Labrador Retriever Raw Dog Food Diet Guide: Recipes, Benefits & FAQs

You’re not alone if you’re considering a raw diet for your Labrador Retriever. Raw feeding has become a popular choice for many dog owners in recent years for various reasons. But, is a raw diet the right choice for your Labrador? And if so, what should you include in their diet? In this guide, we’ll explore the basics of raw feeding and outline the pros and cons of switching your Lab to a raw diet. By the end of this post, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what raw feeding involves and whether it’s suitable for your pup. Let’s get started!

Nutrition, Benefits & Risks
Jump to: Recipes & Cooking

What Is A Labrador Raw Dog Food Diet?

The raw dog diet, also known as BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), is designed to mimic a dog’s ancestral diet, drawing on the canine’s carnivorous and primal instincts. All ingredients in BARF diet recipes are uncooked to preserve enzyme content, minerals, vitamins, and other essential nutrients. There are three types of raw dog diets: frozen, freeze-dried, and homemade. The BARF diet reflects what dogs consumed in the wild millions of years ago and typically consists of the following ingredients:

A variation of the BARF recipe is known as the “prey model raw (PMR)” food. The prey model excludes fruits, dairy, and vegetables.

Labrador Raw Food Diet Benefits

Dr. Ian Billinghurst, a veterinarian, pioneer, and top advocate of raw feeding dogs, mentions raw food has several positive effects on canine health, including:

Labrador Raw Dog Food Risks

How to Reduce Raw Dog Food Risks

Always work with your vet before changing your Labrador’s diet.

You can get personalized nutritional advice from a registered vet nutritionist through Vetster anytime, anywhere. You can also chat with an online vet and ask them questions about your dog’s dietary needs.

How to Make A Balanced Raw Diet For Labradors

A Labrador’s raw diet should consist of 70% uncooked muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, 10% vegetables and fruit, 5% liver, and 5% other organs. It must also include the six essential nutrients for a dog’s proper growth, body function, and health. These nutrients include proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, fats, and water. It’s also important to consider your pup’s weight, health conditions, size, and activity level.

Below is a detailed breakdown of each nutrient and its importance.

*If feeding the “Prey” model, this method typically consists of 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organs (half of which is liver.). No fruits or veggies.

Source: We compiled the data for the table above by referencing the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) guidelines and the Nutrient Requirements of Dogs Report by the National Research Council (NRC). The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) utilizes the information from these reports to regulate and ensure the safety of pet foods.

Best Raw Dog Food For Labrador Retrievers

Are you confused about preparing a balanced dog raw meat diet for your Lab? Do you have a busy lifestyle with little cooking time for your pup? Don’t know where to start? If you answer ‘yes’ to one or more of these questions, a homemade raw dog food delivery service is the best way to let your Labrador reap the benefits of eating raw.

We Feed Raw is one of our favorite choices and offers the best BARF diet recipes for Labradors available on the market. This company is the pioneer of raw dog food. They deliver Biologically Appropriate Raw Food straight to your door. Their formula is a balanced blend of raw meat, fruits, vegetables, organs, and bones. Plus, it’s supplemented with four other key ingredients. All of their ingredients are USDA-sourced. Their formulas are developed with the input of a veterinary nutritionist to meet the nutritional guidelines AAFCO sets.

Our readers get 25% off their first order with the code CB25. Use Canine Bible’s link to get started.

Recipes, Cooking Tips & More
Jump to: Benefits & Nutrition

Raw Dog Food Recipes For Labrador Retrievers

Here are our favorite Labrador raw dog food recipes. We’ve also included a special treat recipe for your Lab, enriched with the health benefits of our favorite ingredient, dog CBD oil. CBD oil might help with issues like seizures, anxiety, arthritis, inflammation, pain, and overall wellness.

Note: Consult your vet before adjusting your dog’s diet. The recipes below don’t specify serving sizes since they depend on your dog’s breed, weight, age, activity, and health. As a guideline, consider feeding the equivalent amount you’d give in kibble, but always consult your veterinarian for proper portioning.

• Labrador’s Raw Delight
• CBD Infused Treat
• Beefy Raw Patties
• Raw Boneless Turkey
• Organ Patties
• Chicken & Greens

Labrador’s Raw Delight

Blueberry-Banana CBD-Infused Dog Treats

Treat your Lab with these nutritious, therapeutic, and delicious homemade CBD treats. They are made with bananas, a great source of essential vitamins and minerals (like potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin B6). Banana also aids with digestion and energy. Coconut is added for skin and coat, digestion and helps reduce allergic reactions.

