Are They Using Actual Meat
Sounds ridiculous but heres the crux of it when you buy raw chicken for dogs, what are you buying? Ground up breast meat? Unlikely. Ground up legs? Also unlikely. Thighs maybe? Wrong again. These pieces are pricey and no raw dog food manufacturer gets rewarded for using these pieces over say necks. Necks arent bad, I quite like them, like little meaty fingers. But then theres carcass. The definition of carcass is the frame without the meat. It looks like chicken mince to you, feels and even smells like it, but its just chicken fat and bone.
One way to test the true fat content of your minces is to boil 100g of it for 15mins then allow to cool. The fat will float to the top and solidify. Now you can and measure how much fat is actually in there.
This is still good stuff for a dog, but in moderation. It would normally be considered meaty bone, but now youre paying £3.50/kg for it, the same price as good chicken off the shelf of the supermarket.
Its not easy to defend against this, recommend you call them and ask. Even the best manufaturers use carcass as filler but they beef up their mixes with actual meat parts like tripe or heart etc, so they should probably be a second ingredient. Heart may not always be labelled as heart, it may simply be called beef, but good enough.
Do Dogs Live Longer On Raw Diets
There have been some studies that showcase raw diets can extend a dogs life. However, there havent been enough studies to show how and why raw diets work with your pups biological clock.
More importantly, its essential to feed dogs of all life stages raw foods that are balanced and include nutrients like probiotics and healthy fats. Raw feeding can be helpful, but it has to be done correctly.
Besides food, your dog also needs regular exercise to keep their heart, joints, and muscles healthy.
Bixbi Rawbble Dog Food
BIXBI Pet was founded in 2008 by James and Michael Crouch, two brothers living in Boulder, Colorado, who are passionate about pets and nutrition. Their raw dog food range includes beef, duck, chicken, salmon & chicken, pork lamb, and beef freeze-dried recipes under the Rawbble label to use rehydrated or dry. All of them are formulated with a balanced ratio of meat, organs, and bone to support your canine companions health. An example is the BIXBI Rawbble Beef Recipe Grain-Free Freeze-Dried Dog Food. The ingredients list shows Beef, including Liver and Kidney, Beef Bone, Pumpkin, Coconut Oil, and Salmon Oil.
Benefits of feeding dogs Bixbi Rawbble Dog Food include the coconut oil providing triglycerides that can potentially help in the treatment of canine cognitive dysfunction syndrome and chronic skin disorders . There are no published negatives about the BIXBY range, and the only harm caused could be if it is fed to animals with specific protein allergies. Many dogs on grain-free diets are actually allergic to meat and not grains.
The digestive systems of dogs and humans differ, and many years on a kibble diet might cause GI tract problems in dogs if their diets change abruptly from dry or canned dog food to raw food.
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Bacterial Concerns Of Frozen Raw Foods And Solutions
Raw-food diets also have detractors, primarily for one overwhelming reason: the potential for pathogenic organisms in raw animal-source proteins to cause illness in animals and the humans in their household.
There are a number of pathogens that can be present in and/or on meat, including Salmonella spp, Campylobacter spp, Clostridium spp, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus. In more conventional types of pet food, these pathogens are rendered harmless through cooking unless the heat-based process, whether it be extrusion, baking, or retort is inadequate. But there are also newer technologies being developed and implemented that can kill pathogens in raw foods without cooking.
Most of the largest, most successful raw-diet companies use one of these cooking-alternative, bacteria kill-step technologies, such as irradiation or high-pressure processing .
But a few companies are raw-diet purists they often explain that they rely on superior sources of animal proteins, strict adherence to good manufacturing practices, and product testing to ensure that their products contain no pathogens.
What Are The Price Factors For Raw Dog Foods
Dog owners who consider transitioning from dry or canned dog food to raw diets like BARF or Prey-type diets might have questions about the cost of raw diets. Several aspects of raw food diets should be considered. Some cost factors are listed below.
- Dogs details: The dogs breed, size, activity level, and life stage will matter. A small breed like a Maltese, a medium-sized Schnauzer, or a large breed like a Labrador will need different amounts of food per day. Similarly, puppies, adults, seniors, lactating or pregnant dogs have different needs, and working dogs, daily walkers, and couch potatoes all have unique nutritional needs.
- Homemade or commercial raw dog food: Commercial ready-packed raw dog food is typically more expensive than homemade food. Preparing raw dog food allows the owner to source meat at good deals, as long as the quality is not compromised. If you have enough freezer space, you can stock up on meat at reduced prices.
- Number of Dogs: The number of dogs you will feed plays an important role. Making or buying for more than one dog will need you to multiply your numbers.
Many dog owners start off with commercial raw meals until they are satisfied with their dogs adjustment to raw diets before they start preparing homemade raw meals.
