There’s a lot of popularity surrounding the raw dog food diet these days. This is mostly because people have started to become conscious of their eating habits. Eventually it has extended beyond people and even among pets that have become part of our life. So you would find a lot of raw dog food meals already in existence.
But before you begin switching your dog’s eating habits into something that you perceive to be healthy, there are a few important things to be considered first. Among them is the fact that transition must be observed. You can’t just change your dog’s diet in a snap. It’s not just because they wouldn’t readily comply but also because it’s not the healthy way to do so.
Getting under the transition process would help your pet adapt into this newfound diet. This would help take care of instances wherein the dog would refuse to eat the raw meals given to him. It would also give them ample time to adjust physiologically in terms of developing the enzymes necessary to digest raw meals.
Aside from the physical and superficial part of transitioning, another important aspect of preparation for raw dog food diet is to consult your vet. You need to make sure that your dog can handle the sudden switch in diet and that it wouldn’t have negative implications on their health.
Once you get into the raw dog food diet, you might get inspired by the recipes you will see online. While it’s really inviting to do everything on your own, it can get a bit overwhelming to check the ingredients yourself and make sure that they are prepared the right way.
So maybe, instead of doing it your way you might want to purchase pre-packed meals first. You can also find these online, from shops and special pet stores that actually sell raw dog food meals in packages already. You can also find these meals in your grocery store or local pet shop.
If you have friends who have also inspired you to get into this diet, you might want to consider getting referrals from them. They might direct you to nutritionists or other authorities whom they have been getting raw dog food meals from for a long time already. This way you can be sure of the quality of the foods that you are about to get.
It’s really a good thing to try looking into the raw dog food diet. Just remember that you need to help your dog transition to this properly so that they can enjoy all the healthy benefits it could possibly bring.
Jamie is a dog health practitioner who specializes in grain free, raw dog food.
Feb 12, 2012 | | Dog training
Because of the many positive effects associated with eating raw dog food, it has become unmistakably popular. There are several immediate effects noticeable among dogs such as having a shinier coat as well as displaying healthy skin. They also have cleaner teeth after they start eating raw dog food.
There are many ways to get the some raw dog food and you can either pay them as packaged or create them yourself. Just remember that you can only give meats such as chicken, beef, lamb, as well as fish to your dog. When it comes to fruits and vegetables, you can feed them just about anything although they might not instantly like the stuff.
If you will choose to buy your raw dog food as packaged ones, remember to get only from well-known resources. This way you can be sure of the food’s quality. Make sure that you research on the ingredients and the manufacturer behind the said package.
Another way to give raw dog food to your pet is by following the prey model. This is also known as the diet that’s similar among wild wolves. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you would have to let your dogs hunt down their own food but instead, huge chunks of meat will be given to them with some small amounts of bone mixed in with small portions of organs and eggs.
Because of the success of feeding dogs with raw food, it’s not surprising to find a lot of commercialized raw diets popping up these days. These are often packed as frozen so that the freshness can be preserved. They are convenient too because you don’t have to take your own time fixing the meals yourself.
Aside from feeding your dogs with meat, you can also provide homemade vegetarian meals for them which can help make sure that they are getting complete nutrition. Aside from meat, you should also add some eggs and dairy within their meals. Don’t forget to include fruits in puree form and you can do the same method for vegetables such as lightly cooked broccoli, green beans, and squash.
For busy people who still wanted to provide pets with affordable raw dog food, there are dehydrated raw food that can also be bought. Because they are easy to store, they can last until such time you need to use them as long as they are stored under room temperature.
Then of course, the raw dog food diet would not be complete without the inclusion of bones. Raw bones are recommended and cooked ones are discouraged. Also, make sure that you only feed your dogs with chicken and lamb bones as these are the ones that are easy to digest and chew.
Jamie is a dog health practitioner who specializes in grain free, raw dog food.
Feb 10, 2012 | | Dog training
All pet owners want their pets to live happy and healthy long lives, and feeding them raw dog food can go a long way to ensuring that. It is absolutely vital to be aware of what goes into your pet’s food bowl. Dogs depend on their owners to take care of them, and they give them incomparable companionship and affection in return.
While dogs in specific will eat almost anything, it is very dangerous to feed dogs chow meant for people, as their stomachs are not able to handle many foods that people are used to. For example, chow such as onions, garlic, chocolate, and tomatoes contain chemicals that are highly toxic to dogs, and can result in serious illness and even death if the dog were to ingest them.
This was the impetus in creation of special chow meant solely for dogs. There are many different brands of conventional dog chow, but most come in two ways as either dried or wet. Wet pet chow frequently will contain less meat and more fat than the dry type, but will have a high moisture content. Dry types are preferred by many owners because of their low price, and convenience as they can last for a very long time.
