Feeding Raw Food to Dogs - Benefits, Risks and Best Practices

A raw food diet for dogs comes with many advantages. It also comes with a warning regarding dog food safety. 

A dog feeding guide will provide insights regarding the pros and cons of raw food for puppies and offer instructions on how to safely look for and prepare raw food for your puppy. 

The health benefits of raw feeding allow for optimal nutritional benefits with raw dog feed offering a diet most alike to that your furbaby would have experienced in the wild.

Whether you are seeking a healthy, balanced diet for your furbaby or you see that your dog simply loves it, a raw food diet does need to be understood to remain beneficial.

Raw Food: What Is It and Where Is It Sourced From?

The best raw dog food diet ensures that all the essentials in your pet's diet are readily available to them. Two diet models are popular today, brought into modern practice by an Australian veterinarian, Dr Ian Billinghurst in 1993.

Dr Billinghurst popularized the raw food diet by discussing a cleaner, more natural diet free from unnecessary preservatives and additives that was more akin to what a dog ate before domestication. 

The BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet is very popular and includes raw products like bones, meat, offal, fruits and vegetables alongside additional tasty supplements such as kelp powder, flaxseed and green-lipped mussels. 

The RMBD (Raw Meaty Bones Diet) focuses more on what a dog would naturally find for themselves and does away with grains and vegetables, rather than offering all parts of an animal to your dog, including the stomach and digestive tract, to provide them with a balanced and necessary range of nutrients in this way instead.  

There is no best raw dog food diet out of the two, it just depends on the availability of products and how you feel as a dog owner providing certain products to your furbaby. 

It is important to know that your choices are providing your dog with a balanced diet and not depriving them of certain essential vitamins and minerals.

Benefits of Feeding Raw Food to Dogs

There are some great benefits to feeding your dog a raw food diet. Do be aware of some dog feeding mistakes to avoid with this diet and make sure to check out some tips to feed dogs with a sensitive digestive system.

Better immune system

Providing a complete and balanced diet to your furbaby will ensure that its immune system is thriving. Natural, immune-boosting ingredients include meat, which is packed with easily digestible protein, and vegetables which are full of essential vitamins and minerals. If you are supplementing your dog’s raw diet with superfoods such as wheatgrass or kelp, then you can detox your pup’s body from any nasties with amino acids, enzymes and vitamins. 

Supports healthy skin and a shiny coat

Raw products such as salmon, chia seeds and flaxseeds contain omega-3 fatty acids which support skin and coat health, making them healthy and shiny. 

Better joint and bone health

There is no better way to support your pup’s bones than with more bones! Real crushed bone is an excellent source of calcium, phosphorus, glucosamine, chondroitin, marrow and collagen and supports puppy growth and joint health later in life.

Reduces body odour

Unnecessary carbohydrates and fillers are not completely absorbed by your dog’s system and create a bulkier and smellier stool. The benefit of feeding your dog a highly digestible diet is that they extract the maximum amount of nutrients possible, which leads to less waste passing through.

Risks Associated with Raw Feeding

Knowing the meats a dog can eat and what vegetables to feed dogs is essential information for feeding raw dog food for beginners. From there, you can explore a variety of raw dog treats to offer your pup to provide diversity. 

There are some risks if you choose to embark on a raw dog food diet. Let’s take a look at some of them. 

Risk of choking and obstruction

Only feed bones that cannot be swallowed whole, as there is a risk of choking if they can gulp it down. Bones should be chewed on. 

Broken teeth

Dogs with a history of restorative dental work should not be given bones and for any dog, the weight-bearing bones of large herbivores are also too hard and not appropriate.

Chance of poisoning or contamination

By following good food hygiene practices, carefully choosing food that is fit for human consumption and nurturing gut health over time, you can take steps to avoid bacterial contamination or food poisoning. 

Risk of hyperthyroidism

If your raw food diet for your dog is poorly planned, there is a risk of hyperthyroidism. Consult your veterinarian to get proper advice and guidance.

Practices to Adopt While Transitioning to Raw Feeding

If you are deciding to begin providing raw meals for dogs, then just like any other diet change, it is important to do it gradually. Consult these tips to feed a pregnant dog and some tips for feeding fussy dogs to get the balance right. 

Raw fresh dog food is delicious and often received well, but there are a few things to be aware of as you transition:

Feed this food over a few weeks

Your dog’s digestive system will need to get used to these new ingredients, so take your time introducing this diet. The process should take at least two weeks as you gradually introduce more of the new diet and offer less of the old one. Mixed feeding is popular and many of our pet parents prefer feeding their dogs like this.

Feed the right amount of raw food based on your pet

Consider your dog's metabolism, size, age and activity level. All of these factors will impact their final nutritional requirements. 

Keep an eye on your pets' behaviour

Their behaviour will help you to determine how they are handling the transition. If your furbaby appears unwell, lethargic, farting or has gastrointestinal issues, slow down the transition and consult your veterinarian. 

Have patience 

Patience is the key to success. A raw food diet has many benefits and even fussy eaters will soon become accustomed to their new meals.

Take Home Message

A raw food diet has many benefits, including an improved immune system, healthier coat and skin and as the food is more digestible, there is less waste out the other end! For new raw food diet pet owners, however, it is important to get the balance right and avoid the possible risks that are associated with this diet. By talking about your plans with a veterinarian or dog nutritionist, you will be able to determine what raw food diet plan is suitable for your dog regarding its age, metabolism and lifestyle.