Raw Pet Food: Is It Worth The Hype?

As pet owners, we all want what’s best when it comes to the food we give them.

We’re always on the lookout for how to make those little improvements by reading the latest scientific research on diet and nutrition. We also keep an eye on any changes we need to make that can help with any specific health issues that they might have.

It can be easy to get carried away with the promises made by some pet food companies when it comes to the benefits of their products.

It is important to make sure we have done our research to see if these firms can actually back up their claims with real science and real feedback from pet owners.

If you own a cat or a dog, then you will almost certainly have heard some discussion about raw pet food.

But what is raw pet food, and is it worth making the switch to your feeding plan? 

Here is everything you need to know.

First, What Is Raw Pet Food?

When we think of pet food, our minds go straight to those tins of wet chunks in jelly, or to those big bags of dried kibble.

Suffice it to say, raw pet food is not like that. A raw pet food diet is inspired by the fact that our domestic animals are descended from some pretty wild ancestry.  As such, it provides them with the kind of food that their bodies actually need, and that means raw, uncooked meat.

We’re talking chicken, lamb, and beef, and we’re talking both the juicy bits and those parts that contain all the minerals and vitamins their systems crave, like bones and organs.

Eggs are another good source of proteins, vitamins and calcium.. However, think twice if you are considering raw eggs for dogs. Salmonella and biotin deficiency are just some of the reasons to avoid raw eggs in your furry friend’s diet.

A raw food diet will also include vegetables to make sure that they are getting all the nutrients they need.

Why Should You Switch From Traditional Pet Food?

A lot of pet food brands like to shout about the number of vitamins and minerals they have in their canned and dried foods, but the fact of the matter is that there is plenty of other stuff going into those containers that your pets don’t need, some which could actually be causing some pretty nasty health issues.

Whether it’s the preservatives used to keep that jelly moist and long-lasting, or the carbohydrates that are packed into the kibble bits to hold those biscuits together, some of the basic building blocks of traditional pet food just shouldn’t be a part of their diet.

Take grains, for example, one of the most common parts of dried dog food and kibble.

A dog’s digestive system can be pretty flexible. However, it isn’t designed to digest grains.

So food containing a high concentration of grains will take much longer for them to break down and digest, and will lead to bigger, wetter stools.

The high levels of carbohydrates and sugar in these grains also contribute to weight gain, which is especially hazardous for breeds that are naturally prone to obesity.

What Are The Health Benefits Of Switching To Raw Pet Food?

When you introduce your pet to a raw pet food diet, you will be catering to their digestive system’s needs without all that extra baggage.

Stools will become smaller and firmer.

You should also see your pet’s coat become shinier and glossier, and their skin may get healthier too.

What’s more, as a result of cutting out all those sugars, you should see a marked improvement in their dental health.

Another result that you may notice is that your pet starts drinking less water, as the raw food contains far more moisture than a dry food diet and a lot less salt.

But it’s not just about what you’re cutting out when you sign up for a raw food diet. It’s also about what you’re adding to your pet’s nutrition.

A diet that provides raw chicken for dogs, gives your pet lean chicken. It is loaded with calcium, magnesium, potassium, zinc, and other essentials.

It also has bone content that gives them an important calcium boost.

Raw & Fresh, which operates out of Australia, is a great example of a premium raw pet food provider that has detailed breakdowns of the contents of each of their diet plans, and their food is also rich in omega oils which can help with bone and joint pain.

So, Is It Worth The Hype?

Making a big change in your pet’s routine is always something to think very seriously about, but the benefits that it can make to their digestive system, their fur and skin, and their joints are hard to ignore.

The fact of the matter is that there are real advantages to cutting out the kind of additives, preservatives, and miscellaneous junk that finds its way into kibble and other pet food, and with a raw pet food diet you know exactly what is going into it.

If you have any concerns or questions, then you can ask your vet for their advice. And remember, your pet is for life, not just a pandemic pal.