Dog owners today have been changing their dogs diet menu from prepared food to raw foods with the reason that logically, animals in the wild would eat raw food. And since dogs are natural hunters, they too should consume raw food. If you are preparing your dogs to go for raw food diet, it might be best to consult it with your veterinarian first. That way you will get some recommendations on the raw food options the dogs must consume and how to change their diet gradually.
You should do the diet changing gradually because such changes would likely cause digestive system problems to your dogs like vomiting or diarrhea. Some might also worry about the bacteria available in raw foods, however this should not be your main concern as dogs stomach actually produce much more acid than humans. Therefore, they have natural resistance to many food-borne illnesses unlike other pets that arent immune to problems from food bacteria.
As there are plenty options available for dogs raw food diet, you may want to do a research about which ingredients should be suitable for them. You will be able to control the specific ingredients for them and later know exactly what your dog is eating. However if you dont have much time for research and study, there are actually a number of manufacturers which make raw food diets for pets. Try to visit the local pet store and find these types of food and learn about the instructions.
Commercial raw foods normally require certain food ratio handlings which are taken care by the manufacturer. But if you choose to make their own food, you need to understand that dogs dont need only meat as their daily meals. The normal rules are: 35 percent lean meat, 20 percent fat, 25 percent bone, 15 percent organ meat, and 5 percent plant food sources or veggies. This ratio should work well for adult dogs; as for puppies, commercial mixture is perhaps the better option.
The types of meat should be consumed could be anything; fishes like salmons will do just fine, bones can come from various animals but you will want to grind them first because solid bones can splinter and later cause internal injuries. As for organ meats, you can choose almost any kinds of meat from chicken livers to beef tripe. Just make sure you use the most natural meat sources you can find, which are free from additives or spices. If you wish to give varieties of raw food meals to your dog, it can be based on the availability of the food or simply notice your dogs preferences.
For the types of fruits and vegetables you plan to include in your dogs diet menus, notice that onions, garlic, and raw potatoes are generally considered off limits. The good options for dogs are carrots, peas, blueberries and green beans. Also pay attention on your dogs eating behavior, whether they have frequent digestion problems or suffering from itching which might be caused by certain kinds of food. Consult with your vet, whether the condition is caused by allergies or something else.
If you wish to prepare your own dogs raw foods for long term storage, you can dehydrate those foods with the help of food dehydrator. Try Nesco FD-75PR food dehydrator which works great on drying veggies, fruits, and making jerky. This is simply the better option than giving your dog commercial raw foods all the time.
No related posts.