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Gone are the days when dog pets were pampered by their owners by the use of commercially-made canine food. When several recalls were made a couple of years back, pet owners stood at attention and seriously contemplated having a raw food diet for dogs (and surprisingly, even cats).
Some owners have some hesitations though. Two main reasons come to mind:
Their dogs might become carnivores. These people claim that the scent of blood might turn their dogs into flesh-eating mutts, their connection with humans limited only for hunting the latter as food. We must remember though that before dogs became trained as local house pets, they have been eating raw meat like their wolf cousins – for centuries now, if I may add. And dogs are omnivores just like us – they eat not just meat but vegetables as well.
The dogs may get salmonella or other bacteria. Ever wonder why your dog practically begs to go outside as soon as he finishes eating? That’s because their digestive systems work much faster than ours, the stomach acid doesn’t break it down – meaning, they don’t benefit from the food anyway. If you are scared of the likelihood of him getting worms, be sure to buy raw food that’s approved by the USDA (the United States Department of Agriculture).
The raw food diet contains protein and other nutrients that come from the following foods:
- Raw, unprocessed bones (NOT pet store bones, as these have been cooked and boiled, therefore having a higher risk of bone splintering) or ground bones.
- Whole raw chicken, fish, lamb, rabbit, pork, beef, tripe, turkey, quail and other meats.
- Liver, kidneys and hearts.
- Whole fruits such as apples, oranges and pears.
- Whole raw eggs.
- Either shredded or ground vegetables such as carrots, spinach, broccoli and peppers.
- Yoghurt, cottage cheese or shredded cheese.
It is also recommended that you add some supplements too. Some vitamins and minerals that have been given the thumbs-up by experts consist of the following:
- Fish oils for Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
- Vitamin E.
- Garlic.
- Probiotics.
- Digestive enzymes.
- A multivitamins.
Remember to visit the vet so that he can prescribe what’s best for your dog.
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