The idea of feeding your dog a raw food diet can be scary for a new owner – not to mention, controversial. But is a raw food diet safe for dogs?
In this article, we’ll discuss what raw food diet is as well as look at all the pros and cons to help you figure out whether this is the best option for your beloved companion.
What is a Raw Food Diet?
As the name implies, a raw food diet consists of feeding your dog unprocessed, uncooked foods like raw meat, bones, vegetables, fruits and other healthy ingredients.
This type of diet has been gaining popularity among pet owners over the past few years as many believe it to be healthier than commercial dog foods.
Considering how most dogs aren’t that picky — in fact, some dogs will even eat human baby food when given the chance — it isn’t surprising that some owners are considering switching over to a raw food diet.
That said, as of this writing, it’s still quite a controversial topic in the pet industry. Not everyone agree that a raw food diet is beneficial for dogs, or that it’s even safe to begin with.
Pros of Raw Food Diet for Dogs
Here are some of the supposed pros of a raw food diet for dogs:
- Higher nutritional value. As the food is unprocessed, it may contain more vitamins and minerals than commercial dog foods.
- Easier to digest. Raw food is easier for dogs to digest, as the body doesn’t need to work as hard to break it down.
- Better dental health. Eating raw food can help improve a dog’s dental health, as they have to chew the food more than kibble.
- Reduction in body odor. Feeding your dog a raw food diet may help reduce their body odor because it doesn’t contain spices and flavors like commercial dog foods do.
- Healthier offspring. A study conducted in 2009 by the Queensland Guide Dogs revealed that dogs that were fed with a raw food diet gave birth to healthier and stronger offspring than dogs that were given commercial food.
Cons of Raw Food Diet for Dogs
On the other hand, some pet owners have voiced concerns about the possible cons of a raw food diet for dogs. Here are just some of them.
- Risk of contamination. Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria and parasites, which can not only lead to serious health issues in dogs, but also humans. Normally, the heat used during the cooking process can kill the bacteria, but since you’re not cooking the food, this can be a cause for concern.
- Unbalanced nutrition. Pet owners need to be very careful when it comes to ensuring their dog is getting the right amount of nutrients from a raw food diet. If not, then this can lead to nutritional deficiencies that can result in poorer health overall.
- More expensive. Raw food diets tend to be more expensive than commercial dog food. That’s because the cost of buying all the ingredients for a raw food diet can be significantly more than just getting a bag of kibble.
- More time-consuming. Similarly, feeding your dog a raw food diet also takes more time than traditional dog food. You’ll have to prepare the food, as well as chop, grind or puree it properly for your pooch.
Conclusion
So, is raw food diet safe for dogs?
Yes, but with some caveats. For one, you’ll need to find a good, trusted source for your ingredients. Only get the highest quality that you can and make sure you clean it thoroughly during preparation. This way, you can avoid any potential contamination.
At the end of the day, it’s up to you as a pet owner to decide whether you’d like to provide raw food diet to your dogs. The important thing is that you’re giving your dog a balanced diet with the right vitamins and minerals so that they can be healthy regardless!
For more tips and tricks, don’t forget to visit the PetFitness blog!
