Raw Dog Food Recipes for Pit Bulls (3 High-Protein Meals)

Quick Summary

• Pit bulls’ dietary needs are a bit different from other breeds because of their their high muscle density. This body type requires as much as 22% high-quality protein by weight on a dry matter basis.
• Raw dog food recipes for pit bulls should ideally have high-quality protein and ingredients that are hypoallergenic—avoid starches and grains.

Here’s one of the quickest raw dog food recipes for pit bulls: Mix 3 lbs ground beef or bison, 1 lb beef organs (beef kidney and liver preferred), 4 pcs fresh eggs, with shells, 0.5 lbs carrots, and 0.5 lbs lettuce or broccoli. Shape them into patties and store leftovers. You can also throw in some bone meal, cod fish oil, or other supplements.

Pit bull health can be a confusing subject, since the term “pit bull” doesn’t really refer to any one breed, but rather a type of dog with both bulldog and terrier ancestry. Hence, it encompasses a lot of different kinds of dogs. But when it comes to diet, there are a few general rules based on common pit bull traits.

I own a pit bull, and like many pit bull owners, I have found that the best way to cater to their needs is by feeding raw food. Raw dog food brands like We Feed Raw offer custom raw meal plans designed for a dog’s specific characteristics and breed, but many find it more cost-effective to make their own raw dog food. If you’re a pit bull owner interested in giving your canine companion a homemade diet of raw dog food, consider my raw dog food recipes for pit bulls. I’ve listed them below.

How Different Are Pitbulls’ Dietary Needs From Other Dogs?

There are a number of traits that set pit bulls apart from other dog breeds, which you will need to consider when picking out recipes for them. One of the core things that make their dietary needs different is their high muscle density. For pet parents who want to make sure that their dogs’ diet has professional input, dog food delivery service platforms as the answer. These companies create a unique profile for every dog and have veterinary nutritionists formulate special meals customized according to every need.

Pit bulls are compact, yet very muscular. This body type requires a large amount of protein to maintain—as much as 22 percent high-quality protein by weight on a dry matter basis. By contrast, the average adult dog requires 18 percent protein on a dry matter basis.

Another thing to consider is that pit bull fur tends to be much shorter than other dogs’ [1], so their skin is more vulnerable to things such as irritation from skin allergies. Homemade food will let you address both of these considerations in a way that commercial dog food simply can’t.

Homemade Raw Dog Food Recipes for Pit Bulls

Fresh dog food is also another good option for dog owners. Cooking homemade dog food or subscribing to deliveries is better if you are not so sure about your sources—remember that raw food has a high risk for pathogens! But if you are keen to try raw food diet and have reputable sources, here are a few raw homemade dog food recipes that will help your pit bull achieve optimal health.

Beef (or Bison) Supreme

When you’re looking for high amounts of protein, you can’t really go wrong with beef. They taste great to dogs and go with a lot of different types of vegetables.

Better yet, going with bison will be even more beneficial thanks to their higher amount of protein and lower amount of fat, calories, and cholesterol. But if you can’t find any bison, regular beef will do just fine. Try out this rich ground beef dinner recipe:

Ingredients

• Beef or bison, ground: 3 lbs
• Beef organs (beef kidney and liver preferred): 1 lb
• Fresh eggs, with shells: 4 pcs
• Carrots: 0.5 lbs
• Lettuce or broccoli: 0.5 lbs

Preparation

Cut up the organ meat into small bite-sized pieces or grind up to mix in with the beef. Crack open eggs on the groung meat mix, and crush eggshell semi-fine. Chop vegetables into bite-sized pieces as well, or finely chop in a food processor if you want to make boneless meat patties. Disperse vegetables and eggshell into the meat, and mix thoroughly.

Makes approx. 3 days’ worth of food for the average-sized pit bull. Add in bone meal, cod fish oil, or other supplements as desired.

Rabbit and Venison Bowl

If you’re concerned about your pit bull’s weight, this rabbit and venison mix will be a great way to cut down on calories and fat intake, while keeping protein intake up. Here’s how you make it.

Ingredients

• Rabbit meat, bone-in: 2 lb
• Venison (try to get bony parts like neck or tail): 2 lb
• Rabbit hearts and lungs: 1 lb
• Venison organ meat (brain, kidney, liver): 1 lb
• Mixed vegetables and herbs (brussels sprouts, green beans, etc) :1 lb
• Fresh eggs: 2 pcs

Preparation

Chop all ingredients and toss together in a bowl along with raw eggs. Make sure the bony parts are reduced to manageable sizes. Keep eggshells in if you prefer. Fortify with your choice of herbal or over-the-counter supplements to further improve your dog’s health.

Turkey and Bean Soup

If you want to cut down calories in your dog’s diet even further, turkey can offer an even better ratio of protein for calories than rabbit. Rabbit does taste better, but you can improve the taste of raw turkey by mixing it with beans in a tomato-flavored soup.

This raw dog food recipe does require a bit of cooking to make the broth, but the end result is a flavorful soup that’s incredibly filling and a great way to stretch your supply of raw foods if it’s running thin.

Ingredients

• Turkey breasts: 3 lbs
• Mixed beans (black and kidney beans preferred): 4 cups
• Carrots: 0.5 lbs
• Tomato paste: 1 cup
• Chicken broth: 5 cups

Preparation

Dice the carrots and cube the turkey breasts into bite-sized pieces. Drain the beans if you bought them canned, or soak them if you bought them dry. Then, make chicken broth by boiling chicken bones or a bouillon cube, and mix in the tomato paste. Afterwards, simply throw in the turkey and beans, and you’re done.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good raw diet for a Pitbull?

Raw dog food recipes for pitbulls should have both high-quality protein and hypoallergenic ingredients. So when giving your pitbull raw meals, make sure to avoid starches and grains, and try to give them novel meats like venison if they’re experiencing skin irritation.

Is it good for Pitbulls to eat raw meat?

As long as the raw food is safely sourced, a raw dog food diet can be very beneficial to a pit bull’s health.

How much raw meat should I feed my Pitbull?

Pit bulls need more protein, but apart from that, the caloric needs of an adult pit bull is comparable to other breeds. As long as you make sure that it’s at least 20 percent dry matter protein, the default rule of feeding 2 to 3 percent of their body weight still applies.

What meat is good for Pitbulls?

Pit bulls respond best to meat that has a lot of high quality protein. Beef, bison, and venison are great examples, so be sure to incorporate these in your pit bull raw meals.