Dalmatians hold a special place in the hearts of many due to their iconic white coat and black spotted markings. Originating from the historic region of Dalmatia, these dogs have a rich history intertwined with humans.
Dalmatians boast a spirited demeanour and a history of multifaceted roles, including serving as "coaching dogs" in England, where they ran alongside coaches, cleared paths, and guarded horses and coaches at rest. Their innate qualities of fun, exuberance, playfulness, and loyalty make them cherished family members.
Genetics
All Dalmatians are assumed to be HUA (high uric acid), unless they have been tested and confirmed to be LUA (Low uric acid)
If your dalmatian has been tested and confirmed as LUA (low uric acid) then you can feed a species appropriate diet as standard, as per our usual processes, with no requirements to adjust to a low purine diet unless a vet advises otherwise.
If your dalmatian has not been tested, or has been but confirmed as HUA then it is pivotal that they receive a low purine diet as per the below.
Why Raw Reigns Supreme
A raw food diet emerges as the optimal choice for Dalmatians, offering a low-purine, species-appropriate nutrition that aligns with their physiological needs. Unlike other breeds, Dalmatians have unique metabolic traits that necessitate excluding offal.
Raw feeding provides a holistic approach to canine nutrition, delivering essential nutrients in their most bioavailable form. By ditching processed kibble laden with carbohydrates and embracing a raw diet rich in high-quality protein, healthy fats, vitamins, minerals, and fibre, Dalmatians can thrive and lead vibrant, healthy lives.
A raw diet can offer a myriad of benefits for your furry friend, but it's crucial to tailor their meals to cater to their unique dietary requirements. So, let's explore the intricacies of Dalmatian digestion and how to nourish them best!
Crafting a Royal Feast for Dalmatians
A big shoutout to Herschel and Louise for their invaluable contribution in explaining the needs of the Dalmatians specific diet!
No Offal or Oily Fish: These items, rich in purines, are off-limits for our spotted pals.
Avoid yeasts at all costs: Some foods and supplements contain yeast including but not limited to brewer's yeast. Due to the high levels of purine in yeasts it is absolutely crucial that these foods / supplements are always avoided.
Protein Variety: A diverse array of proteins (Ideally all from one species, i.e. 100% turkey), including turkey, chicken, beef, rabbit, venison, pheasant, pork, and white fish. While lamb and salmon offer occasional variety, they're fed in rotation due to their slightly higher purine content.
Quality Reigns Supreme: Our furry companions deserve nothing but the finest cuts, not fatty scraps.
Bone Balance: If buying premade minces look for 90% meat, 10% bone or 80% meat, 10% plant matter and 10% bone
Veggie Vitality: About 10% of the mix comprises pulped, highly nutritious vegetables. Try to avoid or at least limit starchy root vegetables
Texture Triumph: Coarsely ground meat and bone provide a satisfying, textured meal that stimulates natural behaviours. Popular chunkier brands include Mersey Raw, Betsys Raw and others.
Water: A great way to help to flush the purines a little more is to add 100mls or so to meals.
Paleo Ridge: The Paleo Plus Special Diet product is a low phosphorous, low purine product. With reduced organ additions to as low as possible, at only 2% liver as it adds so much phosphorus (and purine), along with a number of other tweaks and changes, including the meat and bone choices and boosting veg content to 20% (added more carrots for Vitamin A which dogs with Kidney issues benefit from) resulting in Special Diet being, when compared to other leading brands promoting support products for Kidneys, roughly ¼ the value of Phosphorus per 100g. This is a huge step forward for the industry, certainly for dogs looking for a kidney health option.
By prioritising quality, purine control, and delectable variety, this raw food option is a perfect fit for our spotted companions.
For more information and support with feeding a HUA Dalmatian we do recommend joining the Facebook group Raw Fed Dalmatians
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