I have both a lovable Giant Schnauzer Onyx (3y) and a sometimey Maltese Spencer (12y). I’ve always fed Spencer dry dog food and maybe threw in a bit of coconut oil for health if her coat every now and then. When my husband and I initially moved in together, he wanted another dog badly. A big ol pure bred Giant Schnauzer.

We did the research and looked up diets that would suit him best and came across raw diet. I was VERY skeptical because raw meat just doesn’t seem safe ya know? Plus. Again Raw meat. RAW CHICKEN AT THAT. Anyway, we came up with a pretty detailed feeding plan with a fool proof post disinfecting routine so I was on board.

We feed both of them in the mornings in a room that is easy to clean and free of any other objects that can possible be contaminated. It’s important that I keep an eye on them and clean them plus the room immediately after they’re done.

Here’s what we feed them

Onyx (80lbs):

• 1/3 – 1/4 cup dry oats
• 1-2 TBSP of Nupro joint supplement
• 2TBSP olive oil
• 1TBSP coconut oil
• 2 raw eggs + shell
• 1/3 – 1/4 cup steamed sweet potato
• 2 whole chicken quarters (2 legs + 2 thighs)
• 3-4 chicken gizzards (optional)

Spencer (12lbs):

• 1/2TBSP – 1TBSP dry oats
• 1tsp of Nupro joint supplement
• 1/2tsp – 1tsp olive oil (optional)
• 1/2tsp – 1tsp coconut oil
• 1/2TBSP – 1TBSP steamed sweet potato
• 1/4 cup ground turkey meat
• 1/4 piece of beef liver (about 1x a week)

After they’re done eating, I clean their mouths thoroughly and disinfect the entire area properly. This is important as you don’t want anything transferring into other rooms and potentially making you sick.

Tips on transitioning:

It’s important not to mix raw food with dry dog food since the dogs break them down differently. Mixing could ultimately give your dog digestive problems.

Spencer started off on dry food so to transition her, we started with adding coconut oil and steamed sweet potato to her dry food consistently for about a month before taking the dry out and subbing for ground turkey.

We opt for giving her turkey instead of chicken she is allergic and since switching over, I’ve noticed she has more energy and less cramping in her joints.

I would HIGHLY recommend raw food diet for dogs since you never really know what they’re putting in your dogs food, but it is a process and it’s good to know what your dog likes and doesn’t!