections 4 Life in Wonder Lake, Illinois 847-814-9992 ~ Distributor for Oma's Pride, Companion Natural, Taylor Pond Farms (tripe) and B-Naturals supplements.
• Natural Pet Market in Glen Ellyn, Illinois 630-534-6682 ~ Carries multiple raw foods, plus a variety of raw food pre-mixes and things like Tripett and Wysong All Meat Diets.
• K9Cuisine in Paris, Illinois 866.919.2415 ~ Carries Healthy Pet Products (see above) frozen and freeze-dried foods.
• My Pet Carnivore in Indianapolis, Indiana 317-373-4111 ~ Delivers to Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Ohio. Rabbit, Duck, Fish, Turkey, Lamb, Mutton, Beef (including tripe), chicken and goat, whole or ground, including organs. Products come from small family farms and are antibiotic- and hormone-free, most are grass-fed. Also offers treats and supplements.
• Prey4Pets in rural north-central Kentucky. Beef, pastured chicken, pork, and rabbit parts.
• K-9 Kraving in Baltimore, Maryland 410-675-1071 ~  Distributors in California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington State, West Virginia. Offers a number of complete diets that meet AAFCO standards for all life stages. Food is made in a USDA certified plant.
• Golden Acres in Elk River, Minnesota 763-441-0089
• K-9 Choice in McHenry, Mississippi 601-928-9308 ~ Distributors in California, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Utah
• Nature's Logic in Lincoln, Nebraska402-475-7663 ~ Distributors in many states, but I don't know if they offer the raw foods or just the dry/canned. Offers a complete raw diet that uses eggshells rather than bone. Unsure if meat is human-grade.
• Rock Farm Natural Beef in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire 603-569-4250 ~ All natural beef business -- has a good supply of hearts, tongues, bones, and livers for raw dog food at $1.00 per pound. All natural,  no antibiotics and no hormones.
• Newfound Naturals in Manchester, New Hampshire (603) 232-1010 ~ Dehydrated raw diets. No mention of AAFCO but diets appear to be complete.
• Healthy Paws in Washington, New Jersey ~ Ground and whole meat, raw meaty bones, organs, veggies and tripe.
• Wholistic Paws Health Store for Pets in Ridgewood, New Jersey ~ Distributor for Bravo (including green tripe), Aunt Jeni's Home Made 4 Life, Primal Pet Foods and Nature's Variety.
• Raise A Paw 4 Raw in Brooklyn, New York (718) 745-5537 ~ Ground and whole meat, raw meaty bones, organs and tripe.
• NDN (Nu Dimensions Nutrition) in Raleigh, North Carolina (919) 848-4071 ~ Retailers in Florida, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
• Blue Ridge Beef in Statesville, North Carolina 704-871-2393 ~ Ground meat, bone and organ mixes. Also offers green tripe. Will deliver in refrigerated trucks. Also available in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia.
• Triangle Pet Supply in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina (919) 434-9663 Offers a wide selection of pre-made frozen and freeze-dried raw foods, including tripe. Free delivery to triangle residents.
• Three Cheers Raw! Raw! Raw! in North Lima, Ohio 330-549-3077 ~ Offers a large selection of ground mixes, whole raw meaty bones and dehydrated treats.
• A Place for Paws in Columbiana, Ohio (800) 354-4216 ~ Offers a variety of veggie, meat and bone mixes and raw meaty bones, including tripe.
• mOrigins in Cleveland, Ohio (216) 228-3656 ~ Distributors in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. Freeze-dried version also available. Appears to be a complete diet, though there is no mention of meeting AAFCO requirements.
• OmegaFarms in Alvordton, Ohio ~ Offers a variety of meat and raw meaty bones, both whole and ground, also rabbit, goat, pinkies and baby chicks, etc.
• Hall Brothers Meats in North Olmsted, Ohio (440) 235-3262 ~ Ground chicken quarters, and a beef heart mixture for dogs.
• Pep's Poultry in Quakertown, Pennsylvania 215-538-9908 ~ Chicken, Turkey, Duck, Pheasant, Ostrich, Beef, Pork, Buffalo and Rabbit products, both whole and ground, including green tripe.
• Bone-affied Nutrition in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas 214-529-8355 ~ Huge variety, including tripe, pre-made raw diets, treats, supplements, and exotic meats, such as buffalo, duck, goat, ostrich, quail, venison and more.
• Bones2Go in Houston, Texas 713-462-2663 ~ Huge variety, including tripe, pre-made raw diets, freeze-dried products, treats, supplements, and exotic meats, such as goat, duck, ostrich, rabbit, buffalo, venison and more.
• The Dog Bowl in Houston, Texas 713-529-0334 ~ Located in the Village area of Houston, we are an exclusive retailer for B.A.R.F. and Nature’s Variety & sell a wide variety of “must have” pet items that compliment sustaining of a healthy pet – dog & cat!
• HealthyPet Boutique in Houston, Texas 713-301-2340 ~ Offers a number of pre-made raw diets, freeze-dried products, treats and supplements.
• The Hydrant in Suffolk, Virginia 757-539-8500 ~ Large assortment of raw food and meaty bones, whole and ground, which may be purchased by the pound or the case. Also Nature's Variety frozen raw and B-Naturals supplements.
• Pepperdogz in Bellevue, Washington 1-866-866-DOGZ, 425-945-2300 ~ Distributors in Oregon and Washington. Complete diets (no mention of AAFCO). Chicken, turkey and buffalo varieties. Grass-fed or cage-free hormone & antibiotic free meats. 65% Meat, 35% Whole Vegetables, Fruits & Organic Supplements.
• Darwin's Natural Pet Products in Seattle, Washington 206-324-7387 (324-PETS) ~ Darwin's claims to meet AAFCO guidelines, though I'm not sure how this would be possible without additional ingredients. I recommend adding some additional foods to this diet (see below for more info on how to use foods such as this as part of a complete diet).
• Columbia River Natural Pet Foods in Ridgefield, Washington 360-834-6854 ~ Available in Alaska, California, Oregon, Washington. Ground chicken, turkey, duck, guinea hen, quail and rabbit (including bones), venison and lamb (without bones), plus buffalo organs, veggies, tripe and recreational bones.
• Natural Pet Pantry in Burien (near Seattle), Washington 206.248.1079 or  206.890.0889
• Raw Advantage in Stanwood, Washington 360-387-5185 ~ Available in Alaska, California, Colorado, New Mexico, New York, Oregon and Washington. "Dinners" meet AAFCO requirements for all life stages. In addition to the Dinners, they offer Recipes (meat and organs, some with bone, some with veggies and other ingredients) and Formulas (grains, veggies, herbs, one has meat and bone), which are not complete (see below for foods to add to help ensure you are feeding a complete diet). Dinners are about 40% to 50% meat and bone, with the rest being grains, veggies and whole food supplements.
• Better Meat in Seattle, Washington (206) 783-8987 or (206) 783-0570 ~ Offers "beef supplement" mix (ground beef, organ meats, ground tracheas), whole chicken backs, beef shank bones and lamb necks.
• Health Connections 4 Life in Pleasant Prairie, Wisconsin 815-382-2118 ~ Distributor for Oma's Pride, Companion Natural, Taylor Pond Farms (tripe) and B-Naturals supplements.
• Companion Natural Pet Food in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (414) 372-LIFE (5433) ~ also available in Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts and Michigan Complete diets (no mention of AAFCO, but ingredients look complete and FAQ says they are "complete and balanced"). Beef, turkey, fish, duck and chicken varieties. Human-grade ingredients.
• Nature's Menu in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin 1-866-FEED-RAW ~ Complete diet, but limited ingredients (just muscle and organ meat at an 80/20 ratio, the rest is artificial vitamins and minerals). Beef, Lamb, Turkey and Chicken varieties.
• Grassfed Traditions in Milwaukee(?), Wisconsin is now offering pastured organic raw chicken steaks. Diet appears complete but there is no mention of meeting AAFCO guidelines. They also offer grass-fed bison, beef and lamb parts. While the company is in Wisconsin, there is no information about whether you can pick up the food from them rather than having it shipped (which is very expensive for frozen foods). This is from the same company that makes Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil.

