Why Feed a Raw Food Diet to your Pet?

The digestive system of dogs and cats in the wild was designed to handle a variety of foods including flesh, internal organs and stomach contents of their prey. The combination of these foods provided a diet that was rich in high quality protein, enzymes, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. While we have domesticated our animals, their digestive tract has remained the same, so eating a raw diet is very natural for them and beneficial to their health.

Why Is Raw Human Grade Or Organic Diet Better For My Pet?

Your pet is no different from you when it comes to the relationship of a high quality varied diet and its impact on optimum health, performance and longevity. A diet of human grade and USDA certified meats, grains, vegetables and herbs insure that no unwanted by-products, antibiotics, hormones and toxins are introduced into your pet's diet.

Raw foods help your pet maintain a healthy pH balance and enzyme level in their stomach and digestive tract. E. coli and salmonella which are found on some raw meats does not pose a problem for our pets because their intestinal tract is much shorter than the human one and was designed to handle raw food and certain bacteria. Raw meats properly prepared and minimally processed are high in Essential Fatty Acids. These fatty acids are attained in the wild naturally from the carcasses of prey animals. Along with Essential Fatty Acids, live enzymes, phytochemicals, antioxidants and friendly bacteria are found in a readily absorbable form in raw meats and predigested grains and vegetable materials. Minerals are scientifically found in abundance and in nature's own ratio in the uncooked bones of animals. Not only does giving your dog a bone make them happy; it may well be the best thing you can do to provide for their nutritional well being.

Today, there are a variety of options in feeding raw diets including pre-packaged frozen dinners, dehydrated complete meals, raw diet pre-mixes or making a homemade diet from scratch. Whichever route you choose, look for the best quality human grade meats, vegetables and grains, preferably organic. For more detailed information, visit our Nutrition Articles, Super Foods Pet Market Healthy Diet recommendations, Dr. Harvey's  and Raw Advantage Learn More Pages.

What are the benefits of feeding raw food?

1. Teeth brighten and lose plaque, eliminating costly veterinary cleaning.
2. Breath becomes almost odorless indicating a healthy digestive system.
3. Skin becomes healthy and vibrant and is a hostile environment to most parasites.
4. Coat shines brightly and sheds minimally.
5. The stool is less in volume and much less offensive even in the litter box.
6. Optimal body weight is easily obtained and maintained. As a result, the vascular system is much less stressed, allowing better function of the heart, liver and thyroid.
7. Large breed puppies grow at a much slower and even pace. Their joints grow without undue stress and their long-term quality of life is optimized.
8. Arthritic conditions are minimized and many geriatric companions have a chance at a second childhood. The natural Essential Fatty Acids, as well as the overall PH balance reduce inflammation. Glucosamine, chondroitin and collagen-- natural components in raw meat--alleviate inflammation.
9. The immune system is strengthened and revitalized with overall healing and fast recovery from infections and infestations.
10. The ravages of degenerative disease seem to decrease with overall chances for full recovery optimized.

How should I handle Raw Meat?

Here are some general handling guidelines to keep you and your animal safe, happy and healthy:

1. Never refreeze unused meat products.
2. Don't feed meat product to your pet that has been thawed for more than 72 hours.
3. Keep meat products in the freezer until the day before you want to serve them to your animal.
4. Cold thaw meat in your refrigerator to keep it fresh until it is served.
5. Always feed bone products to pets outside or in a contained area to prevent contamination of your living environment. For indoor use, train pets to chew on bones while laying on a towel or sheet and wash separately from other materials after each use.
6. Keep bone products and leftover bone chips out of the reach of small children as they are a choking hazard.