Nutrition is very vital in human and animals. While raw dog food diet continues to be a controversial subject among pet owners and veterinarians, all have agreed that processed food is not without its issues. However, the popularity of the diet, which includes meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables, is increasing.
Certain breeds of dogs, including sled dogs and greyhounds, have long since eaten raw diets. In 1993 Australian veterinarian, Ian Billinghurst proposed the idea of feeding raw dog food diets to family pets. He suggested that dogs would thrive better on a diet based on what canines ate before domestication. He said that grain-based commercial pet foods were harmful to a dog’s health and should rather be fed with a raw diet, including raw meaty bones and vegetable scraps. He also released a book titled “Give Your Dog a Bone,” detailing the benefits of feeding your dog a raw diet.
Mainstream veterinarians argue that there are many hazards to allowing a raw diet for your dogs; however, they will agree that it can be appropriate for certain breeds and might be beneficial to them.
Why your dog needs the best nutrition
There are many risks with feeding your pet with a raw diet. There have been cases of choking, internal punctures, and breakage of teeth from bones that are sharp or too large for the dog to swallow. Feeding a raw diet without appropriate research and veterinary assistance can lead to an unbalanced diet which can result in cases of Vitamin A toxicity and health problems including bone health and bacterial infections.
Veterinarians had often seen chronic conditions in dogs, including allergies, diabetes, and obesity, which were less common when dogs were fed with raw diets. This has caused some owners to consider a raw dog food diet.
When you are considering a raw diet for your furry friend, you should ensure that the portions of the various components of each meal are correctly measured. This will reduce the risks of malnutrition and injury. A meal should typically consist of muscle meat, whole or ground bones, organ meats like livers and kidneys, vegetables, fruits, raw eggs and dairy such as yogurt.
Benefits of a raw dog food diet
Feeding your pet, a raw dog food diet is a great choice when you are considering your dog’s health and well-being.
There are many health benefits to feeding a raw diet to your pet, these include:
- Fresher breath and cleaner teeth
- Shinier coats
- Glowing and bright eyes
- The calm and vibrant energy
- Leaner and more muscular build
- Healthier and cleaner ears
- Smaller stools
While raw dog food diets are great for some dogs, it is vital to speak to your veterinarian to ensure that the diet is suitable for your dog. It is also essential to know the potential risks and how a raw diet can affect your dog. We advise doing your research if you would like to go the raw diet route and ensure that you are feeding your pet a well-balanced diet to avoid health issues later on.