There are a few different ways to feed raw; nutritionally balanced diets, 80/10/10 ratio diets or DIY diets. It is down to individual preference which route you take (this is something that is heavily debated in the raw community, and you will have different opinions thrown at you down every avenue that you turn), but I would highly recommend looking at nutritionally balanced completes if you're a beginner or don't have the time to dedicate to provide a varied ratio or DIY diet. For the purposes of defining a nutritionally balanced, complete diet: a nutritionally balanced diet is capable of providing all the vitamins, minerals and nutrients required to sustain life. FEDIAF (I'll explain below who they are) have developed a set of nutritional guidelines for pet food manufacturers to follow to ensure that this nutritional balance is achieved.
Who are Fediaf?
The European Pet Food Industry, referred to as FEDIAF, are the governing body who exist to provide the baseline criteria for formulating nutritionally balanced and complete diets. These guidelines detail the nutritional needs of canines and felines, of different life stages, in order to support their growth and development. These nutritional requirements have come about from comprehensive reviews of NRC (National Research Council) data and other existing scientific and evidence-based literature, and have been peer reviewed by independent veterinary nutritionists and experts throughout Europe.
Why these guidelines aren't the be-all and end-all, but they're a good place to start!
1. FEDIAF guidelines were originally adapted for processed, dry diets and it can be challenging to formulate raw to FEDIAF guidelines. Meat is a naturally derived product and nutrient content can vary depending on the breed, sex, genetics, age of slaughter, feed quality and grazing pastures of the livestock, among other factors. This also applies to fruit and vegetables, as soil quality and seasonality will impact quality of the produce. As the synthetic nutrients used in processed diets are not affected by natural variation, FEDIAF guidelines tend not to provide the elbow room to account for this in raw ingredients. However, most manufacturers do surpass the nutritional minimums stated by FEDIAF (within the safe limits of course), so imbalances caused by natural variation is less of a concern.
2. FEDIAF do not dictate or set out requirements on how manufacturers should meet these nutritional minimums. This means a manufacturer could add a synthetic vitamin and mineral mix that complies with FEDIAF guidelines to a bag of sand, and it would still meet FEDIAF guidelines! Thankfully, no raw company will be selling you sand but it is important to note that not all FEDIAF compliant raw foods are made equal; some choose to balance their formulas with synthetic vitamins and minerals, while some rely solely on whole food sources, such as fruit, vegetables, seeds, herbs, oils and other botanicals. If synthetic nutrients are something you wish to avoid, then it is worth checking the ingredients. 3. FEDIAF guidelines state nutritional minimums, and maximums for some nutrients (where your pet's development and health would be compromised if this level is exceeded), and minimums doesn’t necessarily translate into optimal requirements! For example, we know that omega 3 fatty acids, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are beneficial for eye, brain, skin and joint health, and have anti-inflammatory properties. However, FEDIAF state there is no minimum requirement for adult dogs for either DHA or EPA! Fortunately, many FEDIAF formulated raw foods (and some that are not) contain fish-derived sources of omega 3 fatty acids, commonly in the form of salmon oil or minced oily fish. Under FEDIAF guidelines, there are also no dietary requirement for vitamin K or biotin, but these nutrients are commonly sourced from ingredients in a well formulated raw diet such as organ meats, eggs and dark leafy green vegetables.
So now you know who FEDIAF are, why is it important to feed a diet like this? Surely if dogs were in the wild, they wouldn't be eating something nutritionally balanced every meal? By providing a diet that covers all the nutritional requirements, we can ensure there is a small risk of nutritional deficiencies and we can feed to thrive, rather than just survive. Nutritionally balanced diets will contain ingredients beyond those that are just meat, bone and offal; fruit, vegetables, seeds, oils, herbs and other superfoods are needed to fill the nutrient gaps of a ratio diet. If you are purchasing a FEDIAF formulated raw, you can be reassured that everything your dog needs is contained in there.
How do I know if a brand is nutritionally balanced?
Sometimes it can take a little bit of searching on the manufacturer's website or on the product packaging, but thankfully I've done all the hard work for you! I've searched through every website and contacted manufacturers to ask whether they follow FEDIAF guidelines when formulating their raw. You can view the comprehensive list here: look for the green tick ✓. Our top brand recommendations would be Cotswold Raw, Nutriwolds, Nutriment and Poppy's Picnic.
If there is a brand you come across that isn't listed above, please share on the Raw Fed Dachshunds UK group and I can add it. Similarly, if there is a brand you feed that don't know if it's nutritionally balanced, feel free to ask and double check on the group.
Do I need to add anything?
If you are feeding a nutritionally balanced complete, it is not necessary to add anything else into the diet to fill nutrient gaps. You may also wish to supplement the diet with raw fish (especially if there isn't a source of omega-3s in the recipe), fruits, vegetables and raw eggs, but many recipes will include these or supply the nutrients in other ways. Be aware that adding too many additions into an already balanced diet, can unbalance it and may push some of the vitamins or minerals into the upper safe limits.
What about protein rotation?
If you're feeding a recipe that is nutritionally balanced, is it necessary to feed a variety of meats? It is recommended to include as many proteins (meats from different animals) as possible, but its not as important as it would be if you were feeding a ratio or DIY diet. Protein rotation in a ratio or DIY diet helps to fulfill the nutrient gaps created by not feeding plant matter and other superfoods, but it can also reduce the likelihood of intolerances or fussiness developing. As explained above, meat, fruits and vegetables are naturally derived and no two animals, fruit or vegetable will have the nutrient profile- so by feeding a minimum of 4-5 different proteins or recipes, you can ensure the chance of these nutrient gaps occurring is slim. Variation is the spice of life and creates interest with every meal, so it's a good thing to mix it up.
If you're feeding a dog with allergies or intolerances who require limited proteins in their diet, then it is extra important to select a nutritionally balanced diet. If nutrients can't be provided by feeding a range of proteins in the long term, then they must be derived from other ingredients to prevent deficiencies. There are manufacturers who do novel, single protein recipes that are FEDIAF compliant.
Cover Model; Maximus and Mabel, owned by Hayley Banks.