It has been said that dogs have owners, but cats have staff. Anyone who has owned both will attest to the truth in that statement. Your cat will treat you well…after you have proven your worth. But, your dog will love you from the get-go. That is why you feed your dog the food that is the healthiest and best for his/her system. In order to provide your pet with the healthiest food, you should know not only the nutritional value of fruits and vegetables but also the preparation method to extract the most for your dog. Is raw food a part of that healthiest and best routine? There are good reasons to think it is, but also equally plausible reasons why uncooked food is something to avoid. Gildshire was curious about which way the pendulum swings.
What does raw dog food include?
Raw food is trendy, as cleaner eating (meaning without preservatives) has come into style for people’s food. There are three main kinds of uncooked foods for your best friend. These include BARF, prey food, and kibble.
BARF (yeah, we know) stands for Bones and Raw Food. It is supposed to mimic the foods dogs ate before they were domesticated. Prey foods have fewer fruits and veggies compared to traditional dog food but aren’t fully BARF. Kibble is listed among the raw foods but is only about halfway to BARF.
A typical BARF raw dog food diet.
Is Raw Dog Food Really Better?
Talk about the pros and cons? There are abundant examples of both.
Reports suggest that feeding a raw food diet helps make your dog’s coat shinier.
A raw dog food regimen leads to stronger bones and muscles.
As these meals can be made at home, it is easy to keep track of what your dog is eating.
Frozen raw dog foods are available at the grocery store.
The raw food diet helps in getting smaller, firm stool.
Feeding dogs with this kind of meal help manage their weight and keep their weight under check.
Some reports suggest that feeding raw dog food helps in curing and fighting cancer and other such diseases.
These are the pros of giving your dog a raw food diet. But, many experts suggest that a raw dog food regimen is not indicated for every dog.
Why Raw Diet is Bad for Dogs
Dogs suffering from kidney or liver disease should not receive exclusively raw food. The dog that is so afflicted has a hard time digesting such a diet.
Raw food contains fragments of bones that are a choking hazard to dogs, just as they are to humans.
Raw dog food has led to gastrointestinal inflammation.
It is time-consuming to prepare raw dog food meals at home. It’s also more expensive than canned or dry food purchased at the store.
There are parasites and bacteria present in raw bones and raw meat that can lead to infections.
Dogs can suffer from diarrhea because of eating raw dog foods.
Many experts tell us that raw food is not for dogs suffering from cancer.
Do Vets Recommend Raw Diet?
Some do, but just as you shouldn’t begin a new diet for yourself without consulting a doctor, so it is for your canine pal. Make sure that your pet is in good overall health before embarking on such a plan.
Good luck if this is a route you plan to take. May their diet make your dogs happy and full.