Remember to consult your vet to ensure CBD is safe for your Labrador and that you are giving the correct dosage. Alternatively, you can buy commercially available CBD dog treats so your pup can experience CBD’s benefits without the cooking.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Oven preparation. Preheat oven to 350ºF and brush a dog biscuit baking tray with coconut oil.
2. Banana preparation. Mash a ripe banana until smooth, ensuring no large chunks remain.
3. Dry ingredients. Blend gluten-free flour and oats in a medium-sized bowl.
4. Wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk an egg until beaten. Add coconut oil, water, mashed banana, unsweetened applesauce, and fresh blueberries. Mix well.
5. Combining ingredients. Combine the wet mixture with the dry ingredients, stirring until even. Drizzle in CBD oil, stirring again for even distribution.
6. Mold filling. Scoop portions of the mixture with a tablespoon and press firmly into the dog-treat baking mold.
7. Baking. Bake in the oven for 30 to 40 minutes until the treats are firm to the touch and slightly golden.
8. Cooling and storage. Let the treats cool before transferring them to an airtight container for storage.

Beefy Bark Gourmet Patties

This raw meat food recipe for Labradors is among our favorites. Easy to digest and packed with all the essential nutrients Labradors need.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Prepare the veggie and fruit mix: Place the carrot, apple, and spinach in a food processor. Process until the mixture is finely chopped.
2. Create the liver blend: Add the chicken livers to the food processor with the veggie and fruit mix. Process until fully mixed.
3. Combine with wet ingredients: Transfer the liver and veggie mixture to a large bowl. Add and combine the reaming ingredients, whole eggs (with shells), plain yogurt, ground flaxseed, and olive oil.
4. Add the beef: Add the ground beef to the bowl. Use a large spoon to mix everything until the beef is evenly distributed.
5. Form the patties: Scoop out portions of the mixture and form them into palm-sized patties. Place the patties on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
6. Freeze for storage: Transfer patties to a storage container to keep them frozen.
7. Serving: The night before you wish to feed, remove the patties from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator to thaw.

Wholesome Chicken and Heart Harmony Blend

If you want to make a simple recipe that can last you well beyond a week, or perhaps you have more than one dog at home, this recipe will make 11 pounds of raw food, which is 6-7 days’ worth of food for a 50-pound dog, or two smaller dogs.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Prepare the proteins: If you have a grinder, grind the chicken hearts and beef liver together until well combined. If you don’t have a grinder, chop the heart and liver into small, bite-sized cubes.
2. Egg preparation: Crack 7 eggs, keeping only 3 yolks. You can either whisk them lightly in a bowl or keep them whole to be blended with the vegetables.
3. Vegetable and berry puree: Chop the Swiss chard, broccoli, and dandelion greens and place them into the food processor along with the blueberries or mixed berries. Add the eggs (with three yolks), bone meal (or seaweed calcium), pumpkin seed powder, sea salt, and spirulina. Puree the mixture until it’s smooth and the ingredients are well integrated.
4. Mix everything together: In a large mixing bowl, start with the lean ground turkey. Add in the ground or chopped chicken hearts and beef liver. Gradually stir in the veggie and berry puree.
5. Serving and storage: Place the mixture into smaller containers and place them in your freezer. It’s best to freeze your food in 1-3 day portions.

Hearty Health Organ Patties

This Labrador homemade raw dog food recipe should be served as a tasty treat or a variety of feed options once or twice a week. Make it with any excess organs. This recipe doesn’t include bones and cartilage, so don’t use it as a regular meal, but as a raw treat your pet can enjoy now and then.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Prepare the organs: Chop the organs or use a food processor for a more uniform mince.
2. Prep the greens: Choose nutrient-rich leafy greens like spinach or kale. Ensure they are precooked, cooled, and finely chopped or processed to enhance digestibility.
3. Mix Ingredients: In a large bowl, combine the minced organs and leafy greens. Crack the raw egg into the mixture, including the shells
4. Form patties: Form the mixture into palm-sized patties suitable for your dog’s size and dietary needs.
5. Freezing and serving: Freeze the patties until you’re ready to give them to your dog. Thaw the patties in the refrigerator overnight before serving.

Chicken Delight with Garden Greens

This is another easy homemade raw dog food recipe for Labrador to add to their menu. It uses raw chicken with a veggie mix. It’s full of nutrients and vitamins.

