What is the raw food diet for dogs and is it worth it? Find out more about it here.
The health of your pet dog is of utmost importance for its overall happiness. Along with mental stimulation, physical care will help your pet thrive, and diet is one significant aspect of this. Pet owners have numerous options today about where they source their dog’s food and what kind. One of the diets that is most up for question today is the raw food diet. Below is the background, the potential benefits, and the potential risks of a raw food diet for dogs.
The History of the Raw Food Diet for Dogs
The raw food diet for dogs began long ago, but reached the homes of domesticated dogs not too long ago. In 1993, an Australian veterinarian named Ian Billinghurst suggested that domesticated dogs could benefit from a raw food diet just as much as the dogs of his youth. After experimenting with what he fed his own pets, Billinghurst concluded that a raw food diet was better than a commercial dog food diet.
What Is a Raw Food Diet?
A raw food diet can actually look like a medley of different combinations. Overall, it is a balanced combination of vegetables, fruits, grains, and proteins, particularly meat or meaty bones. Some dog owners feed their pet an exclusively raw food diet. Others use a home-cooked diet, and still others mix and match with cooked and raw ingredients. Technically, however, a raw food diet for dogs is a balanced diet of uncooked foods only.
Differing Views
Different veterinarians have different views on what kind of diet is best. Dr. Ian Billinghurst believes that the raw food diet is ideally best, but exceptions are made for dogs and owners who cannot or do not want to go that route. Other vets believe a home-cooked diet is best for dogs with compromised immune systems or who live with toddlers or immune-compromised individuals. Others still see value in commercial foods designed with nutritional supplements.
What Does Your Pet Think?
The decision about what to feed your dog ultimately depends on what makes your dog thrive. Every dog reacts slightly differently to different foods, making it better or worse to feed it raw, cooked, or commercial food. There is no “one diet for all.” If you have questions about your dog’s diet, contact Everhart Veterinary Medicine!
Trust the Care of Your Pet to the Professionals at Everhart Veterinary Medicine!
At Everhart Veterinary Medicine, our veterinary professionals strive to provide your pet with the very best of veterinary care. We believe that the best care for your pet should be provided by experienced, compassionate, and knowledgeable veterinary professionals. With two Maryland locations in both Baltimore and Pasadena, we are always ready to welcome your pet as a new patient! Give us a call today at 410-355-3131 or 410-793-7670! For more information, as well as updates on veterinary news and topics, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn!