Veterinarians warn of nutritional deficiencies or excesses found in homemade raw diets for pets, which often manifest themselves as dull coats, skin issues and weak bones in animals.
BARF World raw dog food rolls are comprised of muscle meat and organs to mimic the diet of your pup’s wild ancestors, sold in 2-pound frozen rolls that can be divided up after thawing into individual servings.
Contents
Choosing the Right Meat
At the core of any effective raw diet lies protein. Aim for meat as one of your first two choices and steer clear from meals or by-products like feathers, horns, intestines or heads; they contain anything edible from an animal including organs, eyes, brains, sweetbread or green tripe that could provide essential nourishment.
An ideal raw diet must include organ meats like liver, kidney and heart as they contain naturally-occurring multivitamins; an ideal proportion should make up at least 10% of a dog’s total daily ration; for puppies requiring additional bone support this should increase to at least 12% to 15%.
Morgan recommends selecting grass-fed beef as it contains higher levels of zinc, riboflavin, thiamine and vitamin B12 than conventionally raised meat. Dark meat also boasts rich iron content to combat issues like anemia and low appetite; low sodium meats may help protect heart conditions while those prone to bladder stones require lower potassium content meats.
Choosing the Right Bones
Selecting appropriate bones for your dog provides hours of chewing pleasure while simultaneously helping their teeth by scraping off plaque. Furthermore, bones provide essential sources of calcium and phosphorus – accounting for 10% to 15% of a raw diet’s requirement – essential cofactors of enzymes which power metabolic processes within their bodies, aiding metabolic health as a whole – without them many detrimental outcomes could ensue such as crippling joint diseases, heart issues or more serious medical conditions arising in due course.
Ideal bones should be fresh, raw and uncooked to avoid damage to gums or dental fractures as well as to the digestive tract. Cooked bones splinter more easily when heated and can damage gums or cause dental fractures that clog your digestive system.
When feeding whole bones to your dog, select meats with low sodium levels and high potassium, along with plenty of calcium content. Be sure to provide an array of bones and treats – such as jerky patties or sausage-style treats as an alternative – so your pup receives an optimal diet.
Choosing the Right Treats
Dogs cannot get all their vitamins, minerals, amino acids and fatty acids from meat alone – they require vegetables, fruits, eggs and supplements as part of a balanced diet to stay healthy and happy.
Raw diets primarily consist of proteins and fats, but adding fruit (up to 12 cup per day) and vegetables such as carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, spinach or green beans as additions can provide extra nutrition and phytochemicals that lower cancer risks.
Organ meats provide valuable vitamins and nutrients not found in muscle meat, making up about 10% of meals. These organs include liver, heart, kidney, spleen, sweetbread and brain (Mother Nature’s multivitamins!). Fish oil provides additional omega fatty acids which may improve skin and coat health as well as inflammation relief and cognitive support for optimal performance.
Choosing the Right Routine
Raw diets should include an array of meats and other ingredients in order to be balanced and safe for dogs. Raw foods contain bacteria and pathogens which could make dogs sick as well as spread diseases to other pets and humans. Furthermore, bones can splinter and cause intestinal injuries and blockages, with smaller breeds at particular risk from choking.
Dogs need about 10%-15% bone in their diet, ideally from weight bearing bones such as necks and feet. Other bones may also be acceptable as long as they do not possess sharp edges.
Organ meats should also make up 5-15% of their diet, such as liver, kidney, heart, spleen, sweetbread and green tripe – Mother Nature’s multivitamins! These provide essential vitamins A and B as well as minerals like copper and folate; in addition they’re packed full of short chain fatty acids that boost immunity while providing anti-inflammatory benefits. Incorporating vegetables, berries and fruits (except high sugar fruits ) containing polyphenols that support balance of gut bacteria as well as fight inflammation can completes the diet.
