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Raw Diet For Dogs: Will It Improve Your Dogs Health?

Raw dog food diets are controversial. While some think this is the way dogs were meant to eat before dogs became pets, others think dry dog food is the correct diet for our four-legged fur balls. Is raw food good for dogs? Lets dig into raw dog food diets a bit more so you can draw your own conclusion about whether this diet lives up to the hype.

What Is A Raw Food Diet For Dogs?

Araw dog food diet emphasizes uncooked meat (often muscle and organ meat), whole or crushed bones, fruits, vegetables, raw eggs, and some dairy.

The raw dog food diet started with racing Greyhounds and sled dogs. In 1993, Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst proposed extending the diet to family dogs. He called this the BARF diet for dogs, which stands for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

Billinghurst suggested dogs would flourishon BARF dog food since this is how they ate prior to being domesticated. He also argued that commercial pet foods were harmful to the health of dogs. However, many vets and the FDA disagree with Billinghursts views.

What Are The Claimed Benefits Of Raw Food Diets For Dogs?

Billinghurst and his supporters say the benefits include:

• Shinier coat
• Healthier skin
• Cleaner teeth
• More energy
• Smaller stool

Potential Risks Of Raw Diets

While there are potential upsides and some veterinarians may recommend it, theAmerican Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)is not on board with BARF. Citing a number of studies, the AVMA discourages feeding raw food or undercooked animal proteins because they can contain potentially deadly pathogens and harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli that can sicken your pet and possibly be transmitted to humans. Yikes!

Other possible disadvantages of the raw diet for dogs include:

• Harmful bacteria in raw meat pose a threat to the dogs and human health.
• Giving whole meaty bones to dogs presents a risk of choking, broken teeth, or internal punctures (learn more aboutif dogs can eat bones).
• Nutritional deficiencies can occur from raw dog food diets if they are not properly balanced. Low calcium and phosphorus levels, as well as inadequate vitamins and low levels of EPA and DHA, are some nutritional deficiencies that can develop.

Transitioning Your Dog From Dry Food To Raw

Its important to remember thattransitioning your dog to a new dietis aslow process. Below is a rough schedule you can use for this dietary shift.

If you notice your dog isnt feeling well, you should go back a day in the transition plan and proceed at a slower pace. For example, if your dog struggles with 50% serving, shift back to 40% serving for another day or two before moving forward.

Another thing wed like to mention is that raw diets are only safe for dogs 12 weeks andolder.

• Day 1:Feed 75% of your current (old) food and mix in 25% of the raw food in each serving to start the adjustment period for clean digestion.
• Day 2:Adjust to feeding 60% of your old food and mix in 40% of the raw food in each serving.
• Day 3:Feed 50% of your old food, mixed with 50% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 4:Feed 40% of your old food, mixed with 60% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 5:Feed 25% of your old food, mixed with 75% of the raw food per serving.
• Day 6:Feed 90-100% of the raw food at this point, you should be very close to a clean digestive transition period.

Break the daily serving size into two meals per day: one in the morning and one in the evening.

As a general rule, dogs on a raw food diet need to eat 2 to 5% of their body weight in raw food. You must be careful to ensure they get enough to eat, as many dogs drop a good amount of weight on a raw food diet. Maintaining a healthy body weight is a priority because you do not want your pup to lose too much weight too quickly.

Raw Dog Food Recipes

Want to get your dog started on a raw dog food diet? Here is a recipe you can try out using ground meat. We should note that the nutritional balance varies based on the breed and size of your dog, so talk to your vet about the best option for your pet. Or better yet, get one of the commercial pet food brands we recommend to ensure they get all the nutrients they need.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 lbsground beef
• 4 ozchicken livers
• 1 carrot, chopped
• 1 small apple, cored
• 1/2 cup baby spinach
• 2 whole eggs (including shell)
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt
• 1 tbspground flaxseed
• 1 tbspolive oil

Note: It is critical that you use high-quality grade ground meat and understand that there are risks associated with consuming uncooked meat. In addition, there are severalfoods your dog should never eat,so plan your recipe accordingly.

