Introducing: Raw Food For Dogs

When we domesticate animals, we take away a vital part of their nutrition and we adapt it to what we can adjust easily to. A raw food diet for dogs would be uncalled for as we fetter away in the kitchen to cook family meals and to cook (or boil) your pet’s dinner.

Unfortunately, from what we know now, commercially-made pet food have their nutrients altered and even destroyed by processing or added chemicals. As studies have shown, a cooked diet for your pet seems to be the likely cause of degenerative and “human-related” diseases contracted by your dog. Apparently, when dog food is cooked or processed, digestive enzymes that are usually present in raw food are eliminated, which makes the remaining nutrients in the cooked food virtually impossible to absorb.

From time immemorial, even before homo sapiens existed, dogs and wolves (their wild counterparts) have been eating raw meat and bones with no apparent side effects (since they have been able to maintain their breeds). Up until now, dogs in the wild are not known to die because of infection caused by the food they eat. Well, they even eat road-kill sometimes, yet most of them still seem to be perfectly healthy. So if stray dogs can live a long life by living off on raw food, then why can’t we do the same for our pets?

There are common pet ailments which, when traced to its cause may lead us directly to the type of food they were eating – possibly no nutritional value despite the claims of its manufacturers. Some of these pet discomforts are the following:

  • Allergies. Stomach problems or red, itchy skin are common indicators of an allergy to food. Most pet owners I know claim that certain canned dog food can cause these.
  • Bowel problems. While most dogs have a fast digestive reaction to food, some unfortunate ones seem to miss the mark. Yes, some dogs can become constipated too. There could also be gastrointestinal problems and inflammation of the bowels so this should be thoroughly checked out by the vet.
  • Canine cancer. Dogs afflicted with cancer may become malnourished and weak. At the first sign of disinterest in any kind of food, set an appointment with the vet for a thorough checkup.
  • Arthritis/joint problems. This could be due to old age (just like us humans), but is your pet is still a puppy and he’s exhibiting signs, then beware.
  • Ear and eye ailments. Lack of vitamins is the usual culprits for these.
  • Poor skin coat. A dull coat and lackluster skin is a likely sign of a poor diet. Again, your pet may be lacking in the essential vitamins and minerals due to a cooked or processed diet.
  • Lacks energy. Traced still to the type of food your dog eats.

The benefits of switching him to a raw food diet are aplenty: Better digestion, more energetic, a healthier immune system to help fight infections, cleaner teeth and gums, healthier bones (due to the calcium found in raw bones), an improved behavior (less aggressive), weight can be managed easily, and having a healthier coat and skin. If this isn’t enough to convince you to do so, then I don’t know what will.