IS RAW MEAT HEALTHY FOR DOGS – Here are some things you must know about the raw diet for dogs versus commercial pet foods.
Nowadays, more and more people are asking “Is raw meat healthy for dogs?” because many dog owners want to make a shift to a healthier diet. Truth be told that there are a lot of concerns regarding some commercially-processed pet foods.
Raw Diet for Dogs — Is It More Ideal than Processed Dog Food?
Guide on Raw Diet for Dogs Vs. Commercially-Processed Dog Food
RAW DIET FOR DOGS – Are you wondering if offering your dog a raw diet is more ideal than giving him a processed commercial dog food?
Countless individuals are dog owners or what they call “furparents”. It is the deep love of the owner that brings him/her to treat the dog like a child. Being a member of the family, the dog’s needs are considered important whether they are large or small breed dogs.
Surely, in a dog-loving family, part of the household budget goes to the diet of the dog. A lot of people undeniably spend thousands for commercially-processed dog food that can be bought in pet supply stores and groceries.
However, a lot of furparents are also battling with the thought of giving a raw diet to their dogs. Based on an article on Web MD, it was Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst who introduced the BARF diet or the Bones and Raw Food in 1993.
The BARF diet became more and more popular through the years amid many furparents’ pursuit to find the diet that can help keep their dogs healthy. Billinghurst believe that adult dogs would thrive on a diet that they used to have before they got domesticated. A raw diet contains:
- muscle meat
- bones
- raw eggs
- organ meats like kidneys and livers
- apples and other fruits
- vegetables like spinach, broccoli, celery
- dairy like yogurt
The Australian Vet believes that commercial pet dog foods are harmful to dogs’ health. The supporters of the raw diet for dogs believe that it will give the dogs the following:
- cleaner teeth
- shinier coats
- high energy
- healthier skin
- smaller stools
However, the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) as well as several veterinarians disagreed with it. Based on the article, the following are the possible risks in giving your dogs an uncooked diet:
- threats on dog’s health from bacteria
- an unbalanced diet may damage your dog’s health
- bones may choke animals
Until now, the experts remain to have different stand with regards to the raw diet for dogs. There are also people in authority who suggest cooked homemade diet if you really want to ditch commercially-processed dog foods without jumping to the risks of giving your dogs raw meat.