Directions

1. Put carrot, apple, and spinach in a food processor and process until finely chopped.
2. Add remaining ingredients except for beef and process until well combined.
3. Transfer the mixture to a large bowl and add the beef until well mixed.
4. Form into patties the size of your palm and place on parchment lined baking sheet.
5. Freeze patties and transfer them to a storage container to keep them frozen.
6. The night before you wish to feed, remove the patties from the freezer and place them in the refrigerator to thaw.

Best Raw Dog Food Brands

Billinghursts book, Give Your Dog A Bone, has sparked commercially processed raw dog food diets to help pet parents who are short on time.

Shopping for ingredients, grinding, chopping, measuring, and mixing may not be something you have time for. Thats why these ready-made raw dog food delivery services can be so convenient for busy families who have an interest in feeding raw food to their pups.

Read our comparison of the best raw dog food delivery optionsand check out our rankings on the right. These food products are freeze-dried or frozen to maintain their nutrients and consist of meat, grains, vitamins, and vegetables.

Freeze-dried options can be convenient for traveling, but frozen is typically less processed than freeze-dried. So keep that in mind when youre purchasing raw food for your dog.

Some pet parents choose to serve these raw food packages on top of some kibble to help dogs adjust to a raw diet.

Video: How To Determine Serving Size

Wondering how much to feed your pup on a raw diet? Learn more in this video:

Myths About Raw Feeding Dogs

There are certainly risks and reservations with valid reasons behind them about raw feeding dogs. That said, there are also several myths and misconceptions that we can clear up.

• Raw feeding does not make dogs aggressive.
• Raw food will not automatically make your dog sick.
• The raw dog food diet is not only made up of raw meat.
• Dogs can eat both raw food and kibble. No rule says your dog must be exclusively on one diet.

Bottom Line: Every Pup Is Unique

Just because your furry friend gobbles up a raw meat diet, that doesnt mean its right for all dogs. Some animals might never be able to switch due to food sensitivities or other health issues. We strongly emphasize discussing your dogs specific needs with your vet before making any dietary changesand being patient in the process. Remember that any diet change can cause some stomach issues.

If your dog does get sick or needs medical attention, see a vet right away and consider getting pet insurance now so that if a need arises, your medical costs could be partially covered for any exams and medications for issues that exclude pre-existing conditions. Learn more about the benefits and if pet insurance may be a good fit for you. You might also check out these other homemade dog food recipes that contain cooked food as an alternative to raw.

Why Trust Canine Journal

At Canine Journal, we write about every type of diet to help pet parents decide whats best for their dogs. Raw diets can be controversial, which is why Kimberly consulted with many dog food experts to provide this content to our audience. She also has experience with various dog food brands and diet types, including raw.

Natural Ways to Improve Your Dogs Immune System

By Paula Fitzsimmons

A malfunctioning immune system in dogs can open the door to a host of diseases, such as infection, diabetes, osteoarthritis, and cancer. Keeping your dogs immune system balanced can help reduce these risks, and contribute to overall health and well-being, according to veterinary experts.

The immune system acts like a nonstop housekeeper, describes Dr. Donna Raditic, an American College of Veterinary Nutrition (ACVN) diplomate who does consulting on nutrition and integrative veterinary medicine in Athens, Georgia. It identifies potentially harmful pathogens like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, then works to eliminate them before they can do harm. And a dogs immune system monitors cells to ensure theyre working properly. When other cells are aging or functioning abnormallysuch as a cancer cell reproducing too rapidlythe immune system attempts to step in and maintain proper physiological function and balance, Raditic explains.

When this system is compromised, your dog may become increasingly vulnerable to illness. An immune system thats off-kilter for an extended period can lead to chronic inflammation, which, in turn, can forge a path for disease. Diabetes, osteoarthritis, some liver and heart conditions, asthma, and cancer are just some of the diseases connected to inflammation, says Dr. Ken Tudor, a holistic veterinarian and founder of The Well Dog Place in Claremont, California.

Fortunately, there are some simple, natural steps you can take to strengthen your dogs immune system.

Encourage Your Dogs Innate Love for Play

Keeping your dog fit is one of the best ways to boost immune health and promote overall well-being, Tudor says. Storing excess fat weakens the immune system, he explains. Fat is the bodys largest endocrine gland, responsible for secreting more than 40 different inflammation-promoting hormones, he continues. Even the smallest amount of excess fat can increase the amount of these hormones in the body. Exercise burns fat, which can help counter inflammation, and thus the occurrence of disease.

