What is a raw diet? Should I put my dog on it?

“Live to eat!” or “Eat to live!” Which team are you from? And which team do you think your dog is from? Whether it’s the former or the latter, one thing is sure that food is an important aspect of everyone’s life. 

We, as humans, have a lot of options and preferences, whereas dogs are mostly fed what we think they would like and would be good for them. Raw food is mostly consumed by racing greyhounds and sled dogs. The idea to feed raw food to family pets is now being widely considered and accepted. Let us first know more about raw food. 

What is a raw diet?

Raw food or as it is called B.A.R.F. is ‘Biologically Appropriate Raw Food’ and ‘Bones and Raw Food’. Simply put, it’s a diet that has fresh and uncooked meats and greens. It consists of:

• Muscle meat
• Raw meaty bones
• Organ meat
• Vegetables and fruits
• Dairy like yoghurt

Should I put my dog on a raw diet?

This is a widely debated question, because the diet has its own pros and cons. Arpita from the Eternal Canine is a canine nutritionist who gave us her expert opinion on raw diet.

She says, “Dogs thrive on raw diet”. And it is the best diet for dogs. However, in India, we don’t have grass-fed meat. The animals are fed on corn, grains, and other such things. The livestock fed this way has a higher load of bacteria in their meat.

Because of this, it is better to give slightly cooked meat to dogs. Also, a very important factor to consider while putting your dog on a raw diet is the source of the meat. If you can get a good source, you can definitely go for it. 

But before transitioning, it’s advisable to consult a nutritionist and get a well-balanced diet for your dog. We can help you with that – reach out to us!