How Does Raw Diet Affect Dogs Digestion
Raw dog food helps a dogs digestion in many ways. Dogs chew raw food more than they chew processed food. You probably know that chewing increases the secretion of gastric juices that aid in digestion. Also, since it is their ancestral diet, their digestive systems are naturally capable of digesting raw food more efficiently.
Best Dog Food Delivery
Save time and money with human-grade pet food delivery. Get healthy, fresh, and USDA-approved meals tailored to your pets needs delivered directly to your door. Never run out of food again with free repeat dog food delivery.
- Made fresh in USDA kitchens
- Nutrition exceeding AAFCO industry standards
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- Human-grade meat, produce and superfoods
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- Arrives cold or frozen insulated & recyclable trays
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- Offers dry, freeze dried raw, wet & freshly prepared meals
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- High-quality recipes for a complete diet
- Great selection of proteins for dogs & cats
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- Personalized single-serve meals for dogs and cats
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- Human-grade ingredients made in USDA kitchen
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- Nutrition exceeding AAFCO industry standards
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- Made fresh in USDA kitchens
- Nutrition exceeding AAFCO industry standards
- Vet-designed personalized plans
Earthborn Holistics Primitive Natural
This is a sponsored placement, in which an advertiser pays a fee to be featured in this article. Learn more
About: Earthborn Holistics Primitive Naturalis a grain- and gluten-free kibble made with the type of high protein levels that likely characterized the diets of primitive canines. Also, and in keeping with the brands name, Earthborn embraces a number of environmentally friendly practices, including their UPCs for Trees program, which plants a tree for every UPC code customers mail to the company.
Features: Earthborn Holistics Primitive Natural is a high-quality dog food, made with a variety of nutritious ingredients. It does not feature a whole protein, which is slightly disappointing, but it does include three different meat meals and dried eggs. In fact, it provides more protein , than many other foods that do utilize whole proteins.
Peas provide the bulk of the carbohydrate content for this grain-free recipe. A number of fruits and vegetables including blueberries, cranberries, apples, carrots, and spinach are also included to provide some additional carbs, as well as a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Three probiotic strains are included to help keep your dogs digestive tract operating well.
Earthborn Holistics Primitive Natural is made in the USA, and it comes in a resealable package, so the kibble will stay fresher for longer. This food is only available in one flavor.
- Ranch-raised beef
- Wild-caught fish
PROS
CONS
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Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets Grain
Rating:
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Chicken, 2. Chicken Necks, 3. Chicken Gizzards, 4. Organic Kale, 5. Organic Carrots
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable for: Small, medium, large breeds
- Caloric content : 6067kcal
- Analysis: Protein 37%, Fat 37%, Fiber 1%, Moisture 2%
- Form: Freeze-Dried
The Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets Grain-Free recipe includes protein from high-quality fresh chicken for superior levels of essential fatty acids, amino acids, and optimal levels of calcium for stronger bones and teeth.
The raw, freeze-dried formula relies on organic produce to extract essentials vitamins and minerals for your hound. The special diet is crafted without grain, soy, wheat, and corn. Highly Recommended!
Is There Such A Thing As Same
Several retailers offer same-day pet food delivery. However, most of these options only sell pre-packed foods from popular household brands. They do not typically offer fresh food options.
With fresh pet food delivery services, there are usually custom options. This is a large part of the reason you might choose themto have something made with your pet in mind. This more individual approach means same-day shipping isnt likely to be an option, however.
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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Dog Food
The photo of a wolf on the cover of this bag of infused dog food tells you the history of the raw food diet. This Great Plains recipe features beef, lamb, and rabbit, giving your dog a tasty meal that theyll love.
The recipe is grain free a key feature of this diet and provides a high-protein kibble mix that is freeze dried to preserve its goodness. None of the meat is cooked it is freeze dried in its raw state.
The bag also proclaims the mix includes added vitamins and minerals and is ideal for all breeds of dog.
Raw Nutrition And Wild Flavor In Every Recipe
DRY RECIPES – GRAIN-FREE
Sweet potatoes are a fiber-rich source of quality carbs for healthy energy levels without grains.
DRY RECIPES – HEALTHY GRAINS
Brown rice, oatmeal and barley provide healthy grains for good digestion.
WET FOOD
Made with real deboned meat or poultry as the #1 ingredient and rich flavors and textures.
TREATS
Yummy treats made with real meat, poultry or fish and without artificial ingredients or fillers.
FREEZE-DRIED TREATS
These Freeze-Dried Raw Mixers are tasty, safely processed and offer your buddy a nutritional boost.
VARIETY PACKS
Keep your dog satisfied with an assortment of canned Real Beef and Chicken Dinner wet dog food.
