Diet For Dogs — It’s Easy
While the raw diet for dogs is becoming a more and more popular topic among dog owners lately, it’s really not anything new as many pet owners might think. It has gained a renewed awareness and found its way into the spotlight recently due partly to the many recalls of commercial dog food in the past year.
Anxious for their dog’s health, pet owner’s have begun the search for healthy alternatives to commercial pet food and the raw diet for dogs has become the fervent topic.
The raw food diet for dogs, also called the B.A.R.F diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones And Raw Food), is relatively effortless and it basically mimics what your dog would normally eat if it lived in the wild: raw meat, raw meaty bones and raw vegetables.
If you are considering putting your dog on the raw food diet, here is some important information to keep in mind:
Changing from commercial food to the raw diet for dogs, it may be best to start with just the meat and bones for the first few days until your pet gets habituated to it.
Raw meaty bones that can be consumed include beef, chicken backs, necks, wings, or turkey necks. The chicken and turkey bones are soft enough for a dog to chew and eat and they provide and exercise for your dog’s jaw and upper-body muscle. It is very important to learn that the bones give your pet are raw. Cooked bones can splinter easily and these shards can cause severe internal damage to your pet.
After your pet has becomes accustomed to the meat and bones, you can then start adding in some of the more plain vegetables like carrots. Once your dog has become adjusted to mild vegetables, the other kinds of vegetables you want to give your dog are completely up to you. However, besides understanding the basic nutritional value of vegetables, you should make yourself conscious of any unwanted side effects they might cause.
For example, carrots are wonderful because of their vitamins, potassium and calcium. Watercress and mustard leaf help clean out the intestines. On the flip side, potatoes are not easily digested, large amounts of onions can cause stomach problems and broccoli and cabbage can increase the frequency of your dog’s gas.
Some of the rewards pet owners report as a result of putting their pet on the raw food diet for dogs include: lower veterinarian bills, better smelling breath, improved skin and coats and an improved immune system due to the balance of pure nutrients and fatty acids.
Is the raw diet for dogs appropriate for your pet? While it has its advantages, no one diet is correct for every dog anymore than any one diet is correct for every human. You should fully explore dog diets and nutritional needs and carefully weigh your options based on your pet’s individual needs.
By Ron King
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