7 reasons you should consider feeding your dog a raw dog food diet
As pet owners, we aim to give our dogs top-notch nutrition. This ensures they're healthy for years. Studies show a raw food diet might help dogs live longer. It might also lower their risk of getting sick.
Feeding them food similar to their ancestors can do wonders for their health. However, starting your dog on raw food can be tricky.
If you are looking for a full guide and recipes you can also see our raw feeding dog food recipes here
- Feeding your dog a raw food diet can increase their lifespan and reduce their chances of disease
- Raw food can improve your dog's dental health by reducing tartar buildup
- A raw diet can optimise your dog's digestion and boost their immune system
- Raw food can promote radiant skin and coat, as well as consistent and compact stools
- Switching to raw dog food can lead to fewer veterinary visits and help with weight management
What is a Raw Dog Food Diet?
The raw dog food diet is more popular now. It focuses on raw meat, bones, fruits, and veggies. In 1993, Aussie vet Ian Billinghurst suggested a similar diet for our pets. He called it the "BARF" diet, short for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Raw Meaty Bones and Biologically Appropriate Foods
Billinghurst believed dogs do best on food like their ancestors. This means raw, meaty bones and some veggie scraps. Since his idea, many raw food diets for dogs have shown up. A usual raw dog diet has muscle meats, bones, organs, and more. The price of this diet changes depending on the foods and how you prepare them.
Improved Dental Health
A raw dog food diet can really change things for your dog's teeth. Their teeth are made for tearing food, but normal kibble doesn't always do the job right. I
Reduced Tartar Buildup and Better Oral Hygiene
A lot of older dogs have dental issues from kibble. But, raw meat's natural enzymes clean their mouths better. This keeps their breath fresh and their oral health in check.
- Raw bones clean teeth well without hurting them.
- Kibble and canned food can stick to teeth, unlike raw diets.
- Raw food has no bad fillers, helping prevent tooth decay.
Start raw food slowly to avoid tummy troubles. Keep an eye on their teeth while on raw diets for the best results.
Optimised Digestion
Changing your dog to a raw food diet boosts their digestion and gut health. Nutrients in raw food are easily absorbed by their bodies. This leads to less waste and better gut health.
Chewing raw meat and bones keeps your dog's digestive system in good shape. It allows time for the body to make acids needed for digestion.
A raw diet is proven to be better for digestion. It leads to firmer stools, less allergies, and better digestion overall when compared to kibble.
Switching to raw food may take more planning, but it's great for your dog. It boosts their digestion and makes them healthier and happier. With a slow transition, you can see benefits like less allergy and a very healthy dog.
Boosted Immune System
The health of our dogs is closely tied to their gut. A major part of a dog's immune system - from 70% to 90% - lives in its digestive system. When we feed our dogs raw food, their immune system gets stronger because it keeps their gut healthy.
Promoting Gut Health with Live Enzymes
Raw food is full of live enzymes that help our dogs' guts work well. These enzymes make it easier for the gut to use nutrients. This means our dogs' immune systems get a big boost.
On the other hand, most processed dog food lacks these important enzymes. This can cause gut inflammation and harm the immune system. Switching to raw food helps our dogs' bodies overcome these issues. They get to enjoy a strong immune system.
Choosing a diet that's high in enzymes and healthy for the gut does wonders for our dogs' immune systems.
Radiant Skin and Coat
Switching your dog to a raw diet makes a big difference. You'll see their skin get better and their coat shinier. The raw food is full of good fats that keep skin moist and coats vibrant.
Raw dog food and Reduced Veterinary Costs
Choosing a raw dog food diet may cut your vet bills significantly. This choice is becoming more popular. Sales of raw pet food are up 15% every year. This shows that many pet owners prefer natural, nutrient-rich foods for their pets.
Feeding your dog raw food can boost its health in many ways. Reports say dogs are in better shape, have more energy, look better, and have cleaner teeth. They also have regular bowel movements and fewer health issues. This could mean less visits to the vet and lower medicine costs, especially when they get older.
On the other hand, dogs eating kibble tend to visit the vet more often as they grow old. Raw diets are closer to what pets' ancestors ate. They are rich in antioxidants, helping the immune system stay strong. This makes health problems less likely. Plus, raw diets are good for pets with food allergies because they have different protein sources.
Raw dog food might cost more than kibble at first, but it could save you money over time.
In the end, raw dog food could be a good choice for your pet's health and your wallet. Yes, it's more expensive per day than specialty kibble. But, the money you save on vet visits and treating serious health issues is often much more. This is true for problems like arthritis, cancer, kidney disease, and diabetes.
By feeding your pet raw food, you're investing in their health and possibly saving money on vet bills in the long run.
