Is My Boston Terrier on a Raw Diet?

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Things can get a little confusing when figuring out a diet for your furry friend. You research, ask for recommendations, and sometimes, after you have gotten your dog on a specific diet, you learn new information that may make you question your decision. This may cause you to ask yourself questions such as is my Boston Terrier on a raw diet?

Is My Boston Terrier on a Raw Diet?

Your Boston Terrier is on a raw diet if you feed it raw food such as animal meat, bones, kidneys, salmon oil, and spleen. You can find this food at the butcher or your local store. Giving your dog canned, kibble, home-cooked, or semi-moist food does not count as it is on a raw diet.

A close-up black and white Boston terrier puppy lying on a black sofa in the living room

A raw diet, also referred to as BARF which can be interpreted as, Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones or Bones and Raw Fish, can be either homemade, dehydrated, freeze-dried, or store-bought. As the name suggests, it is not cooked. It was founded on the idea of feeding dogs an evolutionary diet.

Raw Diet Composition

While different people choose different recipes for this diet, the components of the meals are usually the same. They consist of the following:

  • Raw eggs
  • Ground or whole bones
  • Organ meat
  • Vegetables such as spinach and broccoli
  • Dairy products
  • Fruits

You have to find food that your Boston Terrier likes. Just because someone else’s like a chicken does not mean yours will. During the first few weeks, buy small amounts of food. If they do not like it, you do not have much to dispose of.

Transition

Whether you want to transition your dog from semi-moist food or kibble to a raw diet, or you are getting a puppy and want to start it on this diet, it is crucial to consult your vet. This is partly so that your vet can advise you on challenges you will encounter with your pet, especially if you are transitioning from dry food.

You have to deal with the following:

  • Palatant – This is a substance sprayed on kibble by its producers to encourage it to eat more. Switching will be hard if your dog has been on dry food for a while.
  • Flavor fatigue occurs for dogs fed a limited type of flavor for a while. This makes them picky eaters who will have a problem eating another diet with many different food flavors. 
  • Pre-natal chemosensory learning – This is when pups are already predisposed to wanting to eat and liking the type of food that their mum had when it was pregnant. This makes it even harder for them to leave that kind of diet.

To ensure a smooth transition, do the following:

  • Give your dog probiotics to lower its gut ph from alkaline to acidic. You can also add apple cider vinegar to the food. This will help its body absorb minerals in the new food.
  • Start feeding it a quarter of the meal as raw foods and observe its stool. If it is still runny, reduce the amount of raw food. If it starts becoming firm, gradually increase the amount of the new food. When the stool is firm, you can start giving it bones.
  • At the beginning of the transition, give one protein source. Avoid starting with fatty or organic meat to prevent their stool from becoming loose.

If your dog is a puppy, you should not introduce bones to it. You can use bone dust until it is old enough to handle bones.

Benefits

Some of the benefits that come with feeding your furry friend this kind of diet includes the following:

  • A strong immune system – It is built on the nutrients from a balanced diet. The foods are also highly digestible, ensuring that your dog does not get constipation from consuming them.
  • Better dental health – Raw meaty bones act as nature’s toothbrush for dogs as they can get into spaces that are hard to reach and help remove plaque. Vegetables such as celery keep their breath fresh.
  • Less stool – Once your dog is fully on this diet, you will notice the volume of its stool has gone down as much more food is being absorbed and utilized.
  • Softer skin and shinier coat – This diet has ingredients that make your dog’s skin softer and its coat shinier. Some ingredients that contribute to this include flax seeds, chia seeds, and salmon.
A piece of raw red meat is placed on a black plate on a brown placemat

Boston Terrier Feeding Chart

AgeWeightEstimated Amount of Food
3 Months 18 to 32 pounds2 to 4 cups
4 Months 24 to 42 pounds2 to 4 cups
5 Months 28 to 51 pounds3 to 4 cups
6 Months 32 to 58 pounds3 to 4 cups
7 Months 36 to 66 pounds4 to 5 cups
8 Months 29 to 71 pounds4 to 5 cups
9 Months 40 to 75 pounds4 to 5 cups
10 Months 41 to 78 pounds4 to 5 cups
11 Months 42 to 81 pounds4 to 5 cups
12 Months 42 to 81 pounds4 to 5 cups

Related Questions

Other questions you may have are answered below.

Do Raw Diets Work for All Boston Terriers?

Raw diets do not work for all Boston Terriers. If your dog has health issues like an immunosuppressive disease or a digestive issue, this diet will not work for it.

What Are the Risks Associated With BARF?

Some of the risks associated with BARF include threats from bacteria found in raw meat, bones can be a choking hazard, or they can cause internal punctures, and giving too much or too little of a nutrient can cause health problems.

Why Do People Put Dogs on Raw Diet?

People put dogs on a raw diet mainly because of its many benefits. These include shinier coats, healthier skin, better dental health, an increase in energy, and smaller stools.

Conclusion

Before you decide on a diet for your furry friend, you must do a lot of research on it. You should also consult your vet, who will also factor in different things about your dog so that they can advise you on the best decision. Be sure to follow things carefully, as they may end up costing the health of your beloved pet.