Raw Food Diet for Dogs Pros and Cons

Pet owners are now increasingly becoming conscious of raw food diet for dogs. It was a notion popularized in the mid 90's by veterinarian Ian Billinghurst. The diet aims to imitate the meals eaten by sled dogs s well as racing greyhounds who feed on raw meals. According to Billinghurst, the same can be fed to domesticated pets because it is a natural meal.

Through this diet, around 80% would be devoted to feeding dogs with actual raw meat and bones. But it should be noted that there are only identified types of meat that should be used. These are from chicken, beef, lamb, and fish only. The same goes for feeding bones wherein chicken and lamb are the two recommended sources.

But aside from these, other important nutrients are also being included in the meals. Among them are vegetables and fruits as well as small portions of organs like liver, kidney, and even a portion of the heart. The organs should also come from the same animals listed as the acceptable raw meats to feed to dogs.

Apparently, there has been a lot of talk too about the positive effects of eating raw food among dogs. Owners say that most of the benefits are seen physically. They say their dogs start to have even more shinier coats after they eat raw meals and they are also finally blessed with better skin.

However, there are still some experts who are doubting the credibility of this newfound diet. Among them is the FDA which says there might still be negative implications about eating raw for pets.

Some experts say that making dogs feed on raw food might do them more harm than good. Their argument is that this type of feeding only increases the possibility of cultivating bacteria. Salmonella can be passed on from the raw meat into the pets and even humans who handle the raw meat can get it as well, they say.

There's also concern about feeding dogs with raw bones. Some experts say that the diet runs the risk of having splinters get caught inside the dog's throat. They also worry that these bones can in the long run cause teeth to break and even have some internal punctures as they pass through the digestive system.

Considering all these pros and cons presented about the raw food diet for dogs, it really becomes important to consult a vet first. Before you try it out for your dog, make sure you can get clearance from the vet first.

What to Feed as Raw Dog Food

Raw dog food diet is a very promising type of food program for pets because it has so many positive effects. Pet owners have noted how their dogs end up with shinier coats and also healthier skin as they take on this new diet. Dogs also get noticeably cleaner teeth after succumbing to this type of diet.

You can feed your pets with raw dog food either by creating the meals yourself or buying them already prepared. You can give them raw meats but be sure to just stick with fish, chicken, beef, and lamb. In terms of giving them fruits and vegetables, of course these are important and must also be part of their raw dog food diet.

If you will be giving your dogs with raw dog food that are already in packages, just make sure that you research about your source. Check the ingredients contained in every package and take time to know the manufacturers behind the said food item.

Another way to give raw dog food to your pet is by following the prey model. This is also known as the diet that's similar among wild wolves. This doesn't necessarily mean that you would have to let your dogs hunt down their own food but instead, huge chunks of meat will be given to them with some small amounts of bone mixed in with small portions of organs and eggs.

Because of the success of feeding dogs with raw food, it's not surprising to find a lot of commercialized raw diets popping up these days. These are often packed as frozen so that the freshness can be preserved. They are convenient too because you don't have to take your own time fixing the meals yourself.

Aside from feeding your dogs with meat, you can also provide homemade vegetarian meals for them which can help make sure that they are getting complete nutrition. Aside from meat, you should also add some eggs and dairy within their meals. Don't forget to include fruits in puree form and you can do the same method for vegetables such as lightly cooked broccoli, green beans, and squash.

Another quick variant for veggies and fruits would be their dehydrated counterparts. Not only are they cheap and quick to serve, but you can always store them at just room temperature to make sure that their quality do not degrade in any which way.

Finally, the raw dog food diet also dispels rumors that bones are bad for dogs. It can be dangerous when it's cooked and you should only limit giving them raw chicken or lamb bones because these are softer and easier to crunch.

Making the Raw Dog Food Switch

The raw dog food diet has really taken on pet owners by a storm. Because these days not only are people becoming more conscious of eating natural healthy food but they are also becoming more conscious of how they apply this to almost anything. In this case, even pets are included in the healthy regimen.

However, making the switch to feed your dogs with raw food is not that easy. There are some important pointers that have to be taken care of first. Among them is that there should be some transition involved. Your dog cannot change his diet just like that especially if he has been used to eating commercial and cooked foods.

Getting under the transition process would help your pet adapt into this newfound diet. This would help take care of instances wherein the dog would refuse to eat the raw meals given to him. It would also give them ample time to adjust physiologically in terms of developing the enzymes necessary to digest raw meals.

While there is the superficial part of helping your dog's transition, it would still be best if you can also involve your vet into the whole plan of feeding with raw dog food. This way you can rule out any other possible problems and ensure that the said meals would be fit for your dog.

Once you get into the raw dog food diet, you might get inspired by the recipes you will see online. While it's really inviting to do everything on your own, it can get a bit overwhelming to check the ingredients yourself and make sure that they are prepared the right way.

Aside from online shops, there are also pet shops which already sell these pre-packed raw dog food meals. This way you can simply enjoy choosing the types of food to feed your dog and no longer concern yourself with creating them all on your own.

You can also ask for referrals from your friends who have already adapted this type of diet for their pets. They might be a consistent client of a specific shop or raw dog food meal nutritionist. It would be good to get their approval on the matter since they have already been into the diet for their pets for a long time already.

It's really a good thing to try looking into the raw dog food diet. Just remember that you need to help your dog transition to this properly so that they can enjoy all the healthy benefits it could possibly bring.

Grain Free Dog Food is Good

There are surely a lot of good reasons why you should consider feeding pets with grain free dog food. A lot of pet owners have already sworn by its effectivity. But just to be on the safe side, you should definitely consider getting your own research done before you subject your pets to this new kind of diet.

You can also try getting some feedbacks and referrals first from among your own networks. This way you can get the real score behind this type of diet. They can also give you some helpful tips and advice when it comes to transitioning your dogs into this type of diet.

When it comes to feeding pets, it's always better to create the meals yourself. This way you can be sure that you are giving them the right food stuff. This can also help you save on costs because you can find cheap alternatives on your own. There are lots of easy recipes you can follow online.

However, if your schedule tends to be too busy, you can also buy some prepared grain free dog food already. Just make sure you only buy from trusted sources. You should also take the time knowing who the manufacturers are as well as the ingredients used in the food.

If your pets have previously been eating grains as part of their diet, you might want to ease them into this new regimen. You need to remember that they might need to have their digestive system adjust to the new meals you will prepare for them. Add the food bit by bit so that you can prevent them from having an upset stomach.

This diet has actually originated from the fact that dogs are naturally predisposed to eat more proteins. In the wild, they eat more meat than they do grains. Their diet only consists of grains if there is nothing else to feed on.

The immediate effects of eating grain free dog food. Dogs can have a shinier coat because of the new diet and they would also have better skin afterwards. Their stools are also noticeably fewer because what they eat really gets used up inside.

There are also reports that dogs apparently get their allergies from eating grains. So you can help prevent that when you start to give them grain free dog food. Aside from this, you can also observe that your dog's appetite will become much better after a few days.