Truth On Feeding Your Dog Raw Dog Food – Can Dogs Eat Raw Food

So you want to know the truth and facts about feeding raw dog food, or the answer on, can dogs eat raw food? Yes, dogs can and should eat raw meat. We like to recommend here, you mix raw food with your dogs kibble.

Here they’re eating both raw food, as well as there normal kibble. But after this article, you may decide to feed your dog only raw food, or none at all.

And you might be seeing a lot of info online saying many things. However, there is a lot of false information about feeding dogs a raw food diet.

We’re going to breakdown the truth about feeding your dog raw food, the pros, the cons, and so much more.

Ready for the breakdown? Good, let’s go!

Is Raw Meat Good For Dogs?

Yes! Your dog’s body is actually designed to eat raw meat. They can digest raw meat with no problem and a diet centered on raw meat can provide them with the nutrients they need.

Benefits Of Feeding Your Dog Raw Food

When it comes to the pros of feeding your dog raw food, there are many, but none more than the fact that your dogs biologically needs raw meat.

A big factor in why your dog needs raw food is the fact that dogs are omnivores. A raw diet is more in line with those demands than a bag of kibble. Before we domesticated dogs, raw meat made up the majority of their diet. Wolves still eat this way, but it’s crucial to remember that they are now very distantly related to the pets that we have today.

Another reason why dogs can prosper on a raw diet is the fact that they’re able to digest raw food. Dogs have powerful stomach acids and an effective digestive system, which will let them digest raw food easily.

A raw diet encourages gut flora that is healthier and more compatible with your pet’s metabolism.

It is feasible to create a dry pet food that is minimal in starch, however, grains must include starch in order to create kibble. However, the name “grain-free” is merely for marketing purposes. Similarly how companies will say their product is loaded with all these extra ingredients, but most are added at a microdose.

The issue with starch in any kibble, whether it is grain-free or not, is still a problem. What your pet actually needs is low-starch food, not grain-free food.

Corn or other grain, like milo, oats, or wheat, are the sources of the starch in kibble. Any grain can contain starch, and too much of it can be problematic. Even though a kibble made with quinoa, sweet potatoes, and pea protein is labeled “grain-free,” it is no more innocent than one that contains corn or wheat.

Skin & Coat

A raw beef diet is not only simpler for dogs to digest than a dry food diet based on grains, but it also results in a softer, glossier coat.

This was discovered by researchers at the University of California. Here’s why:

Raw food does not consist of any filers like bad carbs, has fresh fat that is ideal for your dog, can easily be digested by your dog, has tons of vitamins and zinc which helps provide a healthy coat for your dog.

Oral Health & Breath

According to studies, dogs developed dental issues and the main cause of this was due to providing soft meals with (like wet food/kibble) that limit and has insufficient dental activity.

During the experiment, canned dog food was replaced with beef oxtail (which is made of rigid spinal vertebrae.) They then studied 30 dogs with dental calculus and tooth loss. Within 24 hours, 30 dogs with dental calculus and tooth loss occurred and 95% were removed at the end of two weeks.

This study compared canned meals to raw beef with bone fragments, which is an important differential. Since most raw meals don’t include hard bones, they don’t help a dog’s teeth clean as well as hard kibble does.

Raw Food & Diabetes

Many individuals believe that feeding your dog raw food can help control illnesses like diabetes. Although the benefits of feeding dogs with particular health conditions raw meat are not yet proven, more research is being done as more pet owners become interested in doing so. If your pet suffers from any health issues, it’s always vital to talk about their food with your veterinarian.

Digestion Benefits From Raw Food

Raw food has been argued to help with digestion and breaking down nutrients. Raw food digests in one to two hours compared to seven to nine hours for kibble in dogs. This will result ni your dog going to the bathroom less frequently and will result in less smell.

The Truth – Your Dog’s Food Has Very Little Nutrients

Many nutrients in your dog’s food actually become nonexistent due to processing by behemoth agriculture. The effectiveness of kibble pet foods is further diminished by this.

When you consider the fact that most regulatory organizations require vitamin supplements in pet food, it makes you wonder…

Why are the world’s wild canids (dogs) thriving without these supplements? Everything they eat is raw.

Heat addition to food is a long-standing and widespread practice that dates back to a time when the benefit of cooking was valued more highly than the harm it did. It has some disadvantages, though.

the facts are, nutrients are changed by cooking, and sometimes not for the better.

In the days before refrigeration, it was true that high heat destroyed harmful bacteria, but today it is possible to assemble ingredients with a very low risk of pathogenic bacterial contamination.

Any type of heat addition, including boiling, frying, roasting, and baking, starts a process known as protein denaturation. An illustration would be to cook a piece of meat. There is no reversing this.