• Niman Ranch in Oakland, California 510-808-0340 ~ humanely raised beef, pork and lamb. Off-cuts such as heart, liver, kidney and neck bones may be available by the case, which range from 10 to 60 lbs, depending on the part.
• Creston Valley Meats in Creston near Paso Robles, California 1-805-227-6200 (plant) or 1-805-286-7533 (cell) ~ Simon delivers throughout California (San Diego to Grass Valley). Offers a variety of beef, buffalo, emu, ostrich, llama and more raw meaty bones and other parts.
• Copeland Family Farms in Grenada, CA (866) 969-4628 ~ Goat and lamb, including necks, liver, heart, trim, etc. packaged for dogs.
• Colorado Natural Meatsin Pierce, Colorado 303-BUY MEAT (289-6328) or 970-834-1726
• Alderspring Ranch Grass Fed Beef in Tendoy, Idaho 208-756-2296
• DarnFar Ranch in Brownstown, Illinois (618) 427-3333 or 427-3377 ~ Specializes in natural lamb, including mutton and offal for dogs
• Blackwing Ostrich in Antioch, Illinois 847-838-4888 ~ See their Dog Formula for a less expensive alternative.
• S&N Rabbits in Bryant,Indiana 260.997.6687 ~ Ground and whole rabbit.
• Smoky Hill Bison Company in Lindsborg, Kansas 1-800-790-2665
• Mountain Pride Cooperative in Mt. Lake Park, Maryland 301-334-6960 ~ source for human grade rabbit and goat.
• Sojourner Sheep in Northampton, Massachusetts 413-586-4822
• Butcher Boy in Michigan 586-779-0600 ~ carries exotic game, including venison and buffalo, will ship.
• Otto's Turkey Farm in Middleville, Michigan 269-795-3738 ~ offers ground turkey meat with bone and other products
• TPF Raw (Taylor Pond Farms) in Michigan 616-844-4031 ~ sells meat rabbits. TPF Raw also offers tripe, distributes various commercial raw food products.
• American Grass Fed Beef in Missouri 866-255-5002
• Yaiz Rabbitry in Kansas City, Missouri (816)318-8409
• Yankee Farmer's Market in Warner, New Hampshire 1-877-936-BUFF ~ Source for buffalo meat.
• Simply Grazin' (formerly Stonyfield Organic Farm) in Hopewell, New Jersey 609-466-8504
• 4R Rabbitry in Animas, New Mexico (505) 548-2277
• Thistle Downes in Greenwich, New York 518-695-5179
• Hawks Hunt Farm in St. Johnsville, New York 518-568-3325
• Nicky USA in Portland, Oregon 503.234.4263 ~ Source for free-range chicken backs and necks as well as more exotic game birds and meats.
• Pasture Raised Beef in Waldport, Oregon 541-563-3769
• Hare Today Gone Tomorrow in NW Pennsylvania 814-587-3530 ~ Has rabbit, goat and chicken products, both ground and whole, as well as tripe.
• Lil' Yella' Dog Raw and Natural Foods in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania (610) 570-8720. Offers a large selection of pre-mades and RMBs in a variety of sizes including bulk. Also offers local suppliers for venison and rabbit. Will deliver for $2-$4 depending on location and will ship within a one-day service area from Bethlehem.
• Emerson Rabbit Meat in Seneca, South Carolina. Grass-fed ground rabbit with bones and organs included. Also sells whole and cut-up rabbit. Rabbits are grown on family farm. Free shipping on large orders.
• Oaklyn Farms in Darlington, South Carolina 843-395-0793 ~ Free range chicken and grass fed beef.
• Schiltz Goose Farms in South Dakota carries free-range geese 605.698.7651
• Peaceful Pastures in Hickman, Tennessee (615) 683-4291 ~ Offers grass fed, antibiotic and hormone free beef, pork, lamb, goat, poultry, dairy products, including unusual items like tongue and organ meats.
• RockyTop Rabbitry in Rogersville, Tennessee (423) 345-3292
• Carnivore Cuisine in Farmersville, Texas 903-776-2299
• Slankers Grass Fed Meats in Northeast Texas 866-SLANKER (752-6537)
• KC Grass Fed Beef in Paige, Texas 512-253-0011
• WholeFoods4Pets.com in Washington 509-930-1421 ~ offers whole and ground rabbit. Also rabbit jerky and ears.
• Northstar Bison in Wisconsin carries grass-fed bison 888-295-6332
• Venison America in Wisconsin has a lot of venison products, prices include shipping (800) 310-2360
• Hillcrest Farms Rabbity in Oconto, Wisconsin 920-834-2806
• See my Kidney Page for a list of more tripe suppliers.
• See RestaurantDepot.com for a national chain of restaurant suppliers (source of wholesale meats by the case)

