Raw dog food is a big topic of discussion in the dog mom community. After all, what we dog moms really want is a long and healthy life for our dogs. If you think raw feeding is too difficult or takes too much of your time, you’re not alone. But there are a lot of benefits to raw feeding that make it worth the effort and there are lots of ways you can feed a raw complete and balanced diet to your dog that doesn’t require hours and hours of planning and making.
Feeding a high-quality raw food diet to your dog can provide a variety of health benefits, including improved digestion, increased energy, better skin and coat health, and stronger teeth and bones. While raw feeding does require more effort than feeding a commercial kibble diet, the benefits are well worth it!
Some dog parents swear by a raw diet, myself included, while others think it’s unnecessary and too pricey. There are a lot of options out there when it comes to raw dog food diets, you can follow well-balanced recipes from dog nutritionists or you can buy already pre-made frozen meals. So how do you know which one is right for you and your pup? It comes down to time and resources.
Why you should be feeding raw dog food?
The nutritional benefits of feeding raw food to your dog are numerous. From improved digestion to shinier coats, raw-fed dogs are typically healthier overall. For one, raw food is more digestible than processed kibble, so your dog will be able to absorb more of the nutrients.
Additionally, raw food contains enzymes that are necessary for digestion. Enzymes assist your dog’s digestion by breaking down food so that your dog can absorb more of the nutrients. This means that raw feeding can help improve your dog’s digestion and overall health.
Raw food also helps keep your dog’s skin healthy. Dogs that are raw-fed typically have softer, less itchy skin, and their coats are shinier and less greasy. Raw feeding can also help improve conditions like allergies, hot spots, and skin infections.
Lastly, raw feeding can help keep your dog’s teeth and bones healthy and can boost your dog’s immune system. A strong immune system = healthier dog. The variety of nutrients in raw food helps keep their gut bacteria balanced, which makes them less prone to infections and other illnesses.
If you’re still not sure if raw feeding is right for you, talk to your veterinarian or a dog nutritionist about it. They can help you create a diet plan that’s tailored specifically to your dog’s needs.
And if you are ready to give raw dog food a try, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, it’s important to do your research and ask yourself how much time you have to dedicate to food sourcing and prepping. If the answer is not much, then I recommend looking for raw dog food companies that specialize in pre-made, complete and balanced raw food meals that offer a variety of proteins.
Before deciding you should know that there are also a few different ways to feed a raw dog food diet. Before I share with you some of my favorite raw dog food brands, let’s first talk about these two raw feeding modalities.
BARF Diet
The most popular method is known as the BARF diet, which stands for “biologically appropriate raw food.” This approach mimics what your dog would eat in the wild and follows the principle that your dog is omnivorous which means it has the ability to obtain energy from both animal and plant matter. Feeding includes muscle meat, organs, bones, vegetables, fruits, dairy, herbs, etc.
Prey-Model Diet
The other way to feed raw is using Prey Model Raw (PMR). This approach is a little less popular, but it’s very simple. With this method, you only give your dog whole prey animals, so you will be feeding raw meat, organs, bones, and animal-based insoluble fiber. If whole prey is not for you, you can try feeding Franken Prey, a term used by raw feeders who do not feed whole prey. Both Prey-Model and Franken Prey include no vegetables or added supplements. It can be a little more difficult to find raw meat that meets the requirements of the Prey-Model diet, but it’s definitely doable.
How to switch your dog to a raw food diet
If you’re thinking about making the switch to raw feeding, there are a few things you should keep in mind. Essentially, there are two schools of thought when it comes to switching your dog over to raw. Some experts recommend a slow transition, and others recommend the cold-turkey approach.
Starting slowly allows you to introduce new foods to your dog gradually. Depending on your dog’s sensitivities and age, raw feeding can be a bit of a shock to your dog’s system. I have always done the cold-turkey approach with my dogs, both with an older dog and with puppies. It has worked great for me and we’ve never had any issues.
