Is Raw Meat Good for Dogs?
The debate on whether to feed dogs kibble or a BARF diet seems to never come to a conclusion. A lot of people ask themselves if raw meat is good for dogs. Some say it is, and others believe the opposite. However, this article is intended to tell you the truth about this touchy topic.
Differences Between a BARF Diet and Kibble
BARF diets consist of feeding animals fresh (and mostly raw) products, including fruits and vegetables. This type of diet does not have any processed foods, which contain chemical products and preservatives.
Although the BARF diet is made specifically for dogs, these foods are not the healthiest option for your dog because most fruits and vegetables are grown with pesticides. So, it’s important to only feed dogs organic produce when giving them this diet.
Dry kibble is processed, but it contains all the nutrients that necessary for dogs. They are specifically made to strengthen their teeth, bones and joints, as well as their immune and respiratory systems, and other parts of their bodies.
The two most obvious differences between these types of diets are the time they take to prepare, and how dogs digest each kind of food. BARF diets take dogs a little longer to digest, but they do provide a lot of health benefits, such as:
- Preventing bad breath
- Healthier fur and skin
- Strengthening the immune system
This diet consists of feeding natural foods to an animal. Plus, this well-prepared diet contains a high level of essential fats and oils that are good for animals. Not only does it reduce the smelliness of their stools, but it allows their bodies to completely function better.
So, Is Raw Meat Good for Dogs?
According to several studies, the answer is yes. In fact, BARF diets are mostly made up of raw meat and uncooked vegetables. Plus, this type of diet is considered to be good for all different kinds of animals.
Even so, many skeptics believe that raw meat is not good for animals. So continue reading to go over both of these points of views.
Raw Meat is Bad for Dogs
People make this based on the fact that raw meat can transmit a lot of diseases. Many say that raw meat contains bacteria and parasites that can cause fatal diseases like canine neosporosis.
They also say that raw meat doesn’t have all the necessary nutrients because an animal’s diet requires more than just meat. This is true, which is why BARF diets combine raw meat with fresh produce, which is why it’s highly recommended.
On the other hand, many fear that dogs will hurt themselves with the bones in raw meat. All of these elements cause people to claim that raw diets are not good for dogs.
Raw Meat is Good for Dogs
On the other side of the argument, there are people who support dogs eating raw meat. They believe that dogs should be allowed to follow their natural instincts by eating as they would have before becoming domesticated.
The truth is that dog’s bodies are made to digest raw meat. However, as mentioned earlier, raw meat alone does not have all the necessary nutrients to make up a balanced diet. This is why dog owners have to make sure and follow the guideline of 3-parts raw meat, to 1-part produce.
The Bottom Line
You are the one who ultimately has to decide what to feed your dog. If you do decide to feed raw meat to him, then you will have to remember to supplement your dog’s with other nutrients that raw meat lacks.
At the end of the day, the answer is yes: raw meat is good for dogs. However, the decision to feed your dog raw meat is obviously up to you. There are plenty of articles out there about how to put together a BARF diet. So, if feeding your dog raw food is something that interests you, then get informed about this topic by reading some articles.