• American Grassfed Association
• American Pastured Poultry Producers Association
• Certified Humane where to find Certified Humane Raised & Handled Products
• Eat Well Guide searchable (by zip code in the US and Canada) database of farms and stores that offer grass-fed meat, eggs and dairy
• Eat Wild sources of grass-fed meat, eggs and dairy in both the US and Canada (click on the Suppliers link)
• Farmer's Market Online has links to a number of different direct suppliers of grass-fed meats, unusual meats (elk, bison, etc.), and antler velvet.
• Local Harvest organic food suppliers

• Arusha Pet Foods in Alberta (780) 717-7297
• Mountain Dog Food in Alberta 1-866-769-3663 or (780) 443-3278 ~ Also available in most other Canadian provinces. Products include ground chicken and turkey (bone-in) available with our without fruits & vegetables as well as assorted organ meats, tripe, whole raw bones and (when available) beef.
• Natural Paws in Calgary, Alberta 403-685-8448
• Amore All-Natural Raw Pet Food in British Columbia (866) 572-6673, (604) 273-8577 ~ Also available in Washington and Alberta
• Callie's Cuisine in North Vancouver, British Columbia 604-980-5947 ~ Raw free range, non-medicated or organic meat, bones and vegetables, plus grain-free treats.
• Club Canine in Mission, British Columbia 604.814.2582 ~ offers a variety of whole and ground products, including beef and lamb tripe. Note their blends are not complete diets.
• Fuzzie Bunnie in Vancouver, British Columbia 604-888-9129 ~ Ground rabbit, humanely raised, grass fed, $2/lb
• The Healthy Hound in West Vancouver, British Columbia 604-925-DOGS (3647) ~ An anti-inflammatory diet for dogs with arthritis, skin irritations, allergies and even chronic ear problems is also available, as well as a gastro diet.
• MomoFood in Vancouver, British Columbia 604.288.5663
• Nature's Link in Kelowna, British Columbia 250-762-0737 ~ Available in Canada and the Western US, including Alaska.
• Natural Kravings (formerly Holesome Natural K9) in Mission, British Columbia (866) RAW-PETS, (604) 826-6253
• Simply Natural Raw Pet Food in Vancouver, British Columbia 604.266.1125 ~ offers a wide selection of grain-free, non-medicated, free-range products for cats and dogs. Competitive Pricing. Frequent Buyer Program.
• Top Hand in Skookumchuck, British Columbia (250) 417-0487 ~ "Full Meals" are not AAFCO certified but offer an excellent blend of foods. Simple meat/veggie/fruit combos also available that can be combined with other foods.
• True Carnivores in Vancouver, British Columbia (604) 267-3647 ~ Carries a number of raw food products, includig tripe.
• Red Dog Blue Kat in Vancouver, British Columbia (604) 669-2166 ~ Also available in Alberta and Ontario.Ground meat, organ and veggie mixes available, some with bone and some without. Also offers a few other products.
• Primal Veterinary Diets in Manitoba 204-638-8526 ~ Also available in Alberta and Ontario, offers goat and bison
• Totally Raw Natural Dog Food in Truro, Nova Scotia (902) 890-9111 ~ Raw meaty bones, organ meats,  veggie mixes, and green tripe.
• Awesome Paws just north of Toronto, Ontario 705-812-1533  or 416-907-3290. Offers a variety of meats, raw meaty bones, and organs, including venison and green tripe. Delivery available in nearby areas.
• Bone Apetit in Burlington, Ontario (905) 336-7338 ~ Located in Southern Ontario, serving the Golden Horseshoe.
• HealthyPaws in Toronto, Ontario 416.741.4888 ~ offers a variety of mixes with meat, organs, vegetables, fruit, oils and other ingredients that are called complete diets (no mention of meeting AAFCO guidelines). Varieties include chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, goat, venison and bison. Also offers recreational bones.
• Heronview Raw and Natural in Brooklin, Ontario 905-655-5747 Offers a wide variety of raw foods, both whole and ground, including exotic proteins (e.g., rabbit, quail, venison) and green tripe. Also carries some commercial foods of various types.
• Kim's Raw 4 Pets in Penetanguishene, Ontario (705) 533-9919
• Paws & Claws Pet Pantry in Southern Ontario 905-648-7616 Offers mixtures and both whole and ground products, including tripe.
• Paws-itively Raw Foods in Ontario 905-788-1605 Ground meat, bone, organ and veggie mixes, including beef and lamb tripe and some unusual proteins (goat, duck, venison, rabbit).
• PoshNosh (formerly Alternatives 4 Pets) in Ottawa, Ontario, with retailers in Ontario and Quebec (613) 302 3156
• Poultry Specialities in Tillsonburg, Ontario (519) 842-7228 ~ ground chicken with bone, organs, turkey, green tripe.
• Tollden Farms with multiple retailers in Ontario 613.258.3099 or 416.840.4485 (not complete diets)
• The Ultimate Diet in Ontario 877.574.PETS (7387) or 416.469.0324 ~ Also available in Michigan and New Hampshire
• Aliments Alternatifs 2000 in Quebec 450-791-2250
• En Faim in St. Jerome, Quebec 450-602-0469
• Horizon Pure in Saskatchewan, Canada manufactures their own food using human-grade ingredients. Appears to be a complete diet, though there is no mention of meeting AAFCO guidelines.
• Kerrie's Raw Natural Dog Food in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (306) 668-4218
• Urban Carnivore in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 1-888-665-0856 ~ Retailers in most Canadian provinces. Offers "whole animal patties" that include everything except hide or feathers, intestines, bladder and inedible parts such as hooves. All organs and glands are included. Also offers vegetables and fruit patties, green tripe patties, beef offal patties, supplements and more.

