How To Prepare A Raw Diet Dish For Our Dogs

The raw diet in dogs is often controversial. But … What does this form of food consist of?

Well, the raw diet emphasizes a type of diet that is based on eating raw meat, bones, fruits and vegetables. For example, greyhound or sled dogs often eat that way.

The raw diet can also be known under the name BARF (acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), which in Spanish means to eat bones and raw or biologically appropriate foods.

Below we share more information about this type of diet.

What is the raw diet in dogs?

Mentors of this type of feeding suggest that adult dogs thrive if they are based on an evolutionary diet similar to that the canines followed before they were domesticated. That is, they eat raw bones and plant remains.

Those who are in favor of the raw diet argue that for most animals it is more beneficial than processed foods.

However, many conventional veterinarians disagree with the BARF as they believe it can be hazardous to health.

Benefits of the raw diet

The benefits of this type of diet include:

• Shiny coat.
• Healthier skin.
• Cleaner teeth.
• Higher energy levels.
• Smaller stools.

Potential risks include:

• Threats to human and dog health due to bacteria in meat.
• An unbalanced diet that can harm the health of dogs if administered for a long period of time.
• Possibility that the animal suffocates when ingesting whole bones or that the teeth may be broken or suffer an internal puncture.

How to prepare a raw diet?

A raw food diet for dogs typically consists of ingesting:

• Meat, especially that found on the bone.
• Organ meats, such as liver and kidneys.
• Raw eggs.
• Vegetables like broccoli, spinach, and celery.
• Apples or other fruits.
• Some dairy products like yogurt.

A feeding program with this type of diet could be developed as follows:

• Yogurt in the morning
• Ground pork, turkey, or beef mixed with a little rice overnight.

The cost of a dog food diet varies depending on the ingredients used and how it is prepared.

If you’re feeding your wild game dog, watch out for lead shot!

It is recommended that, before feeding your pet, you freeze the meat for 24 hours. That way, the parasites are eliminated. If you know its origin, freezing is not always necessary.

Voices against

Some specialists led an evaluation of dog food diets. They cautioned that many owners are choosing raw diets based on myths and scary propaganda about pet food.

For pet owners who want to avoid commercial foods, veterinarians advise a homemade diet designed by a nutritionist.

The evaluation looked at five raw diets, three homemade, and two commercially available. According to the report, they all had nutritional deficiencies or excesses that could cause serious health problems when given long-term.

For example, raw homemade diets can lack enough calcium and phosphorus, which can lead to bone fractures and dental problems. Depending on the quality of the diet, calcium or phosphorus can also be difficult to digest properly, even if it is present in adequate amounts.

Studies in raw pet foods have also shown the presence of bacterial contamination.

The study also included samples of four canned and dry dog ​​foods. E. Coli was found in all commercially cooked and processed foods.

Recommendations if you follow a raw diet

Dogs with pancreatitis or other digestive problems are recommended to start on a home cooked diet. Dogs with cancer, chemotherapy treatment, or animals with other immunosuppressive diseases should not eat raw food.

Puppies are also not good candidates for a raw diet.

It is very important to bear in mind that if an animal does not receive the adequate proportion of calcium and phosphorus it can have bone deformities and growth problems.

Image courtesy of Demo.