If your dog eats raw, they’ll require access to various cuts of meat – from tender steak cuts like filet mignon, through organs that could contain organotoxin, to fine bones that pose a potential choking hazard and more squeamish dogs may feel awkward about.
And they need an easily digestible nutrition mix like We Feed Raw’s Brisket Patty recipe with bones, organs and fine ground muscle meat all combined into one convenient package.
Contents
Protein
Raw feedings may pose significant health risks for both dogs and their humans. Raw meat may contain dangerous bacteria like Salmonella or E coli that could lead to illness or even death, increasing your dog’s exposure. Furthermore, allowing him/her to lick you or touch surfaces after having consumed raw foods further increases this risk.
Idealy, dogs should use raw diets as an addition or treat to their regular food plan rather than feeding it exclusively. A properly prepared raw diet can provide plenty of proteins, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fats, vitamins and minerals – without losing nutrients due to cooking.
Fat
Dogs have the genetic capacity to efficiently digest animal protein in its raw state. Their jaws, durable teeth and special digestive enzymes enable this digestion.
Contrary to humans, dogs’ stomachs and intestinal tracts are highly acidic. This allows them to consume raw meats containing pathogens such as Salmonella or Listeria without becoming sick themselves.
However, dogs should only consume raw food from safe and hygienic sources that have been thoroughly cooked and handled hygienically. Furthermore, it should be nutritionally balanced: adding raw beef as a topper or treat is fine but should not serve as the main protein source in their diet; for a comprehensive approach try We Feed Raw’s Meaty Patty that features organ meat and finely ground bone pieces as an option instead.
Vitamins
A healthy raw diet provides your pup with essential vitamins and minerals. The key is making sure it’s nutritionally balanced so she gets all of her needs met.
Dogs are genetically designed to eat and digest animal proteins raw, just like their wild wolf ancestors. With short digestive tracts and high acidity levels producing large amounts of hydrochloric acid which destroys pathogens while breaking down meat tissue, dogs have evolved the ability to do just this.
They possess strong jaws and teeth, along with pancreatic lipase – a digestive enzyme which breaks down fats – which enables them to digest raw meat easily and other whole foods easily. To get optimal results for your pup’s digestion, offer nutritionally complete raw food or try keepingers Mix which includes raw beef topping for best results.
Minerals
Dogs possess forgiving digestive systems with short intestinal tracts that allow them to easily break down pathogens like salmonella and listeria found in raw meat without issue. Also unlike humans, dogs don’t hesitate to eat organs such as liver and brain that contain iron, gut fibres, glucosamines, as well as various minerals like calcium phosphorus zinc boron copper.
Raw beef is an excellent source of niacin, vitamin B6 and riboflavin; in addition, it is an excellent source of iron – deficiency can lead to fatigue, apathy and weakness.
Properly prepared raw diets provide all of the essential nutrients for dogs. But home-prepared raw diets can be more challenging to get right than their professionally formulated counterparts; therefore it may be prudent to seek advice from a veterinary nutritionist before embarking on this path.
Omega 3 & 6
Lean animal protein such as raw beef liver, heart or brain provides vital nutrition and encourages balanced behavior in pets. Dogs generally don’t object to eating organ meat or bones and can easily digest raw muscle meat.
Raw meat can provide essential omega 3 and 6 fatty acids that help combat inflammation. Unfortunately, most commercially produced and home-prepared raw diets contain too much omega 6.
Raw meat presents more risk of bacteria that cause foodborne illness than cooked, since heat kills harmful pathogens like salmonella, listeria and E coli. However, dogs have more forgiving digestive systems than people and their natural stomach acidity levels can handle the bacterial load found in fresh meat products – the key being choosing high-quality ones that are safe.