While these types are created specifically for animals, they can sometimes contain ingredients that are not very healthy and can in fact be harmful to your pet. For example, many cheap dog chow brands will contain bone meal or animal byproducts in their pet chow. Also, brains and spinal cords which are not allowed to be in human food can be in dog chow. These parts are dangerous as they can carry specific diseases.
To make matters worse, there are no real regulations as to what can be put into pet chow, or how it can be packaged. Many packaging of pet chow makes it seem like it is healthy or natural dog chow, when in fact it can even be harmful. It is very important to do the research and know what’s in the food that your pet is consuming.
Some pet owners observe that their pets are happiest if fed raw meat. This is usually true, but it’s important to distinguish the differences between meat sold for human consumption vs. pet consumption. Meat sold for human consumption is meant to be cooked and therefore will not be pasteurized, while raw meat sold for pet chow often will be. Pasteurization is a process by which harmful bacteria are killed, so when feeding your dog raw food, be sure it’s meant for pet consumption, since feeding your pet un-pasteurized raw meat can be risky, especially for dogs who are not accustomed to a raw diet.
Many dog owners find that their pets become more happy and healthy when fed raw meat. This is often the case, but there are differences between raw meat sold for human consumption vs. raw meat sold for consumption by animals. Meat meant for human consumption is not pasteurized, since it’s intended to be cooked. Raw meat sold for animal consumption is usually pasteurized, which is a process whereby harmful bacteria are killed. If your dog is just starting to transition to a raw diet, it may be helpful to start with pasteurized meat in order to ease the transition.
Buying raw dog food can sometimes be a bit more expensive than the usual, economy branded food, but the difference in the health and happiness of your pet will be no small matter. Specifically, the pet foods created in such a way can even make your pet more energetic, and overall more fit and healthy, even improving the look and feel of your pet’s coat. Some older pets may find moving easier, and become more playful.
Jamie is a dog health practitioner who specializes in grain free, raw dog food.
Oct 11, 2011 | | Dog training
A raw dog food diet is an uncooked meal without any additives. The products are made from natural ingredients. Experts believe it is healthier than the commercial pet fare.
If we could return our dogs to their natural way of eating, they should be healthier, live longer and enjoy a better quality of life. Some natural dog food recipes are available. They list raw meat, grain, vegetables, beans and fruits like pear, apple and oranges as acceptable ingredients in a balanced meal.
Even though dogs are carnivores, some people feel that a diet of raw meat is dangerous. The raw meat may contain bacteria. A vegetable only diet is fine, say some experts. So is a diet consisting only of raw meat. A condition is that the meat must come from a reputable source. Vegetables are good at solving bowel problems.
A natural diet is considered richer in proteins and minerals as well as vitamins and carbohydrates. This is because there is no heating. Cooking can change the composition and nutritional value of food.
Pets have to eat what we intend to feed them. And what we give them is decided not by us, but by the dog food manufacturers. We feed them what we find in the shop. All to often, that means the ready made food. Not that the shop owners have too much of a choice. Fresh raw product will spoil just too quickly. Manufacturers add all kinds of preservatives, flavoring and color. Preservatives for the benefit of the company, flavor for the dog and color for the human eyes.
Then there is the question of itchy skin. If a dog is forever scratching with no evidence of fleas in the bath water, there must be another reason. That can often be found in its diet. You may be surprised at just how fast this problem can disappear with something that is natural in the food bowl.
Allergies can also make life difficult for your pet. It may take the form of an ear or skin infection. Often the problem is in the diet. Feed the animal what it needs and it may well be the end of the allergy. When it gets the right balance of minerals and vitamins you will probably save money spent on supplements.
Changing food habits of pregnant dogs is not recommended. We can plan the breeding of the pet in advance and start a natural diet menu well before it is pregnant. In this way it gets time to adjust to new habits and is ready for pregnancy in a healthy physical condition. There are no such rules to be followed in case of a male dog. But there is nothing wrong in change the male dog’s habits also before we start the breeding process.
A natural meal is easier to digest because the digestive system of the animal is ready to deal with it. This is not true of additives. You will notice the dog’s health improving when it grows a thick shiny coat. A raw dog food diet is also a good way of taking care of bad breath. Even teeth will benefit and be cleaner. The dog will be healthier and more energetic.
May 06, 2011 | | Dog training
Having a pet is nice. Most pet owners see their pets as members of the family and even as a part of their lives. Every pet owner needs to care for his pet – it’s a responsibility that he took when he got his pet – and he should only give him the best. If your pet is a dog, feeding it would be your most important task, and raw dog food is a popular option that you can use.
