When it comes to raw dog food, you might have come across the term, “complete raw dog food”. It is something that is a big concern for many dog owners and you’re not alone in this. So, let’s crackdown on the whole concept.
You might have read about many foods that are good for your dog’s health and many of them are rich in nutrients. Raw dog food is among one of them. However, then a question pops up: is the raw food sufficient for your pet? Is raw food all about feeding chunks of meat to your pet? Well, surprisingly, it is more than that.
So, what is complete raw dog food?
Raw food is not just chunks of meat that are being fed to your dog. A complete raw dog food is all about the right balance of nutrients that your dog needs. It consists of the right ingredients and the right set of combinations that make it balanced, and hence it gets the tag of being “complete”.
How to make a complete raw dog food?
A complete raw dog food is all about providing your pet with the necessary nutrients. However, this comes from the right combinations of foods. Based on my own experiences, I have listed the major things that can help you in forming the ideal complete diet for your dog. Let’s have a look at them:
The muscle meat:
It refers to the muscle meat that is mostly sourced from chicken, turkey, beef, or pork. The major benefit is that muscle meat is known to be rich in protein. It will help your dog gain essential muscle development and maintenance. It is also rich in amino acids and B vitamins. The amino acids will act as the building blocks of proteins and will assist in many physiological functions. Your dog will be able to gain the right amount of energy that is needed for daily activities. Further, vitamins such as B12, niacin, and riboflavin will contribute to the overall health and vitality of your pet. So, adding the muscle meat becomes an essential part of your dog’s complete food.
The organ meats.
You might have read that different organs are made for different functions. Well, apply the same concept here and you will see that different organ meats have several benefits for your dog’s health. These include liver from beef, chicken or pork, kidneys, heart, etc. They are rich in vitamins such as vitamins A, D, E, and K. Vitamin A supports vision and improves the immune function along with the skin health of your dog. Vitamin D is important for bone health and energy metabolism. It also assists in improving the immune system. The vitamin E is good at providing antioxidant benefits. Finally, the vitamin K is good for your dog’s blood along with bone health. Further, there are many minerals in organ meats. For instance, you’ll find iron, zinc, phosphorus, etc. There are also essential fatty acids such as omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. So, all of these nutrients and their benefits make the organ meat crucial for your dog’s complete meal.
Bones:
Bones are also a part of the raw food. They can be obtained from several sources. For instance, chicken and turkey necks can be great, wings can be sourced from chicken, ribs from beef, etc. Bones are known to be full of calcium. This makes them an essential part of the health of your dog’s bones and teeth. They are rich in phosphorus as well which is with calcium and contributes to bone health. They also have collagen for supporting joint health. Bones improve the overall dental health. How do they do it? Your dog gets a lot of to chew and mess with them which helps in reducing the plaque and thus, improves the dental health. They also have the necessary minerals that are needed for the bone structure of your dog. Thus, there are so many factors that advocate the benefits. Some people do associate some hazards with bones but they are mostly associated with those that get cooked. So, cooking raw bones for your dog is not a good option but you can feed them raw.
Fish:
Many dog owners use fish as a compulsory part of their dog’s raw diet. They can use salmon, sardines, etc. So, what makes fish so good for your dog? They are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. This is important for their dog’s skin, coat health, joint function, etc. They also have protein which is needed for muscle development along with vitamins such as vitamin D. So, going for fish is a great option for you. It will help in improving your dog’s coat as it will be healthier and shinier. It will also help a lot in reducing inflammation and promoting the health of your dog. The overall cardiovascular health will be a lot better.
Eggs:
We have read about eggs and they are really good sources of protein. Protein is needed for muscle health so eggs are great at providing it. They have vitamins such as B vitamins that also include B12 and riboflavin. When it comes to minerals, they are rich in selenium and iron. Further, they also have choline which is important for brain health. However, the major reason for adding eggs to your dog’s diet is that they are a rich source of protein and not just the basic concept of it, they provide it in high quality. They also provide essential amino acids to your dog’s body for various body functions. The coat health and the skin of your dog also improve a lot. Overall they contribute a lot towards the energy and vitality of your dog and they are also a cheaper option.
Vegetables and fruits:
Yes, you can add vegetables and fruits as well to your dog’s raw food diet. Raw is all about meat but to create a balanced raw diet, you do have to take some help from vegetarian groups as well. For instance, you can add carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, apples, etc. They can be a great source of fiber for your dog and can help a lot in improving the digestive health of your dog. They are a rich source of vitamins such as A, C, K, etc. They also help in fighting antioxidants and help in combating the oxidative stress. So, fruits and vegetables are great at providing your dog with the right minerals and vitamins. This way the overall health of your pet can be improved, a lot.