• Nature's Menu offices in Norfolk, Bristol, Leeds and Glasgow, UK
• TPMS in Redditch Worcestershire delivers to the Midlands, West Country, and Wales ~ 01527 510870
• Landywoods Pet Food in West Midlands ~ 01889 577772
• Laughing Dog Food in Llangernyw Conwy, Wales ~ 01745 860360
• Jeff's Tripe based in Afonwen, North Wales ~ 01352 720608 Supplies a variety of foods
• Prize Choice (was AMP) the UK ~ 01953 883770 (Norfolk), 0117 977 5000 (Bristol), 01132 342506 (Leeds) or 01236 457627 (Scotland)
• Sheepdrove Organic Farm in Berkshire, England ~ 01488 71659
• Stuart Marshall in Littleover, Derby ~ 01332 347153 Turkey Necks and Lamb Bones
• Derby Poultry in Ascot Drive, Derby ~ 01332 203800 Chicken Carcasses, Necks and Wings
• Grand Poultry Unit 6 in Ibstock, Leicestershire. ~  01530 261306 Chicken Carcass
• Westlands Poultry in Leicester ~ 01162 541061
• Super Chick Unit 7 in Leicester ~ 01162 518191
• Mark Unit 5 Six Hills Farm Ind Est near Loughborough ~ 01664 822558
• Turkey Talk Pheasant Oak Farm in Balsall Common Coventry ~ 01676 532681
• Crackley Gate Farm, Silverdale, Newcastle under Lyme ~ 01782 627191 Chicken Carcass
• Ian K Moore Poultry Ltd Unit 26-28 in Manchester Lancashire ~ 0161 220 8998 Chicken Carcass
• John Price & Partners Ewe Tree Farm in Wilmslow Cheshire ~ 01625 524363.
• Steve @ S & M Butchers Tyburn Road Erdington ~ 0121 373 3146 Turkey Necks
• Mears Butchers Walsall Road A340 ~ 1922 413078 Chicken necks (frozen)
• W.F Horsepool & Son, Poultry Dealers in Gedling, Nottingham ~  01159 619 001
• Price & Fretwell Ltd in Tibshelf, Derbyshire ~ 01773 591212. Carcasses, chicken wings, recently lamb bones
• Campbells Prime Meat Ltd in Broxburn West Lothian ~ 01506 858585. Turkey carcasses, pigs trotters, lamb bones, oxtail  and chicken carcasses
• Crombies' of Edinburgh in Edinburgh Midlothian ~ 0131 557 0111 Chicken Carcasses
• Ian Proudfoot in Edinburgh Midlothian ~ 0131 315 2056. Chicken Carcasses

