Is Raw Food Good For Your Dog

Raw Feeding Can Be Time

Whichever raw dog food recipes you decide to use, it will never match the convenience of dry dog kibble.

Dry food is simply easier to use. Thats why people love it you buy it and you pour it into your dogs food bowl.

For a lot of busy dog owners, preparing homemade meals is just too much hassle.

Start With One Protein Source

Regardless of whether youre preparing your own raw or are using a prepared raw food, its best to start with one protein source. Give that one protein for a good week. If there are no signs of digestive upset, start your puppy on a second source of protein, and so on.

Muscle meat should make up about 35% to 50% of the diet.

Bottom Line: Every Pup Is Unique

Just because your furry friend gobbles up a raw meat diet, that doesnt mean its right for all dogs. Some animals might never be able to switch due to food sensitivities or other health issues. We strongly emphasize discussing your dogs specific needs with your vet before making any dietary changes;and being patient in the process. Remember that any diet change can cause some stomach issues.

If your dog does get sick or needs medical attention, see a vet right away and consider getting pet insurance now so if a need arises, your medical costs would be partially covered for any exams and medications of issues that exclude pre-existing conditions. Learn more about the benefits and if pet insurance may be a good fit for you. You might also check out these other homemade dog food recipes that contain cooked food as an alternative to raw.

Why are you considering a raw diet? Have you tried it with your pup?

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What To Look For

Always check the ingredients | As we mentioned earlier, raw food diets are supplemented with ingredients other than meat to get your dog required dietary nutrients. If you can find a food that uses real vegetables and whole foods;rather than synthetic vitamin packets, your dog will be able to absorb even more nutrients per meal. And of course, the most-abundant ingredients will always be labeled first, so youre really looking for direct protein sources to be listed first.

Avoid freezer burn |;If you see freezer burn on a raw food product, its likely past its prime. If you can help it, choose food without freezer burn for optimal quality.

Wash your hands |;Dogs are capable of processing germs that humans are not. Thats why its important to;wash your hands thoroughly;when handling raw food. And you shouldnt cook raw food because it will lose a lot of nutritional value. Children should also not interact with raw foods.

Signs of refreezing | If the product has time to thaw out, it will fill with oxygen. So you can tell if products have been refrozen if theres a lot of air in the bag. Avoid refrozen food because it could easily be contaminated.

The Best Raw Food For Dogs

When feeding a raw food diet to your dog, you should keep in mind how a dog would eat in the wild. Dogs are opportunistic animals and will eat just about anything that contains meat, but wild dogs also eat plant matter such as occasional fruits and vegetables. They eat eggs and fish when they have the chance. They also eat partially-digested vegetable matter in the stomach and intestines of their prey. Whole vegetables can pass too quickly through a dogs digestive system to be of much nutritional value for them but when they are already partially-digested by other animals, vegetables can provide important nutrition for canines. So, it may seem kind of gross to think about dogs eating the stomach contents of other animals, but this is an important source of vitamins and minerals for them. So, while many dogs like to munch on raw carrots when you offer them, and they can be a nice treat, your dog wont derive much nutrition from them or other vegetables unless they are broken down in some way first. When veggies are broken down first by pureeing to mimic a prey animals digestion, for example, they are a good part of a dogs raw diet.

• Chicken
• Squirrel
• Venison

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Which Part Of An Asparagus Should You Feed Your Dog

The right part of the asparagus plant to feed your dog with is the stalk or stem.;

Aim for the green, tender parts. This is where we get most of our vitamins and minerals from.

The root, on the other hand, doesnt contain any nutritional value for dogs at all. And the same goes for the lower stems too.

Avoid feeding your dog with parts that are brown or have turned to mush after cooking.

This is because these stalks will probably contain too much sodium and not enough fiber, which can lead to your dog constipating.

Bioavailability Of Raw Ingredients

An ingredients bioavailability;is how digestible and usable the nutrients in food are for your dogs body. When ingredients are exposed to high temperatures, like those involved in dog food manufacturing, nutrients are denatured, making them less biologically available. This means that they may yield less nutrition than before it was processed.

The heat from processing can also change the composition of fatty acids, amino acids, and enzymes used to support your dog’s body.

Your dogs digestive system is intended to break down raw or minimally processed material, regardless of the commercial foods that they have adapted to eating over the last century. As scavenging carnivores, dogs can survive off dead food, but a biologically available raw diet will ensure that they thrive.

When all ingredients are appropriately utilized, and your dog receives optimal nutrition, an increase in muscle mass and fat reduction can be seen, supporting a leaner and healthier physique. And this is just to start. Raw-fed dogs are often healthier overall, seeing fewer instances of common health issues and fewer vet bills – like digestive problems, skin and coat issues, and poor dental health.

