With ever more interest in dog health and nutrition, more and more dog owners are transitioning their pets to a raw diet. The benefits are well worth the time and effort, even if it seems intimidating at first. While there are many people who disagree with the raw diet, we want to encourage you to learn all the facts before you fall prey to scare tactics. If you’re reading this, you’re probably already aware that commercial pet foods can contain some very detrimental ingredients. Learning more about raw diets and how to prepare them properly will open a new door on health and fitness for your dog.
#1 – Bones
For decades, people were advised not to give dogs bones, especially chicken bones. While cooked bones are dangerous and should be avoided, raw bones are actually quite tender. This makes it easy for your dog to break and chew and they don’t crumble like cooked bones. The backbone is very safe for dogs to eat. When feeding a raw diet, you’ll want to focus on raw meat bones – i.e. bones your dog can break and chew on (think drumsticks, chicken necks, etc.). This is in contrast to recreational bones, such as cow knuckles, which cannot be digested in a single meal. The type of bone your dog can chew on while sitting will depend on your dog’s size, age, and health.
#2 – Balance over time
Many people focus on creating the optimal meal every time their dog eats. Commercial foods have long advertised completely balanced meals, but when feeding raw diets, the goal is nutritional balance over time. Think about how you eat – do you eat a full, well-balanced meal with the right nutrients every time you eat? Sure is not. Instead, you focus on meeting the nutritional needs of your entire diet. Supplements can be added if you think they’re needed, but many coarse feeders don’t use any supplements at all.
#3 – Foodborne illness
One of the most feared tactics to the raw diet is food-borne illnesses. Yes, there is a chance that handling raw meat will put you at risk, but using basic food safety, you don’t have to worry about foodborne pathogens. Furthermore, dogs have evolved to have very strong guts. This means they are able to digest salmonella bacteria and other pathogens without getting sick. Think of animals in the wild – they eat rotten meat quite often and don’t skip a beat!
#4 – All foods
The cool thing about raw feeding is that you can feed almost anything your dog likes. You’ll want to feed the bones, muscles, and organs. Some people include fruits and vegetables, but not everyone. The more variety your dog has, assuming they can handle it without allergies or other side effects, the better. Consider switching protein between sources available to you such as chicken, turkey, beef, pork, duck, and fish. If there’s something your dog really likes, feed them! You can also keep frozen dry ingredients mixer Available to throw in your dog’s bowl and don’t have to worry about shelf life or freezer space.
#5 – The right amount
How much you feed depends on a number of different factors. For adult dogs, the rule of thumb is 2-3% of your dog’s body weight (or target body weight if your dog is overweight or underweight). Puppies and pregnant and lactating women will need more, seniors will likely need less. You’ll also want to consider your dog’s breed (giant versus toy breed) to make sure you’re feeding the right amount of nutrients. However, without any math, you’ll just want to feed your dog the amount of food that will keep your dog at a healthy weight!
As with any new diet, there is a learning curve when switching to a raw diet. However, the benefits far outweigh the risks, and sometimes your dog may not have as much colic. Once you’ve worked things out, both of you will experience a whole new love of dog food.
A simple way to get started
It is understandable that you may feel overwhelmed considering starting your dog on a raw diet. The good news is that by substituting any amount of roughage in your dog’s diet in place of their current food, you’ll be providing them with better nutrition and taking a small step in the right direction. .
Best live dog food delivery
If you’re not ready to prepare and make all your dog food at home, there are plenty of home delivery services available, but choosing the right dog food for your dog can be difficult. Luckily, we’ve put together a list the best raw dog food companies for you.
