What Is A Raw Dog Food Diet?
"A raw dog food diet is similar to the diet your dog would have eaten in the wild - raw meat, bones and vegetables!"Many conscientious pet owners are feeding their dogs a raw dog food diet to improve their pet's health. The raw dog food diet, sometimes also known as the 'BARF' diet, consists mainly of raw meat and bones, such as beef, lamb, chicken, duck and rabbit, and offal. (Barf stands for Bones And Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food)
Fortunately, the cooking process kills any bacteria that may be present so, as long as the fish is cooked, you can safely feed it to your dog. Similarly, if raw pork or wild game is eaten it can cause certain parasitic diseases, such as Trichinosis or Pseudorabies. You can still feed your dog this type of raw meat, but you'll need to take care. It's recommended that the meat and bones are frozen for 3 weeks to kill any parasites or bacteria. Pork and wild game can be safely eaten if the meat is properly cooked. Bones should never be cooked as they become brittle and can splinter, causing your dog to choke, or damaging his digestive system. In addition to raw meat, your dog's diet can include a small amount of raw vegetables such as carrots, potatoes (peeled), cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, spinach, parsnips, peas, celery, asparagus, and broccoli. Keep the portions of broccoli to a minimum as too much can give your dog wind or bloat. Dog bloat is a condition where the dog's stomach becomes bloated and distended, usually as a result of abnormal volumes of air and fluid. If your dog's stomach looks particularly bloated and feels solid, or he seems unusually lethargic, it would be wise to contact your vet.
Eggs, including the shells, cottage cheese and plain yoghurt, may be included in a raw food diet, and are an excellent source of calcium. Nuts, such as almonds, peanuts, and walnuts, may also be included in the diet; however, beware of macadamia nuts - they are listed as one of the dog poison in our poisonous foods article. Herbs, such as parsley, thyme, bay, and rosemary (a natural preservative) Whole grains aren't really necessary in this type of diet; however, you can include a little oatmeal or rice if you like. Benefits Of A Raw Dog Food DietWhy 'raw'?, you might ask.There are many benefits to feeding a raw dog food diet to your Cocker Spaniel:
With so many good reasons for changing to a raw dog food diet, what are you waiting for! Why not try some of our raw dog food recipes?
The Downside To A Raw Dog Food DietAs with everything else in life, there is a downside to feeding your dog a raw food diet.
Tips For Feeding A Raw Dog Food Diet
A raw dog food diet is not for all dogs, particularly those which eat their food too quickly, without chewing, and are not terribly interested in a leisurely chew on a bone - Max, our Cocker Spaniel, eats so quickly he practically inhales his food! However, it's still possible to give your dog a healthy diet using cooked food - see our articles on Natural Dog Food and Organic Dog Food for more information. Search our site!  Custom Search More Titles In The Healthy Dog Food Series Feeding your puppy organic dog food has many benefits, including adding years to your cocker spaniel's life - learn more here! Natural dog food contains high quality ingredients. You won't find harmful chemicals or artificial preservatives and processing is kept to a minimum so that the dog food retains its natural goodness. If your dog has recently been ill, or is suffering from a health problem, your vet may advise a prescription dog food diet for your cocker spaniel to replace his normal food. Raw Dog Food Feed your pet a raw dog food diet of fresh meat, bones, fruit and vegetables, with a few vitamin and mineral supplements thrown in, and see a marked improvement in your dog's health! A raw dog food diet (the BARF diet) can greatly improve your pet's health and appearance and can help him to live a longer life too! Try our raw dog food recipes and see the difference for yourself! The word 'holistic' in holistic dog food relates to taking care of the entire body. One of the ways we can do this is by feeding our dogs good quality ingredients that then will 'feed' the entire body! There are many vegetarian owners who choose to feed their dogs a vegetarian dog food diet, and whose dogs appear to thrive on it; however, it's not suited to all dogs. Learn more... Hypoallergenic Dog Food Dog food allergies are more common than you think and, in many cases, vets are recommending owners change their dogs onto a diet of hypoallergenic dog food to combat the allergy. We've some tempting homemade dog food recipies here for your Cocker Spaniel to try. Why not try one - I'm sure he'll love you for it! Dog food allergies often present many symptoms, making an allergy difficult to identify. Learn how to diagnose, treat, and eliminate a dog food allergy or intolerance. Learn how to prevent accidental dog poisoning from innocent everyday foods such as chocolate, onions, grapes and raisins. Also lists toxic household chemicals and poisonous plants.
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The BARF diet can also include raw fish, but it's best to avoid raw salmon as it sometimes carries parasites called flukes which, when eaten, attach themselves to a dog's intestines, releasing bacteria into the bloodstream and causing the dog to become ill.
Don't forget to add fruit to the diet; blueberries, apples, bananas, melon, strawberries and pears - all provide an excellent contribution to your dog's raw food diet.