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What Are The Best Raw Dog Foods With Glucosamine
When choosing the best dog food for large breed dogs, noting that a significant percentage of dogs suffer arthritis due to degeneration of their joints as they age is essential. Fortunately, changing the dogs diet to a raw dog food containing glucosamine could prevent the pups suffering. Glucosamine is a natural substance that helps to reduce arthritis pain in dogs as they age. Degeneration of joints can be prevented if the dogs diet includes glucosamine through adulthood. Two of the best raw dog food products containing glucosamine are listed below.
- Chicken Feet for Dogs: All-natural chicken feet come skin-on and include the lower leg portion of the bird. The small size makes these snacks ideal for dogs to chew on. Naturally rich in glucosamine and chondroitin, chicken feet can help your dog maintain joint health, and reduce joint pain caused by age or arthritis.
- Primal Beef Bone Broth: A hydrating, wholesome addition to any dietplus beneficial nutrients to support joint health, digestion, and liver health. Bone broth has countless health benefits, and its loaded with glucosamine and other joint-supporting nutrients.
There are many natural ways to give dogs glucosamine for their joints without resorting to synthetic supplements or harmful non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Benefits Of Feeding Dogs High Protein Diets
High protein diets are beneficial for dogs suffering from obesity due to the fact that these diets contain fewer carbohydrates which leads to weight loss.
Dogs fed a higher protein diet require less water intake compared to those fed lower protein diets.
Protein is essential for building muscle mass and maintaining lean body mass. Therefore, feeding your dog a high protein diet ensures he has enough protein to build muscles and maintain his overall health.
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How Can I Make My Own Raw Dog Food
Moreover, the simplest way to make your dog raw food at home is to follow any of the recipes listed above. You can also get creative and combine ingredients from various recipes.
Use the ingredient lists and the other information we outlined to create a balanced meal your dog will love based on the ingredients you have on hand.
Raw Dog Food Buyers Guide
Raw dog diet is also called the BARF diet, an acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. It is a diet based on raw ingredients eaten and preferred by your pets ancestors and even their wild counterparts.
The concept of a raw diet for dogs is tricky but Ill make it simple for you:
A raw diet is all about feeding your dog what they are naturally supposed to eat i.e. raw food.
So, if you are wondering whether your dog needs raw food or not, the answer is simple:
That is exactly what it needs.
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We Aren’t The Only People That Have Converted To Making Homemade Dog Food And Are Loving The Results Check Out The Links Below For More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Your Pup Will Love
Easy Crockpot Dog Food from Damn Delicious || This simple homemade dog food recipe combines ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, butternut squash, carrots, and peas in the slow cooker so you can set it and forget it!
Homemade Dog Food Recipe from College Housewife || Elizabeth’s sweet dog Rascal suffered from all sorts of health issues which led them to having him allergy tested. Turns out Rascal was allergic to all sorts of things – even beef! So, Elizabeth developed a homemade dog food recipe that is just perfect for Rascal’s sensitive belly that is filled with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini squash and macaroni noodles!
DIY Homemade Dog Food from Damn Delicious||Chungah’s dog Butter’s battle with stomach issues led her to start making dog food at home. This recipe is easy to make and super good for your pups too! It combines a delicious blend of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains and is made of ingredients like ground chicken, brown rice, shredded zucchini, spinach, carrots, and peas.
K9 Natural Beef Feast Raw Grain
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Beef, 2. Beef Liver, 3. Beef Tripe, 4. Beef Kidney, 5. Beef Heart
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable for: Small, medium, large breeds
- Caloric content : 5269kcal
- Analysis: Protein 35%, Fat 37%, Fiber 2%, Moisture 8%
- Form: Freeze-Dried
K9 Natural supports natural feeding practices and accents the benefits of encouraging it for all dogs.
Made from 85% raw meat, blood, and bones, and 15% from fresh veggies and fruits, the supremely platable formula provides optimal nutrition that works for dogs in all life stages and all breed sizes. Provide your four-legged darling with a balanced meal to sustain great health and wellbeing.
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Help From The Experts
The food we give our dogs makes a huge difference in their health and well-being. So it makes sense to let the experts help us determine what is best.
Ollies veterinary nutritionists use the latest advancements in research to develop the best recipes for your dog recipes that include fresh ingredients to keep your pups brain function healthy, address allergies and gastrointestinal sensitivities, are proportioned for ideal weight, and use Omega-3 fatty acids to help reduce inflammation. All that delivered right to your door, for free.
Ollie has received rave reviews from both customers and industry leaders. Ollies customers have reported better weight management, shinier coats, and more. Ollie has received a 5-star rating from Dog Food Advisor and has named one of the best dog food brands by Forbes, and Readers Digest.
Starting at just $2 a day, Ollie is offering 50% off your first trial box for AKC readers, plus it always ships free. .
AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc.org. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.
Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe With Beef Lamb & Rabbit Grain
Rating:
Top 5 Ingredients: 1. Deboned Beef, 2. Lamb Meal, 3. Salmon Meal, 4. Sweet Potatoes, 5. Rabbit
- Life Stage: Adult
- Suitable for: Small, medium, large breeds
- Caloric content : 3738kcal
- Analysis: Protein 38%, Fat 17%, Fiber 3.5%, Moisture 11%
- Form: Dry Food, Freeze-Dried
Free from all sorts of gluten-based ingredients, this recipe supports easier digestion for dogs with sensitive stomachs.
Prominent ingredients include beef, lamb, and rabbit to offer your dog a protein-rich meal with added essential vitamins and minerals. This formula provides a delicious power-packed raw diet.
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The End Result Of Quality Depends On You
Thirdly, a lot of dog owners fail to make properly nutritious homemade easy raw dog food meals for their pets.
This is often because they are misinformed or misled by websites and so-called dog food specialists that dont know what they are talking about. It’s a very dangerous practice.
A few years ago the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association examined 200 homemade dog food recipes from websites and veterinarians alike.
Of the 200 recipes, only 9 matched the NRCs requirements for high-quality dog food. You can find most of their studies online in the AVMA library. Here’s a 2013 Stockman et al. study and here’s a 2012 Larsen et al. study.
Official Conclusion: Many problems with nutritional adequacy were detected, and use of the recipes could result in highly variable and often inappropriate diets. Many recipes would not meet nutritional and clinical needs of individual patients and should be used cautiously for long-term feeding.
The general consensus among veterinarians is that they are usually not supportive of raw feeding dogs, mostly because they do not trust pet owners to make the right choices.
Trust Your Eyes And Nose
You want a company that uses butcher-grade meat, the same quality that we eat. If possible buy the meat whole, on the bone, so you can see what youre buying. If buying minces, make sure theyre chunky, not ground mush. Mush can be a deceptive mix of carcass and blood. Again, fine in small doses, but you need your mince to be meaty. Your dog needs it to build his own muscle and organs and skin and hair and bone and cells and hormones.
Look how meaty sausages look, there is nearly zero meat in them. The best companies WANT YOU TO SEE the meat and lumps of organ etc so they tend to chop chunky.
And trust what you can smell. Bad meat smells bad. Fresh meat shouldnt smell offensive AND should last for at least 4 days in your fridge before starting to smell bad. If you only get a day, give them one more shot. If it happens again, change supplier.
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How Much Raw Food Should Puppies Get
Pound for pound, puppies need more calories and nutrition than adult dogs. Puppies should eat 2% to 3% of their expected adult weight or about 5% to 10% of their current weight.
Remember, puppies need to eat more calcium and less fat than adult dogs too. Try to feed puppies 15% bone and less than 20% fat to make sure they get enough nutrients and minerals.
Puppies need to eat more to support their growth. As a general guide, feed:
Puppies 2 to 3 months: 8% to 10% of body weight dailyPuppies 4 to 5 months: 6% to 8% of body weight dailyPuppies 6 to 8 months: 4% to 6% of body weight dailyPuppies 9 to 12 months: 3% to 4% of body weight daily
Can You Bring Dog Food From Canada To Us
Did you find a Canadian option that might work for you? Are you wondering, can I bring dog food into the US from Canada? Luckily, the answer is yes as long as it is in quantities of 50lbs. or less! What about the question, can I bring dog food into Canada? Again, yes you can, but the limit is 20kg or a personal reserve.
Helpful Resource:
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Is Raw Food Good For Dogs Dental Health
Yes, raw food can be beneficial for your dogs dental and oral health. Raw meat, in particular, contains enzymes that can prevent numerous dental issues such as gingivitis or periodontitis. Moreover, the raw diet is free of artificial additives, such as sugar and starch, which are the main cause of dental issues in dogs.
Do Vets Recommend Raw Dog Foods
Typically, vets discourage owners from eating raw foods especially the homemade variety, which are likely to be contaminated with pathogens.
As explained by Jerry Klein, the AKCs chief veterinary officer, All reported benefits of feeding raw diets in dogs are anecdotal, not based on scientific study results.
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Northwest Naturals Raw Dog Food
This offering from Northwest Naturals attempts to bridge the gap between kibble and treats, as its made into large cubes that can be given as rewards or poured into a bowl at dinnertime.
Unfortunately, it ends up being the worst of both worlds in many ways. It crumbles in your hands, making it very difficult to break up the cubes to use as treats for training, yet rehydrating it to serve as a meal takes quite a while .
The bags are extremely small and equally expensive, so dont think about feeding this to your Great Dane unless you have buildings named after you on a college campus somewhere.
That same tendency to crumble makes it a good food for senior dogs or those with dental issues, however, as it will be soft on their teeth. You can also sprinkle it onto other kibble for a raw boost, but for the reasons outlined above, wed hold off on feeding your pooch Northwest Naturals exclusively.
- Not suitable for large breeds