Why Feed Raw?

1. Optimal Nutrition: Feeding a raw diet allows for optimal nutrition as it closely mimics what dogs would naturally consume in the wild. Raw diets are rich in high-quality protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals, providing the necessary nutrients for dogs to thrive.

• Benefits: Improved digestion, healthier skin and coat, clean teeth, less waste, increased energy levels, and better weight management.

• Comparison to Human Food: When our pets eat kibble everyday it is equivalent to us eating processed fast food every day. Processed food, which kibble is the most processed option we can feed them, is lacking the fresh, wholesome ingredients necessary for optimal health. It requires the addition of many synthetic vitamins just to make it nourishing. We can never replace nutrients that come from nature. So though kibble may allow our pets to survive, served as their only form of nutrition, it will never allow them to thrive!

• Getting Started: If your pet has never had fresh or raw food, the key is to start slowly. Dogs and cats have a very acidic stomach naturally. When we feed a dry diet, the amount of acid produced by the stomach adjusts. We need to give the tummy time to adjust the amount of acid it's producing to process the meal and this is best done slowly. Always be sure you are replacing a small portion of your kibble, not just adding fresh food to avoid overfeeding and weight gain.

2. Dental Health: Raw diets typically include meaty bones, which promote dental health. Chewing on bones helps naturally clean teeth, reduce plaque and tartar buildup, and maintain healthy gums. Raw meat is the only way we can get the necessary enzymes to break down plaque and debris. 

• Benefits: Reduced risk of dental diseases, fresher breath, and improved overall oral health.

• Comparison to Human Food: Feeding kibble to keep their teeth clean is the equivalent to us eating Doritos for a lifetime and thinking we never have to brush our teeth. Crunchy food does not clean our pet's teeth due to many reasons, one being their mouths aren't designed to chew! Chewing on raw bones is like regular flossing and brushing for us, maintaining oral hygiene and preventing dental issues.

• Getting Started: Introduce raw meaty bones appropriate for your dog's size and breed. Ensure they are raw, meaty, and safe to consume that means they are never cooked or heat treated. Start with softer bones, like chicken necks or feet, and supervise your dog during chewing sessions. A raw meaty bone can safely reduce up to 70% of plaque after one day and up to 90% after one week!

3. Allergy Relief: Many dogs suffer from food allergies or sensitivities, often caused by the synthetic ingredients and processing of commercial kibble. Feeding a raw diet eliminates potential allergens, such as carbs, artificial additives, and highly processed food reducing the risk of allergic reactions.

• Benefits: Reduced skin itching, ear infections, gastrointestinal upset, and allergy-related symptoms.

• Comparison to Human Food: Feeding raw is equivalent to humans following a clean, whole foods-based diet, minimizing exposure to potential allergens and excessively processed food.

• Getting Started: One of the easiest ways to identify a potential allergen if you're feeding dry food, is an elimination diet. This involves serving a single protein source food, typically a raw option to assess whether the symptoms persist. As symptoms decrease or resolve, you are able to identify what may be causing the allergic symptoms.

4. Improved Digestion: Raw diets are more digestible for dogs compared to heavily processed commercial kibble. Raw food is enzyme-rich and contains natural probiotics, aiding digestion and promoting a healthy gut.

• Benefits: Reduced instances of diarrhea, vomiting, constipation, gas, and bloating. Improved nutrient absorption with firmer and less stools.

• Comparison to Human Food: Feeding raw is like us consuming fresh, whole foods, and less processed food promoting optimal digestion and gut health.

• Getting Started: Gradually introduce raw or fresh options to your pet. You can replace up to 20% of their kibble with fresh food and will instantly improve their health!

5. Enhanced Energy and Vitality: Raw diets provide dogs with high-quality, bioavailable nutrients, resulting in increased energy levels, improved muscle tone, and overall vitality. This is mostly due to their bodies using all of the food served versus eliminating half which is made up of carbs.

• Benefits: Improved stamina, healthier weight management, increased mobility, better oral health, less waste and a shiny coat.

• Comparison to Human Food: If you think about how you feel, energy wise, cognitively and physically, you perform better when you eat fresh, whole foods rather then when you eat processed fast food. Our pets are the same!

• Getting Started: Raw does not have to be an all or nothing approach. To see these improvements as well as an overall improvement to your pet's health, you can start making a portion of their meal raw! We're confident when you see the difference diet can make, you'll want more fresh, whole food in their bowls and less ultra-processed kibble! Any raw is better than no raw!

In order to keep our pets as healthy as possible, we always want to ensure we're feeding the best diet we can afford! If you have questions or need help incorporating fresh food into your floof's diet, we are always happy to help!