Maximizing Your Dog s Health The Benefits of Choosing Gain Pet Food

Raw Diet For Dogs: Will It Improve Your Dogs Health?

Raw dog food diets are controversial. While some think this is the way dogs were meant to eat before dogs became pets, others think dry dog food is the correct diet for our four-legged fur balls. Is raw food good for dogs? Lets dig into raw dog food diets a bit more so you can draw your own conclusion about whether this diet lives up to the hype.

What Is A Raw Food Diet For Dogs?

Araw dog food diet emphasizes uncooked meat (often muscle and organ meat), whole or crushed bones, fruits, vegetables, raw eggs, and some dairy.

The raw dog food diet started with racing Greyhounds and sled dogs. In 1993, Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst proposed extending the diet to family dogs. He called this the BARF diet for dogs, which stands for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

Billinghurst suggested dogs would flourishon BARF dog food since this is how they ate prior to being domesticated. He also argued that commercial pet foods were harmful to the health of dogs. However, many vets and the FDA disagree with Billinghursts views.

What Are The Claimed Benefits Of Raw Food Diets For Dogs?

Billinghurst and his supporters say the benefits include:

• Shinier coat
• Healthier skin
• Cleaner teeth
• More energy
• Smaller stool

Potential Risks Of Raw Diets

While there are potential upsides and some veterinarians may recommend it, theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)is not on board with BARF. Citing a number of studies, the AVMA discourages feeding raw food or undercooked animal proteins because they can contain potentially deadly pathogens and harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli that can sicken your pet and possibly be transmitted to humans. Yikes!

Other possible disadvantages of the raw diet for dogs include:

• Harmful bacteria in raw meat pose a threat to the dogs and human health.
• Giving whole meaty bones to dogs presents a risk of choking, broken teeth, or internal punctures (learn more aboutif dogs can eat bones).
• Nutritional deficiencies can occur from raw dog food diets if they are not properly balanced. Low calcium and phosphorus levels, as well as inadequate vitamins and low levels of EPA and DHA, are some nutritional deficiencies that can develop.

Transitioning Your Dog From Dry Food To Raw

Its important to remember thattransitioning your dog to a new dietis aslow process. Below is a rough schedule you can use for this dietary shift.

If you notice your dog isnt feeling well, you should go back a day in the transition plan and proceed at a slower pace. For example, if your dog struggles with 50% serving, shift back to 40% serving for another day or two before moving forward.

Another thing wed like to mention is that raw diets are only safe for dogs 12 weeks andolder.

• Day 1:Feed 75% of your current (old) food and mix in 25% of the raw food in each serving to start the adjustment period for clean digestion.
• Day 2:Adjust to feeding 60% of your old food and mix in 40% of the raw food in each serving.
• Day 3:Feed 50% of your old food, mixed with 50% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 4:Feed 40% of your old food, mixed with 60% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 5:Feed 25% of your old food, mixed with 75% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 6:Feed 90-100% of the raw food at this point, you should be very close to a clean digestive transition period.

Break the daily serving size into two meals per day: one in the morning and one in the evening.

As a general rule, dogs on a raw food diet need to eat 2 to 5% of their body weight in raw food. You must be careful to ensure they get enough to eat, as many dogs drop a good amount of weight on a raw food diet. Maintaining a healthy body weight is a priority because you do not want your pup to lose too much weight too quickly.

Raw Dog Food Recipes

Want to get your dog started on a raw dog food diet? Here is a recipe you can try out using ground meat. We should note that the nutritional balance varies based on the breed and size of your dog, so talk to your vet about the best option for your pet. Or better yet, get one of the commercial pet food brands we recommend to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbsground beef
• 4 ozchicken livers
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 small apple, cored
• 1/2 cup baby spinach
• 2 whole eggs (including shell)
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbspground flaxseed
• 1 tbspolive oil

Note: It is critical that you use high-quality grade ground meat and understand that there are risks associated with consuming uncooked meat. In addition, there are severalfoods your dog should never eat,so plan your recipe accordingly.

Directions

1. Put carrot, apple, and spinach in a food processor and process until finely chopped.
2. Add remaining ingredients except for beef and process until well combined.
3. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add the beef until well mixed.
4. Form into patties the size of your palm and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
5. Freeze patties and transfer them to a storage container to keep them frozen.
6. The night before you wish to feed, remove the patties from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator to thaw.

Best Raw Dog Food Brands

Billinghursts book, Give Your Dog A Bone, has sparked commercially processed raw dog food diets to help pet parents who are short on time.

Shopping for ingredients, grinding, chopping, measuring, and mixing may not be something you have time for. Thats why these ready-made raw dog food delivery services can be so convenient for busy families who have an interest in feeding raw food to their pups.

Read our comparison of the best raw dog food delivery optionsand check out our rankings on the right. These food products are freeze-dried or frozen to maintain their nutrients and consist of meat, grains, vitamins, and vegetables.

Freeze-dried options can be convenient for traveling, but frozen is typically less processed than freeze-dried. So keep that in mind when youre purchasing raw food for your dog.

Some pet parents choose to serve these raw food packages on top of some kibble to help dogs adjust to a raw diet.

Video: How To Determine Serving Size

Wondering how much to feed your pup on a raw diet? Learn more in this video:

Myths About Raw Feeding Dogs

There are certainly risks and reservations with valid reasons behind them about raw feeding dogs. That said, there are also several myths and misconceptions that we can clear up.

• Raw feeding does not make dogs aggressive.
• Raw food will not automatically make your dog sick.
• The raw dog food diet is not only made up of raw meat.
• Dogs can eat both raw food and kibble. No rule says your dog must be exclusively on one diet.

Bottom Line: Every Pup Is Unique

Just because your furry friend gobbles up a raw meat diet, that doesnt mean its right for all dogs. Some animals might never be able to switch due to food sensitivities or other health issues. We strongly emphasize discussing your dogs specific needs with your vet before making any dietary changesand being patient in the process. Remember that any diet change can cause some stomach issues.

If your dog does get sick or needs medical attention, see a vet right away and consider getting pet insurance now so that if a need arises, your medical costs could be partially covered for any exams and medications for issues that exclude pre-existing conditions. Learn more about the benefits and if pet insurance may be a good fit for you. You might also check out these other homemade dog food recipes that contain cooked food as an alternative to raw.

Why Trust Canine Journal

At Canine Journal, we write about every type of diet to help pet parents decide whats best for their dogs. Raw diets can be controversial, which is why Kimberly consulted with many dog food experts to provide this content to our audience. She also has experience with various dog food brands and diet types, including raw.

Tagged With: Raw

How to Choose a Dog Food: 5 Vet-Approved Tips & Advice

The information is current and up-to-date in accordance with the latest veterinarian research.

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As crucial as it is for your pets health, picking the best dog food is rarely easy. Several exceptional products are available, but wading through the complicated labels, brand messages, and marketing tactics can leave even the savviest consumer confused and doubtful.

If youre wondering which products supply the most value and how to make sense of the information, we have tips and perspectives to help you choose the right dog food for your pet.

Top 5 Tips on How to Choose a Dog Food

As the only thing theyll eat daily, the dog food you choose must be nutritionally complete and balanced to fuel your pets activity and promote their overall health. Ingredients are an essential consideration, but nutrients are the central concern.

Dogs are omnivorous and can eat numerous meats, veggies, fruits, and grains. Your pet can enjoy diverse formulas and flavors if they receive the required proteins, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

Commercial dog food is often the easiest and surest way to ensure adequate nutrition. Manufacturers work with nutritionists to formulate safe and healthy foods.

The consumers role is to read food labels correctly, assess their dogs needs, and follow the feeding directions to provide the most benefits with every meal.

1. Check For an AAFCO Nutritional Adequacy Statement

The AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement is the quickest way to ensure that a dog food provides complete nutrition. The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) establishes nutrient standards for dog and cat foods.

Although it doesnt do the testing, manufacturers can put an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement on their products if they have third-party feeding tests or laboratory analyses to verify they meet the AAFCO nutrient profiles.

Dog food that meets the AAFCOs nutritional requirements is considered complete and balanced. It has at least the minimum requirement for the essential nutrients, each in the proper proportion, giving you confidence that youre fulfilling all your dogs dietary needs.

2. Choose Based on Life Stage and Body Type

Dogs need varying nutrient profiles based on their developmental stage and breed. For instance, growing puppies need more nutrients like protein, fat, and calcium to complement their growth and development, while senior dogs may need less fat and protein to prevent weight gain. Larger breeds will need less calcium and phosphorus to promote healthy growth, while small breeds may need fewer calories. Foods will have clear labels like Small breed formula, For large breeds, or Adult stages to help you decide.

Talk to Your Vet to Choose the Right Dog Food

Generally, you want dog food designed for your dogs breed and life stage. Timing the transition from one life stage food to the next can change depending on the breed of dog and any health conditions.

You can talk to your vet to help you decide when to change which lifestage to feed and when.

3. Check the Guaranteed Analysis (and Do the Math)

Ingredients, guaranteed analysis, and feeding instructions are the other essential details on the label that deserve your attention. Guaranteed analysis breaks down four broad details:

• Maximum moisture
• Minimum crude protein
• Minimum crude fat
• Maximum crude fiber

These numbers will be displayed as a percentage of the total weight of the food, including the moisture. Looking at these percentages on a dry matter basis by removing the moisture can significantly affect how much each nutrient stacks up in the formula.

How to Calculate Dry Matter Percentages

Calculating the true nutrient concentration on a dry matter basis lets you compare foods more accurately. To calculate the dry matter concentrations, subtract the products moisture percentage from 100. Then, divide the nutrient percentage by the dry matter percentage and multiply by 100 to get the rough percentage of that nutrient on a dry matter basis.

Consider a dry dog food product with 10% moisture and 24% protein:

• 100% 10% moisture = 90% dry matter
• 24% protein/90% dry matter = 26.67% protein on a dry matter basis

You can see that the percent protein is higher on a dry matter basis than it is as a percentage of the complete weight of the food.

4. Check the Ingredients

The ingredients include everything that is in the dog food, listed by concentration in descending order based on weight. Look for high-quality protein sources as the primary components while avoiding sketchy ingredients like the following:

• Generic ingredients like fish meal or poultry by-product that dont define a species
• Meat by-product as the first source of protein
• Non-animal ingredients as the top protein
• Refined grains like white flour

The preservatives and additives toward the end of the ingredient list can be tricky to judge. Though manufacturers add them in amounts determined to be safe, this is one of the most crucial areas for many pet owners to consider when feeding their dogs the healthiest diet possible.

When youre unsure about any of the ingredients, research the risks online and contact your vet.

5. Decide on the Food Format (Dry, Wet, Etc.)

Manufacturers provide more food options than ever and strive for the most natural, healthy, and palatable products.The dog food formula that you choose can significantly impact your dogs eating habits, your finances, and everyones overall satisfaction.

Dry Dog Food

Dry dog food is the most cost-effective and popular dog food. Ingredients are mashed together and extruded (cooked and shaped), a process that can reduce nutrient quality and palatability. Regardless, dry dog food that meets AAFCO standards will be as nutritious as necessary, so you can be confident feeding it to your pet.

Dry dog food encourages chewing to help prevent dental disease and is easier to portion to multiple dogs according to varying schedules.

• Our Pick: Open Farm Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food

Open Farm Ancient Grains Dry Dog Food comes from a company focused on sourcing and sustainability. Responsibly raised meat sources combine with wholesome grains in various GMO-free recipes to supply a rich blend of high-quality proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fiber.

Wet Dog Food

Wet dog food is a little pricier and less convenient than dry food, but its an excellent way to hydrate your dog and offer them a more tantalizing meal. Canned foods are gentler for dogs with dental problems and typically have a stronger smell and taste.

• Our Pick: Honest Kitchen One Pot Stews

The Honest Kitchen One Pot Stews boast human-grade ingredients to supply complete and balanced nutrition in a highly palatable format. There are no feed-grade components, meat meals, artificial preservatives, or low-grade fillers. The product is kettle-cooked in small batches, retaining maximum flavor and health benefits to satisfy dogs and their owners.

Freeze-Dried Dog Food

Freeze-drying dog food removes moisture without heat, making it an excellent way to add shelf life to raw diets. Though pricey, these formulas retain crucial nutrients that traditional commercial preparation can degrade.

Theyre highly nutritious and digestible, maximizing the foods benefits, and you can feed them as a meal or topper.

• Our Pick: Vital Essential Freeze Dried Raw Mini Nibs

Vital Essential Freeze Dried Raw Mini Nibs is a meat-heavy raw food featuring limited ingredients with no fillers or artificial additives. Ethically sourced components work together in a complete and balanced blend, promoting strong muscles, improved GI function, and healthy skin, teeth, and coats.

Final Thoughts

Every pet is different, and although checking labels and researching brands is critical in choosing a dog food, your dogs response to it will be more significant than anything. You can monitor your dog for an appropriate body condition, a healthy hair coat, upbeat energy, and healthy digestion and stools while ensuring they enjoy the taste of the food and dont show any allergic reactions.

You have plenty to consider when choosing the best dog food, and several brands will likely work well for your dog. By following these tips and working with your vet, you can easily find a trustworthy product.

Featured Image Credit: BearFotos, Shutterstock