A Raw diet for pets is an unprocessed meal containing a combination of raw meat (including connective tissues and lipids), organs, bones, and other animal-related parts. Some pet owners may add vegetables and fruits to the raw pet diet. Unlike humans, dogs and cats are created with the ability to consume raw meat without any problem. To know more about the raw food diet for pets read this article.
Raw food diet for dogs pets at home
We first need to know what is a raw diet for pets? For some pet owners, a raw food diet involves providing their pet with an entirely raw or uncooked diet consisting of fruits, veggies, meat, and bones. However, pet owners must be very careful with preparations and storage as this raw feeding includes many hazards, especially from the raw meat.
Furthermore, for balanced healthy pet raw diets, a veterinarian or pet nutritionist should supervise and guide the preparation of an at-home raw diet to make sure your pet is getting the proper proportions of all nutrients and components they need. So, a veterinarian-approved raw diet recipe for pets is the best choice to start with.
Commercially accessible choices that agree with the AAFCO standards and have undergone a germ-kill phase are a more popular way of feeding a raw food diet ( and safer for a pet’s health). AAFCO is the best destination for information on raw diets for pets that suit their life stage and nutritional needs. 2013 study on raw food diets for pets also shows the possible health benefits and hazards from the raw diet for pets.
Ingredients of raw food diet for pets
A raw meat diet for pets choosing
Red meats like lamb and beef are preferred over chicken when fed raw. Raw chicken is a huge source of Salmonella, and chicken neck may cause choking and even paralysis.
When feeding meat, you give the dog the whole parts of meat including fat and connective tissue. Try using novel animal sources of meat (like kangaroo and deer meat) to avoid food allergies.
On the other hand, the most commonly used meat source used in raw diet pet food for cats is chicken, eggs, and fish rather than beef.
Grains and fillers
These are also used in the diet in a certain amount, like rice and pumpkin.
Fruits and vegetables
Avoid using grapes and onions with dogs and cats to avoid toxicity. You may use carrots, apples, and peas.
Benefits of a raw diet for pet
Raw food is much more beneficial and nutritious than cooked meals, kibbles, or processed food. A large portion of the nutritious content of meat or raw food is lost during cooking. Giving your pet raw food allows them to get the most nutrition out of it. The most significant benefits of a raw diet for pets are;
Strengthen the immune system
Keeping the immune system healthy is important since it is the first line of protection against pathogenic infections. The raw diet for pets is not only good as a readily digestible diet but also the complete and balanced nourishment included in them is crucial for supporting the health of the pet. Components that naturally boost immunity involve;
- Meat: A dog’s diet must include meat as raw meat supplies a high-quality, easily-digested protein which is the building unit for immunity and overall health. In contrast to the highly processed meat products, raw meat contains the vitamins, minerals, and fats that are not lost while cooking.
- Fruits and vegetables: A naturally complete and balanced mix of vitamins and minerals are found in fruits and vegetables. Furthermore, fresh fruits and veggies include plenty of enzymes, phytonutrients, and antioxidants that are not damaged by cooking heat. Vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruits, vitamin A is found in carrots, and leafy greens are high in vitamin K.
Improve the skin and coat
Omega-3 fatty acids are one of the most well-known and studied components of raw diet for pets that promote the health of the skin and coat. Omega fats are important for maintaining skin’s softness and coat’s shine.
They also have anti-inflammatory properties making them ideal for dogs with inflammatory skin conditions or allergies.
Excellent oral health
In certain cases, poor diets, particularly those heavy in carbs or processed foods, might be linked to poor oral hygiene. A bone meal is considered a great source of calcium and phosphorus which helps a lot in strengthening the pet’s teeth.
One of the oral benefits for pets on a raw die is that raw meaty bones act as toothbrushes for puppies and dogs as they can penetrate the spaces between teeth and help remove plaque. Eating a natural healthy diet like celery or peppermint helps the animal to have fresh oral breath.
