Pros and Cons of a Raw Food Diet for Dogs

Animal lovers have been known to do anything for their furry friends. For certain dog owners, this means swapping processed food for meals made of raw, whole foods. Raw diets are ideal for some pets, but it’s certainly not for everyone So, consult your vet before making an informed choice.

Before we go deep into pros and cons of a raw diet, we’ll discuss what exactly is a raw diet.

Raw diets for dogs are not new. In the beginning, they were only restricted to sled dogs as well as greyhounds racing. The idea of bringing Raw food eating into the home was first suggested in 1993 by veterinary doctor Ian Billinghurst. It was called by the BARF diet, also known as the “Bones and raw food” eating plan Billinghurst claimed that canines could appreciate a lifestyle that was based on the habits of eating that were prevalent among their ancestors from the past. He said that raw, fleshy bones and vegetables were the most natural food items for canines, whereas grain-based commercial food products were not sufficient and damaging.

Raw food diets have its advocates and detractors. The advocates claim that it can dramatically improve your dog’s health However, critics say that without proper guidance the raw food diet can quickly turn into a risk.

Since the first time that the raw food diet became popular various other variations have been created. The details may differ however, most recipes that are raw have the same ingredients:

Organ meats (liver and kidneys)

Muscle meats are sometimes kept on the bone

Bones, either whole or ground

Vegetables (broccoli , spinach, celery)

Uncooked eggs

Apples, berries, and other fruits

Dairy products

There are a myriad of recipes on the internet that mix any or all the ingredients listed above. Like every “human” food but you must consult your veterinarian prior to including them in your pet’s diet.

Raw food is also becoming popular with cats as well as their owners. As with dogs, cat’s wild ancestors lived by eating raw, whole foods (with an emphasis on meat as cats are meat-eaters in the first place). Switching to raw food offers many of the same possible health benefits for cats just like they do for dogs. Also, it has several of the same dangers. Both should be balanced to meet the specific nutritional requirements of your pet and preferences, so consult your veterinarian prior to including raw food in your pet’s meals.

Consuming whole, raw food ingredients can bring many benefits for health. The most popular ones cited by those who advocate the raw dog food diet are:

If your dog is inclined to gain weight Raw diets can aid in keeping its weight under control. It’s also simple to modify the diet of your dog and monitor precisely what your dog is eating to reduce weight or weight gain depending on what is required and suggested by your veterinarian.

Raw diets can give your dog better energy and healthier skin and better-looking teeth. The bone meat diet can help reduce the smell of bad breath as well as improve the hygiene of teeth for dogs . The high protein content in raw foods can aid in making your dog’s muscles stronger.

The coat of your dog can be shiny and healthy when you follow an organic diet. The higher fat content in most raw food diets encourages healthy skin and fur. Therefore, by following an eat-raw diet rich in fat-rich meat it is possible to see improvement in the condition of the coat of your dog.

Removing processed food and replacing it with fresh ingredients is a good option, however the raw food diet is not without some dangers along with advantages.

When you feed your dog raw food it is possible that your dog could suffer injury from bone fragments that are in the meat. Bones could pose the risk of choking, damage the teeth of your dog, or trigger internal wounds. The bones that are cooked are more prone to splintering. They should be fed only to your pet under the supervision of a vet.

Raw meat may contain parasites and bacteria that could result in infections for your pet. This is particularly harmful for dogs suffering from cancer or have other serious health problems as they’re more likely to be affected by the bacteria.

Even if your dog appears well-behaved, bacteria can cause a health issue to the surface creating a worse situation. The types of bacteria are not safe for humans, either.

Giving your dog with a raw diet means that you are taking the nutritional needs of your pet into your hands. While this may be one of the major benefits for the dog’s diet, it could be a cause of serious health problems if the diet isn’t properly balanced. The particular minerals and vitamins that are essential for dog nutrition might not be found in raw foods so eating raw foods could make your dog in need of nutrients. However excess fat, protein or other nutrients can result in issues such as anemia, bone loss and liver failure.

Making a homemade raw food diet with your pet could take a lot of time. It’s costly than buying dog food from the supermarket. Dry dog food costs approximately $1 per day for a day’s supply of raw chicken could range between $2.50 up to 5. If your family members are trying to stick to budget or has little time to cook raw, a diet that is raw may not be the right choice for you.

Raw food diets have the potential to boost the health of your dog, but it’s unlikely to be an ideal fit for every dog. The final decision on the decision of whether a raw-food diet is the right one to your pet is an issue that you and your veterinarian need to debate and decide together.