Raw Food for Dogs Debate

There has been a recent move towards feeding dogs a raw food diet. A number of providers have sprung up selling pre-made raw meals, usually comprising of meat, bone, offal, vegetables, and occasionally dairy products too. Proponents of this diet argue that feeding dogs a more ‘natural’ diet, closer to what their ancestors would have eaten, helps their body work as it has been designed to do so.

But, there has been a backlash to this trend. With many of its detractors pointing to the lack of long-term studies that consider the impact of raw food diets on overall dog health. So below, we’ve tried to give you an overview of the debate so you can make your own mind up. Naturally, as with any decision regarding your pet, with the caveat that any significant diet or lifestyle change should be done in consultation with your vet who will have a better understanding of your specific dog’s needs.

The key arguments for:

• Avoids processed foods
• Avoid carbohydrates, to which many dogs have intolerances
• Closer to what dogs would have eaten in the ‘wild’
• Supports their immune system and overall digestion
• Chewing bones can help clean their teeth
• Firmer stools

The key arguments against:

• Doesn’t provide a balanced diet
• Danger of bacterial infection
• Chewing on bones can be dangerous if they splinter
• No harm in feeding dogs a high-quality complete food that gone through the rigour of commercial standards

As you can see, there are arguments on both sides. But if do not want to take the leap into a raw diet, but want to give your dog some added extra meaty goodness, why not consider topping up their meals with some delicious beef bone broth concentrate? High in protein and other nutrients, bone broth can help support your dog’s digestive and immune system without some of the possible risks associated with a raw food diet.

If you are interested in finding out the benefits of bone broth for your dog yourself, why not make an order here and see what your dog thinks!