Supplements:
Yes, you read that right. Supplements help a lot in making your dog’s complete. They can be used when the diet has something missing. However, they must always be used after proper consultation with the vet as your dog’s well-being cannot be compromised. Usually, pet owners go for supplements such as Omega-3 fatty acids that are made of fish oil. Some also opt for multivitamins but this again needs consultation with a professional first. So, now the question arises what benefits one can obtain from them? Firstly, they are used to bridge the potential nutrient gaps so that your dog’s diet doesn’t have anything compensated. They are good at promoting the skin health of your pet and also assist in reducing dryness and itchiness depending upon the type of supplements. Some can also promote the joint health of your pet. Overall, supplements are used as the final touch to make sure that your dog’s food is full of rich nutrients.
The recipe in the video below can help you in knowing more about how a complete raw dog food is made.
When all of these foods are mixed for your dog, a complete raw diet is formed. Each food has its nutrients and its benefits. You can further read about what can I mix with raw dog food.
What are the benefits of complete raw dog food?
A complete raw diet consists of raw dog food, so it has all the benefits that raw food has. It helps your dog in getting healthier. Their energy level increases along with their muscle health. Raw feeders also report shinier coats and skin. You can further read about the benefits here, the benefits of raw dog food.
BARF and complete raw dog food:
BARF refers to the biologically appropriate food for your dog. It is all about mimicking the natural diet for your dog which is usually raw. However, you still have to make the right combinations for your dog to make sure that the diet they are feeding upon is complete.
How is complete raw dog food different from complementary?
Complete raw dog food is meant to be complete nutritionally. It has the exact amount of nutrients that are required by your dog and it acts as the sole diet for your pet. You don’t need any further supplements as the food is designed to complete all the requirements. Whereas complementary raw dog food is not nutritionally complete. It is meant to be a supplementary addition to your dog’s existing diet. Complementary foods are usually used to add variety to your dog’s food and at the same time they enhance the nutritional intake.
Is 80/10/10 complete raw dog food?
The 80/10/10 raw food originated from raw feeders while trying to replicate the canine food in the wild. It talks about the different percentages of meat in your pet’s food and can work for some dogs but many pet owners do not regard it as the complete and balanced diet for dogs. You still have to add some nutrients to your dog’s food so that it fully becomes nutritious. However, you can read about what is 80/10/10 raw dog food to find out more about this combination.
Can you find complete raw diets in commercial foods?
Yes, many dog food companies are trying to create complete and balanced raw diets. They focus on creating combinations of muscle meats, organ meats, etc. However, you still have to put some effort into your dog’s food because some dogs come with different complications, and not all pets can be fed with the same type of food. So the combinations keep varying according to your pet’s requirements.
What is the best complete raw dog food?
The best complete raw dog food refers to the best combination of raw diets that have the right nutrient profile for your dog. These diets completely suit your dog’s body and you do not have to struggle much about them. You cannot just pinpoint a specific company or brand because many dogs have different requirements. However, once you can figure out the complete diet for your dog with the help of some professionals, you can follow those combinations for a long period. So, the work gets easy for you.
How many nuggets are in 1kg of complete raw dog food?
Different complete diets come with a quantity of nuggets. However, if you are looking for an estimate then raw dog companies usually have 50 to 60 nuggets in a pack of diet weights 1kg. The quantity of raw nuggets completely depends upon their sizes.
Important tips while making a complete diet for your dog:
Now that you know about the basics of a complete raw diet, I am going to discuss some important tips with you that I have learned from my friends and my own experiences with raw diets.
Tip#1 Before making significant changes to your dog’s diet, it is very important to consult with a professional first. You can also consult with a friend who has had experience in feeding dogs with different diets.
Tip#2 While making a balanced diet, you cannot just feed your dog with what the other people are feeding. You can follow the recipes but you still have to create the right amount of ingredients based on your dog’s age, size, and activity.
Tip#3 You should utilize protein a lot. I will recommend you to use it from different sources. This is because some sources have high-quality protein such as eggs and they can help your dog’s health, a lot.
Tip#4 Vegetables and fruits might look odd to some pet owners but they can help a lot in creating a balanced diet for your dog.
Tip#5 Make sure that you are not using any kind of harmful foods in your dog’s diet. Such as chocolates, onions, etc. Many foods might seem good for your dog but they actually will do more harm than good. So, always do your homework properly.
Conclusion:
Finally, I will say that a balanced diet for your dog is always needed. However, it also requires you to do some research. You can search through the internet and at the same time consult with professionals. At the end of the day, people with experience can help you a lot. And this way you can feed your dog with the foods with the right nutrients.
