How To Prepare A Raw Diet For Dogs

The raw diet for dogs is often controversial. But… what does this form of nutrition consist of? Well, the raw diet for dogs is based on a type of diet that is based on eating raw meat, bones, fruits and vegetables. For example, greyhound or sled dogs only feed that way.

The raw diet can also be called the BARF diet (acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), which in Portuguese means biologically appropriate raw food.

Next, we’ll share more data about this type of feed.

What does the raw diet for dogs consist of?

The mentors of this type of feeding suggest that adult dogs will be healthier if they follow an evolutionary diet similar to what canines had before being domesticated. That is, if they eat raw bones and vegetable scraps.

Proponents of the raw diet maintain that for most animals it is more beneficial than processed foods.

However, many conventional veterinarians do not agree with the BARF, as they opine that it can be risky to health.

Benefits of Raw Diet

The benefits of this type of diet include:

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

Potential risks include:

• Threat to human and dog health due to bacteria in the meat;
• An unbalanced diet can harm the health of dogs if given over a long period of time;
• Possibility that the animal suffocates when ingesting whole bones, or that it can break its teeth or suffer an internal puncture;

How to prepare a raw diet?

A raw dog food diet usually consists of:

• Meat, mainly that found on the bone;
• Viscera such as liver and kidneys;
• raw eggs;
• Vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and celery;
• Apples or other fruits;
• Some dairy products like yogurt.

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

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

The cost of a raw dog food diet varies depending on the ingredients used and the method of preparation.

If you are feeding your dog from wild game, beware of bullet lead!

It is recommended that, before feeding your pet, the meat is frozen for 24 hours. In this way, the parasites are eliminated. If you know the origin of the meat, freezing is not always necessary.

opposing voices

Some experts have spearheaded a review of raw dog food diets. They warned that many pet owners are choosing raw diets based on myths and a fearful advertisement about pet food.

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

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

For example, raw homemade diets may lack sufficient 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 on raw pet foods also demonstrated the presence of bacterial contamination.

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

Recommendations for those on a raw diet

It is recommended that dogs with pancreatitis or other digestive problems start with a home cooked diet. Dogs with cancer, undergoing chemotherapy, or animals with other immunosuppressive illnesses should not eat raw food.

Puppies are also not good candidates for a raw diet.

It is very important to take into account that if an animal does not receive the proper calcium and phosphorus ratio, it may have bone deformities and growth problems.

Image credits: Demo.