Who wouldn’t want to have a dog in their life? They make really great companions. But most dog owners don’t give very much though on what to feed their dogs, usually turning to commercial dog food to feed their pets. There are of course advantages to commercial dog food, one being convenience, however, if you have a dog living with you, why not look into a raw food diet for dogs?
A raw food diet does offer some advantages. It contains concentrated nutrition whereas dog food in a can contains a lot of fillers such as grains. It also contain a lot of water. These ingredients are what you are paying for in a can of commercial dog food.
There is ongoing debate about the nuritional value of gains in a canine diet and some say a dog’s digestion cannot properly process grains. Wherever the truth lies, there is no doubt that grains are added to commercial dog food to boost the manufacturers’ profits rather than the nutritional value!
Commercial dog food is cooked and therefore some of the nutritional content of the food is lost. Although commercial dog food comes with supplements, the nutritional quality is considered inferior to the natural vitamins and minerals contained in raw food.
More and more owners are feeding their dogs raw food or at least a mixture of both raw and canned. As people are becoming more conscious of what they themselves eat, naturally they are also concerned that their pet is also getting the best nutrition possible. Dog owners are also concerned about the quality of meat that goes into commercial dog foods. Usually these are poor quality meats that are unfit for human consumption. When you buy your dog’s meat yourself, you have much more control over his diet.
However there are a few concerns people have about starting a raw food diet. To begin with what should you feed your dog and just how much? Are there any foods that should be limited or avoided? Should bones be something to give a dog on a raw diet? Lastly, how could you fit that raw diet into a busy schedule?
The good news is a raw food diet is easy to implement. Simply buy more meat and vegetables at the supermarket instead of canned dog food. That’s it! Your dog will know what he does and doesn’t enjoy eating and will regulate the amount.
Yes, it will take a bit of getting used to, but once you start you’ll get the feel of it in no time and soon it will become second nature. You may also find you’re saving money at the same time by not having to buy heavy cans of dog food and probably extra supplements as well.
When it comes to a raw food diet for dogs, I’m pretty sure your dog will end up thanking you for it. This type of diet will also help to keep your dog healthier and the coat shinier. If you are still unsure, why not start slowly and gradually add raw food into you dog’s eating schedule.