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Trudog Feed Me Turkey Grain
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Ground turkey with bone, 2. turkey heart, 3. turkey liver, 4. herring oil, 5. Tocopherols
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable for: Small, medium, large breeds
- Caloric content : 6440kcal
- Analysis: Protein 46%, Fat 15%, Fiber 2%, Moisture 7%
- Form: Freeze-Dried
Prepared with real meat, this dog food is an excellent combination of bone, organ meat, and wholesome turkey.
TruDog Feed Me Turkey option is a highly nutritious treat for your dog, which can be served as a daily super-food. This nutritional powerhouse is balanced and complete in every sense and is indeed one of the best options available on the market.
Transitioning Between Dog Foods
According to our veterinarian its never good to transition from one type of dog food to another too quickly. Doing so can result in upset stomachs and unwanted accidents, its also just rough on your best four-legged friend. The correct way to transition between dog foods is to slowly mix the new food into your dogs current food over the course of 5-7 days. You should continuously increase the amount of the new food each day while decreasing the amount of their current food – always maintaining the correct total amount that your dog needs to be fed. For example:
- Day 1-2: 25% new / 75% previous
- Day 3-4: 50% new / 50% previous
- Day 5-6: 75% new / 25% previous
- Day 7: 100% new
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Raw Food Can Be Demanding For The Owner
First of all, this is not an easy feeding method and it can be expensive. You will need to have a ready supply of fresh, high-quality meats and vegetables on hand. You must make sure that the meats are from reliable suppliers and free of harmful bacteria. It is not a good idea, for example, to feed your dog raw chicken, because of the high risk of salmonella. One real advantage with a ready-made, high-quality dog food is that you know it is safe for your dog.
Check Out This Dog Food Finder!
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused
Most Hearty Protein
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Although the specific meats will vary depending on the formula, many of Merricks backcountry raw infused formulas use rich meat protein sources and generally feature meats as the first three ingredients.
The higher up meat is in the ingredient list, the better. This means your dog is getting a protein-packed formula just what canines need.
Most recipes in the Backcountry Raw Infused formula are grain-free, complemented with pieces of raw, freeze-dried meat.
Merrick has recently begun offering a few alternatives to their standard Backcountry line, including a few grain-inclusive recipes.
After the meats, sweet potatoes, potatoes, and peas are major ingredients in the backcountry raw line. Sweet potatoes are a good complex carbohydrate source with beneficial fiber. Potatoes and peas are high up in the ingredient list, offering additional quality carbohydrates.
Other ingredients include salmon oil, packed with omega-3 fatty acid, and canola oil. Canola oil is a bit of a problematic ingredient according to some, but in such small amounts its unlikely to cause any issues. This formula also features high levels of glucosamine and chondroitin which can aid in hip and joint health.
*Based on the Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Pacific Catch Formula
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Pacific Catch Ingredients
Merrick Backcountry Raw Recipes
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Proper Nutrition Can Be Challenging
Although proponents of raw dog food argue that is better nutritionally, that doesnt always hold. It depends both on the dog and the dedication of the owners. You may put together a carefully balanced diet for your dog, only to find that your particular dog doesnt like certain foods. If the dog regularly balks at eating foods that are a necessary part of a nutritionally sound, raw diet, then the dog can end up with deficiencies. It may not always be easy to find an adequate mix of foods that give optimal nutrition and that the dog will actually eat.
Vital Essentials Beef Entree Mini Nibs Grain
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Beef, 2. Beef Lung, 3. Beef Liver, 4. Beef Stomach, 5. Beef HeartGrain-free
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable for: Small, medium, large breeds
- Caloric content : 4500kcal
- Analysis: Protein 51%, Fat 23%, Fiber 2.2%, Moisture 7%
- Form: Freeze-Dried
The grain-free mini nibs is a special beef entrée loaded with essential nutrients. The brand guarantees supreme quality and claims to retain all active nutritional elements in their exclusive freeze-drying process.
The recipe does not involve antibiotics, hormones, fillers, or artificial flavoring and coloring and therefore, provides your dog a more natural, healthy diet.
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I And Love And You Raw Dog Food
The last option on our list is an option that comes from I and Love and You dog food. This manufacturer is also highly recommended by pet parents, animal nutritionists, and veterinarians, as they go above and beyond to make sure that the animals they feed are getting the best possible ingredients and the most healthful nutrition.
Youll find a nice selection of different raw dog food formulas from I and Love and You, all of which have some pretty clever names, like Raw Raw Beef Boom Ba, Raw Raw Chick Boom B, and Raw Raw, Lamb Boom Ba. Whichever recipe you choose, real meat is the first ingredient for example, in their Lamb Boom Ba formula, prime cuts of free-free range lamb is the first ingredient.
Other ingredients include whole eggs for even more protein, as well as peas, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, bananas, cabbage, ginger root, kelp, flaxseed, and other wholesome ingredients. All recipes gluten-free and are fortified with essential nutrients, such as vitamin D3, folic acid, copper, calcium, and zinc sulfate. Users of this raw dog food say that they have noticed definite improvements in their pets energy levels, coats, and overall health and happiness.
