Raw Food And Your Puppy

It's a common trend today to make homemade food for domesticated house pets like dogs and cats. There are many advantages and some disadvantages to making your own food for your pet. Going a step further is looking into a raw food diet, which many pet owners around the world swear by. There are many claims around the web that feeding dogs only raw food is more natural to these animals and keeps their bodies more healthy. The question remains: Is it the right choice for your puppy? Is an exclusively raw diet the secret to a healthier pup?

The short answer is yes and no. The real key is to read up and talk to a veterinarian about your puppy's specific needs. Having said that though, there are some real risks to going raw, and for many dog owners these are too serious to give the raw diet a try. The scientific community finds next to no evidence of any significant health benefits in puppies or adult dogs for that matter, this is far removed from it being some kind of miracle secret diet.

There are ways to have a blended raw diet however. Once again it's important to stress the importance of speaking with your veterinarian about your puppy's dietary needs before attempting any radical diet such as this. Domesticated dogs are indeed derived from wild animals that eat live prey but they are not wild animals themselves and unlike cats who are purely carnivores who require meat to survive, dogs are omnivores much like humans, who need a variety of food types to be healthy.

Before attempting a raw diet, consider exercising your puppy more, switching to an organic or higher-end specifically formulated healthy puppy food, or again read up on how raw food diets affect your specific breed of puppy. If you still come to the conclusion that a raw food diet is right for your little family member, then make sure you're doing it right.

Firstly, make sure you use GMO free produce. Genetically Modified Organisms are under heavy debate as to their long-term health effects in humans, the last thing you want is to subject a person under your care to a science experiment that has possibly gone awry. It is most likely best choose certified organic vegetables, fruits, and free-range poultry and grass fed cattle. Even better if you have a personal relationship with the farmer of this produce.

Make sure you're using a tried and tested diet and not just something you conjured up on the fly. Search around for raw food puppy diets, and read stories of how it has worked in the past. Essentially, do your research. This isn't just a pet, it's akin to a child.

In conclusion, while the scientific community doesn't advocate the need for a raw diet in puppies, it's a viable choice for dog owners the world over. The keys to making it a success are research, care, and speaking with a veterinarian first before starting.