The protein has been denatured (read below to learn more about this.) Cooked meat offers tons of good nutrition, but a raw piece of meat offers even more. However, the benefit of eating raw food goes beyond avoiding the reduced digestibility that results from cooking.

There are other important but unassuming advantages. In raw pet foods, which have not been heated, there are many healthy bacteria and natural enzymes.

What Is Denatured Meat?

The term “denatured” describes the method that food companies use to prepare meat for dog food. The meat is colored during this process to show that it is not intended for human consumption.

These meats typically come from animals that are sick, dead, or in the dying process.

Therefore, it is unsafe for us to eat. However, what about your dog?

When meat is deemed unfit for human consumption, it is ultimately used to make pet food (either raw or kibble). Manufacturers color the meat using a variety of chemicals, including:

• Activated charcoal
• Charcoal liquid
• Crude carbolic acid
• Cresylic disinfectant
• Kerosene fuel

Now, you’re probably thinking, well is this is even safe for my dog?

Even though it is entirely legal for pet food manufacturers to use denatured meat in their products, most raw food advocates will advise against giving it to your pets.

The term “denatured meat,” is also known as 3D or 4D meat, has gained a lot of attention in the world of raw feeding.

Now, 3D and 4D meats are significantly less expensive than other types of meat, but the issue here is the overall health risks. Even after the meat has been treated, meat from diseased, sick, or dead animals may still contain trace amounts of dangerous bacteria that we don’t want our pets to consume.

With this meat their health could be negatively impacted by the chemicals used in the denaturing process. There is a chance that your pets could develop long-term health issues that may go unnoticed at first, particularly if you regularly feed them denatured meat.

Now almost all brand-named dog kibble contain this denatured process. Like anything, some kibble here and there is oaky, and in moderation, almost everything can be okay. But you will need to make the end decision on whether you want to remove this denatured food from your dog’s diet or not.

Potential Issues With Feeding Raw Dog Food

Bacteria

We all know that raw food is of course not cooked. When food is uncooked, the risk of contamination from raw meat is much higher than from cooked meat. This is due to the fact that heat effectively kills most pathogens and microorganisms found in raw meat, including Salmonella. Despite being less likely to contract Salmonella than people, some dogs can get pretty ill and experience diarrhea for several days. Additional severe clinical symptoms may appear in rare circumstances.

Salmonella is the most known one but, raw meats can also contain other pathogens like:

• Listeria – Even when infected, dogs with L. monocytogenes typically only experience moderate GI symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea. Fever, respiratory issues, muscle pain, and even death are more severe symptoms that could occur.
  
• Campylobacter – Common clinical symptoms in dogs include watery diarrhea, cramping or pain in the abdomen, fever, and lethargic behavior. The duration of diarrhea may be one week or more.
  
• Clostridium – Dogs with this bacterial illness experience really bad diarrhea. Dogs can contract Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens, two distinct Clostridium strains.
  
• E. coli – Dogs are typically unaffected by E. coli, but when the bacteria concentration is too high, symptoms can develop. E. coli infections can be dangerous and cause blood poisoning if left untreated. Although canines of any age can develop it, pups are most commonly affected.
  
• Trichinosis – Sometimes referred to as “pork worm,” is a parasite that causes the parasitic disease trichomoniasis. The majority of the time, consuming infected raw or undercooked pork causes this infection.

Regulation And Raw Dog Food

The AVMA claims that no state or federal bodies normally regulate the production of raw pet meals. Numerous investigations have revealed low amounts of phosphate and calcium combined with high levels of vitamins A and D. If you don’t take precautions when giving your pet a raw diet, they may end up with too much of some nutrients and not enough of others, which might have a long-term harmful effect on their health.

Hygiene

One of the most crucial elements in providing your pup with a balanced diet and minimizing the risks of feeding them raw food is the quality of the meat.

This, however, can be managed. The meat you purchase for them should always be fresh-looking and smelling. If the meat has been left outside, throw it away.

We also recommend the following:

• If you won’t be giving the meat to your dog right away, freeze it.
• Separate raw meats from other foods at all times.
• Clean your prep surfaces and food bowls with hot water and soap
• Before and after handling raw meat, wash your hands.

The Ins & Outs Of Raw Bones

As long as the bone is big enough for your dog, it can eat raw bones.

But, cooked bones shouldn’t be given to your dog since they could splinter and end up in their throat or cause serious damage to their intestines.

Since raw bones are considerably softer than cooked bones, most dogs don’t have any problems with them. But any bone smaller than your dog’s mouth is not ideal because they can easily choke and suffocate on it. When giving your pets any bones or big goodies, make sure you observe them closely.