Dogs are naturally active, so adequate exercise and play are important to their health. But exercise doesnt have to be a chore. In fact, it should be fun, says Dr. Laurie Coger, a holistic veterinarian and owner of The Healthy Dog Workshop. Activities she suggests trying with your canine companion include retrieving, playing, doing scent work, and learning tricks.

Ideally, any exercise program should be approved by your vet and based on your dogs age, breed, and general health. Generally speaking, if your dog is not doing a 15-minute mile, hes not burning enough calories, Tudor says.

Feed Your Dog the Right Foods

Your dogs diet is a cornerstone of good immune health. The gut contains about 70 percent of your immune system explains Dr. Susan Wynn, an ACVN diplomate who practices at BluePearl Veterinary Partners hospital in Sandy Springs, Georgia. The gut also contains your microbiomethe collection of hundreds of species of bacteriaand the bacterial balance in the microbiome is heavily influenced by the diet.

Coger says dogs are designed to eat a moist, meat-based diet, yet commercial dry foods are comprised of at least 40 percent starch. The problem with starches, she explains, is that they promote inflammation. In Cogers experience, vegetable and legume starches, such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and lentils, are not as acidifying and inflammatory as starchy grains. Coger recommends a grain-free, starch-free (if possible) diet that also includes some fresh meat and vegetables.

Wynn adds that a diet containing a reasonable amount of good fiber and live bacteria from fresh foods is important to maintaining a healthy microbiome. As an example, many raw diets that contain only meat and bone do not support the best microbiome for dogs, she says.

Nutrition is not a one-size-fits-all solution. The best way to ensure your dog is eating an optimal immune-strengthening diet is to ask your veterinarian, Raditic recommends. We have nutrition guidelines provided by research, but these apply to what we call the generic dog and cat, not the individual, she says. Your veterinarian will understand these guidelines, but then must evaluate the individual patient and determine if these guidelines should be modified.

Consider Certain Supplements For Your Dog

To increase the effectiveness of the immune system, you may consider supplementing your dogs diet with certain nutrients. But Coger advises against buying a supplement for every possible condition. Giving your dog many different products makes it easy to overdo some ingredients, and conflicting ingredients can interfere with absorption, she warns.

Supplements that Coger does recommend are probiotics, which are coveted because they introduce beneficial microorganisms into the digestive tract. As Tudor explains, Healthy gut flora promotes improved gut immunity, which has shown to promote improved internal immunity.

If youre considering supplementing your dogs diet with probiotics, keep in mind that the canine microbiome differs from ours. So giving them the same supplement that you take, or treating them to a serving of yogurt, is probably not going to benefit them. A better alternative is to consult with your vet about dosing and appropriate probiotic species and strains.

Another supplement to consider is fish oil, which contains inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids. Tudor says fatty acids are essential because they temper the inflammatory response. Getting adequate amounts via diet can be tricky, however, so he recommends giving your dog a fish oil supplement.

Tudor also recommends curcumin, the active ingredient present in turmeric. Aside from containing anti-cancer properties, curcumin is also an anti-inflammatory and a pain reliever, he says.

When considering any supplement, understand that not all brands are created equally, Raditic says. There have been studies where they looked at probiotics, for instance, and some did not contain what was on the label, some contained inactive bugs or wrong names, she says. Its buyer beware.

Coger advises buying from well-known companies that use high-quality ingredients and whose products are tested for purity. She says the presence of a National Animal Supplement Council (NASC) seal on a label is a good indicator that the product youre buying is genuine.

Harness the Healing Power of Dog Massage

Touch, massage, and similar methods can be beneficial for dogs because they promote relaxation and healing, which, in turn, affect overall health, Coger says. While there is limited veterinary research on the effects of massage on animals, human-based studies have shown that massage can reduce levels of stress hormones in the body. In addition, a research review published in 2014 stated that moderate pressure massage contributes to enhanced immune function (increased natural killer cells and natural killer cell activity) among many other positive effects. Although we cant be sure, it seems reasonable to think that dogs could experience similar benefits from massage.

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