What We Like About It
- Real, raw, frozen animal protein is the first ingredient
- Features a variety of wholesome fruits and veggies
- Fortified with essential minerals and vitamins
- Grain free
- Offers a variety of recipes
- Palatable flavor
Reasons to Complain
- Some users noted that it had a strong smell
Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet
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First ingredients include real meats and meat meals, along with complex carbohydrates .
This Merrick formula is grain-free, but unlike Merricks standard grain-free formula, this line uses a limited number of ingredients in an effort to only keep what is essential and nothing extra.
Merricks LID line formerly features meat and chickpeas, but Merrick has since removed the chickpeas and included more sweet potatoes instead. While this wont be an issue for new customers, some existing customers have been frustrated by the change to this limited-ingredient formula, as their dogs had adapted to the original formula.
While limited ingredient recipes are desirable for dogs with allergies, in this case we wouldnt recommend this formula over other in Merricks line.
Merricks LID line features 26% protein* less protein than other formulas. However, its still an excellent choice if you have a dog with allergies or intolerances, in which case fewer problematic ingredients are always better, even if the protein is a bit lower.
*Based on Merrick Grain Free Limited Ingredient Salmon & Sweet Potato Formula
Merrick LID Grain-Free Salmon & Sweet Potato Ingredients
Merrick LID with Brown Rice
Merrick has recently begun offering another limited-ingredient diet option for dogs who have allergies but still want the benefits of healthy grains in their diet.
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Instinct Raw Boost Whole Grain Kibble
- A grain-inclusive raw + kibble line, combining high-protein kibble plus a boost of freeze-dried raw for added nutrition and taste
- Whole-grain kibble options for puppies and adult dogs
- Probiotic boost, higher Omegas* and more antioxidants* *compared to Instinct Original
- Supports immune, gut, and skin and coat health
Primal Chicken Formula Nuggets Freeze
Another chicken recipe is on the menu here, with Primals freeze-dried chicken nuggets a world away from anything you might find on a fast food menu. Indeed, the recipe boasts 78% chicken, organs, and bone, all rolled into a tasty meal that is completed with 22% produce and supplements to maintain your dogs health.
Free of grains and gluten, the Primal nuggets are easy to serve and are pitched as the ideal alternative for dogs who may be sensitive to grain products. The back of the packet also gives full feeding instructions, including details of how to rehydrate the nuggets before serving.
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Our Merrick Dog Food Rating
Now that youve read this article, we think youll agree that Merrick foods are a good choice for the majority of dogs.
There is a wide range of options to suit all kinds of dietary requirements and needs, so we think its only the slim minority of dogs that wont get on well with this brand.
That said, it doesnt cater specifically for seniors or large breeds , which we think is an oversight. Its also not the cheapest of choices, so it will be out of budget for some folks.
We give it a total rating of 4.5 out of 5.
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Disclaimer
All content on this site is provided for informational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to be nor can it be considered actionable professional advice. It must not be used as an alternative to seeking professional advice from a veterinarian or other certified professional.
LabradorTrainingHQ.com assumes no responsibility or liability for the use or misuse of whats written on this site. Please consult a professional before taking any course of action with any medical, health or behavioral related issue.
Is Raw Dog Food A Good Choice For Your Dog
It is natural for pet owners to want to do the very best for their four-legged friends. This includes wanting to give them the best possible diet. When it comes to dogs, how to choose the right diet can be confusing. You will get all kinds of advice, depending where you ask. The food aisle in the average pet store is huge and the choices seemingly endless. The newest fad is raw dog food, but of course raw dog food is much different from the ways weve traditionally fed our pets. So, is feeding a raw dog food diet to your dog a good idea?
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Best Raw Dog Food Companies
Raw dog food has become popular nowadays, but also has brought fierce debate. Before you even consider raw food, you should be aware of its benefits and risks. Many vets are against raw dog food, so please do as much research as possible.
Supporters argue that feeding raw more closely mimics the diet of a dogs closest ancestor, the wolf. Opponents argue that dogs have been eating cooked food leftover from human meals for many generations and are adapted to it.
It isnt clear which of these opinions is correct, but the fact remains that many people find that their dogs health improves when they are fed a raw or partially raw diet.
Whether you want to choose a primarily raw diet or youre looking to mix raw with healthy fruits and vegetables, there is a raw food maker for you. Sellers normally offer raw food in frozen form, freeze-dried form, or raw-infused kibble varieties.
While raw food purists wont feed anything other than fresh or frozen raw food, your dog can still get a lot of the same health benefits from freeze-dried raw food. Further, raw-infused kibble is as easy to feed as regular kibble, and packs an extra nutritional punch.
In this blog post, I discuss the 7 best raw dog food companies including what they have to offer. By the way, I also have a separate article on the best raw dog food delivery services.
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