Feeding my pet dog raw pet dog food
Over the next three months, you are going to discover all you requirement to understand about feeding your pet dog a raw diet.
Most of my raw pet dog food articles will be split into two parts. The very first will be a raw topic I want to cover such as reasons to switch your pet dog to a raw diet. The second will be an update on exactly how my mutt Ace is doing on a raw diet.
To begin this trial, I produced a page devoted to the pros as well as cons of feeding your pet dog raw pet dog food. feel complimentary to inspect it out as well as leave your concepts in the comments. There is always a lot more we can all discover about what to feed our dogs.
Why did I choose to feed my pet dog raw food?
I am crazy. as well as my pet dog is bloodthirsty.
No, really I’ve been researching the benefits of raw food for myself as well as for my pet dog for about three years now.
I’ve tried eating 100 percent raw food (vegetables, nuts, fruit), however it’s not sensible for me at this point since I don’t get the calories I need. I run as well as walk dogs all day, as well as I can’t get by without eating a great deal of calories. I eat at least 4,000 calories per day. It’s just not sensible for me to cut out cooked foods like bread as well as pasta.
Also, North Dakota does not precisely have a large range of raw foods, particularly in the winter. Fruits as well as vegetables as well as nuts are expensive.
So what I do is try to eat as much raw food as possible each day, integrating raw salads, smoothies, juice as well as nuts into all my meals when I can.
I still eat dairy products. I still eat grain. I eat a great deal of eggs as well as seafood. I don’t eat chicken, turkey, pork, beef or other meat unless it’s a extremely unusual occasion, like if a buddy goes hunting as well as shares some pheasant or deer meat with us. You know, like, genuine meat.
I still eat as well as drink all the food that’s poor for us like pizza, cookies, beer as well as soda.
What about my dog?
I want what’s finest for Ace, that’s all.
A raw diet plan is the evident healthy option when it pertains to canine nutrition. Does that indicate my pet dog will not be enabled to eat cooked food, kibble or natural pet dog treats? Of program not. however the majority of his diet, at least for the next three months, will be raw meat.
I hope you’ll inspect out my page on the pros as well as cons of feeding your pet dog raw food. You may likewise be thinking about discovering a lot more about the expense to feed raw pet dog food. Unfortunately, it’s not cheap.
Raw pet dog food is the healthiest method to choose a lot of dogs since raw food is natural. It has no by-products. No preservatives. No grain (unless you select to add it). It has no chemicals. No dyes. No corn.
I will understand precisely what my pet dog is eating. Plus, raw food consists of enzymes that make digesting food as well as taking in nutrients much, much much easier on the body. These enzymes are destroyed when food is cooked, so keep in mind to get a fair share of raw fruits as well as veggies yourself!
Ace on a grain-free kibble (pre raw-food trial)
Prior to this raw food trial, Ace was eating mostly a natural dry pet dog food called Evo. This food is grain free, high in protein (chicken as well as turkey) as well as low in carbs. It is one of the healthiest options for a pet dog when it pertains to kibble. since Ace has been on a top quality dry food for a number of years, I hope he has an simple time adjusting to a raw diet.
Prior to Evo, Ace ate other natural brands such as solid Gold as well as Nature’s range Instinct. before that, I had him on Purina One poultry as well as rice since I didn’t understand any type of much better as well as a vet had really suggested it to me. Plus, it was affordable.
Ace’s health and wellness before the raw food trial
My pet dog is a 5-year-old in shape as well as healthy black lab/hound? mix. Still, he’s had a few minor health and wellness problems while on a grain-free kibble diet plan worth mentioning.
Ear infections
Ace gets about two ear infections per year. He seems to be getting them less frequently while on the grain-free kibble vs. routine kibble. I still don’t understand if the ear infections are diet plan associated or not.
Itchy skin/dandruff
My pet dog is always itchy. I don’t understand if this is associated to his diet plan or if it’s something in the atmosphere like dust or even just dry air. He is itchy in the summertime as well, although not as bad.
In the winter, Ace has some quite poor dandruff. It’s obvious since of his black coat. He scratches himself sufficient to make his skin bleed, generally on his chest. He normally has a few bit sores as well as scabs from all the itching. He likewise licks as well as chews his feet, tail as well as legs all the time.
