Unlock the best nutrition for your dog
Raw food has become an increasingly popular feeding choice for pet owners in recent years, with many searching for a natural, less processed diet for their dogs.
Owners now more than ever are conscious of providing balanced and considered nutritious meals. A raw food diet offers all the key health benefits your dog needs to thrive – and they love it!
Understanding the raw dog food diet
The raw food diet was developed to resemble a dog’s ancestral and wild eating pattern. Despite common misconceptions, it is perfectly safe to integrate into your dog’s meals when done correctly and easy to store.
A raw dog food diet usually includes raw muscle, organ meat, and bones. Some owners also choose to add other ingredients such as raw egg, dairy, and fruit and vegetables.
Read our breakdown of the 80-10-10 raw food diet for more information.
Traditional dog food – what’s wrong with it?
Traditional dog food found in supermarkets and pet shops face several criticisms, with some cheaper brands being far worse offenders than others. Although it can be viewed as a convenient and practical food in some people’s eyes, it can have a real risk to your dog’s long-term health.
Common drawbacks of commercial dog food include:
- Low-quality, ingredients – commercial brands notoriously use cheap, low-quality meat by-products/offcuts and fillers.
- Nutritionally imbalanced – often lots of artificial additives, preservatives and colourings are used. This along with a lack of essential nutrients, can have a negative effect on a dog’s overall health, especially digestion
- Overprocessing – to extend the shelf life of their products, companies will highly overprocess food resulting in a loss of natural nutrients
- Overuse of fillers and grains – dog food brands commonly use grains and fillers such as corn and wheat to bulk up their products, which are often more difficult for dogs to digest and mean the amount of quality protein is a lot less than what owners may think
- Lack of ingredient transparency – many brands are not honest about the sources of their ingredients. It is also difficult to decipher the quality and breakdown of food.
- Not catering to allergies and sensitivity – many dogs are sensitive to common filler ingredients in traditional dog food such as wheat and soy, which can worsen existing skin or digestive conditions
A raw diet for dogs gives owners more control to make informed decisions about exactly what they are feeding their pets, without getting lost in confusing labelling and marketing tactics.
Browse our range of raw food from our online shop, including our Supermix bundles. With quick nationwide delivery, we help make raw food a convenient and achievable reality.
Feeding raw offers huge health benefits for your dog
- Quality, premium nutrition – if you are keen to give your dog a nutrient-rich and premium diet then feeding raw is the way to go. With it closely mirroring a natural, wild diet you can be reassured that your dog will get the right balance of vitamins and minerals in its purest form
- Great for food allergies and sensitivities – the common issues with allergens found in traditional dog food mentioned above are typically left out of a raw diet, making it a perfect choice if your dog is sensitive to wheat, corn or soy
- Promotes healthy digestion – offering whole, unprocessed foods supports healthy digestion and can lead to fewer gas and bloating issues
- Improved muscle tone and body condition – with the diet being very high in quality animal proteins, it promotes lean muscle development, and helps dogs maintain a healthy weight with the avoidance of unhelpful excess filler calories
- Create a bespoke meal plan – feeding raw provides owners with the ultimate flexibility to customise their dog’s diet to cater to its individual needs. Protein sources, fat content and additional supplementation can all be adjusted in line with activity level, breed and age
- Improved coat, skin & dental health – supporters of the raw food diet report big improvements such as a shinier coat and less hair shedding. Also, raw bones can often help keep their teeth clean, as the continued abrasive chewing reduces tartar and plaque build-up.
However, it’s important to note that while there are many potential benefits of feeding raw, this diet is not suitable for all dogs. Always consult with a vet before making big changes to your dog’s diet. They can provide guidance based on your dog’s individual health, age, and activity level.
Contact the team at Raw Dog Food Supplies today, or visit one of our branches for trusted advice.