Ingredients

Directions

1. Prepare the chicken: Chop the chicken thighs or breasts into bite-sized pieces suitable for your dog. Clean the chicken hearts and liver, trim excess fat, and chop into small pieces.
2. Egg preparation: Lightly boil the eggs to reduce the risk of bacteria.
3. Vegetable prep: Chop the broccoli, celery, spinach, and carrots into small pieces, or use a food processor to puree for easier digestion.
4. Mixing: In a large mixing bowl, combine the chicken, organ meats, ground bone, chopped vegetables, and alfalfa meal.
5. Storing: You can serve one portion fresh immediately. Store the remaining food in airtight containers or freezer bags and place it in the freezer.

More Raw Food Recipes For Labrador Retrievers

Cookbooks can be useful if you want more raw dog food recipes for your Labradors. Our favorite recipe book for raw homemade dog food is A Novice’s Guide to Raw Feeding for Dogs.

How to Cook Homemade Raw Dog Food For Labradors (DIY Video)

Watch this video and learn to make Labrador raw dog food recipes.

Best Raw Dog Food Cooking Practices

How Much Raw Food to Feed Labradors?

Generally, feed your dog about 2% to 4% of his ideal adult weight. Consider his metabolism, activity level, lifestyle, health, and other factors to determine the perfect amount.

Labrador Raw Dog Food Feeding Chart

To calculate your Labrador’s daily raw food intake, multiply his weight by the percentage below that best fits him.

For instance, for a Labrador that weighs 70 pounds, here is how much raw food you would need to feed him daily.

Scenarios	Raw Food (lbs)
Weight maintenance	1.4 to 1.75 lbs
Active dogs	2.1 to 2.8 lbs
Senior, less active, or overweight dogs	1.05 to 1.4 lbs
Underweight dogs	2.1 to 2.45 lbs

How Much Raw Food Should Labrador Puppies Get?

Labrador Retriever puppies need more calories than adult Labradors and should eat about 5% to 10% of their weight to support their growth.

Labrador Puppy Raw Feeding Chart

General raw feeding guidelines for puppies:

How to Transition Your Labrador to A Raw Dog Diet

Raw feeding your Labrador Retriever for the first time must be done progressively to allow his digestive tract to adjust and prevent stomach issues. Below is a general schedule for transitioning from kibble to a raw diet.

Don’t change your dog’s food abruptly. It can cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, or vomiting. Monitor your dog’s health closely. If you notice any adverse reaction to the new diet, you should go back a week in the transition plan and proceed slowly.

Foods Labradors Should Never Eat

Below is a list of the most common toxic ingredients Labrador Retrievers must avoid.

Here is the complete list of toxic ingredients dogs should never eat. Please print it out and put it on your refrigerator as a reminder.

Raw Food to Never Feed Dogs

Never feed a raw potato to your dog. Potatoes contain solanine, a toxic compound to some dogs, says the AKC. Raw tomatoes also have solanine. Cooking them reduces the levels of solanine, but it’s better to stay on the safe side by avoiding them. Don’t feed salmon or salmonid species of fish. It can contain the Neorickettsia helminthoeca parasite, which causes salmon poisoning disease. This disease can be fatal. The small brittle bones can choke your dog or lodge in his stomach or intestines. Boneless fish (especially oily fish) are allowed only once a week. Never give fish with sharp spines and barbs. No wild pork, bear meat, or meats from wild animals are allowed, not even after freezing. Wild meats contain more parasites than farm-raised meats.

Labrador Retrievers That Shouldn’t Eat Raw Dog Food

Raw diets are not suited for all dogs. Dogs with kidney or liver problems should avoid eating raw. Raw foods are generally high in protein; excess protein can stress these organs, worsening either condition. Dr. Doug Knueven, a holistic medicine specialist who consults for Nature’s Variety (Instinct, a raw pet food brand), says that dogs on chemotherapy or immune-suppressing drugs should be restricted from eating raw food. For dogs suffering from pancreatitis or digestive problems, starting with a fresh dog food recipe diet before switching to raw is recommended.

Is A Raw Food Diet Good For Labradors?

Is raw food good for Labrador Retrievers? Here is what supporters and veterinarians had to say.

Labrador Retriever Raw Diet Supplements

A balanced raw diet shouldn’t require additional supplementation. However, poorly made raw diets by inexperienced dog parents, a dog’s unique dietary needs, or health conditions may require additional supplementation to specific nutrients. Always consult with your vet. Adding a multivitamin like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews ensures your dog gets the recommended balance of vitamins and minerals. Making balanced raw dog food recipes can be a tedious process. For more advice on BARF diet nutrition and benefits, check out Give Your Dog a Bone by Ian Billinghurst. This book is considered the Bible of healthy raw dog nutrition.

Raw Diet For Labradors — Conclusion & Alternatives

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Sources

Canine Bible uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process and product review methodology to learn more about how we fact-check, test products, and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

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