An increasing number of customers have been inquiring about, and jumping on the bandwagon with raw feeding for their dog or cat. Many are moving to raw because they believe it is the healthiest way to feed their pet. Some breeders are feeding raw and asking their puppies or kittens new families to do the same. Other pet owners have been asked to feed raw by their dog trainer or their vet. Digestive issues or persistent food allergies can be resolved when moving to raw feeding.
Why would a dog trainer recommend raw feeding? Many pet owners have noticed behavioral changes with their pets after moving to raw. Pets can become more content and exhibit fewer behavioral problems.
Raw feeding is not new, 100 years ago dogs and cats were not fed kibble – it did not exist. Then pets were fed meat, bones and table scraps. Since then kibble has become the standard food for dogs and cats. It is convenient, has a long shelf life and we can feed our pets in a matter of minutes. For many people it is difficult to imagine feeding their pets anything else.
So what is driving this move to raw feeding? It is from owners who are looking for the most appropriate diet for their pets. Dogs and cats are carnivores; their systems have been tuned through millions of years of evolution to thrive on a prey diet (the original raw feeding). We may have adapted to feeding kibble but our dogs biology is still adapted to do best with a raw diet. Dr Karen Becker (a well-known vet who practices preventive medicine), ranks a balanced raw diet as best food for cat and dogs health.
What exactly is raw feeding? A balanced raw diet contains meat, ground bones, organs, and some vegetables. Kelp is often added for minerals and fish oil for omegas. The bones in the diet are also raw so they are digestible and are the main source for calcium. This is how carnivores obtain their calcium in the wild. Keep in mind that cooked bones are not digestible and sharp fragments could cause a problem.
While raw feeding is not right for everyone, many pet owners who move to it are delighted with the results. Kathy Holland of DDO took the time to send us the following note regarding her experience:
“I have wanted to try feeding my own dogs a raw diet for several years. I hesitated because I thought it would be a problem to manage the food, to keep track of thawing etc. We recently switched to Mountain Dog Food (MDF) – and I am so delighted I ‘joined the club’. Although food was always a priority with my 2 Golden Retrievers – they go nuts for the MDF. They are calmer, their fur is even more shiny and the best of all – NO MORE SCOOPING! Because the MDF is so highly digestible – all that comes out is a ‘pooplet’ about 3 inches of non-smelly – firm (primarily the undigested ground bone) – overnight it turns white – the next day (if it rains) it disappears!!! I will NEVER go back to dry food again.”
Enjoy your pets and keep them healthy! Having them enriches our lives.
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