This menu includes some of the dietary options that are on the market, along with a guide to the feeding costs, based on a 10kg Dog 

Objectives
Moist is better than dry, but not as important as in cats—dry is fine so long as a good food is chosen.
Maximise the amount of high-quality protein, (high biological value)
Minimise the amount of carbohydrates & ‘derivatives/meat and bone meal’,

Considerations:
A raw meaty bone diet satisfies all nutritional and dental requirements, but is not for everyone (please see footnote)
Some foods are not ‘complete’ in that they do not provide every nutrient a dog needs in the right amounts. For example, minced meat without bones and organ meat (heart, liver, kidney) is NOT a complete food. It can be added to the diet to increase the meat content, but should not be fed exclusively.
The diet does not have to be ‘fully balanced’ every day, so long as the overall balance of a diet is fine. For example, you can give liver or heart weekly rather than every day. 
Over-feeding liver is very dangerous!
You can mix food from different categories eg minced meat with kibble (dry food)
Variety in a dog's diet is desirable, for the dog's interest, and also to lessen the risk of any dietary deficiency.
Meat is preferably fed raw, though there is no worry if you wish to feed it cooked (so long as it does not include bone)
Fresh ground/minced meats spoil quickly once de-frozen—treat such meat as if it were for your own consumption.
We recommend adding Salmon oil to every dog’s diet to ensure good intake of Omega 3 fatty acids. No other supplements should be needed if these guidelines are followed.

Making the change
Some dogs are quite fussy – processed foods are often sprayed with flavour enhancers and salt to increase the appeal to your pooch. Make changes gradually – there is no race! - and rapid diet changes can lead to upset tummies.

Monitoring
Why note take a photo of your pet before you change foods, so that you can see the difference in a few months time?
Weigh your dog monthly – if he/she wont keep still, weigh yourself holding her, and then without her, and work out the difference. Alternatively feel free to bring your dog to see us to be weighed—there is no charge for this for our clients.

‘Complete’ foods
My definition of ‘complete’ is very different from the food industry’s definition, and is based on biology rather than ‘what is the minimum we can get away with’.

please note that if you choose the ‘raw meaty bone’ diet, it is your responsibility to educate yourself about this feeding technique. I am not responsible for any problems that you have through feeding such a diet.

pack size price % meat daily amount cost day
fresh meat
fresh chicken thighs (supermarket price) 1kg 2.00 100 300gm 0.64
ox heart (butcher) 1kg 4.5 100 200gm 0.90
ox liver (butcher) 1kg 4.5 100 200gm 0.90
frozen meats
minced whole wild rabbit 450gm 2.00 100 300gm 1.23
freeflow lamb & turkey/beef/chicken/lamb 2 kg 3.3 100 200gm 0.33
freeflow tripe    2 kg 3.3 100 200gm 0.33
tripe chunks 2 kg 3.3 100 200gm 0.33
whole rabbit, skinned and gutted 1-2kg 2.00 100 260gm .50-.80
pouches
natures menu single pack 300gm 0.90 60 300gm 0.90
natures menu mixed variety 8 x 300gm 6.25 60 300gm 0.78
adult food dry (kibble)
orijen adult dog  2.5kg 10.72 70 150gm 0.64
orijen adult dog  7kg 27.36 70 150gm 0.59
orijen adult dog  13.5kg 44.98 70 150gm 0.50
Purina proplan adult  15kg 43.05 35 150gm 0.43
puppy food dry (kibble)
orijen puppy  2.5kg 11.70 75 240gm 1.32
orijen puppy  7kg 28.34 75 240gm 1.14
orijen puppy  13.5kg 45.95 75 240gm 0.96
Royal canin puppy   15kg 45 ? 200gm 0.60

 

All figures are based upon a 10kg dog—double these for a 20kg dog and pro-rata
Amounts of proprietary foods are based an manufacturer’s recommendations
Meat = flesh/skin/oils (and excludes ‘meat and animal derivatives’)
For pouches that are 100% meat, allow 200gm per day
For pouches that are 60% meat, allow 300gm per day
For pure meat, allow 10-15% body weight per week, which is approx 200gm per day
For whole or part-carcases, allow 15-20% body weight per week, which is approx 300gm per day
These recommendations are made in good faith, on the basis of my research and understanding.
As new information becomes available, I may change  ‘best’ advice accordingly.
If you find any errors in our information, please let me know so that I can correct them.