In this article, we will discuss all about “Benefits of Raw Diets for Dogs”. Continue reading to learn more about it.
Dogs are the loveliest and adorable creatures. Dog parents usually want to know that raw food/diet is suitable for their canines or not! Here we tell you all about raw food and its benefits. Raw dog food diets are controversial. But the popularity of diets among dog owners, which emphasize raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables, is increasing day by day.
Where Did Raw Food Diets Originate?
Racing sled dogs and greyhounds have long eaten raw food. Extending these feeding practices to the family pet is a more new idea, proposed in 1993 by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst. He called his feeding suggestion the BARF diet, an acronym for Bones And Raw Foods, or Biologically Appropriate Raw Foods.
Billinghurst suggested that adult dogs thrive on an evolutionary diet based on what canines ate before being domesticated: Raw, meaty bones and vegetable scraps. Commercial cereal-based pet foods, he argued, were detrimental to a dog’s health.
Many conventional veterinarians conflict, as does the FDA. The risks of raw diets have been recognized in several studies published in veterinary journals.
Since the publication of Billinghurst’s book, Give Your Dog a Bone, several other types of raw dog food diets have emerged, leading the dog owners to know that raw food is one of the best choices. The raw diet is almost natural and organic, and if it is wholesome, it poses zero threat to canines. It includes commercially processed raw food diets frozen in freeze-dried and blended diets using cereal mixes, vegetables, and vitamins mixed with raw meat.
What Exactly Is Raw Food Diet for Dogs?
A raw food diet for dogs generally consists of:
- Muscle meat, often still on the bone
- Bones, whole or ground
- Organ meats such as livers and kidneys
- Raw eggs
- Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and celery
- Apples or other fruits
- Some dairy products, such as yogurt.
Check out this best commercial raw dog food option for any dog
What Are The Potential Benefits Of A Raw Dog Food Diet?
Possible benefits of the raw dog food diet that supporters tout include:
- Firmer stools
- Improved digestion
- Healthier skin and coat
- Fewer allergies
- Healthier gums, better teeth and breath
- Boosts the immune system
- Prevent diabetes and arthritis
- Give a better physique
1. Firmer stools
How would you like your furry companion to have firmer stools? No more messy pickup for you, right? Nobody wants to clean up liquid dog faeces. By feeding your dog raw and possibly supplementing with probiotics, you’ll never face that problem.
2. Improved Digestion
Every pet owner wants overall improved digestion of their pets. Have you noticed that various dogs have much gas and sometimes seem to have some digestive upset? Has a dog ever vomited after a “heavy” meal of commercial dry dog food or kibble? Things like that are hardly ever a problem with the raw dog food diet, so you might want to give it a try.
3. Healthier Skin and Coat
The initial physical change you will see, if you are not a behaviourist or a trainer, is probably in your dog’s coat’s quality. In a few weeks, the skin will become soft to the touch and will glow with health.
The raw dog food diet gives dogs a healthier coat and skin because their dietary needs are fully met. There is no need to provide more fish oil or add a ton of supplements; just let nature do what it is supposed to do.
With little to no carbohydrates fillers, raw dog food contains plenty of protein from easier-to-digest fresh meat, fresh fat, and optimal sources of both zinc and vitamin E, all of which are critical nutrients health of your dog coat.
4. Fewer Allergies
Do you know that the main food allergens for dogs are wheat and corn? By excluding them from your dog’s diet, you will end up with a healthier dog to spend time with.
If your dog’s breed is predominantly prone to allergies or if your dog can’t escape allergens, especially in spring and summer, you can also try homeopathic remedies explicitly designed for your dog’s symptoms and condition. A custom remedy could do the trick, and there are no contraindications to feeding your dog raw, and it is also much cheaper than conventional treatments. Also, raw food is organic, so it has fewer allergens or toxins from processing.
5. Healthier Gums, Better Teeth and Breath
Gum disease is terrible news for the dog, which goes far beyond simple bad breath. We have been well-known for 100 years that dogs need some nuisance factor in their diet to keep their teeth clean.
Your dog’s teeth may not turn shining white, but they will be much better than when your dog is fed with raw products. However, it is not just about the teeth, and the gums will be much healthier, and destructive breath will also be addressed. Your dog would be as kissable as can be, and you will no longer feel the need to try to stop your furry baby from “licking” him anymore.
6. Boosts the Immune System
Why do wild dogs and wolves seem to have fewer illnesses and health problems than our domestic dogs? One factor is their diet. Eating raw food frequently seems to make them more resilient than their spoiled counterparts because they have a better immune system. The raw dog food diet menu also includes many fatty acids and other nutrients that boost the immune system. Not only that, but eating raw significantly reduces the incidence of inflammatory conditions.
7. Higher Energy Levels
Have you ever felt that your dog has too much energy or sometimes not enough energy? What your furbaby eats has a significant effect on behavior and energy levels. A rush of carbs from kibble can give your dog an energy spike that makes him super fussy, and then the kibble makes him feel tired.
Also, additives in commercial food can make your dog almost sluggish at times, and a bundle of loose leads the next. Pet owners who have placed their dogs on the raw dog food diet report a stabilization of the crazy energy level ups and downs. Wouldn’t you want the same too?
Continue reading for more Benefits of Raw Diets for Dogs
8. Prevent Diabetes and Arthritis
The older and fatter your pet gets, the more prone he is to diabetes and arthritis, and of course, no one wants that. You will minimize the chance of having a diabetic dog by opting for raw feeding by preventing your dog from spikes in blood sugar. The reduced likelihood of inflammatory diseases and the strengthening of the immune system also help prevent and treat arthritis.
9. Raw Food Give Them A Challenge
What would your canine companion do without kongs and stuffed toys? The point is, a raw meat-fed dog with big bones still attached doesn’t need stuffed toys or kongs. They have the most fun with the added physical and mental challenge of dealing with “big” prey. It also keeps their teeth bright and strong.
10. Raw Food Give A Better Physique
Have you ever noticed how beautiful wild dogs and wolves are? How beautiful is the muscle tone, and how do none of them seem to be struggling with weight issues? It’s because they are eating raw food.
Significantly few terrestrial animals that we know of benefit from being fat. Fat drives the inflammatory process and only serves to weaken it over time. Dogs are no exception. Dogs are long-distance runners. Not only do lean dogs live longer, but they also suffer from less inflammation, minor arthritis and are cheaper to keep.
Just the added challenge of chewing and ripping raw meat is an exercise in itself; your pet may not get “polished”, but it will indeed have better posture and appearance.
11. A Sustainable Choice
Another vital benefit of raw food is the reduction of ecological footprints. It may not seem like a big deal, but the simple truth is that what’s suitable for our pets and us is also good for the environment.
Dog and cat body better utilize a raw diet, which means lesser faeces and cleaner litter boxes/trays. Less work for pet parents and less waste in our landfills!
What Are The Potential Risks of A Dog Food Diet?
Potential risks include:
- Threats to human and canine health from bacteria in raw meat
- An unbalanced diet can harm the health of dogs if administered for an extensive period.
- Whole bone or sharp bone ends cause animal to choke an animal, break teeth, or cause internal puncture/laceration
Our Advice:
- Use wholesome meat of animals that are 100% grass-fed, free-range, or organic.
- Use human-grade animal parts such as organ meats that are not particularly favoured by humans while perfectly safe to eat, reducing waste.
- Minimize packaging and maximize efficiency
Check out this Wellness core raw dog food. It is a composite of all the benefits mentioned above.
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