Another thing to keep in mind is that not all dogs are the same and some may have allergies or sensitivities to certain ingredients. If your dog exhibits any adverse reactions after switching to raw, stop feeding that ingredient and consult with your veterinarian.
A great way to start and ease your way into raw feeding is to feed pre-made raw patties or nuggets. I personally prefer this method, especially when I have very little time, because it’s less messy and easier to portion out. Is it a little more expensive? Yes, but it can save you time.
Easy and affordable ways to improve your dog’s diet
If you’re not ready to fully transition to raw feeding, you can start by adding things to your dog’s kibble. Studies have shown that adding fresh vegetables to your dog’s kibble can improve their overall health. Some good options include broccoli, carrots, spinach, and zucchini. Simply chop up the veggies into small pieces and mix them in with your dog’s food.
Here are other easy and affordable things you could be adding to your dog’s bowl:
- Raw goat milk
- Bone broth (with no onions!)
- Sardines
- Organ meat like liver and hearts
- Leafy green veggies
- Yellow and orange veggies
A study showed that feeding your dog leafy green vegetables at least three times a week can help reduce the risk of transitional cell carcinoma (bladder cancer!).
What are the best premade raw dog food brands?
There are a lot of great raw dog food brands on the market, but I want to share you with today three, actually four, of my favorites.
1. Answers Pet Food – Detailed Formula
We have been feedings Answers Pet Food on and off for years now. It comes in five different proteins, chicken, beef, duck, pork, and turkey. Their ingredients include “grass fed and grass finished G.P.A. rated meat, organic poultry, and sustainable, pastured pork, along with organic vegetables, organic duck eggs, cod liver, and grass-fed raw butter.” Their raw dog food formula is a mixture of meat, organs, and bones, along with veggies and superfoods. They support sustainable farming and avoid the use of plastics in every stage of their food production and storage and their detailed formulas are nutritionally balanced. Let me share with you a quick breakdown of ALL of the ingredients in one of their recipes.
Detailed Raw Beef
Ingredients:
Beef, beef heart, beef liver, beef kidney, ground beef bone, organic carrots, organic duck eggs, organic green squash, cod liver, organic broccoli, whey, butter, kefir (raw cow milk, dried Lactobacillus bulgaricus fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Leuconostoc mesenteroides fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus lactis fermentation product), montmorillonite, organic parsley, salt, vitamin E supplement.
2. Primal Pet Foods
Primal Pet Foods was started by Matt Koss, a dog parent trying to improve the life of his own dog, Luna. Its mission is to elevate the health of pets through species-appropriate nutrition. They use antibiotic and steroid-free USDA proteins, certified organic produce, vitamins and minerals and don’t use synthetic supplements in their raw dog food formulation, using only unrefined, food-based nutrients. They are manufactured in the USA, responsibly sourced, and contain no grains, gluten, corn, wheat, soy, legumes or lentils. You can find their recipes in four different proteins, beef, chicken, duck, and lamb. Let’s take a quick look at the ingredients in one of their formulas.
Canine Raw Frozen Pronto – Beef Formula
Beef Hearts, Beef Livers, Ground Beef Bones, Organic Carrots, Organic Squash, Organic Kale, Organic Apples, Organic Broccoli, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Blueberries, Organic Cranberries, Organic Parsley, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Montmorillonite Clay, Fish Oil, Organic Quinoa, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Ground Alfalfa, Vitamin E Supplement, Zinc Sulfate, Dried Organic Kelp.
3. Stella & Chewy’s
Stella & Chewy’s was started by a dog mom trying to help her newly adopted pet Chewy. Their animal proteins are grass-fed, cage-free, wild-caught, and farm-raised responsibly. They claim to never use artificial preservatives, colors or flavors. Are pea, lentil, and potato free and are enhanced with probiotics & antioxidants and are formulated to mirror a dog’s ancestral diet. Let’s take a look at their chicken recipe.