Decreased volume and odor of stool
When your pet eats a diet consisting of highly digestible foods, a greater amount of what enters is absorbed and used, resulting in less coming out. Our pup’s digestive system is made to absorb as many beneficial elements from their raw food as possible, resulting in smaller and firmer stools with no odor.
Pets take longer to digest Carbohydrates and filler components like grains, soy, potato, maize, and rice. These fillers increase the volume of the dog’s stool and give them a strong smell. The majority of the raw diet for pets is low in CHO and fillers.
Improved the health of the reproductive system
According to many studies, eating a raw diet for pets leads to an increase in the number of healthier puppies per litter. And better health in both stud and brood bitches is noticed. Commercial pet foods contain a large amount of components that are difficult to digest and can trigger food allergies in pets.
While ingesting raw food like bones, meats, and other animal parts is less likely to trigger food allergies.
Raw diet for pets with struvites in urine
Pets with bladder stones need to consume a lot of water in their diet. A Fresh raw diet for pets includes ingredients that have high moisture content.
The high meat content of raw food has an additional advantage. Because meat naturally promotes a more acidic environment in the bladder, it is important for pets with struvite stones to be fed a diet high in meat. So to encourage an acidic environment, you might want to add one of the following to the pet’s diet; fish, eggs, beef, deer meat, or chicken.
Pets with struvites in urine should stay away from alkaline food, such as; carrots, broccoli, cucumber, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, or apple.
The best raw diet for pets with cancer
Raw meat or fresh veggies and fruits may contain harmful pathogens such as; bacteria, fungi, parasites, or viruses. It is known that pets with cancer are immunosuppressed, which means their immune system is not working as it should.
This is particularly true for dogs receiving chemotherapy or radiation therapy. These treatments affect immune function centers such as; the stomach and intestinal lining and bone marrow, directly or indirectly.
This means that a healthy, well-balanced prepared raw diet, which is amazing for a normal pet, is dangerous for pets with cancer and may put them in danger of getting illnesses.
complete supplement for a pet raw food diet
A basic raw diet for pets may be completed with the aid of a complete supplement to give the pet the nutrients they need.
Essential supplements to a balanced raw diet include:
Essential fatty acids
Fatty acids ( especially omega-3 &omega-6) have many advantages on health, including supporting the brain, heart, kidney, and liver function and reducing the GIT, skin, and joint inflammation.
It’s preferred to add them fresh as they degrade when exposed to air or freezing.
The sources of omega-3 (DHA) supplements include raw or canned fish (mackerel, salmon, and sardines) and omega-rich oils (flax, hemp, and chia)
Vitamins, trace minerals, and antioxidants
They are needed in small amounts but enough for healthy systems. The most needed vitamins are vitamin D and vitamin E. The trace minerals required are zinc, copper, and iron.
On the other hand, phytonutrients are the best source of antioxidants. They are important for boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation. They may even be able to stop cancer and autoimmune illnesses in the long run.
Probiotics
Probiotics are beneficial flora added to the food and have special functions in immunity, metabolism, and digestive health.
Each probiotic promotes a distinct strain of bacteria; thus, mixing them up gives your pet a more diverse gut flora, which has significant advantages.
Raw Diet for Commercial
Frozen raw food diet for pets purchased from stores
Many stores provide prepared and packaged raw meals if you are not able to make a balanced, complete raw diet for pets from scratch at home. You may find them in the refrigerated or frozen area.
Raw diets that are sold commercially have undergone some sort of treatment to guarantee your pet’s safety. Cold-pressure processing is an example of a microbial kill procedure to reduce the pet’s exposure to microorganisms.
Store-bought raw diet for pets is practical, but you must pay attention to feeding instructions and expiration dates to ensure its effectiveness and safety.
Freeze-dried raw pet food
For pet parents freeze-dried raw diet for pets variation is another store-bought choice. Compared to raw foods that are refrigerated, these meals have a longer shelf life.
Read more
Best dog food for skin allergies
Home remedies for whooping cough
Neakasa M1 open top self cleaning cat litter box review
