Raw Dog Food…
When Mocha, our German Shepherd, developed chronic stomach problems, we were highly motivated to find out everything we could about dog food.
We knew that most commercial dog foods contained corn but took for granted that the pet food companies knew their stuff. Corn must be OK. Wrong!
Dogs (and their forebears, the wolves) don’t eat corn in the wild. In fact, we quickly learned that corn can be destructive to many canine’s digestive systems. Especially German Shepherds. And there were so many other ingredients in commercial pet foods…
We’d always fed our dogs some natural foods, starting with our first dog, a Husky named Yukon King. But with Mocha it became essential to get our dog diet right. We ended up making her food from scratch — her favorite meal was freshly cooked chicken and rice. Mostly brown rice, but instant white rice on occasion. It worked. Our beloved Mocha was once more her bright, curious, intense and loving self.
Today, it’s all about the Raw Food Diet. And it works!
You have two choices. First, search for and find the best natural dog food recipes that will work for your pet. And make it in batches to give you meals on hand. Or, second, you can shop online for professionally prepared naturally-sourced meals.
During our search for the facts, we came across Ryan Alarid’s REAL FOOD FOR DOGS, the book that changed everything.
And the online articles of Susan Golden, a dog obedience specialist from New York State. She knows her canines.
Here from Susan is a Guest Blog explaining the need and basics of a Raw Food Diet for Dogs:
“Raw Dog Food – What is it? Natural Dog Food Diet” by S. Golden
Commercial Dog Food.
Commercial dog foods are filled with artificial flavors, colorings, additives and even pesticides. They add meat by-products that are not fit for human consumption. There have been countless recalls of commercial foods that have been found harmful or even fatal to dogs. Commercial dog foods contain grains and corn not found in a dog’s natural diet and are not appropriate for their canine digestion.
This type of food is the junk food of the canine world. Even the higher end brands will compromise nutrition for the ability to store it long term and to add convenience for the consumer.
Many of the dogs eating this type of food suffer from ear infections, skin allergies, diarrhea, bad breath, dirty teeth, and dull, sparse coat. Many are picky eaters with poor weight. Their life spans are shorter than they need to be.
Think for a minute about what your dog might be eating if he were in the wild. Now let me list for you a few of the ingredients from an average bag of dog food you would buy at the supermarket:
- Corn — whole grain, corn meal & corn syrup — hmm, I don’t think my dog would find that naturally.
- Chicken by-products – OK – sounds better.
- Wheat flour – I wonder where he would find flour?
- Propylene Glycol – What’s that?
- Salt – Does my dog need added salt?
- Red 40 Food Color – What?
- Sugar – My dog needs sugar?
- Copper Sulfate – Are you kidding?
- Butylated Hydroxyanisole (BHA) – an artificial preservative.
- Ethoxyquin – That’s a pesticide, isn’t it?
So, do you think healthy dog foods would contain these ingredients?
Dog food manufacturers want to sell dog food. Certainly there are some nutritional guidelines that they try to follow. However most will compromise nutrition in order to make the end product the most convenient for the consumer. It’s also extremely important that their product appeal to you. Do you think your dog needs them to add ‘Red 40’ in order for the color of the food to appeal to him? No, that food coloring is so that the food will appeal to you.
What about Copper Sulfate and Ethoxyquin? There is a growing movement of people who understand and are trying to educate people of the harmfulness of these ingredients in your pet food. These are toxins and I would certainly not feed them to anyone in my family, and that includes my pets.
A more natural dog food diet is the Raw Food Diet.
When feeding your dog a raw food diet you will notice a change in his overall health. Skin conditions will clear up, ear infections will stop bothering him, his teeth will stay cleaner and breath better. His coat will be shinier and his overall level of activity and energy will be better. His appetite will improve and you’ll have less stool to pick up, (how great would that be?).
Feeding a raw dog food diet isn’t a new concept. I know people who’ve been feeding raw food to generations of dogs.
Feeding raw food simply refers to feeding your dog a diet which completely excludes all commercial dog foods.
The health benefits of feeding raw are astounding.
I’m going to list a few here:
- Naturally cleans teeth and better smelling breath
- Less stool to pick up
- Cheaper than many commercial dog foods
- Better weight control
- Increased longevity
- Arthritis pain reduced
- Shinier coat
- More active and energetic dog
- Better weight control
- Skin allergies disappear
- Chronic ear infections vanish
These are just a some of the benefits. There are many more.
The better overall health your pet will have translates into less trips to your veterinarian. Many dogs with dog food allergies have benefited enormously from eating raw food and saved their owners huge dollars at the vet.
The cost of feeding raw is frequently less than many commercial foods. You can make your own dog food in advance so you will have meals on hand.
Raw food can be fed to your dog when they are puppies, active and young, seniors, pregnant, small dogs, large dogs, overweight, underweight, even pregnant dogs. Your pet can eat a raw dog food diet at all stages of their life. You can start feeding your pet a raw diet at any stage of their life.
As we all realize the benefits of eating a more natural diet for ourselves, it’s time we start thinking of an all natural dog food for our four-legged friends.
“In conclusion, I’ve met a few people who are changing their own eating habits to include more raw foods. By eating raw we’re all getting more of the natural vitamins, minerals and live enzymes that are contained in our food. I’m sure we all agree that we want our pets to live as long as possible with the best quality of life. I firmly believe that this is the healthiest dog food for your dog.” – S. Golden
Thanks, Susan! Great Post.
Live Free, Mon Ami! – Brian Alan Burhoe
About Susan Golden: “Susan lives in beautiful upstate NY with her Husband and Daughter. She enjoys dog obedience training, horse back riding and gardening. She started dog obedience as a child and received her first AKC obedience title at age 9. She has many dogs over the years and believes that positive training will always get the best results.”
Susan adds, “Starting out feeding raw can be a bit confusing. I was lucky to come across a book by Maggie Rhines called GOING RAWR! A Dog Lover’s Compendium. This book, which I got as a download, went into the practical points of feeding a raw dog food diet. It had great lists and tips on how to start and keep your dog on this type of diet. She wrote about sourcing your food, handling, preparing, storing and serving it. All dogs will benefit from feeding this raw food diet.”
What is Raw Dog Food? Best Organic Pet Diet Recipes Delivery
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