Some people are surprised to find out that dogs can thrive on diets that consist of anything that is not a commercial kibble, but the options for feeding a nutrient-rich diet are plentiful and stretch far further than first meet the eye. Here we are going to take a quick look at one category in particular: raw feeding.
Is Raw Feeding Good For Dogs?
We at dognutrition.ie understand that every dog is an individual and every household has its own means, but it is safe to say that raw feeding can be a brilliant option suited to many of our dogs. One of the major benefits is how flexible the diet can be and there are lots of ingredient can be changed for variety and seasonal availability as well as to meet the individual dog’s needs. These diets tend to be a lot less processed than other options on the market and dogs can get a lot of natural bioavailable vitamins and minerals from fresh meat and offal sources instead of always relying on supplementation.
Things to Watch Out For
There are also some things we need to consider carefully when thinking about raw diets for dogs. The dog’s humans must be willing to get the nutritional balance right to reduce the risk of malnutrition over time. We also have to keep hygiene in mind when it comes to working with raw meat as well as the containers, utensils and feeding bowls it comes in contact with. A consideration for some will also be around a raw diet’s reliance on refrigeration and freezing, which may not suit those that have limited chilled storage space.
Peace of Mind
Raw feeding has evolved into a few different philosophies (like BARF and PMR) and there is quite a lot of information out there, some of it conflicting and some of it really interesting. Raw feeding doesn’t have to be complicated, but it is really important to have all nutrient needs met over time. We recommend either getting a professional diet plan created for your dog or reading a lot of good quality literature yourself to understand all of your dog’s needs. Many of our clients at dognutrition.ie like to have the peace of mind of working with us as certified canine nutritionists to create individual plans for their dog’s transition to raw or just to check over their current diet to ensure their dog is getting all of the nutrients they need to thrive. Please get in touch with us if you think we could help you.
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