Why Raw Pet Food is Better for your Pet

Raw food diets are becoming increasingly popular, but they are no new concept.

Raw diets are similar to the original doggie diet because the hounds of yesteryear hunted and ate raw meat on the regular. Dogs’ bodies are made to digest decaying flesh, and they are capable of processing bacteria and germs that can easily make humans sick. But until the last decade or so, the market availability for safely prepared and packaged raw diets was slim.

When we talk about raw diets, it’s more involved than cutting up some raw chicken and putting it in a bowl. Raw diets are supplemented with other ingredients to give dogs the nutrients they need. We at MELTHAM RAW FEEDS supplement raw meat with fruits and vegetables, organs, bone, vitamins, and minerals. So, we are not saying you should feed your dog raw meat alone. Getting raw food that is already prepared is definitely the way to go.

 

Does Raw Food Improve Digestion?

With a raw food diet, dogs are able to absorb more of the ingredients. Therefore, dogs poop less frequently and overall produce less fecal matter. Your dog is able to go longer on less food, compared to a kibble diet.

Additionally, because dogs aren’t consuming as much junk, they spend less time and energy digesting food. While kibble stays in a dog’s stomach for 7-9 hours, raw food only takes 1-2 hours to digest. Less energy spent digesting food = more energy to have fun.

 

Does Raw Pet Food Promote a Healthier Physique?

Dogs have been known to lose excess weight or even gain needed weight on a raw diet. Depending on where they’re at, a raw diet balances your dog’s system and moves to a healthier weight.

It’s pretty simple: upgrading to higher-quality food gives dogs more energy because there is less junk to filter out. Your dog gets the essential nutrients they need to feel their best, without carrying a load of carbs and fillers in their bodies all day.

 

Who is a Raw Food Diet Best For?

 

Most dogs can benefit from switching to a raw food diet. But there are a few groups who can especially benefit:

Seniors: Much like humans, when dogs get older, their metabolisms slow down. Raw diets have higher water content and less fat than kibble. Senior dogs also benefit from a low-glycemic and low-phosphorus diet, which usually has less bone in it. Less bone = less ash. ‘Ash‘ is what vitamin and mineral deposits are referred to in the dog food world. Ash can easily build up in kidneys and can form stones or crystals. Kibble sometimes will have a lot of ash in it and that’s bad for senior dogs. Many senior dog diets are designed with this in mind, so it’s something that can help make your dog’s golden years especially golden. 

Picky Eaters: Raw food tends to be much more palatable than kibble. Raw meat triggers a siren in your dog’s brain that goes, this feels right. And that’s due to generations of dogs hunting for themselves and eating raw meat. So if your dog is picky when it comes to kibble or wet food, raw food is definitely worth trying.

Dogs with Allergies: Having a dog with allergies can make it difficult to find foods they can eat. Narrowing down what your dog is allergic to can be easier with a limited-ingredient diet. Most raw food diets have fewer ingredients than an average kibble formula. And because these meals are so customizable, you can get raw food tailored to your dog’s needs.