• Alabama: FloriBamaRawcovers Northwest Florida and the Alabama Gulf Coast
• Arizona:
• Phoenix Raw not sure if the co-op is active but the group is
• Tucson Raw Feeders Co-op Sarah Barron 520-584-5879
• Arkansas: Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas City Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• California:
• SoCal BARF Co-Op: Probably the largest co-op around, covers most of Southern California, including San Diego, with distribution points in Fresno and Sacramento as well.
• Fremont & Bay Area Raw Feeders Co-Op Located in Fremont, California (San Francisco Bay Area). Not so well organized and mark-ups are added to the prices, but does have access to a number of hard to find items. Pick ups now available in Menlo Park, Newark, Livermore, and the Central Valley (Tracy, Stockton, Sacramento).
• San Francisco Raw Feeders Co-op Pickup locations in San Francisco and now Sebastopol 
• Capital City Raw Feeders Co-op Centered in Sacramento, California, contact Berit Stavig
• OCBARFCo-Op Orange County
• BARF Suppliers in CA
• Colorado:
• Colorado Carnivores Not a co-op, but can help find sources.
• Connecticut:
• Connecticut Raw Feeders
• New England Raw Feeders Group purchases, email the list owner to join. Suppliers are also welcome.
• DC: NaturalFeeding-MD_DC_VA_PA for pet owners who live in MD, DC, VA, PA, DE & Eastern States.
• Delaware: NaturalFeeding-MD_DC_VA_PA for pet owners who live in MD, DC, VA, PA, DE & Eastern States.
• Florida:
• Central Florida Raw Food Co-op
• Central Florida BARF
• BARF-of-Central-Fla
• Southern Florida Raw Feeders in the South Florida area, especially Palm Beach County
• FloriBamaRaw covers Northwest Florida and the Alabama Gulf Coast
• Raw4Pets located in the Orlando area of Central Florida
• Georgia:
• SouthEastern Natural Rearing Not a co-op, but they do bulk buys together. Centered in Atlanta, Georgia.
• CarolinaRawDogs The co-op is centered in Greenville, South Carolina and covers mostly western South Carolina and northeastern Georgia.
• CarolinaRawFeeders This group is based  in Greenville, South Carolina and covers South Carolina, western North Carolina, and northeastern Georgia.
• Illinois:
• BARFingChicago Not a co-op but lots of networking and some group orders in the Chicago area
• IL_RawfeederGroup to facilitate getting products from Taylor Pond Farms.
• Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas City Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• Indiana:
• IN_Rawfeeder Group to facilitate getting products from Taylor Pond Farms.
• KentuckianaRawCo-opfor dog owners in and around the Central Kentucky and Southern Indiana area.
• OHINMIRawDogs Connecting dog owners in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan who feed their dogs a raw diet
• Iowa:
• BARF-Iowa
• IA_Rawfeeder Group to facilitate getting products from Taylor Pond Farms.
• Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas City Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• Kansas:
• Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas City Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• Kentucky:
• KYnaturaldogs
• Prey4Pets a supplier of natural, raw food located in rural north-central Kentucky.
• KentuckianaRawCo-op for dog owners in and around the Central Kentucky and Southern Indiana area.
• Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas City Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• Maryland:
• Maryland Raw Feeding Co-Op
• BARFers Delaware, Maryland and Southern Pennsylvania
• NaturalFeeding-MD_DC_VA_PA for pet owners who live in MD, DC, VA, PA, DE & Eastern States.
• Massachusetts:
• New England Raw Feeders Bravo distributor and group purchases, email the list owner to join. Suppliers are also welcome.
• Cape Cod Raw Feeder Supplies
• Michigan:
• SEMichiganRAWCo-opNon-profit cooperative buying unit for bulk orders of RAW food in the Southeast Michigan area.
• MichiganBARFersandSuppliers
• MichiganBARFList Very few posts but there may be information in the archives and files.
• OHINMIRawDogs Connecting dog owners in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan who feed their dogs a raw diet.
• MI_RawFeeder Group to facilitate getting products from Taylor Pond Farms. Contact Pete at Taylor Pond Farms for an invite to join this group.
• Minnesota:
• Midwest BARF Buyers Group Centered in Roseville, Minnesota
• MN-BARF
• MN_Rawfeeder Group to facilitate getting products from Taylor Pond Farms.
• Mississippi: BARFmemphis also covers Northern Mississippi
• Missouri:
• Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City, Missouri or Kansas City, Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• StLouisRaw4Pets
• Nebraska: Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas City Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• New Jersey:
• NJ-BARF
• MidAtlanticRawFeeders covering New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania areas.
• PA_NJrawfeedingnetwork
• New York:
• (Long Island) Co-Op: New group just getting started, contact Renee or Ken Landsman at 516-922-1626
• CNYRawFedDogs, for dog owners in the Rochester/Syracuse/Ithaca triangle
• WYNRaw for dog owners in and around Jamestown, Buffalo, Corning, Rochester, Syracuse and Binghamton.
• MidAtlanticRawFeeders covering New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania areas
• NYRawfeeders or people in Westchester/Putnam New York area.
• NY_raw_feeders new group in NYC as of 2008.
• North Carolina:
• Triangle Raw  Not a co-op, but can help find sources in the research triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, and the surrounding area) of North Carolina
• QueenCityBARF Charlotte, NC and vicinity
• CarolinaRawFeeders This group is based  in Greenville, South Carolina and covers South Carolina, western North Carolina, and northeastern Georgia.
• Ohio:
• OH_Rawfeeder Group to facilitate getting products from Taylor Pond Farms
• OHINMIRawDogs Connecting dog owners in Ohio, Indiana and Michigan who feed their dogs a raw diet.
• RawFCO Raw Feeders of Columbus, Ohio
• AkronRawFed Raw feeders in the Akron, Ohio area
• RawFeedersCleveland Raw food networking in the Cleveland area
• Oklahoma:
• Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas City Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• Oregon:
• Pacific Northwest Raw
• WAzzuOR_BARF for anyone living in Washington or Oregon.
• Pennsylvania:
• PAEast-BARF  This is a group for Eastern PA BARFers to discuss suppliers, sources etc. Intended to Cover Montgomery, Philadelphia, Chester, Lehigh, Delaware, Bucks and other Eastern PA counties
• MidAtlanticRawFeeders covering New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania areas
• SoutheastPARawFeeders
• PA_NJrawfeedingnetwork
• NaturalFeeding-MD_DC_VA_PA for pet owners who live in MD, DC, VA, PA, DE & Eastern States.
• South Carolina:
• CarolinaRawDogs The co-op is centered in Greenville, South Carolina and covers mostly western South Carolina and northeastern Georgia.
• CarolinaRawFeeders This group is based  in Greenville, South Carolina and covers South Carolina, western North Carolina, and Northeastern Georgia.
• Tennessee:
• BARFmemphis also covers Northern Mississippi
• MDTN_BARF middle Tennessee area (Nashville, Clarksville, Bowling Green, Cookeville, etc.)
• Kansas_City_BARF for people living in Kansas City Missouri or Kansas City Kansas and ALL surrounding areas, including, but not limited to, all areas of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.
• TN Tripe green tripe in Murfreesboro, TN, plus sharing of knowledge about other raw products in Tennessee.
• Texas:
• DFW-BARF Raw feeding group in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas
• Austin Raw Feeders Co-op
• ARF Coop Austin Raw Feeders Coop, also see http://www.arfcoop.org/
• CenTexRawDiet
• Houston Raw Feeders
• San Antonio Raw Feeding Co-op
• Virginia:
• SEVABarf
• RivaBARF Richmond and surrounding areas
• NaturalFeeding-MD_DC_VA_PA for pet owners who live in MD, DC, VA, PA, DE & Eastern States.
• Washington:
• Pacific Northwest Raw
• WAzzuOR_BARF
• SeattleBarfers
• Wisconsin:
• BARF-WI Networking and group orders in Wisconsin
• WI_Rawfeeder Group to facilitate getting products from Taylor Pond Farms.