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Is Raw Food Good For Dogs

Although Purina doesnt recommend feeding dogs raw meat, other raw foods, like certain fruits and vegetables, are safe and even healthy.

Your dog may enjoy any number of fresh fruits and vegetables, like bananas, carrots, apples and more. We recommend washing any fresh produce first to remove any dirt or other residues.

Although these foods may be safe and healthy, its important to keep the 90/10 rule in mind. This means 90 percent of your dogs daily calories should come from a complete and balanced dog food. The other 10 percent can come from treats, which includes fruits and vegetables, in addition to standard dog treats. This helps minimize the risk for stomach upset and also obesity, says Dr. Lobos.;

What About Illness From Listeria Food Contamination

Listeriosis is a less well known food-borne illness than salmonellosis. Listeria monocytogenes is actually a leading cause of hospitalization and death from food contamination. While it is rarer than salmonellosis, over 90% of people with listeriosis end up in the hospital. In the US annually, the CDC estimates about 1,600 cases with about 260 deaths. In the European Union, the numbers are similar. One of the problems with Listeria is that the bacterium is quite hardy, surviving in salty, acidic, and cold environments.

Listeriosis particularly targets newborns, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems. The L. monocytogenes bacterium can invade many tissues including the brain, the tissues surrounding the brain and spinal cord, the gastrointestinal tract, and the bloodstream. Symptoms depend on which tissues are affected. The time between exposure and illness is about 3 weeks, making it difficult to pinpoint the precise exposure event. Pregnant women may only experience non-specific flu-like symptoms, but their babies may be born prematurely or even stillborn. Newborns fare the worst with listeriosis as up to one-third will die despite aggressive treatment.

Dogs can carry L monocytogenes without showing any signs, making them a potentially dangerous reservoir.

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Reasons To Consider A Raw Food Diet For Your Dog

Even with all of those things to consider, there are still a lot of reasons you may want to give your dog a raw food diet and make it yourself. Some of the most popular reasons include the following, some of which we have already touched on:;

• The ability to adjust to your dogs dietary needs or allergies
• The ability to adapt recipes as your dog passes through various life stages
• The ability to control all of the ingredients, including the quality of the source
• The ability to take advantage of bulk buying or sales;
• Not having to worry about recalls from dog food manufacturers
• The knowledge that you reduced your environmental impact

Additionally, a raw food diet can be associated with the following benefits for your pup:;

• Firmer stools

• more energy
• better digestion and better long-term health of the digestive and urinal tracts

How do you achieve it? Below I’ll list seven of the best raw dog food recipes based on what your dog requires in his diet.

But you shouldn’t simply follow the recipes; you need to clearly understand what goes into making safe homemade raw dog food for your Fido.

If possible, which when it comes to raw feeding isn’t always the case, try to work with your veterinarian or a canine nutritionist to find out your dog’s exact nutritional needs and adjust the diet based on that.

Your pet’s requirements will vary depending on his age, weight, breed, activity level and overall health condition.

Some of the most important things for your to remember include:

I Have Read Many Things On The Internet Suggesting That I Should Feed My Dog Raw Food I Know My Dogs Wild Cousins Hunt Their Food So They Eat Their Food Raw Is It Ok For Me To Feed My Dog Raw Food Is That Better Than Feeding Prepared Dry Or Canned Food

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , the Center for Veterinary Medicine , and the US Food and Drug Administration stand united in their position that feeding raw food to dogs is potentially dangerous to both the dog and to you. The most recent study, conducted from 2011 through 2012, screened commercially available raw dog foods for bacteria that can cause illness. The raw dog food products were made from ground meat or sausage and frozen in tube-like packages. Nearly 25% of the raw food samples tested positive for harmful bacteria, including Salmonella ssp. and Listeria monocytogenes. These bacteria can pose a health risk for the dogs who eat the raw food, as well as for the dog owners who handle the food while preparing it.

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Bacterial Contamination Is A Real Concern

Yes, dogs are much more resistant to things such as Salmonella and E. coli germs than we are and bacterial contamination is quite rare for dogs.

Still, it should be mentioned that its a risk with using raw dog food recipes and that caution should be used.

That said, if you know the source of your meats, and buy USDA certified organic and prepare it correctly, the chances of contamination are very low.

Challenges And Opportunities That Patients On Raw Diets Present To Veterinarians

A surprising number of veterinary canine and feline patients are being fed RMBDs, and/or are being given raw meat, eggs, or treats in addition to their regular food . Clients have learned not to inform their veterinarian . Pet owners who choose to feed RMBDs have lower levels of trust in veterinary advice in general, as well as with respect to nutritional recommendations . These clients present opportunities for veterinarians, supportive and knowledgeable about the advantages and disadvantages of RMBDs, to provide veterinary services and advice to these generally well-informed and conscientious pet owners.

