Is a Raw Diet Right for Your Dog?
Feeding raw food to dogs has become increasingly popular, with many owners believing it’s a more natural, healthier option. However, it’s important to carefully weigh the pros and cons and ensure that the diet is balanced and safe. This blog explores whether it’s safe to feed your dog raw food, how to do so responsibly, and when it might not be suitable for your dog—especially for puppies.
Why do you want to raw feed?
Firstly ask yourself why you want to feed your dog raw? Does your dog have allergies and you’ve been told it will help? Does your dog have diarrhea and people say raw will “firm the stools up” Have you heard that the kibble you are feeding is “killing your dog”? Spoiler alert…
These are not reasons to move your dog to a brand new food, let alone a raw food. To solve allergies/intolerances we need to remove the allergen. If your dog has diarrhea we need to find out why and if you’re on a Facebook group that is telling you kibble is killing your dog you need to leave that group.
When to potentially reconsider feeding raw
You have immune compromised family members - I would never recommend feeding raw food to your dogs if you or a family member is immune compromised. The risks out weigh the benefits for me on this one. This is a personal choice but it’s something for you and your family to consider
Your dog has underlying health conditions - Some health issues such as IBS/IBD can be managed more effectively through a cooked of GI specific diet. CDK (depending on the level) should be managed appropriately through a specific formulated diet that is complete yet supports low phosphorus and moderate protein levels.
You have a strict budget and can’t afford the price tag - Complete and balanced raw is expensive. These formulas go through testing, they will employ a nutritionist and constantly have to make sure the balance is correct, hence the more expensive price tag. The cheaper mixes are cheaper for a reason, usually not balanced and complete, higher in fat (meat comes from trim) or a higher bone content. Don’t feed a cheaper incomplete JUST to feed raw.
FEDIAF-Approved UK Raw Food Companies
In the UK, the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) sets nutritional guidelines to ensure pet foods are balanced and safe. When choosing a raw food brand, it’s essential to pick one that follows these standards.
Here are a few companies in the UK that offer raw diets balanced to FEDIAF standards:
Nutriment: Known for using high-quality ingredients and offering a range of complete meals for dogs. Nutriment’s products are nutritionally balanced to FEDIAF standards.
Bella & Duke: Offers raw food meals for dogs tailored to specific age groups and life stages, ensuring they meet the FEDIAF guidelines.
Luna and Me: Offers a wide range of raw food for dogs and cats all balanced to FEDIAF standards
Poppy’s Picnic: A great range of proteins, cook able raw and all balanced to FEDIAF standards
How to Safely Feed Your Dog Raw Food
If you choose to feed your dog raw food, there are important safety measures you should follow:
Ensure a Balanced Diet: Feeding raw requires careful attention to proportions of meat, bone, and organ, as well as additional supplementation. Failing to provide a balanced diet can result in nutrient deficiencies or excesses. Opt for commercially prepared raw food that is from a DEFRA approved plant and that is labeled as “complete” to avoid this issue like the ones above. Do not feed an 80:10:10 alone to an adult dog as its unbalanced and lacking essential vitamins and minerals that your dog needs.
Handle Food Safely: Raw meat can carry bacteria. Always store it properly (refrigerate or freeze) and handle it with care. Clean surfaces and bowls thoroughly after feeding to avoid cross-contamination. defrost raw food in the fridge and use within 2 days after defrosting.
Introduce Gradually: If your dog is new to raw feeding, transition slowly to avoid digestive upsets. Start by mixing a small amount of raw food with their current diet, gradually increasing over 7-10 days.
Monitor for Choking Hazards: Choose bones carefully, avoiding cooked bones or ones that could splinter. Supervise your dog while eating bones and ensure they are appropriately sized for your dog’s breed and chewing style. You may want to choose a raw with a double grinding process for bone. Join the canine code for raw balanced recipes that contain NO BONE
Feed the correct amount: Do not rely on feeding 2-3% of your dogs body weight for an adult dog. Calculate calories accurately for your dog and for the food you feed.
Signs Your Dog Isn’t Thriving on Raw
While some dogs do great on raw food, others may struggle. Here are signs that your dog may not be thriving:
Weight Loss or Poor Body Condition: If your dog loses weight unexpectedly or struggles to maintain a healthy weight, their diet may be lacking in key nutrients or calories.
Dull Coat or Skin Issues: While raw diets often improve skin and coat, some dogs may experience dryness or irritation if their diet isn’t providing sufficient essential fatty acids or other nutrients that can lead to an inpaired skin barrier such as vitamin E, Vitamin D and zinc.
Digestive Issues: Loose stools, vomiting, or frequent diarrhea can be signs of improper balance in the diet or difficulty digesting certain raw components such as bone.
Lethargy: A lack of energy or general weakness could indicate that your dog’s raw diet is lacking in essential vitamins or minerals.
Special Considerations for Puppies
Feeding raw food to puppies presents unique challenges. Puppies need a precise balance of nutrients to support their rapid growth and development, and an imbalanced diet can lead to serious health issues.
Nutrient Deficiencies or Excesses: Puppies require higher levels of certain nutrients, like calcium, to ensure proper bone growth. A raw diet that isn’t carefully formulated for puppies can lead to problems like skeletal deformities or growth stunting. Not getting the correct protein/fat ration can lead to accelerated growth. Either of these will put stress on the skeletal development in different ways
Risk of Illness: Puppies, with their developing immune systems, are more susceptible to bacterial infections from raw meat. This makes food safety and hygiene even more critical when feeding puppies raw food.
Diet Changes and Growth Phases: Puppies grow rapidly, so their nutritional needs change as they age. Feeding a raw diet requires adjusting portion sizes and nutrient ratios based on your puppy’s development, which can be difficult for inexperienced owners.
Conclusion
Feeding your dog raw food can be safe and beneficial when done correctly, but it requires careful planning and attention to detail. Opting for commercially prepared raw food from companies that follow FEDIAF guidelines is a safer option than trying to formulate a raw diet on your own. Always monitor your dog’s health and behavior, and consult your vet or a canine nutrition expert if you have concerns about your dog’s diet. Puppies, in particular, need extra care and supervision when raw feeding to ensure they grow up healthy and strong. Remember, just because your dog is ok now on the raw they eat doesn’t mean they will be in 1-2 years, nutrition deficiency symptoms don’t show up over night
In conclusion, raw feeding can work for some dogs but isn't the best option for every dog or owner. Proper balance, hygiene, and careful monitoring are key to ensuring your dog's safety and well-being as well as your own. Want access to some balanced recipes? Join The Canine Code today