Sprenkels American Bulldogs
All our puppies have been exclusively fed a raw diet and supplemented with Prevention Plus TM . We purchase the majority of our raw dog food from Surrey Meat Packers or B&T Raw Foods. They are commercial raw dog food providers, which makes raw feeding easy for beginners! All of their bone mixtures have the appropriate amount of meat, organ and bone. It is important to provide several different meat sources. We have been feeding our dogs a raw meat diet for several years now.
If you would like to make your own raw food, click here. I have also included some information if you decide to make your own dog food.
There are so many benefits to feeding your dog(s) just like the way nature intended, RAW! A raw diet keeps your dog's immune system strong, puppies develop at a more appropriate rate and quick growth spurts are avoided. Feeding a raw diet to a pregnant or lactating bitch will result in healthier and stronger puppies and a strong healthy mother. Raw meaty bones naturally clean teeth and keep gums healthy. No more plaque buildup or bad breath! The time it takes for a dog to chew a raw meaty bone gives their stomach adequate time to get the acids moving for proper digestion, much less stools are produced, they are firm and turn chalky after a few days, less water is consumed, and no more doggy odor. The ripping and chewing involved in eating a raw diet with bones develops the jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles of the dog. Commercial dog foods will never assist in this important muscle development. People who have switched their dogs to a raw diet from commercial dog foods have found the following: dogs who were previously un-energetic and sluggish become completely new dogs once the raw diet feeding begins, allergies their dogs previously had on commercial foods disappear, and their bodies go through a huge change! No more bloated bodies! As fat disappears lean healthy muscle begins to develop, coats become shiny and healthy, tear staining on the face will clear up so your dog will have healthier eyes, yeast build up and staining (that reddish/brown staining on feet, legs, and belly.) will go away, and best of all feeding a raw diet helps keep your dog’s immune system healthier!
If you decide to feed kibble, please do your research and read reviews. Ensure kibble is grain free, corn free and has a protein as the main ingredient (IE NO Chicken MEAL or anything with MEAL at the end as the first ingredient).
Starting your puppy on a raw diet
Puppies should be fed no more than 10% of their current body weight until it reached 2% of their predicted adult weight. Puppies grow fast so keeping good track of their weight weekly is important. Raw feeding general guide: 75% meat, 10% organs and 15% bone.
1. Start off cold turkey
It’s not wise to mix your puppy’s raw food with kibble. Because kibble requires a different pH in the gut to digest, it will make your puppy more susceptible to the bacteria in the raw meats. He is capable of handling this bacteria just fine, but once you add in artificial foods, the meat will sit in his digestive tract twice as long, meaning there is a much greater chance of harmful bacteria building up.
2. Start with one protein source
Regardless of whether you are preparing your own raw or are using a prepared raw food, it is best to start with just one protein source, like chicken or turkey. Give that one protein for a good week and, if there are no signs of digestive upset, start your puppy on a second source of protein, and so on.
3. Balance the calcium and phosphorus
This is fairly easy to do. If you view a turkey neck as a nice meaty bone, then your puppy’s diet should be half to two-thirds meaty bones and half to one-third meats and offal (organ meats). There is no magic formula and every puppy is a bit different. Despite what the kibble manufacturers say, it’s pretty easy to balance calcium and phosphorus and there is a wider margin of error when feeding raw. Calcium that comes in a synthetic powder is nearly impossible for a puppy to excrete, so excesses of calcium are more of a concern with synthetic products than with the naturally occurring calcium found in bones.
4. Feed three times a day
Your puppy should eat three small meals a day until he is about six months of age – then he can eat twice a day and eventually once a day if you wish. This is especially important for small breed puppies as they can become hypoglycemic if meals are spread out too long.
5. Feed 2-3% of his adult body weight
This is easier to determine if you have a purebred dog, but the amount you feed should be 2-3% of your puppy’s anticipated adult weight. If you’re not sure what that will be, then feed about 10% of his current weight. Watch to see if he gets too fat or too thin and adjust accordingly.