A dog owner who really loves his pet also wants to provide his dog the best care and proper nutrition that it needs. No dog owner would like to see his dog become frail and unhealthy because its diet is not appropriate for the species. Giving your pet the most suitable foods for his nutritional needs can result in many substantial benefits.
Giving a dog the proper food can make him healthier, livelier, smarter, and more active. When a dog gets all the proper nutrients that it needs, its coat becomes shinier and there are less chances for its hair to fall out, its skin problems can be cured, its breath becomes fresher, its life span increases, and its quality of life improves significantly.
Most of the time, dog owners feed their dogs the usual and popular dog food products found in almost all pet stores and supermarkets. These synthetic dog food products are formulated by doctors and scientists in order to provide the nutrition every dog needs. However, these processed food products are usually not good for your pet.
Processed dog foods may be designed to supply all the nutritional needs of dogs, but they are not reliable in containing these nutrients. Firstly, processed dog foods have cereals and grains, substances which the digestive systems of dogs are not suitable for. Also, the cooking process used for these processed dog foods and their long-term storage destroy the nutrients stored in them such as vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, making these foods less valuable for your pets.
However, you can avoid feeding your dog processed food and make a much healthier, smarter decision. There is a new growing trend in pet feeding and it involves the introduction of raw foods to domesticated animals. According to raw feeding enthusiasts as well as scientists, raw pet foods are much better than processed foods in many different ways. For one, raw feeding mimics the natural diet that animals would have in the wild and apply them to domesticated animals.
Raw dog food has more nutritional value as compared to processed dog foods. Raw dog foods are packed fresh and contain only pure, 100% meat, edible bones, and vegetables. And because these raw food products are not cooked, they get to keep all the vitamins, minerals, and enzymes that they originally have, which in turn are absorbed easily by your pets’ bodies. Raw foods provide the perfect diet for your canines as well as the benefits of proper feeding like shinier coats, stronger bodies, longer lives, and better overall health.
If you have a pet, you would agree that raw feeding is a fantastic idea. Start feeding your dog raw foods now. Try Darwin’s Natural Dog Food which contains the safest and healthiest diet fit for your dog. After you see the benefits of raw feeding to your pet, you’ll definitely not regret it.
Mar 23, 2011 | | Dog training
Although dogs aren’t sensitive, they do have preferences. There is always a better choice for a dog, and certainly not all products can be beneficial for them. Processed foods, for example, are becoming less preferable for feeding out pets. There is a new trend in feeding dogs that involves a raw dog food diet composed mostly of fresh and uncooked foods for canines.
The nutritional needs of dogs should be mainly addressed by their owners through the methods and foods that they use to feed their pets. However, it’s important that, as a dog owner, you are educated as to the nutritional requirements of your dog. So, what should you know about your dog’s dietary needs?
First of all, dogs are domesticated animals but they are naturally born in the wild. Their relatives the wolves, foxes, coyotes, hyenas, and jackals have similar body builds as them, so they should have a diet similar to these animals. This means that the foods that canines need are made up of a lot of protein, some vegetables and fruits, and little to no carbohydrates or grains.
Processed dog foods are becoming less preferable because many dog owners have realized that these foods don’t conform with the nutritional needs of dogs; they are full of grains and other substances that aren’t even digestible by dogs. Dogs need food similar to the food they would eat in the wild. This would be the natural composition of their diet, the natural food intake they would have if they were not domesticated.
The new trend in feeding pets is made of the raw dog food diet. The major constituents of this diet include raw meats, vegetables, and fruits which are all natural and fresh. As opposed to kibble and canned foods, raw foods contain absolutely no filler. They are made of pure meat and vegetables which are fresh and human-quality.
The proteins, vitamins, and minerals found in pure raw dog foods provide all the essential nutrients they need, helping the dog become healthier, livelier, and live longer. Their coats will be shinier and thicker, their breaths will be fresher, and their bodies will be stronger and more active.
But dogs aren’t the only ones who benefit from raw foods. Dog owners also gain advantage from raw food products because dogs only need to eat a small, adequate amount of raw foods to receive the complete nutrition that it needs. A pack of raw dog foods may last longer than a bigger pack of processed foods, allowing dog owners to save more money from always buying food supply.
If you’re not sure whether to give your dog a raw dog food diet, you can always consult your veterinarian. However, there’s no doubt that raw dog food will provide better nutrition for your dog because of the fresh and pure components that it contains. Try Darwin’s Natural Pet Foods to see how your dog reacts to raw foods. If it likes the new diet, you and your dog will both benefit from it.
Mar 20, 2011 | | Dog training