• Canada:
• CalgaryRaw a not-for-profit, raw pet food buyers' group based in Calgary, Alberta
• CanadianRawPetSupply Information about raw food suppliers in Canada
• DogsToronto Not a true co-op, but members network together on a regular basis
• Europe:
• Dutch:
• BARFPLAATS Natuurlijk voedingsforum voor honden
• BARF-Natuurlijk
• Finland: BARFSuomi
• Great Britain:
• BritBarf
• BritishCanineBarfHealth
• Poland: BARF-Pl
• Portuguese: Alimentacao-Natural

Basic guidelines for feeding a raw, homemade diet that includes bones:

• 30%-50% (1/3 to 1/2) of the diet should be raw meaty bones, such as chicken necks, backs, wings and leg quarters, lamb breast, lamb necks, pork necks, pork riblets, beef necks (usually only consumed by large dogs), turkey necks, etc. These can also include canned fish, such as jack mackerel, pink salmon, or sardines (preferably packed in water rather than oil) -- do not feed tuna, as it does not include bones and is higher in mercury. Be careful when feeding anything round and meaty, that your dog does not try to swallow it whole, which can lead to choking. Parts to especially watch out for include turkey necks (large dogs), chicken necks (small dogs), and ox tails.
• 5% liver. Liver is extremely nutritionally dense, providing nutrients that are hard to find in other foods. It should be a part of every diet, or you will need to provide suitable supplements to make up for its lack. Other organs such as kidney are also good, but should not be substituted for liver on a regular basis. Note that too much organ meat at one time can lead to loose stools. It's better to feed small amounts daily or every other day, rather than large amounts once or twice a week. Note I have revised my recommendation for liver down from 10%, as I no longer think that much is needed.
• 5%-10% heart, which is nutritionally more like a muscle meat. It's OK to feed more as long as it doesn't cause loose stools.
• The rest a mixture of the following:
• Muscle meat. Feed as much variety as possible, such as beef, lamb, pork, turkey, chicken. Don't feed every kind of exotic protein (venison, rabbit, duck, etc.); reserve at least one or two in case you ever need to feed an elimination diet to determine food allergies.
• Eggs, as many as you want. Eggs that are lightly cooked (e.g., soft boiled) may be more digestible than raw, but either way is fine.
• Dairy: yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, etc.
• Healthy leftovers (the kind of food you would eat yourself, not the parts you would throw away).
• If desired, you can also add the following:
• Veggies. Note that some people choose not to feed veggies, either for their own convenience or because their dog won't eat them. Dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates, so it's OK not to feed them, although I prefer to add them if possible, as they are a natural source of antioxidants and trace minerals. Veggies must be either cooked or pureed in order to be digestible by dogs. Legumes (beans) and starchy veggies, such as sweet potatoes and winter squashes, and should be cooked. Whole, raw veggies are not harmful, they just don't provide much nutrition.
• If you don't feed veggies, I think it's a good idea to add a green blend or a mixture of kelp and alfalfa. Note that too much iodine from kelp can suppress the thyroid, so don't give more than the recommended amount. Kelp may also contain arsenic, so I think it's better to use a blend of several green foods, such as kelp, alfalfa and spirulina, rather than plain kelp (or other mixture of sea vegetables).
• Fruit. Apples, bananas, blueberries, papaya, melon, etc. are good foods to add. Overripe fruits are more easily digested.
• Grains and Pasta. Grains seem to be related to a number of health problems in dogs, including allergies, arthritis, IBD, seizures, etc., so if your dog has any of these problems, try omitting grains (and maybe starchy carbs as well) to see if there is improvement. If your dog is healthy or appears to have no problems with grains, it's OK to feed them in moderate amounts: never more than half the diet, preferably no more than about 1/5 of the total diet -- if carbs are half the diet, reduce raw meaty bones to 1/4 of the total diet, or half of the non-carbohydrate foods, with eggs, meat, liver and dairy making up the other half. Remember that dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates, but they can be a source of less expensive calories, if needed.
• Supplements. See the Supplements section below for guidelines on supplements you may want to add.

See A Raw Deal for more information on feeding a raw diet. Also see the K9Nutrition FAQ for more info on getting started with a raw diet.

