Over time, dog food has changed. Nowadays, we have several commercial feed options intended for animal nutrition, but many tutors are not satisfied with this condition and prefer to offer raw food to dogs.
Several factors induce fathers and mothers of pets to become interested in natural food for dogs. The fact that it is more pleasant to the animals’ palate is a strong reason, in addition to believing it to be a healthier source of diet. Continue reading this article from one of the best dog blogs to learn more about raw dog food.
Dog Nutrition
Before offering raw dog food with the best intention of pleasing and keeping the animal healthy, it is vital to know the nutritional needs of each pet.
Each species needs daily amounts of water, proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, mineral salts, and vitamins. In addition, the amount of each nutrient varies according to age, weight, nutritional status, immunity, etc. Every diet must be prepared by a veterinarian specializing in animal nutrition.
Any type of food, whether commercial dog food (wet or dry), raw dog food, or cooked, with or without bones, can achieve the desired result. However, nutritional balance is essential.
How To Offer Raw Food?
The best-known method of offering raw food to dogs is the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), which we adequately discussed in this tutorial on how to feed raw dog food post.
The BARF diet for dogs consists of offering meat, eggs, offal, bones, cartilage (whole or ground), and raw vegetables. The intention is to allow the dogs access to the food they would have if they were in the wild, as well as their ancestors, the wolves.
These foods can be prepared at home (check how to make homemade dog food) or purchased at animal feed products stores, where they are sold frozen. If you want to purchase a ready-made product, it is important to consider whether the company that provides this service follows health surveillance standards.
Why Choose Raw Food?
Several reasons lead the tutor to choose raw food for his furry ones. Always having fresh dog food is healthy and attractive for dogs. Animals with a selective appetite that do not accept conventional feed will certainly benefit from this option.
Also, with the humanization of dogs, which are now part of our families, we want to offer the best, and many tutors feel sorry for their animals that only eat food and want to please their palate, making them happier.
The components, such as additives, preservatives, and dyes contained in feeds, also lead people to believe that this can cause damage to the health of the pet, and so they opt for raw food for dogs. All diet modalities have pros and cons. Next, let’s make some observations regarding the raw diet:
Benefits
- It is more palatable: The smell, texture, and taste are much more attractive to the dog than dry food. In addition, the menu can be varied, unlike dry food, which will taste the same every day.
- Decreased tartar: The bones and cartilage contained in the diet help clean teeth and remove tartar-forming bacterial plaques. However, they do not replace toothbrushing.
Disadvantages
- A specialized professional is needed: For raw dog food to be really well implemented, it needs to be balanced. A nutrient deficiency can lead to tooth loss, bone fractures, muscle weakness, and other problems.
- The danger of infections: This is the most important disadvantage. Raw food can contain micro-organisms, especially bacteria, which contaminate the animal, causing gastroenteritis (vomiting and diarrhea). These bacteria can also be transmitted to humans, causing a public health problem. However, you can get the best dog DNA test kit to learn about your dog’s ancestry and associated health issues.
- Intestinal complications: The bones contained in raw food for dogs can be beneficial for teeth but also cause fractures in them and hurt or perforate internal organs, putting the animal’s life at risk.
What Foods Are Offered?
Raw dog food can be made with raw beef musculature (without the bones) of beef, pork, goat, chicken, and even game meat. The most used is the viscera, such as the heart, tongue, stomach (tripe), and lung.
Commonly used bones and cartilage are ribs, chicken neck, pig ear, trachea, chicken wings, and other poultry. The most varied vegetables and raw chicken, duck, and quail eggs are introduced.
Raw Food Care
Anyone who chooses to offer a raw natural diet to their animals should be especially attentive to food handling care and storage, which we discussed in this post on how to store dog food. Due to the high potential for food infection by bacteria, animals without good immunity or undergoing chemotherapy treatment and others should not use it.
Tutors who have weakened immunity for any reason should avoid handling this type of food so as not to contaminate themselves or contaminate other people, such as children, the elderly, or individuals who are sick.
Animals with diseases such as diabetes, pancreatitis, liver and kidney failure have no indication of being fed a raw diet, as well as puppies in the growing phase.
Conclusion
Raw food for dogs is a trend in the world of pets, which has its benefits and harms, like all types of food. For better instructions on the ideal diet for your pet, consult one of the best dog blogs. We also have a tutorial on how to transition dog food if you intend to change to one of the best dry dog foods.