Chewy’s Chicken Frozen Raw Patties:
Chicken with ground bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, pumpkin seed, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, organic carrots, organic squash, organic blueberries, fenugreek seed, potassium chloride, dried kelp, sodium phosphate, tocopherols (preservative), choline chloride, dried Pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried Bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried Bacillus coagulans fermentation product, zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, taurine, calcium carbonate, vitamin E supplement, thiamine mononitrate, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, niacin supplement, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid.
Lastly, I want to introduce to you a brand new family-owned and operated raw dog food brand we have been following recently. We have not had the opportunity to try their foods yet. Unfortunately, our local dog food retailer does not carry them, but we love their mission and ingredients. If you are in Texas, or if you can source it near you, this one is a must-try.
4. Bones & Co
Bones & Co is a ketogenic raw food for dogs containing 95% human-grade meat and bones, 5% organic vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. No preservatives, no grains, no fillers. They partner with small family farms, and each meal is handcrafted in micro-batches in a human-grade kitchen in Austin, Texas. Their mission is “Supporting independent retailers, pet parents, and holistic practitioners in the fight against canine metabolic disease, such as: cancer, obesity, diabetes and epilepsy.” If this doesn’t tug at your heartstrings, I don’t know what will. This cause rings a cord in this house as we have lost too many dogs to cancer. Let’s look at one of their recipes.
Temptin’ Turkey Recipe Patties:
Turkey, Turkey Heart, Turkey Liver, Turkey Gizzard, Ground Turkey Bone, Organic Spinach, Organic Broccoli, Organic Squash, Organic Pumpkin Seed, Organic Flax Seed, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Dried Kelp, Krill Oil, Organic Alfalfa, Cod Liver Oil, Organic Parsley, Vitamin E Supplement.
Tips for staying on track with a raw diet when you’re busy
It would be awesome if we could feed our dogs a homemade, balanced meal every day. However, sometimes life gets ahead of us. Here are a few tips to help you stay on track:
- Plan ahead: Research the best raw dog food brands for your dog based on their ingredients, sources, and your budget.
- Find a raw dog food delivery service: There are a lot of great raw dog food delivery services that will deliver pre-made raw meals right to your door. This can be a great option if you don’t have a lot of time to meal prep or if you want to try a raw diet but aren’t sure where to start.
- Buy in bulk: I usually buy food for my dogs once a month and store them in our freezer. That includes their meals and some of their add-ins like raw goat milk.
- Shop for your dog when you shop for yourself: Even if you are not fully feeding raw, you can pick up things to add to your dog’s bowl while grocery shopping for yourself.
The best tools and resources for raw feeding dog moms
There are a lot of great raw feeding resources available online, including websites, Facebook groups, and YouTube channels. Here are a few of my favorites:
The Raw Feeding Community: This Facebook group is a great resource for raw feeding information. It includes an FAQ section, a forum for discussing raw feeding with other users, and recipes.
Perfectly Rawsome: A raw feeding dog nutritionist with lots of information on her website, including tips on switching your dog to raw, recipes, FAQs, and more. You also have the ability to book a consult and/or purchase raw feeding meal recipes for your dog.
Dogs Naturally Magazine: This magazine is a great resource for all things dog related, including raw feeding. It includes articles on raw feeding, recipes, and product reviews.
Keep The Tail Wagging: Kimberly is a raw feeder who has a ton of great information on her website and YouTube channel about raw feeding, canine nutrition, and more.
If you’re a busy dog mom, we hope this post has shown you that it’s totally possible to improve your dog’s diet without spending hours in the kitchen. In fact, by switching to raw dog food, you may even find that you have more time on your hands! And if you’re feeling inspired to make the switch but need some help getting started, be sure to subscribe to our newsletter. We’ll send you regular tips and recipes for keeping your pup healthy and happy. Thanks for reading!
