Since an Australian vet, Ian Billinghurst, recommended it in 1993, raw feeding dogs have grown in popularity. The Bones And Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF) diet was his suggestion.
Adult dogs, according to Billinghurst, would thrive on BARF feeding, an evolutionary diet based on what dogs ate before they were domesticated: raw meaty bones and vegetable scraps. He also thought grain-based commercial dog diets were bad for their health.
Raw Food for Dogs Include
- Muscle flesh that is typically still attached to the bone
- Organ meats, such as livers and kidneys, are either whole or ground bones.
- Uncooked eggs
- Broccoli, spinach, and celery are examples of vegetables.
- Apples or another type of fruit
- Yogurt and other dairy products
Benefits of Raw Dog Food
Raw diets from pet stores in Winnipeg or DIY raw feeding for dogs have numerous advantages, some of which are listed below:
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Dietary Supplements
The most obvious benefit of feeding your dog a raw food diet is that you know precisely what they’re eating unless they scavenge in the garbage or compost heap! There are no hidden additives or preservatives that may cause more damage than benefit to your dog.
With a raw food diet, you get exactly what you see, and as long as the food is stored and prepared properly, your dog is unlikely to have any health problems once the transition phase is over.
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Healthy Coat
Raw feeding has the added benefit of making a dog’s coat look healthier and shinier. To foster a silky coat, a proper raw food diet should have the optimum balance of fresh protein and fat.
Because the dog is not consuming the regular additives and preservatives contained in commercial food, research has shown that 40% of a dog’s total protein consumption is used to optimize the condition of their skin and coat. As a result, itching and allergies are considerably decreased on this diet.
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Improved Digestion
When a dog consumes a commercial meal high in grain carbohydrates, the pH of the stomach is altered. A dog fed raw food has a high acidity level in his stomach, which means his digestion is more complete, allowing him to absorb more nutrients.
The stomach acidity of dogs fed commercial food is lower, making digestion more challenging. Raw eating causes food to move through the intestines considerably more quickly, reducing nutritional absorption.
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Improved Stimulation
Raw feeding has physiological benefits as well as mental and physical stimulation and behavior benefits.
Ripping, shredding, and tearing muscle meat, as well as crushing bones, works out and improves the jaw and neck muscles while also consuming energy.
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Better Dental Hygiene
Another advantage of feeding raw food for dogs is that it improves dental hygiene and reduces bad breath. This is due to the inclusion of bones in their raw diet, as chewing the bone cleans the teeth and strengthens the gums.
Processed dog foods are softer and so have less of an impact, leaving plaque on the teeth, leading to poor breath and bacterial infections that can leak into the circulation, potentially causing heart disease.
Final Thoughts
Dogs, like all living things, require the correct nutrients to maintain their physical and mental health.
They can suffer from a range of issues without these, ranging from poor coat quality and physical growth to behavioral issues and, in the worst-case scenario, death.
Manufactured dog foods must meet certain nutritional content requirements and pass regulated feeding trials to ensure that they provide at least the minimum quantity of nutrients required by dogs. So, if you prefer raw food for dogs, make sure to account for all of their nutritional requirements in any meals you prepare.
