For years, there have been lots of controversy between the raw food for dogs and eating dry food. Many think that dry food is a better diet for their dogs. But first, we must understand what is a raw food diet in order to know which is better.
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What is raw food diet for dogs?
A raw food diet is a diet in where there is uncooked meat often they are organs and meat, whole or crushed bones, fruits, vegetables, raw eggs, and some dairy.
Supporters of this diet tend to see this diet as a balanced diet, even though, it has many harmful effects.
They claim that these diets tend to give their dogs shiner coat, healthier skin, cleaner teeth, small stool, and more energy.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, they discourage feeding raw and uncooked meat to your dogs because they contain bacteria and viruses that cause harmful effects to your dog and can be transmitted to humans.
Also, giving your dogs bones can make them choke, fracture their teeth, and cause internal wounds. Raw food is also expensive than dry pet food; it requires special handling and preparation that is more time consuming than buying dry pet food
History of the raw food diet
The raw food diet started with feeding only racing greyhounds and sled dogs. Then an Australian veterinarian named Ian Billinghurst proposed extending the diet to
family dogs. The diet became known as BARF which stands for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Ian Billinghurst suggested that dogs were healthy when eating BARF diet. The reason is that they ate this type of food before they were domesticated. He also argued that dog’s health was affected negatively when they consumed commercial pet food.
However, the FDA and vets disagree with this idea.
One of the basic formula of a raw food for dogs diet
There is a ratio when making a raw food dog diet. This ratio is 5:1:1 which consists of 5 parts meat on the bone such as minced meat with cartilage or chicken, duck, and
turkey with bones in it, 1 part organ meat such as kidney, heart, and liver, 1 part cooked vegetables.
The ratio can vary to 8:1:1 which consists of 8 parts meat, 1 part organ, and 1 part cooked vegetables.
Places to buy from
Raw dog food manufacturers
You can buy from raw dog food manufacturers who specialize in providing raw dog food.
Butchers and supermarkets
To buy from butchers and supermarkets, you got to get to know your supplier by visiting their shops and getting to know them. You can also shop from local butchers and supermarkets; some have great deals and online facilities.
Changing your dog’s diet from dry to raw food
Changing your dog’s diet takes time and is a slow process. If you notice that your dog isn’t feeling well, then you should go back a day in the plan and at a slower pace. For
example, if your dog is struggling with 1/2 serving, you got to shift back to 1/4 serving for another day or two before moving on.
The plan to shift your dog from dry to raw food:
- First day: Water only and no food
- Second day: 1/4 raw diet serving and 3/4 regular diet
- Third day: 1/2 raw diet and 1/2 regular diet
- Fourth day: 3/4 raw diet and 1/4 regular diet
- Fifth day: Full raw diet serving
It is very important to know that raw diets are only safe for dogs who are 12 weeks and older. Also when preparing the daily serving for your dog, you got to break it into two meals; one in the morning and one in the evening.
Raw food dog’s recipes
If you want your dog to start eating raw food, you could try any of these recipes. The different quantities in the recipes are linked to the size and the breed of your dog, so
you got to consult your vet about the best option for your dog.
Simple raw food dog recipe
The following will make a 14 kg of raw dog food.
- Chopped or Minced Meats: 10 kilograms
- Organ Meat: 2 kilograms
- Cooked Vegetables: 2 kilograms
To make the recipe, put the chopped up meat and organ meat together in the mixing tub. Then, cook the vegetables until they are soft. You can add raw additions such as
raw eggs and oils if you want into the mixture. Using a large spoon and gloves, mix everything together. Then, pack the food into bags so your dog can take based on daily serving.
Another raw food dog recipe
- 2 1/2 lbs ground beef
- 4 oz chicken livers
- 1 carrot, chopped
- 1 small apple, cored
- 1/2 cup baby spinach
- 2 whole eggs (including shell)
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Put carrot, apple, and spinach in the processor together and let it chop them. Add remaining ingredients expect for meat and process until they are mixed. Then transfer the mixture into a large bowel and add the meat until all is mixed well.
After that, make the mixture form into patties through the size of your palms and place into baking sheet. Then, freeze the patties and put it in a frozen container. The
the night before you feed your dog, remove the patties from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator so the mixture will become soft.
How much in terms of quantity should you feed your dog
First, you got to know the weight of your dog. To know the weight of your dog, use scales that vets have to weigh your dog. After weighing your dog, you will know how
much they will need in terms of food. On average, adult dogs need 2.5% of their body weight of raw food.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are many disadvantages and advantages of raw food for a dog. The advantages, as claimed by its supporters, are that it gives dogs shiner coat, healthier skin, cleaner teeth, small stool, and more energy.
The disadvantages are that it can transmit harmful bacteria and viruses to both dogs and people. Raw food has also been associated with giving fractured teeth, choking of dogs, and internal wounds.
However, many claim that a raw food diet is healthy and takes certain and slow steps to make your dog accustomed to the diet.
