The Raw Dog Food Diet. Yes or No?

There is a lot of buzz, discussion and difference of opinion around the raw dog food diet and if it is better for the dog than traditional commercially available foods.

Each side has pros and cons and of course and ultimately it is the choice of the owner what they feed their dog. Though if you are not familiar with the raw food option, or even if you are but unsure whether or not to make the switch then the following paragraphs may help with your decision.

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It is said that the raw food diet is healthier for the dog as it is a natural diet free of chemicals and other enhancements added by commercial dog food manufacturers. It is therefore thought to be a healthier option and more easily digested by the dog. Another theory is that is reduces the risk of food allergies as you know exactly what you are feeding to your dog and can more easily identify any possibly allergy issues and remove the offending item from the dog’s diet. Including carefully selected bones - nothing too brittle that may splinter and break in the dog’s mouth or the fragments get swallowed and snarled up in the digestive system – is said to help with dental hygiene by cleaning the dog’s teeth as they chew on the bone. This could in turn save on trying to clean your dog’s teeth yourself (great fun if you’ve tried that) and help reduce the cost of dental care. All the above sounds great of course – healthy, no chemicals, natural, wholesome food and all that – though there are other factors you must take in to account before taking the plunge and altering your dog’s diet. The raw food diet means you have to prepare the food yourself. It’s not simply open a can, pop it inn to the feeding bowl and let eating commence. There is prep time for you. For example taking the fresh meat, cutting it, weighing out the right amount, mixing it with vegetables until it is ready to feed to your dog. You must build that time in to your day though if you are keeping track of things and know exactly what your dog needs each day you could prepare a few portions in advance where possible.

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This could be helped by carefully sourcing where you buy the fresh meat from – your local butcher perhaps – buy enough to make a few portions and then store it carefully and correctly to keep it fresh or defrost thoroughly if you decide to freeze it.

Do be especially careful with fresh meat and ask your butcher for storage and preparation advice. The same applies to any other fresh foods you propose to use as part of your dog’s raw food diet. Store and prepare properly before the food starts to turn. Weight up the pros and cons as you see them depending on your own circumstances and your dog. Do you have the time and commitment to go for it and the financial aspects too as buying fresh, quality meat is not necessarily cheap. If you do decide to go for it then it might be worth having a chat with your vet first. Also not to make an “all or nothing” switch rather more of a gradual approach to slowly introduce your dog to the new diet. If they take to it, gradually wean them off commercial food by increasing the times you give them raw food options. By taking a gradual approach it should not be too unusual for the dog and you can switch back to normal food if your dog does not take too well to the alternatives. I hope you found this article useful and helpful. If you are thinking about going for the raw food diet then you have a little more information to take in to account and help with your decision making.

For more information and a FREE REPORT about the raw dog food diet please visit:

http://www.dogflatulence.com/rawdogfooddiet.shtml

For three free ebooks on other dog health related issues please visit:

http://www.freedogstuff.co.uk