Feeding a raw diet for dogs?
I fully believe that a raw diet for dogs is the best way. It just makes sense to feed them in a way that would be comparable to the diet that they have evolved to metabolize. Dogs have not evolved to eat grains. You wouldn’t see a dog in the wild stealing ears of corn out of the corn field and chowing down. However you would see the wild dog killing a small prey animal and making supper out of that. Commercial dog foods contain grains. Grains that are genetically modified as well as not being what your dog needs. This can lead to obesity, and possibly diseases down the road. This is a very comprehensive article from Dogs Naturally Magazine that may answer many of your questions pertaining to a raw diet for dogs. If you have been wondering, considering, or already feeding a raw diet this is a must read.
Raw Diets For Dogs: Getting Enough Vitamins And Minerals
One of the main reasons pet owners are reluctant to switch their dog to a raw diet is the fear their dog wouldn’t get enough vitamins and minerals. Many others feed plant and vegetable matter for an added vitamin and mineral punch. But if you’re one of those raw feeders who’s tired of mincing veggies – or you worry that carnivorous dogs shouldn’t be eating that many veggies – then here’s a guide to help you see the vitamin and mineral content in animal proteins. If you’re new to a raw diet and want to learn more about starting out, then you might want to read our Raw Feeding Primer.
Although it’s hard to improve on a fresh, natural diet of species appropriate foods, you may have a dog who you feel needs extra nutrition (perhaps extra vitamin C for immune function or iodine for thyroid function). Luckily, there are nutritional herbs you can use to give your dog an additional boost without needing to mulch up those veggies. Most importantly, these whole food sources of vitamins and minerals are a much healthier choice than their synthetic counterparts. And unlike synthetic vitamins and minerals, herbs provide essential nutrients complete with the cofactors they need to make a healthy change in your dog – just as nature intended!