An allergy test might assist me figure out what might be triggering Ace’s allergies (or whether he even hastrue allergies), however his symptoms haven’t been poor sufficient for me to validate the test.
Teeth
Ace has white teeth – look at those chompers! I never clean his teeth as well as I have not been great about getting him raw bones or other goodies to chew. He does chew on his Nylabones right here as well as there. I’ve always been cautious not to feed him “people food” that contains sugar.
He has some plaque develop up, though (I presume that’s plaque?). I don’t expect it to go away on a raw diet, however if it does, that would be great!
Shedding
My pet dog sheds a lot. I understand that is true of a lot of dogs, as well as Ace is a lab, after all. however still, there is black hair anywhere no matter exactly how frequently I clean him as well as exactly how frequently I vacuum.
Less poop!
Simply put, my pet dog shits a great deal less when he’s on a grain-free food. Like, a great deal less. His poop is extremely solid, simple to pick up as well as it doesn’t leave nasty streaks in the snow or grass.
Even when he eats an organic kibble with grain, the poop doubles, as well as it’s loose as well as gross. If Ace eats a lower-quality kibble, this pet dog can poop like you wouldn’t believe! five bags are needed for just one walk around the neighborhood.
The a lot more nutrients in the food, the less squander the pet dog produces. What a concept. I picture I will notice even a lot more of a difference when Ace’s body adjusts to a raw diet.
My pet dog is always thirsty
Ace has always had an obsession with drinking all the water in sight. I believe this is partly because of his diet plan (and partly because of my pet dog being a bit nutty). His kibble (Evo) consists of 10 percent moisture. The pre-prepared raw food patties from Stella as well as Chewy’s are 70 percent moisture. I suspect this will make a huge difference for Ace as well as his water obsession.
Weight
Last I checked, Ace was a healthy, lean 65 pounds.
Gray hair
Ace started getting gray hair around his muzzle about a year as well as a half ago. He just turned 5 on March 1. I question a raw diet plan will reverse the color of his hair, however I wished to make a note of it just in case.
Energy
My pet dog has low to medium energy. Lately he’s seemed even lazier than normal. He only walks about 2 miles per day, as well as when he’s not walking he lies on his bed as well as sleeps.
Sometimes he complies with me from space to space (especially when food is involved), as well as of program he gets truly ecstatic if somebody pertains to the door or if we play fetch or go to any type of of his preferred parks. as well as even though he has bit energy around the house, he is still up for walking/running distances of about 5 miles. Afterwards, he is a total pile.
My pet dog eats raw food – day 3 update
Note: This is week one of a 12-week raw food trial for my pet dog Ace. Stella & Chewy’s is sponsoring this trial by supplying Ace with 90 days worth of pre-prepared raw pet dog food patties.
Today is day three of Ace’s 90-day raw food trial.
Over the last three days, two-thirds of Ace’s meals have been kibble while one-third has been raw. Stella & Chewy’s is sponsoring Ace’s 90-day raw food trial by supplying him with pre-prepared raw pet dog food patties.
Stella & Chewy’s suggests a progressive switch from kibble to raw just like you would switch from one kibble to another. Ace’s vet likewise suggest a progressive switch. This is not the situation with all raw pet dog food business as well as vets. Some suggest a quick switch since the combo of dry food as well as raw food can be difficult on a dog’s digestive system.
Stella as well as Chewy’s raw pet dog food patties are very convenient. There are twelve 8-ounce patties in each 6-pound bag. Ace will be eating about three patties each day when he’s completely changed over to raw. He absolutely likes the raw patties! I do too, since the components are natural as well as risk-free for my dog.
For the very first two days on a kibble-raw combo, Ace showed no indications of an upset stomach. None. I honestly had him sleep in the laundry space since I was anxious he was going to have explosive diarrhea in the middle of the night. I’ve heard sufficient horror stories of dogs getting ill from raw food. however Ace has been fine.
Today is the third day as well as his poop was a bit loose on our walk this morning (just like it is when he switches to a different kibble). Hopefully that will be the worst.
I may be imagining it, however I vow my dog’s coat already looks shinier as well as healthier. He has no obvious dandruff today, either. might be a great coincidence.
So far the trial is going well. ?
Natural Pet center in Fargo is the very best location to discover a big range of natural, grain-free or raw pet dog as well as feline food.