Benefits of a Raw Diet Full Time or Part Time
Starting a Raw Diet
Thinking of starting your puppy or kitten on a raw food diet or maybe switching your older pet from kibble to raw? It’s not a hard transition for many pets and the health benefits alone can be reward enough to make the transition. And, if you are not able to feed an exclusive raw diet, read along here on how you can stick with kibble and still give some raw benefits to your pet!
First of all, just exactly what is “raw food”? A raw food diet generally consists of muscle meat, ground bones, organ meats, vegetables, and fruit.
Benefits of Raw Food
Feeding a raw diet either full time or part time can give your pet a multitude of benefits.
Cleans teeth
Helps prevent gum disease
Promotes a shiny coat and healthy skin
Less food allergies
Smaller stools and less smell!
Improved gut health and digestion
More energy, particularly in elder pets
Controls weight more naturally
Mobility improvements in elder pets
Helps build a stronger immune system
Transition from kibble to full time raw
Every pet will be different, and one of the best ways to ensure a better transition is to begin your pet on a probiotic supplement for 7-10 days before the switch to build up a healthy gut and reduce digestion upset during the transition. You can transition in several ways.
Gradually mix raw with kibble until you are fully transitioned to raw.
Feed one raw meal a day for several days, working up to fully raw over a period of 5 – 10 days.
Switch directly to raw if your dog is healthy with no digestion issues.
Not ready to go full time raw? Here are some tips to stay with kibble and supplement with raw.
There is no right or wrong way to feed your pet a combination of both kibble and raw. The most important thing to remember is whatever you decide to do, to feed this diet consistently. If you decide to feed 25% raw, then ensure that the raw diet is consistently mixed with the kibble to prevent digestion issues with your pet.
Feeding just a small amount of raw each day can have healthy benefits for your pet!
Here are some of our favorite Raw Brands!
Crudo
Crudo raw dog food is a high-quality mix of fresh meats, bones, organs, and vegetables. And the best part is, its made right here in BC! Most of their meat is sourced from within the province, but they do bring in duck from eastern Canada, and lamb and venison from New Zealand.
Red Dog Blue Kat
Red Dog Blue Kat is another excellent Canadian choice for raw dog and cat food. Their head office is based in Coquitlam. All of their meat products are sourced from ethical producers, as they place a high value on respect for the animals. They source meat from Canada, the United States, New Zealand, and Australia. In an official statement, they claim to “only use humanely raised meats, wild-caught fish, and certified organic vegetables in our recipes.”
Stella & Chewy’s
Stella & Chewy’s raw dog food is balanced, organic, and super convenient. They understand the benefits of a raw diet, and they also appreciate the extra work it requires. Their goal is to make it as safe and easy as possible for anyone to supplement their dog’s diet with more raw food or switch completely to a raw diet. Stella & Chewy’s is based in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, US.
Healthy Paws
The Healthy Paws goal is to deliver a balanced and complete diet. Through a regular raw feeding diet, exercise, and nutritional supplementation, many pet parents notice significant health improvements, including loss of excess body fat, increased energy, enhanced mental clarity and performance improvement in skin disorders, improved immunity, balance in the blood sugar level, increased longevity, lower cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.
Raw Bones & Treats
Raw bones and treats, such as beef knuckles, turkey and chicken necks, and kangaroo tails, will give pets on an exclusive raw diet essential additions to their diet. For pets not on a raw diet, or on a diet of both kibble and raw, they will gain all the same health benefits.
Raw bones will help your dog to maintain bone density and are a good source of calcium which is essential for bone structure and growth, vision, and heart function. The bacteria fighting enzymes in raw meat is essential to your pets dental care. As well, raw bones also contain minerals which aid in your pets skin and coat.
Fully digestible and highly palatable raw bones should be part of every dogs diet!
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