If you want to improve your pet’s diet, you need to know what the risks are and whether alternatives such as raw food are sustainable. Raw food diets for pets consist of uncooked meat. Unlike kibble, which contains additives, preservatives, and fillers, such as corn, raw meals are made with fresh ingredients, eliminating exposure to chemicals.
To help you make the very best decision when it comes to your furry friend, we look at whether a raw food diet is better for dogs than kibble.
What Is Raw Food Compared to Kibble Diets?
You wouldn’t be wrong to think that raw pet food is only made from meat, but it also contains other beneficial ingredients.
Today’s healthiest dog meals consist of meats, some fruits and vegetables, fish oil, bone, and healthy fats and fibers. You have the option of preparing your pet’s meals by calculating how much raw food they should consume daily. On the other hand, you can purchase pre-packaged meals that already have the right portions based on the size of your dog. These include frozen and dehydrated foods you can empty into their food bowl without much hassle.
Kibble diets are called dry dog food and consist of a biscuit that contains various proportions of vitamins, minerals, and fiber every dog needs. Depending on the brand, these commercial foods have a minimum protein content of 18% compared to the 60 to 70% meat you’ll find in raw diets. As dogs require high-quality protein sources, kibble diets are frowned upon, but that doesn’t mean that they’re all bad.
Now that we’ve explored the differences between these diets, let’s look at the benefits and limitations of raw versus kibble.
The Benefits of Feeding Raw Food to Your Dog
Some pet owners swear by raw foods because they don’t have any fillers or processed ingredients. These whole foods haven’t been baked into biscuits, as with kibble, which loses a large percentage of its nutrition. Whole meat, eggs, bones, and oils are carefully selected to provide the required vitamin and mineral content for dogs. As a result, dogs have shinier coats, whiter teeth, better breath, and more energy compared to those on a strict kibble diet.
Many pet parents have reported fewer joint and mobility issues in their canine companions, particularly in their senior years, when fed unprocessed meals. That’s because fresh food helps reduce inflammation in the body as it is easily digested, and gut health is supported.
Dogs’ bodies don’t have to work hard to digest corn or soy, which are fillers you find in kibble-based products. Raw also tastes scrumptious to dogs, and you probably won’t have to deal with waste. Some dogs enjoy it so much that they might try “counter-surfing” before it gets added to their food bowl! You won’t have to worry about obesity in your dog either because the unprocessed diet doesn’t have many carbohydrates.
The Limitations of Raw Food
Before determining whether a raw food diet is better than kibble, we need to look at the downsides of raw food compared to dry alternatives.
There’s no denying that biscuit-based dog food is convenient to serve. You measure a cup full of food and pour it into your dog’s bowl. Raw products might take a little bit longer to prepare if you are sourcing the ingredients yourself. You can purchase pre-packaged food, but depending on the brand, it can be more expensive than kibble––even more so if you’ve got a big dog with a huge appetite.
Just remember that you can’t give your pooch raw food overnight. Dogs must adjust to these high-protein meals to avoid getting sick over a few days. I know of many pet owners who prefer to cook or heat these meaty meals instead of serving them completely raw to avoid stomach upset. This is a suitable option, but the food should be prepared like a medium-to-rare steak.
Cooking it all the way through or at high temperatures will diminish the nutrients. There is a concern that such a diet will cause worms in dogs. As long as you source high-quality meat suitable for human consumption and regularly worm your pets, parasites shouldn’t be a problem.
The Pros and Cons of Feeding Kibble
Dry dog food is highly commercialized, and these products vary greatly in quality and nutrition. Most of them contain a high amount of carbohydrates, including corn, soy, and maize, which increase your pet’s weight and may irritate digestive sensitivities or intolerances. Chemicals ranging from colorants to preservatives are unnatural additions that have been linked to pet allergies, poor immunity, and some cancers that affect dogs.
Dogs that are fast eaters can consume kibble too quickly or fail to chew the biscuits, increasing the risk of choking and bloat. If your dog wolfs down their food, introduce a slow feeder to prevent problems down the line. On the positive side, many of these products have been vet-checked to ensure that they meet the nutritional needs of dogs.
Why Raw is Better Than Dry Dog Food
Although feeding biologically appropriate meals to dogs might seem savage at first, you’ll notice improvements in their condition in a short period of time. You have the option of working with holistic veterinarians who create entire meal plans based on your pup’s age and size. Because raw diets are free of chemical preservatives and haven’t been processed, they are considered more nutritious for pets.
Many dog parents have sworn that the raw diet has relieved their pet’s allergies, restored shiny coats, and given their dogs more energy. If you don’t want to transition your dog to raw, you can semi-cook their meals or introduce these meaty products as a treat. Only with careful research and monitoring of your pooch can you decide what works best for them.
