RAW - A Biologically Appropriate Diet
Like
many folks today, we did not start out feeding our dogs a raw diet, but
switched over after a long battle with kibble. We went through a large number
of different kibbles trying to find one that our dogs would eat and that
would not produce the terrible itching that our youngest dog suffered. We
were ultimately unsuccessful in finding that perfect kibble. At the suggestion
of a friend, we decided to look into feeding a raw diet as a last ditch
attempt to find some relief for our dog. The changes were gradual, but in
the end quite simply astounding. Today our dogs eagerly dive into their
meals, and our once miserably itchy dog is the picture of health.
Dogs today have the same digestive tract as wild Canids and are essentially just as capable of surviving and thriving on an all natural raw diet as their wild cousins. The jump to mass producing kibble was one of convenience, and not of nutrition. For us, one of the most important aspects of feeding a raw diet is control. We have complete control over everything that our dogs consume. This leaves us with the ability to tailor the diet to meet the needs of the individual. While it is true that some dogs do well on kibble, as do some humans who continually eat a junk diet, it is not an optimal diet.
The main objection or fear that we hear from most people is towards the
consumption of bone as it goes against everything we were ever led to believe
about feeding our pets. Are bones dangerous? The answer is not a straightforward
one. Yes, bones do have the potential to create problems, but everything
that you give your dog to chew on has the same potential. More than one
dog has died from ingesting chew toys, tennis balls, socks, ropes and any
other object they can get in their mouths. For us, the small risk associated
with natural raw feeding is an acceptable one when balanced against the
overall benefits and quality of the diet. Why should someone consider switching
their dog(s) to raw? If you recognize some of the following that appear
to plague many dogs that are on a kibble diet, then perhaps you have your
answer.
- Allergies
- Hot spots
- Skin Problems
- Bad breath
- Tartar covered teeth
- Doggie odor
While
there are kibbles on the market that do use higher quality ingredients, there
are also many that are made of the poorest quality ingredients that are available.
A simple search of the internet will provide some very startling results on
just exactly what type of ingredients are used to produce many of the kibbles
available today. The end results of feeding a raw diet to our dogs has left
us convinced that we made the best possible choice. This diet might not be for
everyone, but we do encourage people to at least research a raw diet.