Raw Food For Older Dogs & Puppies

Senior dogs may require a different diet due to possible immune system or digestive system weaknesses compared to younger dogs. The same is true for puppies, who grow quickly and have intricate nutritional requirements. You should always consult your vet before modifying your dog’s food, especially if they are young or elderly.

Is A Raw Meat Diet Considered A Balanced Diet?

The overall nutritional requirements of your dog can be met with a balanced raw beef diet. But a common misconception that is pushed by large pet food manufacturers is that raw meat diets are unbalanced and don’t meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs.

It is true that giving your dog a delicious steak alone won’t provide him with everything he needs to thrive. But, a designed homemade diet or a commercially manufactured raw diet, however, can and absolutely will.

There is much more to feeding your dog a raw diet than just meat. To give dogs on a raw diet all the nutrients they require for maximum nutrition, meals must be varied. To provide the vitamins and minerals your dog needs to stay healthy, you should also include bones, organ meats, vital fatty acids, and entire meals.

There are many ways to do this, but feeding your dog a raw dog food blend like Stella & Chewy’s raw patties is a great start.

The Stella & Chewy’s chews are loaded with all the nutrients and essentials your dog needs and is easy for most dog owners. This is why we love to recommend it. It has all the pros, (like all raw food meat has – that normal kibble may not have) but also includes vital vitamins, nutrients, and much more.

Instead of having to go out and get all the proper nutrients (raw bones, organs, etc), it is all included here.

With my Jack, I use to feed him these chews for lunch and would also mix in about 6 oz or raw chop meat. His other meals consisted of kibble and wet food.

Warm Up To Freeze-Dried Foods

Stella & Chewy falls under the category of freeze-dried pet foods. there is a lot of good going on here due to the procedure of warm up to freeze-dried. This process involves the removal of water without causing heat damage. The benefits of freeze-dried or raw pet food include better nutrient digestibility and superiority to foods that have been heated through extrusion (kibble) or boiling (canned).

The activity of natural enzymes is maintained and heat-processing will not change the state of the vitamins. The growth of beneficial bacteria is allowed to thrive here.

Due to its low moisture content, a freeze-dried product has a long shelf life and is a good choice as it provides complete nutrition in a neat, tasty, appetizing patty.

Cost Of Feeding Your Dog Raw Food

When it comes to the cost of feeding your dog raw food compared to normal kibble, you’ll most likely find that commercial raw-meat diets are typically more expensive than the majority of kibble.

However, it might be less expensive to feed a raw diet than you might imagine, especially if you make his food yourself. Dogs can consume less expensive meat cuts, along with bones and organs.

By purchasing meat from a nearby farm or butcher you can decrease costs while still getting the same amount of nutrients.

Your dog doesn’t require a super expensive filet mignon to be eating healthily, and he isn’t grossed out by liver or brain.

He’ll enjoy the taste of eating raw food, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of your dog being healthier, having healthier bones and stronger muscles.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Food FAQ

Will dog get sick from eating raw meat?

Pets can become sick from eating anything, so yes they can.

Can I mix raw and kibble?

Yes. In fact, incorporating raw foods in any way you can, even in small amounts, is highly advised. This is what I did with my Jack, and this is what I recommend.

Is it good to crack an egg in dog food?

Yes! Eggs are a superfood for dogs because they offer a variety of vitamins and minerals like Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Riboflavin, Folate, Iron, and Selenium.

Feeding Your Dog Raw Food

Your dog can consume a commercial raw dog food diet or a homemade raw diet. If you and your veterinarian decide that feeding your pet a raw meat diet is the best choice, make sure you’re choosing high quality ingredients.

When feeding raw, you have more control over the meats you use. You can do this by selecting high-quality, fresh ingredients from your preferred source. The quality and ingredients of frozen raw preparations vary greatly; to get all the information you need, you’ll probably need to speak with the manufacturer.

Next, you’ll need to balance the nutrients. One of the biggest dangers of feeding your dog raw is that many people end up giving them a diet that is unbalanced for their nutritional needs. For instance, wolves will consume an entire animal in the wild, providing a nutrient-dense meal.

However, when we give our pets raw meat, we change some of the components that are essential sources of fiber, fat, minerals, vitamins and more. Working with a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist will help you develop a raw diet that is healthy and beneficial for your dog.

Conclusion

You should only decide whether to feed your dog a raw diet after carefully weighing the potential pros and cons and consulting with your veterinarian or a veterinary nutritionist. They can assist you in comprehending the dangers so you can decide more wisely regarding your particular dog.

At the end of the day, both have pros and cons. Only you can make the decision for your dog. We hope we’re able to shine some light on the fact that there are many pros to feeding your dog raw food, and it can be safely incorporated to your dog’s normal diet.