Feeding Your Pet Raw Food

The first time someone hears about another, feeding their pet a raw diet a look of obscurity comes over their face. A raw foods diet for dogs doesn't seem to be a diet that dogs would generally go for, however the raw way of eating seems to be something that a lot of canines enjoy.

Having spent sometime in the dog show realm, I witnessed a lot of dogs eating this way. In fact it became common lingo for dog owners to speak of "the raw diet" for their pets. Personally, I never could get my Irish Setters to be excited about cabbage unless I had some meat fat smeared all over the cabbage leaves. However, they seemed to be much more excited about chicken. Feeding your pet raw food is a great way to maintain and manage their health and wellness. Here's some of the pointers I've learned along my dog ownership journey.

Getting Started

Think local. Chicken seems to be the base food for most animals that are raw feeders, so if chicken is readily available, let that be the first choice for your dog. If chicken is not in abundance locally, sometimes lamb, venison, beef, duck, rabbit or other small game are more available .

It's also important to try to avoid as many additives as possible and keep your dogs diet filled with raw organic food if you can..

Steer clear of grains as well. Dogs tend to have food allergies to many of the grains, and grains happen to be the biggest food source in commercially made dog foods. Many dogs that switch to a raw diet often have complete recoveries from skin conditions and other types of allergy related symptoms.

Purchasing Raw Dog Food

Finding ways to obtain raw dog food may pose a challenge for some people, however, you can talk to your local butcher at your grocery store, or perhaps a private one in the neighborhood, as well as a meat processor in your community. Processors always have an abundance of left over meat scraps that are perfect for your dog to eat. Some of these include chicken necks, chicken feet, chicken heads, chicken carcasses and various other types of raw chicken to choose from.

Pregnant Bitches

Pregnant bitches are among the biggest category of dogs to benefit from a raw diet. It's easier on their digestive system which will in turn make the best use of all the nutrients available to them. As pregnant moms to be that's important. So much of the nutrition in commercial dog food isn't in a form that is bioavailable to them.

Bacteria

Yes, bacteria like e coli, salmonella and many other bacterias are a part of eating raw chicken, however, those bugs are everywhere. In our fridge, on our floors, and pretty much all around us. Dogs have well built immune systems that are ready to handle that. In fact they probably do so much more efficiently than we humans do.

The dog owners I know that have been feeding raw for years, really don't have trouble with illness from it and they are quite mindful of disinfecting well with good handwashing after you feed the dog as well as a good disinfectant preparation for countertops and surfaces. Spraying white vinegar on surfaces is a great way to do this.