tucker time #1 - dingo Diet

Dingo Den regularly receives queries related to dingo diet and feeding schedules. So let's talk about dingo tucker. 

NATURAL DIET
Ideally, the best diet for any dingo is a natural one. A good zoo keeper won't feed the lions cat food, so it makes sense not to feed a dingo dog food. The reason for this is that dingoes have a unique digestive system that cannot process some of the fats found in farmed meats like lamb and beef. Instead of a healthy 20+ year lifespan, a dingo fed an unsuitable diet may only live 7 or 8 years. So, to give your dingo the best possible life, let nature be your guide. 

ORIGINS
First off, it pays to know your dingo's origin. Coastal dingoes, for example, love to eat fish, while an inland dingo may not be so sure about a piscatorial snack. Think about where your dingo is from, and what foods might be naturally available. 

FEED HOLISTICALLY
The next step is to feed holistically. If you are able to source entire animals then most definitely feed your dingo the entire animal- this includes fur, feathers, head, feet, meat and bones. Remove gut and organs as a safety precaution against diseases and parasites, and accompany with a monthly broad-spectrum worming routine. 
STORE-BOUGHT FOODS
If you do not have access to natural food sources, some good alternatives, which can be purchased in stores, include: 
  • Lean beef cuts, mince, bones
  • Poultry- whole, cuts or mince 
  • Fresh whole fish, or non-flavoured canned fish 
  • Lamb necks, shank, trotters 
  • Pig trotters, ears, snouts (fresh or dry) 
  • Kangaroo cuts, mince, tails (fresh or dry) 
  • Fresh eggs- duck, chicken or goose
  • Puréed vegetables- leafy greens
  • Dry treats- chicken, beef, kangaroo, liver  

Puréed leafy greens are an optional addition that provide fibre, antioxidants, and phytonutrients to the diet.

DIET ENHANCERS
Natural diet enhancers include eggs, wild fruits, and grasses (dingoes will eat grass for digestion benefits, not as a vomit-stimulant like dogs). 

Eggs are an important source of nutrition for many predators. Dingoes naturally source eggs from the nests of ground dwelling foul and use their paws and teeth to crack the shells before consuming the contents. 

Eggs are one of the most complete sources of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Including eggs in the diet of your dingo provides a holistic and natural source of Vitamin A, Riboflavin, Folate, Vitamin B12, Iron, Selenium and Fatty Acids- all essential elements to optimum health! 

An egg or two every 3-4 days is a great way to help develop your dingo's problem-solving skills, while providing a nutritious snack!
Four-month-old dingo pup using her paws and teeth to crack the egg's shell before consuming the contents