Every year, there are different dog trends emerging. But, one that has been around for quite a few years now is raw feeding. Everybody wants to make sure they are feeding their canine the best food they can. Indeed, raw feeding may not only be a trend but a fantastic way to keep your dog healthy. It follows the basis of feeding your pooch uncooked meat, bones and organs, similar to what the wolf ancestor eats in the wild.
There are a lot of benefits to raw feeding. Namely, your dog can become leaner, have a shinier coat and stay away from nasty additives than can be present in tinned food. If you are someone that wants to try out raw food for yourself, here are some beginner tips for raw feeding.
Transition Slowly from Kibble
The first mistake a lot of people make when they are starting the raw food diet is to switch their dog’s bowl straight away. This immediate change in diet will upset your canine’s sensitive stomach. When this happens, people get worried about their dog and give up on feeding raw food. But, this is what will result as a complete change with any food for dogs.
So, start by offering your pooch small amounts of meat and raw food at a time. Over the course of one to two weeks, you can transition their diet. Allow your dog to explore the food and see if they like it.
Consider Supplements
When you first start raw feeding your dog, it can be difficult to know if you are doing it right. But, you have to make sure that your canine is getting all of the vitamins and minerals they need. So, you can consider adding supplements to their raw meals. In fact, a lot of owners continue to add supplements to the raw meals to ensure their canine is healthy. This could be a probiotic to help with their transition to their new food at the beginning too. In addition, hips and joint supplements are popular for adult dogs and for those that that are active. Taken on a regular basis, supplements are going to be very beneficial for your furry friend.
Know How Much You Should Feed
When you purchase kibble for your dog, they are going to tell you how much to serve to your canine. But, you are going to have to work this out for yourself with raw feeding. The best guide to go by is to feed your pup 2 to 3 percent of their body weight. This is going to provide them with the right calories. If your dog is very active some days, it will be fine to increase their food intake that day. But, most of the time, you want to stick to this guide. This is going to ensure that your furry friend stays at the ideal body weight and does not put on fat. In addition, it is recommended to feed your puppy a little more food when they are young to help them grow.
Learn the DIY Approach Over Time
There is a lot to learn when it comes to raw feeding a dog. You want your canine to enjoy a varied and balanced diet and not just all meat. There has to be fruit, vegetables, offal and bone in there too. To begin with, this can feel overwhelming and it is easy to get lost in all of the details. So, you may want to start by purchasing complete raw food meals first. There are a lot of companies out there that sell this. It can cost more at first but it is a good way to start while you are learning.
The DIY approach is a lot cheaper for feeding your dog, which means that you can save money. The general rule is you should be feeding your dog 80 percent meat, as well as 10 percent bone and 10 percent offal in their daily meals.
Do Not Feed Cooked Bone
A lot of people think that bones are too tough for dogs. But, they can actually eat them pretty easily. What you must never do is cook them to make them softer for your pooch. This is very dangerous, as the bone can splinter or shatter when it has been exposed to heat. This can make it dangerous for your canine’s stomach. Uncooked bones are safe for your dog and it breaks down when it is eaten.
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