A number of articles, websites and books are now devoted to the canine raw diet, otherwise known as the raw food diet for dogs.
The canine raw diet is considered the best type of diet for dogs, simply because it most closely mimics what our dog's ancestors have naturally eaten for thousands of years.
Dogs have short digestive tracts and their tooth and jaw structure are different from humans. Their bodies are still designed to eat the stomach contents, muscle meat, organ meats, bones and blood of freshly killed animals, rather than dry foods such as kibble. The nutrients in a freshly killed mammal or fish give dogs necessary proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and digestive enzymes, and keep their teeth and gums in great shape.
In contrast, most types of kibble, even high-end kibble, pale in comparison. Kibble is baked. Heat destroys some vitamins and enzymes and alters the composition of some of the proteins and fats to make them less useful. Lower end kibbles also include harmful substances such as preservatives and artificial coloring and flavorings and, at the worst, may consist of animal waste products, diseased animal parts and toxic filler chemicals.
However, kibble is very easy to prepare and feed to a dog. Also, the manufacturers claim that if you feed your dog a certain amount, your dog will receive a nutritionally balanced diet.
With all the current information about a raw food diet being better for dogs, why do most dog owners still feed their dog kibble, especially when raw food is supposed to cost less than high-end kibble, even for a big dog?
One reason may be that people think a canine raw diet would be difficult to prepare and maintain over a period of time. Looking at that realistically, however, buying, storing and dividing meat into portions for either freezing or feeding takes hardly any time. Buying, washing and storing vegetables, and taking batches to run through the food processor also doesn't take much time.
Another reason is that people may think they have to buy organic meats and vegetables. While this would be close to ideal, regular meats and vegetables, as fresh as possible or frozen, are still considered better than most kibbles. (Most ideal would be home grown organic vegetables that are picked fresh out of the garden just before feeding, and fresh killed organic meat that you have raised yourself, but this is reality for far too few people).
One of the main reasons people may be reluctant to make the switch (myself among them) is uncertainty about the following:
How gradually to make the switch
What the right amounts and proportions to feed the dog are
Which meats and vegetables are good to serve; which ones should be avoided
How to know if the dog is getting a nutritionally balanced diet
Which supplements to add, if any
Fortunately, there are several folks who have fed their dogs a canine raw diet in whole or in part for years and are willing to share what they've learned with others. There are also companies that prepare some of the ingredients for you and tell you what to add to balance out the mix.
Look at the resource link below this article to help you get started.
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