To Raw or Not to Raw, That is the Question

Clearly, there are benefits to feeding at least some raw food diet to your dog. Search the Internet and you will find many articles that proclaim the benefits of feeding a raw diet and just as many that claim how bad it is for your dog to feed them a raw diet. Like most arguments, the TRUTH probably falls somewhere in the middle.

There are many mistakes that can be made when starting down this Raw Road. We thought it would be helpful if we just focused on the major mistakes Pet Parents make when starting. I want to make sure that you and your dog, have the BEST experience when it comes to the Raw Food Revolution:

1. Pet Parents Lack a Basic Understanding of Nutrition:
   There are 2 KEY components that you must get right at the start or NOTHING will turn out well for your dog. First and foremost, you must have the “Right Stuff”in your dog’s food and second, you must have it in the “Right Balance”. In order for your dog to have superior health you must support them mind and body. The mind part is easy, it’s the body part that gets a bit dicey. You see you must make sure that they are getting the BALANCED amounts of Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Minerals, Enzymes, Probiotics, Omega Oils and Antioxidants just to name the BIG ESSENTIALS.

   Truthfully, most homemade diets and foods commercially available have one unfortunate fact in common: Most of them are NOT “NUTRITIONALLY BALANCED”. In order for your dog to get and keep a thriving and strong immune system, your dog needs Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates, All Natural Vitamins, Minerals, Enzymes, Probiotics, Antioxidants and Omega Oils in the CORRECT BALANCE. There are several items that are KEY to getting and keeping your dog on the Road to Great Health:

   • You have to have CLEAN protein which means Preferably Organic Grass Fed Meats including Organ Meats (like: heart, kidney and liver)
   • Fruits and Vegetables are a MUST, but be careful here as there are some fruits and vegetables that should not be fed to your dog like grapes, raisins, onions, garlic and others so check out what is prohibited before feeding.
   • A good solid plant based vitamin and mineral mix that gives your dog ALL of the natural vitamins and minerals that are essential for their superior health.
   • The RIGHT Probiotics and Digestive Enzymes, along with the correct balance of Omega Oils 3, 6 and 9. If those things are ‘Out-of-Balance’ (like they are in MOST commercial dog foods), it can wreak havoc on your dog’s immune system and cause severe inflammation in their body which translates as JOINT PAIN.
2. Ignoring Signs of Needed Supplementation:

There are two and only two ways to make sure your dog is getting the proper nutrition they require. First: Make their food at home using a true balanced formula of Proteins, Fats, Carbohydrates, Vitamins, Minerals, Enzymes, Probiotics, Omega Oils and Antioxidants that contains the correct quantity and quality of ingredients and then mix all of the foods correctly. This can be VERY time consuming and VERY expensive to make.

OR

Second: You could purchasing a high quality canine nutritional supplement that has all of the ingredients that are necessary for their healthy life and then mix this with the correct balance of Proteins, Fats and Carbohydrates.

Most people have no understand of the negative consequences of sustaining an unbalanced diet for long periods of time, much less have the everyday know-how to provide a diet that detoxifies the body and provides ample nutrition while also giving variety.

When preparing your pet’s food, you must look at the lack of nutrition in our whole food options and understand there simply is not enough nutrition available for what your pet really needs to function properly. Then, consider the breed and age of your dog and really look at what they need for any chronic health conditions, disease susceptibility, sterilization status, and more.

3. Only Feed Their Pet Raw Food:
   So many people follow 80/10/10 diet, without realizing that it is also nutritionally unbalanced and will cause significant issues over the lifespan of your pet. In the wild, canines eat nearly ALL parts of their prey which gives them important nutrients and balances their diet. Dogs by nature are NOT Carnivores… they are Omnivores and as such need a wide variety of ingredients. When we try to recreate this at home, we often leave our pets deficient on things like Iron, Iodine, Vitamins B12 and many more.
4. Omitting Roughage from their diet:
   Your pet grazes on grasses and other plants to help their body meet the requirements for enzymes, antioxidants, and phytonutrients. Adding fibrous vegetables also aids in nourishing your pet’s microbiome and contributes to gastrointestinal health. Pureeing vegetables and fruits to add them into your pet’s diet is important in providing a balanced raw diet. They even make great snacks!
5. Being Easily Susceptible to Fear Mongering:
   Many Veterinarians, Government Agencies, and Pet Food Formulators have taken a strong public stand against raw food diets. You have to ask: Why would they say this?  They claim it is to protect the public from diseases but we think it is much more sinister than that. We say, follow the money and see who is hurt if you stop buying bags of Kibble Dog Food. Could it be the big pet food manufacturers and the vets and government agencies they contribute to? We think so.

We hope that you are able to take some time today and re-evaluate any potential areas for improvement in your pet’s diet. We wish you the longest and happiest life available to you and your furry friends. We hope that you will carefully research any warnings about feeding your pet fresh, and living food and talk to qualified professionals as well. If you happen to be feeding your pet an imbalanced diet, we hope that you will take time to source nutritionally whole recipes and sources.