See below for sample diet plans.

Basic guidelines for feeding incomplete raw blends

There are many brands these days that offer blends of meat, bone, organs and often vegetables and fruits. Unless they contain other ingredients as well, and state specifically that they meet AAFCO guidelines, these are not complete diets. That means you cannot feed them continuously by themselves, with no other foods or supplements added to the diet, without risking nutritional deficiencies and imbalances over time.

It is fine to use blends such as these as one half to two thirds of the diet you feed. The rest of the diet should be a variety of other foods, such as eggs, dairy, canned fish with bones, healthy leftovers, and perhaps some different kinds of muscle and organ meat. You may also want to add supplements, as listed below. It's also OK to add some grains, pasta or additional veggies, just don't make them a large percentage of the diet.

Bravo! Original Formula Blends are 10% organ meats (equal mixtures of liver, heart, and either kidneys or gizzards), 15% vegetables, and 75% ground meat and bones, which is typical of many other brands. Bravo! suggests adding eggs, cottage cheese and fish to their blends, as well as supplements, which is good advice.

Oma's Pride offers mixes similar to Bravo!, they list 10% organs in their Beef and Poultry blends (none in their Lamb blend), 20% veggies, and the rest meat and bone.

See A Raw Deal for more information on feeding a raw diet based on incomplete blends. Also see the K9Nutrition FAQ under Raw Diets/What to feed with Bravo/Oma's Pride for more info.

See below for a sample diet plan using incomplete blends.

Basic guidelines for a cooked diet, or a diet that uses raw meat but no bones:

• Feed at least half (preferably more) meat products, such as muscle meat, heart, liver, kidney, eggs, dairy (e.g., yogurt, kefir, cottage cheese), and canned fish with bones, such as pink salmon, jack mackerel and sardines. Meat and eggs can be fed either raw or cooked (light cooking is better than cooking for longer periods at higher heats).
• Liver (and some kidney) should make up around 5% of the total diet.
• Feed as wide a variety as possible of different types of foods (e.g., beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, canned fish with bones, eggs, dairy) and different parts, including heart.
• No more than half the diet (preferably less) should be grains, pasta and vegetables. These should be cooked. Fruits can also be fed in small amounts. Note that grains seem to be related to a number of health problems in dogs, including allergies, arthritis, IBD, seizures, etc., so if your dog has any of these problems, try omitting grains (and maybe starchy carbs as well) to see if there is improvement. If your dog is healthy or appears to have no problems with grains, it's OK to feed them in moderate amounts. Remember that dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates, but they can be a source of less expensive calories, if needed.
• Add 800 to 1000 mg calcium per pound of food fed (cooked weight). You can use ground eggshell at the rate of 1/2 teaspoon per pound of food, or any other form of calcium is fine, including calcium carbonate, calcium lactate, calcium citrate and vegetable calcium, such as Animal Essentials Natural Calcium. If you use bone meal, add an amount that provides 1000 to 1200 mg calcium (more is needed than when using plain calcium due to the amount of phosphorus in the bone meal). Do not use supplements that contain vitamin D, as the amount will be too high. These guidelines are for adult dogs only, not puppies (contact me privately if you need feeding guidelines for puppies).
• Healthy leftovers can also be added to the diet.
• Supplements: See below for information on supplements to add to the diet.

Basic guidelines for adding supplements to a homemade diet

• Fish oil (body oil, such as salmon oil or EPA oil) is a healthy addition to any diet. Sardines can also be used in place of fish oil to supply omega-3 fatty acids. You need to give vitamin E at least once or twice a week when you supplement with oils, to prevent the body from becoming depleted.
• A green blend or a mixture of kelp and alfalfa. Another option is to use a mix such as Preference from The Honest Kitchen. which contains alfalfa, kelp, vegetables and fruit. These are particularly useful if you do not include vegetables in the diet you feed. See Supplements section above for more options.
• Organic apple cider vinegar (which may provide trace minerals)
• Honey
• Fresh crushed garlic (no more than 1/2 to 1 small clove per 20 lbs of body weight daily)
• Nutritional or Brewer's yeast
• Molasses

Sample Diets

Following are sample diet guidelines for a 40 pound adult dog. Amounts will vary depending on the individual dog, and on the amount of fat in the diet.

Sample daily raw diet:

6 to 8 ounces raw meaty bones (may include canned fish with bones once or twice a week)

4 to 6 ounces muscle meat/heart/tripe/leftovers

1 to 2 ounces liver or kidney

1 to 2 eggs (daily or every other day)

Spoonful of yogurt or cottage cheese

1 to 4 ounces pureed or cooked vegetables (optional)

Sample daily raw diet using Bravo! (or similar) blends:

7 to 14 ounces Bravo Original Formula Blends (may replace up to half with canned fish with bones once or twice a week)

2 to 4 ounces muscle meat/heart/tripe/leftovers/Bravo Boneless Meats

½ to 1 ounce liver or kidney, or 1 to 2 ounces Bravo Organs daily or every other day (optional)

1 or 2 eggs (daily or every other day)

Spoonful of yogurt or cottage cheese

Sample daily cooked diet:

8 to 12 ounces muscle meat/heart/fish/leftovers

1 to 2 ounces liver or kidney

1 to 2 eggs (daily or every other day)

1 to 4 ounces yogurt, kefir or cottage cheese

2 to 8 ounces cooked grains, pasta or veggies (no more than half the diet, max)

1000 mg calcium (for example, 1/2 tsp ground eggshell, or 1 tsp Animal Essentials Natural Calcium, or 1 tsp bone meal that has 1000 mg calcium per teaspoon)

