Raw Dog Food: Is It a Good Choice for Your Canine Companion?

As a pet owner, you want to make sure your furry friend is healthy and happy. One way to achieve this is by providing them with a healthy and nutritious diet. Raw dog food is a type of dog food that has been gaining popularity in recent years. In this blog post, we’ll explore what raw dog food is, the benefits of feeding it to your dog, and the potential risks involved.

What is Raw Dog Food?

Raw dog food is a diet that consists of raw meat, bones, and organs. Some raw dog food diets also include fruits, vegetables, and supplements. The idea behind a raw dog food diet is to mimic the diet of dogs’ wild ancestors, who ate a raw and varied diet. Supporters of raw dog food claim that it can provide many benefits for dogs.

Benefits of Raw Dog Food

Proponents of raw dog food argue that feeding your dog a raw diet can provide several benefits, including:

1. Improved Digestion: Raw dog food is easier for dogs to digest because it contains fewer carbohydrates and fillers that can upset their stomachs.
2. Better Dental Health: Chewing on raw bones can help clean your dog’s teeth and improve their overall dental health.
3. Shinier Coat: Raw dog food is rich in essential fatty acids and other nutrients that can help improve your dog’s skin and coat health.
4. More Energy: Dogs that eat raw dog food may have more energy and vitality because they are getting the essential nutrients they need to fuel their bodies.

Potential Risks of Raw Dog Food

Despite the potential benefits, there are some potential risks associated with feeding your dog a raw diet, including:

1. Bacterial Contamination: Raw meat can be contaminated with harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli, which can pose a risk to both dogs and their owners. This can be elevated by storing the food in a sealed container in the fridge or freezer, and by washing your hands, utensils, bowls and worksurfaces after touching.
2. Nutritional Imbalances: It can be challenging to ensure that a raw dog food diet provides all the essential nutrients your dog needs to thrive. We use The Prey Model Diet. Our Prey Model nuggets consist of the correct ratio of meat, bone and organ. This is raw feeding made simple.
3. Risk of Choking or Injury: Bones can pose a choking or injury risk to dogs, especially small or aggressive chewers. It is always best to watch your dog or cat when eating meaty bones. This way you get to find out what sort of chewers they are. Do they gnaw, crunch or just try and throw the whole thing down their throat? If your pet is the latter, then meaty bones may just not be for him.

Feeding your dog a raw dog food diet can provide many potential benefits, including improved digestion, dental health, and skin and coat health. However, there are also some potential risks associated with this type of diet, including bacterial contamination, nutritional imbalances, and the risk of choking or injury from bones. Before making the switch to a raw diet, it’s important to consult with your veterinarian and do your research to ensure that it’s the right choice for your furry friend. You can always ask us!