6. Don’t overdo it with the offal
Liver and other organ meat can cause some pretty nasty loose stools in puppies who have never had them before. If your puppy is new to raw feeding, wait until you see a good two or more weeks of solid stools before you introduce organ meats. Then add them in gradually instead of feeding one giant meal of liver. Don’t skip the organ meats; they are important because they are full of nutrients not found in muscle meat.
7. Don’t forget the supplements
Even if you’re feeding free range, organic meats, the earth is not what it used to be so your puppy will benefit from some supplementation. Supplements to consider include: Fish or krill oil (a source of Omega-3 fats which are a good idea if the meat is not grass fed), Coconut oil (antibacterial and antifungal), Nutritional herbs (alfalfa, dandelion leaf, nettle and more), Probiotics (green tripe is an excellent natural source of probiotics and digestive enzymes)
8. Other important stuff
Make sure your puppy has plenty of fresh, non-chlorinated water. He should also have plenty of fresh air and exercise. Exercise for young puppies should not be forced walks – his growing joints will suffer less stress if you take him outside for short play or training sessions instead.
One of the barriers to feeding dog’s raw food is the misleading notion that balancing and creating canine diets is an exact science that must be performed in the laboratory. This couldn't be further from the truth! Raw feeding has a few guidelines that must be followed and the most important one is balancing the minerals calcium and phosphorus in the diet.
Meat is very high in phosphorus. The main function of phosphorus is in the formation of bones and teeth. It plays an important role in the body’s utilization of carbohydrates and fats and in the synthesis of protein for the growth, maintenance, and repair of cells and tissues. It is also crucial for the production of ATP, a molecule the body uses to store energy. Phosphorus works with the B vitamins. It also assists in the contraction of muscles, in the functioning of kidneys, in maintaining the regularity of the heartbeat, and in nerve conduction. Bone is high in calcium. In addition to its widely known role in bone structure, calcium is used to help control muscle and nerve function, as well as to manage acid/base balance in the blood stream.
Dogs need a balance between the amount of phosphorus and calcium they get in their daily diets. In dogs, the calcium: phosphorus ratio should be about 1.2 to 1.5:1 although a range of 1:1 to 2.5: 1 is sufficient. That means that dogs should consume a little more calcium than they do phosphorus.
Overall, balancing calcium and phosphorus isn't all that difficult, as long as dogs receive plenty of bone. In general, any bone content over 10% is plenty although you shouldn't exceed 25% because dogs need other nutrients too.
Supplements
We highly recommend the continued use of Prevention Plus TM which was developed by a reputable breeder of American Bulldogs for the past 50 years, who has produced several generations of OFA Excellent American Bulldogs – which includes some of our own breeding dogs and offspring!
Prevention contains natural dewormers, gamma oryzanol to encourage lean muscle mass and prevent aging, vitamin C complex to promote the production of collagen which is the cement that holds muscles together(NOTE: do not use acid forms of vitamin C as this can cause joint and tissue injury), amino acids L-carnitine and L-histadine which promotes energy, liver health and reduce cardiac stress, bovine glandular extracts to keep down inflammation and promote ligament integrity and thymus gland elevating the ability to fight infections. Visit the website for testimonials, information and additional benefits of the supplement (http://preventionplustm.com).
Medicine and Antibiotics - as we all know (or should know) most medicine and antibiotics do more damage than good, stops the pain but does not cure it. This is why we all turn to natural remedies, natural medicine (because we know that all these things we put into our bodies are slowly but surely killing us) well it’s the same with dogs, they are not meant to be consuming medicine or any antibiotics.
Treatment with allopathic drugs, (antibiotics, steroids, hormones, etc.) should be avoided unless absolutely necessary cortico-steroids (cortisone-type anti-inflammatory drugs) are the most abused and THE PROBLEM. They usually make the underlying problems, that is, the REAL problem worse!