Clients who find that their veterinarian is only negative about RMBDs:

• Often omit or obfuscate what they are feeding their pet;

• Consider their veterinarian poorly informed about the best nutrition for their pet;

• May believe their veterinarian only cares about selling veterinary pet food and making money;

• May complain to their friends, in person and on social media, about their veterinarian;

• Distrust their veterinarians advice about both medical and nutritional issues, ignoring or questioning veterinary medical recommendations; and/or

• Take their pet veterinary needs elsewhere .

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The Benefits Of A Raw Diet For Puppies

Dr. Sehn notes that in addition to following what nature intended, theres another positive aspect to feeding your pup raw food. An advantage is the elimination of chemicals and preservatives in the diet. Feeding unnatural ingredients to puppies at a tender age, just as their guts are forming, isnt the path to optimal health: The emerging immune system makes them more susceptible to health problems and the toxins in many standard commercial pet foods.

Here are some of the other reported benefits attributed to feeding your puppy raw vs. standard commercial foods:

Many commercial pet foods are produced using meat from dead, diseased, dying, or downed animals but are still found to be edible as animal feed according to USDA standards. While this may be good for pet food producers who want to make a profit, your poor puppy will realize no benefit from eating substandard food. Learn more by taking a look at The Hidden Dimension in Pet Food: 3D and 4D Meats.

Raw Dog Food Pros And Cons: Summary

To sum up the topic of raw dog food pros and cons:

The pros of raw dog food centre around health, with regular feeders of raw reporting a dog’s coat, skin, teeth and digestive system all benefiting from the more natural diet.

The cons of raw dog food focus mainly around storage and preparation, which is an issue to be considered before feeding raw, but both are potentially easy solved with some research into how best to handle raw dog food and insight into how much food you’ll need to feed and order, to know how much you’ll need to store.

Sue concludes with some final words of advice for dog owners considering the various raw dog food pros and cons:

“Do your research. Learn to read dog food food labels and really look at what is in different types of food. Talk to us and to others who are already using complete raw food.”

Further reading on raw dog food to help you consider the pros and cons

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Pros And Cons Of Raw Dog Food

These are all the pros and cons of giving raw food to your dog eating. Many experts suggest that raw dog food is not suggested for every dog. The dogs suffering from kidney diseases or liver diseases should not be given raw food as it has high protein levels that become difficult for dogs to digest. Also, the people who prefer to feed homemade raw food meal should see to it that the nutritional value of the meal is meeting requirements for their canine.

How Often Can I Feed My Dog Asparagus

Moderation is key here because feeding too much of this veggie at once might lead to stomach upset in your pooch.

Just to be safe, serve them asparagus as you would any other treat and observe the 10% rule. They may vomit or get diarrhea if they have too much.

Also, its okay to give your dog small bites of this veggie once or twice weekly, but no more than that.

If for whatever reason, you want to exceed this ratio, then I advise that you consult your vet first.

But even so, just imagine if the stalks are that hard on your pups mouth, then how harsh must they feel while traveling down his/her digestive tract?

Sooner or later, your dog would be now dealing with painful gas or bloating on top of an upset stomach.

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Dangers Of Raw Diets For Dogs

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“Should I feed my dog a raw diet?” If you’ve ever heard another pet parent rave about how his or her dog appears to be thriving on a raw meat diet, you might be asking yourself this question. Proponents of raw diets for dogs point out that dogs are biologically similar to carnivorous wolves, and claim that the benefits of this type of diet include healthier skin, coat and teeth, more energy and smaller stools, according to PetMD. However, there is very little scientific evidence to support these claims. In fact, most of the scientific research on raw meat diets for dogs shows that they could do more harm than good.

What Nutritional Requirements Does A Dog Have

Dogs can have different nutritional requirements if they have a specific disease but healthy puppies, adults, and pregnant or nursing dogs all require different things from their food, too. This is why different commercial diets exist for dogs in different life stages and also with different health problems. A six-month-old puppy does not have the same nutritional needs as a dog with kidney disease.

Nutrition affects internal organs, skin and coat, bones, muscles, and other parts of your dog, so it is more complicated than some pet owners may realize. Dogs need various vitamins, minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fibers, and other ingredients to function normally and be healthy. If an improper diet is fed, dogs can develop serious, life-threatening issues, break bones, and not grow properly.

Dogs are omnivores so their nutritional needs reflect that. The Association of American Feed Control Officials helps define and regulate what pets need and pet food manufacturers use these guidelines to make their foods. Domestic dogs are genetically different than their wolf ancestors so even though they are both canines, domestic dogs evolved to be able to digest starches.

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