5 Ways Raw Dog food Makes Puppies Healthier

27th September 2021 5 min read

Guest Blog: Robert Thomas

Many pet owners love raw diets and their benefits, including shiner coats, reduced dental plaque, higher energy levels, and healthier skin. Through raw feeding, your dog’s diet can be personalized to their breed, age, and size. This can be particularly useful if your dog is a breed prone to various genetic illnesses.

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5 Reasons Why Raw Dog Food Makes A Puppy Healthier

Many pet owners love raw diets and their benefits, including shiner coats, reduced dental plaque, higher energy levels, and healthier skin. Through raw feeding, your dog’s diet can be personalized to their breed, age, and size. This can be particularly useful if your dog is a breed prone to various genetic illnesses.

Luckily, there are many safe, cost-effective, and less time-consuming raw diets available. Pet owners new to feeding their dog a raw diet often opt for commercially produced diets, as they are treated to be rid of parasites and harmful bacteria.

Read on for the benefits of raw feeding for you and your puppy.

1. Gut Health and Stool Size

There have been a number of recent studies that suggest a connection between a raw diet and canine gut health.

Gut health benefits included fewer episodes of extra-intestinal infections, firmer stools, and higher fecal bacterial diversity. Such benefits could mean important health implications for your raw-fed pup, especially if their breed is prone to a sensitive stomach or digestive issues.

In order to ensure an easy transition to a raw diet for your puppy, be sure to start raw feeding as soon as they are weaned off of mother’s milk.

2. Hydration

Hydration is important for your puppy’s growth, development, and metabolism. Dehydration is a silent killer and making sure your puppy is hydrated is exceptionally important.

Luckily, many foods that can be added to a raw diet are a great source of water— especially vegetables like broccoli. These food groups are great options supplementing vitamins into your dog’s raw diet, as they are low in fat and protein.

In terms of fruit, apples and watermelon are great sources of vitamin A and C. Apples are particularly a great source of fibre for you and your pup. Vegetables can also make a healthy and hydrating snack for your dog.

Vegetables are also extremely hydrating and are full of good vitamins and minerals for your puppy. Some safe and healthy veggies for your dog include broccoli, which is high in fiber and vitamin C. For more information on the benefits of broccoli, please read: Can Dogs Eat Broccoli? Feeding Guide & Tips - Marvelous Dogs. Brussels Sprouts also make a great addition to your dog's diet, as they are full of antioxidants. Carrots and celery are high in vitamins A, B, and C, making them another great choice for your puppy.

Raw food is naturally high in moisture, so works wonders for hydrating your pup.

3. Skin and Coat Health

Although not scientifically supported by research, many owners that feed their pets a raw diet report their dogs having a shinier coat and less oily skin. Coat and skin health is an important aspect of your dog’s life that can affect their comfort and overall wellbeing.

A healthier coat can have implications for your health as well. Healthier coats have less dandruff, which can cause allergies in humans. You and your furry friend are much happier and healthier with a well-maintained coat!

4. Personalized for the breed

Raw diets come in all shapes and sizes. Some are much more manageable than others and may be easier for you to incorporate into your lifestyle.

Raw diets can be prepared at home or commercially. Veterinarians and pet health professionals typically advise against preparing your dog’s meals with raw meat at home, as many dog owners lack the knowledge behind the intricacies of canine nutrition— which can lead to unbalanced diets and unhealthy pets.

5. Psychological Benefit for the Owner

Many pet owners have the best intentions for their fellow canine companions. Part of being a good and responsible pet owner is ensuring that your dog has all of their nutritional needs met.

This is attainable through a raw diet. Typically commercially sold raw dog food can be specially and safely formulated to serve your dog’s breed and age-specific needs. Commercially sold supplements and even home-prepared supplements like cooked salmon, eggs, and vegetables such as broccoli and carrots can be added to your dog’s diet for extra nutritional support.

Researching, preparing, and supplying your dog this kind of extra support can be extremely beneficial to your emotional connection to your dog and can strengthen your relationship. Pet owners that feed their puppy a raw diet often describe it as a rewarding experience.

Summary

When done correctly and with your veterinarian’s advice, feeding your puppy a raw diet can be healthier for you and your dog. Raw diets have been suggested to benefit coat appearance, skin health, your puppy’s digestive tract, and your personal fulfillment as a pet owner.

Written By Robert Thomas

Further Reading

13th September 2024

“I introduced it to Eileen when she was pregnant. She thrived on it and did not lose any condition whilst carrying and feeding her seven puppies,” Maria explained. “The puppies all took to the Paleo Ridge raw diet straight away. They never had upset tummies and their poos were not offensive and we were less frequent than my experience with previous litters. They all went home with Paleo Ridge in their puppy packs.”

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