There are quite a few natural Antibiotics that can be used to treat some a wide variety of health issues, so here is just a few things that every dog owner should know about just in case of unexpected health issues that might rise. These are also some of the items that you should always have in stock.
Vitamin C- It helps to build the immune system by increasing the production of white blood cells to fight infections.
Echinacea- It is an herb that supports the lymphatic system and acts as a blood purifier.
Carob powder- It is rich in tannins and works well against diarrhea.
Grapefruit seed extract- It's a disinfectant that can be used to reduce skin rashes. It kills bacteria such as Strep, Staph, and Salmonella.
Colloidal Silver -It prevents the growth of resistant strains of disease causing bacteria. It repairs damaged tissue and can be used internally as well externally. It can be used for treatment of viral infections, sore throat, diarrhea, allergies, menstrual pains, and colon spasms. Colloidal Silver helps in faster healing of cuts and bruises. It is a safe product but overdose and long-term use may result in silver build-up in the body. This leads to a gray color skin.
Olive leaf extract- Olive leaves have strong anti-bacterial and anti-viral qualities. It acts as a broad type antibiotic and is used in treatment of fungal or yeast infections, fatigue, and allergies. It is effective against colds and flu.
Apple Cider Vinegar- is anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-bacterial. Insect Repellent - Plain vinegar and herbal tinctures containing cider vinegar repel insects, including fleas and mosquitoes. Spray the neck, torso, tail, underbelly, and overall coat (avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth) and let dry. For a nontoxic flea dip, cover your dog or puppy with ACV (spray, sponge, or simply pour it on), working it into the skin and coat. Avoid the eyes, nose, and mouth. Let stand for several minutes before washing with gentle shampoo. Dab full-strength cider vinegar or a cider vinegar herbal tincture behind the ears, near the tail, and on the dog’s coat. Because herbal tinctures and cider vinegar can stain light or white coats, substitute distilled white vinegar for light-coated dogs.
Combine skin-friendly herbs like calendula blossoms, St. John’s wort blossoms, and/or comfrey leaves with ACV to improve its healing effects on cuts, wounds, abrasions, etc.Itchy Feet or Ears - Dogs with seasonal allergies can develop itchy feet in response to pollen exposure. Soaking the paws in full-strength or diluted ACV can help reduce the itching.
Plain apple cider vinegar or a vinegar-based herbal tincture can help keep a dog’s ears clean and healthy. Place a few drops in each ear and gently massage, or apply with a cotton swab.
Apple cider vinegar to sore muscles with a sponge or cotton. Do the same for bruises, abrasions, sore paw pads, and other discomforts.
Food and Water - If you feed a raw home-prepared diet and are concerned about harmful bacteria in your dog’s food or on kitchen surfaces, use the alternating vinegar-peroxide spray treatment described above. There are pros and cons to adding cider vinegar to a dog’s drinking water, with the recommended dose usually 1 teaspoon to 1 tablespoon per 50 pounds of body weight.
Is a daily dose of apple cider vinegar good for your dog? Unless your dog is allergic to apples, he or she isn’t likely to suffer a serious reaction, and within a month you should be able to tell whether the addition is helping. Commonly reported benefits include improvements in skin and coat condition, a reduction of itching and scratching, the elimination of tear stains on the face, fewer brown or yellow urine spots in lawns, increased mobility in older dogs, reduced flea populations, and an improvement in overall health.
*Please note, this advice does NOT replace sound veterinary advice. In emergency situations, please see a veterinarian. If any minor issues arise, please feel free to contact me for my opinion*
How much do I feed (2% or 3% is recommended)
A SIMPLE GUIDE TO SWITCHING TO HOMEMADE RAW
Where do the Nutrients come from.
FACT ON WHY YOU CANT JUST THROW THEM MEAT AND NEED A BALANCED DIET
CAN YOU MIX RAW AND KIBBLE! (YES)