You’re a pet owner considering a raw food diet for your beloved pooch. Congrats! You’ve achieved a new level of being a good dog owner. The advantages of raw dog food are extraordinary. Many pet owners have no idea about them, either. Now, you’re on your way to learning all of the amazing perks of feeding raw food to your dog.
What Is a Raw Food Diet for Dogs
A raw food diet for dogs is one that consists of unprocessed foods. The most common raw foods in pet foods are:
- Muscle Meat
- Organ Meat
- Bones
- Raw Eggs
- Broccoli
- Spinach
- Celery
- Fruit
- Yogurt
As you can see above, the ingredients in a raw diet are healthy proteins, vegetables, and fruits. Much like what doctors recommend for us. There are many reasons people prefer raw feeding to other types of dog food (processed foods primarily).
The Nutrition of Raw Dog Food
Before delving into the advantages of raw dog food, let’s talk about the nutrition of ingredients that go into it.
Muscle Meat or Organ Meat = PROTEIN
Protein is essential for increasing muscle mass and strength as well as strengthening bones.
Broccoli = PLANT BASED PROTEIN
Plant-based proteins are lower in calories and fat than animal proteins (muscle mass and organ meat). This can help ensure dogs get enough protein without packing on the pounds, which could lead to health issues later in life. Plant-based proteins like broccoli have a lot of fiber, which promotes good gut bacteria and digestion.
Vegetables & Fruits = NUTRIENTS
Vegetables and fruits power the body with nutrients, such as potassium, dietary fiber, folate, vitamin A and vitamin C.
Check out this great recipe: Vegetable Broth for Dogs
Yogurt = CALCIUM
The calcium in yogurt is a mineral necessary for healthy teeth and bones. It’s high in vitamin B12 and riboflavin, which are great for heart health. There’s also phosphorous, magnesium, and potassium.
Advantages of Raw Dog Food
Now that you have the background of the above raw ingredients, you probably can gather some of the advantages of a raw dog food diet, but let’s identify them.
Improves Strength
Working dogs particularly benefit from raw diets. Since they are working for long periods of time, they need the strength to get through them. As working dogs work harder, they build more muscle which helps them do more in less time. This can make working dog owners extremely happy.
Working dogs aren’t the only ones that benefit from improved strength. Small dogs and medium dogs need that strength when they exercise and play. Raw dog food diets help them remain active and happy because they can do more with the strength they have from raw meat protein.
Builds and Maintain Healthy Bones
Raw feeding for puppies helps them build strong bones. This helps them avoid broken bones throughout their lifetime.
Adult dogs who eat raw diets maintain the strength of their bones, so it keeps them as mobile as possible for as long as possible. Senior dogs who have strong bones are better able to get around and raw dog food diets do that for them.
Better Digestion
A dog’s health (human too) start in the gut. Fresh raw dog food diets have high amounts of fiber that can increase good gut bacteria and improve digestion. This can lead to many other benefits such as a healthy weight and a decrease in major health issues.
One of the benefits for dog owners that come along with their pet’s better digestion is smaller stools, so less mess.
Higher Energy Levels
Raw feeding increases energy levels. With the right amount of nutrients and minerals, the body has the fuel it needs to move fast and long. Again, it’s just like people. The better you eat, the more energy you have for activities throughout the day.
Healthier Skin and Coat Health
Raw eggs, fruits, and vegetable aid in skin and coat health. This leads to fewer skin allergies and shinier coats.
Raw pet food promotes overall health when it comes to a canine’s organs, bones, energy, muscles, and more.
Helps with Autoimmune Disease
Dogs suffering from autoimmune diseases may benefit greatly from a raw food diet. Learn more about that here: Raw Food Diet for Dogs with Autoimmune Disease
Anal Gland Health
Dogs that often have difficulty expressing their anal glands may have an easier time with a raw food diet. You can read about that here: Best Dog Food for Anal Gland Issues
Reduced Shedding
Many dogs that eat raw dog food stop shedding so much. That’s why a raw food diet has been recognized as the best dog food for shedding.
Makes a Dog’s Belly Happy
Many dogs who eat raw dog food will roll around after eating because they are just so satisfied with their meal. Raw dog food is healthy and provides the body with what it needs to feel and function optimally.
The Risks of Raw Dog Food
Not everyone agrees with a dog’s diet comprised of raw meat. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)does not recommend the BARF (biologically appropriate raw food) for pets, as they warn raw feeding can cause a dog to become ill due to bacteria in raw meat. Pork is a meat that dog owners must be careful with due to the risk of it being infected with trichinella parasites. You can learn more about that here: Can Dogs Eat Chorizo?
There’s also a concern over a balanced diet. It’s important for pet parents to know that feeding a raw diet may mean mixing other ingredients into the recipe to create a balanced meal. This is why many pet parents purchase a raw food diet from a raw dog food company, such as Only Natural Pet. The recipes made by these companies ensure a dog’s diet is complete to promote overall health.
Many dog owners who make their own raw dog food wonder about food coloring. The good news is that dogs can have food coloring. Learn more here: Can Dogs Have Food Coloring?
Embracing the Advantages of Raw Dog Food
Now you know the health benefits of raw dog food! When making decisions about your pet’s food, research all of the different ones available. Processed foods are unhealthy for many reasons but do your research so you know why and then look at all of the different types of dog food. Many of them are made with freeze-dried, dehydrated raw ingredients, which can be an option if you’re considering a raw dog food diet.
If you’re interested in exploring easy options to feed your dog a raw diet, you may want to read the following articles:
Only Natural Pet EasyRaw Dehydrated Dog Food Review
Comment below with questions and experiences with the advantages of raw dog food to help out the community at Dog Ownership Guide.