Sample daily supplements (optional)

• 1 or 2 fish oil capsules (500 mg combined EPA and DHA), or 3 small sardines.
• 200 IUs vitamin E (required at least a couple of times a week if giving oils)
• 1/8 to 1/4 tsp green blend
• 500-1000 mg vitamin C once or twice a day
• Vitamin B-50 complex once or twice a day
• Cod liver oil in an amount yielding around 100 IUs vitamin D
• ½ teaspoon organic apple cider vinegar mixed with ½ teaspoon raw honey
• 1 clove fresh crushed raw garlic
• 1 to 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast

    Books on raw diets:

Give Your Dog A Bone and Grow Your Pup With Bones and The BARF Diet by Ian Billinghurst, DVM
Raw Dog Food: Make it Easy for You and Your Dog by Carina MacDonald
Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet by Kymythy Schultze, AHI
Switching to Raw by Susan Johnson
See Spot Live Longer by Steve Brown and Beth Taylor

See Spot Live Longer is a well referenced book on the value of feeding a home made diet, but is not a "how to" book.

    Books on cooked diets (including diets that use raw meat but not bone):

Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats by Richard Pitcairn, DVM
Natural Food Recipes for Healthy Dogs by Carol Boyle (2006 edition), also available at Dogwise.
The Ultimate Pet Food Guide: Everything You Need to Know about Feeding Your Dog or Cat by Liz Palika
Home Prepared Dog and Cat Diets by Donald Strombeck, DVM
Eat, Drink, and Wag Your Tail DVD by Micki Voisard and Dr. Richard Pitcairn
Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, DVM
The Healthy Dog Cookbook by  Jonna Anne and Mary Straus

Carol Boyle's book is about sharing your own meals with your dogs. If you enjoy cooking healthy meals for yourself and your family, or think this is something you'd like to learn, this book is wonderful. It is easy to read and understand, and offers a common sense approach to feeding dogs (and people) a healthy diet. It is filled with recipes you can use to help you get started, but you need to read the text as well, which includes important guidelines for using the recipes. Be sure to get the new edition, published in 2006, and available on Carol's web site and thru DogWise.com.

Liz Palika's book is new, and appears to have a good overview of information on various diets, including commercial, cooked and raw. I have ordered a copy and will add more notes when I've had a chance to review it.

I have not viewed the video, Eat, Drink, and Wag Your Tail, but understand that it is less of a "how to" than a "reasons why," though it does contain some information on preparing homemade diets.

I got talked into writing the introduction to The Healthy Dog Cookbook, and ended up doing the nutritional analyses and the comments as well. I was asked to do the recipes, but declined, since I prefer to give dietary guidelines rather than recipes. The recipes in the book do follow my guidelines. I feel they are overly complicated, but they use appropriate proportions of meat and plant products, and as long as you feed a variety rather than using the same recipe all the time, they should be fine to use. I'm not recommending this book over the other books listed on this page, and I make no royalties from it.

Note that there are a lot of other books on feeding a homemade diet that I would not recommend. Many contain diets that are incomplete or inappropriate, such as adding the wrong amount of calcium (or none at all). In particular, I do not recommend The Whole Pet Diet: Eight Weeks to Great Health for Dogs and Cats by Andi Brown, due to nutritional deficiencies in the recipes and other problems. If a book is not on my list, it's usually because I don't think it's one you should use, but if you have a question about a specific book, you can contact me to ask (see bottom of page for contact info).

For more information about feeding a home made diet, you may want to join the K9Nutrition email list. It is open to people who feed all different ways, including raw, cooked and commercial.

Websites with information about feeding a raw diet. Also see my notes above.

• FAQs:
• http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm
• http://www.k9rawdiet.com/faq.htm
• Pictorials:
• http://www.auntjeni.com/barf.htm
• http://www.rawdogranch.com/rawdiet.htm
• Overviews with diet information:
• http://www.b-naturals.com/Feb2003.php
• http://k9rawdiet.com/How-2-p-6.html
• http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/nutrition.html
• References:
• How much bone?
• Natural Diet: Don't "Just Do It"
• http://ravenwooddals.tripod.com/feeding.htm (includes Dalmatian info)
• Email Lists:
• K9Nutrition
• RawPaws
• SeniorRawFeeding
• Raw4Bullies
• Information on diets for health problems:
• http://www.b-naturals.com/newsindex.php
• http://www.dogaware.com/specific.html
• http://www.dogaware.com/kidney.html
• http://www.dogaware.com/arthritis.html
• http://www.canine-epilepsy.com/healthydiet.html

Holisticat (includes an email list)
CatNutrition.org: feeding cats for health
Making Cat Food (from a vet)
How to Prepare Fresh Cat Food (technical but very complete)
The Feline Future Cat Food Company (Instincts TC)

• RawPaws (I have seen this one recommended)
• WholeCatHealth
• FelineFutureDiet (a couple of people have said they have not had good luck with the Feline Future diet).

Annual Chat Month at PetHobbyist.com
February 1-28, 2009
The chats are over, but transcripts are available for some of them here: Eleventh Annual Chat Month on PetHobbyist.com

Natural Health & Nutrition
Dr. Donna M. Raditic, DVM, CVA
Camp Unleashed, located in the Berkshires in Western Massachusetts
June 4-7, 2009 (this seminar is open only to campers)
Dr. Raditic's specialty is in canine nutrition. She used to be with All Caring Animal Center in Great Barrington, MA. She will discuss the benefits of various diets, including raw food and supplements, the current thinking about over-vaccination and answer all your questions about this essential subject.
Go to Camp Unleashed for more information.