Reap The Rewards of Raw

Top 10 Reasons to Feed Your Dog Raw

1. fits a Dog's Anatomy

Did you know that a dog's digestive system is about half the length of a human's?

In fact, the dog digestive system has the shortest total processing cycle time of any mammal. According to Dr. Jochman, Petmd.com, “Gastrointestinal transit time is six to eight hours for dogs, while in people it’s between 20 and 30 hours.”

Here are some more interesting facts about your dog’s anatomy that show why you should be feeding it a raw food diet:

Dog's have no requirement for plant carbohydrate
Association of American Feed Control officials (AAFCO)

2. Healthier skin & coat

Did you know your dog's skin is their largest organ?

When your dog’s body is getting the nutrients and vitamins it needs, it shows through their skin! In fact, one of the most notable changes dog owners see in their dogs when switching to raw food is the dramatic improvement in their skin and coat.

The nutrients in raw food are more bioavailable for dogs to digest than commercially prepared food. Raw food also naturally contains active enzymes that help a dog breakdown and consume nutrients. Without these, it’s harder for dogs to absorb starches, fats, and protein. This can result in dandruff, dry skin, and thin or coarse fur growth.

Here are some of the benefits you'll see:

3. Calm Energy & Vitality

How can you have more fun with less hyperactivity?

Ever feel like your dog’s energy is off? Sometimes they’re overly hyper and other times almost lethargic? Did you know that your dog eats dramatically impacts their behavior and energy levels?

A surge of carbs from kibble and grain based food (wheat, oats, rice, etc.) can give your dog an insulin spike making them restless or hyper (just like kids with sugar). This is then followed by a sugar crash that makes them tired and lethargic.

Highly processed dog food is also full of harmful chemicals and preservatives. It’s not natural for food to be able to sit out, unrefrigerated, for months. A good rule of thumb, if you can’t pronounce it, your dog probably shouldn’t eat it.

By placing your dog on a raw diet you can finally get rid of the rollercoaster of energy spikes and sugar crashes many dogs are struggling with.

4. Better Oral Hygiene

Did you know that 80% of dogs suffer gum disease by age 3?

Here are some of the signs of gum disease:

The high sugar content in processed pet food creates the ideal environment for dangerous bacteria to grow, causing a number of dental issues in dogs. Kibble and canned food can also get stuck in your dog’s teeth, leading to plaque, tartar and bad breath. Raw food is less likely to stick to teeth, helping keep your dog’s mouth healthy. Raw food also contains naturally occurring enzymes which promote oral health

This could explain why 85% of adult dogs have dental disease. Gingivitis is serious enough on its own, but it can also lead to other health issues as well. When dogs are fed foods which promote bad gums and weak teeth over a long period of time, they risk losing their teeth or developing more serious issues caused by bacteria harbored in the mouth.

5. Increased Muscle Tone

Did you know that dogs are facultative carnivores (primarily meat eaters)?

Most if not all canine nutritionists agree the dog is, to a very large extent, a meat, organ and bone eater, an animal very poorly equipped to handle and process plant material.

Protein is the building blocks of not just muscle but their organs, skin, hair and joints. It is everything. There is no alternative. They need lots of it every day. When you feed it to them, they will gradually shed the carb-fuelled pudge (rapidly digested carb-fillers like cereal, rice and potatoes ingredients, on top of making you fat, make you retain an unnecessary amount of water) to reveal their beautiful, sleek, firm body.

6. Fewer allergy symptoms

Do you know the symptoms of grain allergies?

Corn, wheat, and soy are all potential allergens to dogs; a diet consisting of these ingredients (and others) can manifest in a range of health conditions.

Raw food diets, by contrast, are grain-free and gluten-free. This helps maintain a healthy gut and, in turn, an effective immune response. Imbalance within the gut is known to be the root cause of many unwanted symptoms[5]. Therefore, adding in food that nourishes, and removing food that irritates, is often the first step to resolving many conditions such as ear, nose and eye problems, digestive complaints, itching, paw licking and even mobility issues.

7. Easier on the kidneys

Did you know dogs have fewer taste buds than humans?

Dogs are known to be able to differentiate between sweet, sour, bitter, and salty. This allows them to distinguish between “I love it,” “I like it,” and “I don’t care about it.” As a result, kibble manufacturers tend to add salt to increase the “tastiness” of their food. Salt is also added as a preservative. Food can’t naturally sit out unrefrigerated for months.

While most dog food companies won’t tell you how much sodium their food contains, if you look at the ingredients salt is usually higher on the list than many of the vegetables. Yikes! Whereas with a raw diet, dogs love the taste of meat, so lots of salt isn’t needed to improve the flavor.

An added benefit of lower salt diets is that pups are easier to train. As you might expect, dry fed dogs drink huge amounts of water, causing higher amounts of urine, which is harder for them to hold.

8. Prevents arthritis

Did you know that 1 out of 4 dogs experience arthritis?

A puppy's diet is the key to preventing arthritis later in life

Physical development, especially during the puppy stage, is a key determining factor for arthritis later in life. A high carb diet for puppies can result in them being overweight. Puppies that are too heavy will experience increased pressure on their joints while they’re still forming.

In addition, inadequate nutrients may cause the sockets to be underdeveloped, allowing the bones to freely pop in and out and cause joint damage. Nutrients needed for skeleton development and maintenance need to be bioavailable to the dog- synthetics will not get the job done.

9. Less poop to scoop

Did you know better absorption = less poop?

Whatever your dog’s digestive system can’t absorb comes out in waste (aka poop). Pet foods like kibble often contain corn, rice, peas and other fillers that dog’s would never eat naturally. These ingredients are hard for your dog’s digestive system to break down, resulting in more waste.

A raw food diet contains meat, organ, bone, and select veggies and berries – all things a dog was meant to digest. That means all the ingredients in raw pet food can be easily broken down and used for fuel.

As a result, dogs who switch to raw diets tend to eliminate a lot less waste, a lot less frequently. Their stools also improve in consistency, odor and decompose faster.

10. lower vet costs

Did you know most dog health issues are diet related?

Top 7 health issues for dogs:

Skin Issues
Ear infections
Urinary Tract Infections
Vomiting/Diarrhea
Dental Disease
Obesity
Arthritis

Chronic illness can be one of the most heart-breaking and wallet-draining experiences of a pet owner. The cost of an emergency vet hospital visit can start around $500 to $1000 and go well beyond $2000 to $5000. Advanced surgery is anywhere from $2000 to $5000 or more.

A raw diet, done properly over time, is believed to result in a decreased likelihood of degenerative diseases and chronic conditions such as dental disease, gastroenterological disorders, heart disease, diabetes, and skin conditions.

The absence of these conditions results in less veterinarian visits, less treatments, and less prescriptions.