Why feed your dog a frozen raw dog food diet?
Here are the two most interesting reasons to feed your dog a frozen raw dog food diet.
Close to nature - Short of feeding your dog freshly killed rodents, a raw frozen diet comes closer to the diet of your dog’s wild ancestors than anything else available.
Health benefits - Evidence that raw diets contribute to canine health is still mostly anecdotal, but the anecdotal evidence is compelling.
Most dog owners are surprised by the positive changes they see in their animals within weeks of feeding frozen raw dog foods such as; healthier, shinier coats, smaller, less smelly stools, greater energy, better appetite, and even a more engaging personality.
Equally surprising are the positive changes some owners have seen in animals suffering from veterinary and non-veterinary conditions, including obesity, dental health, urinary tract infections, vomiting, diarrhea, diabetes, allergies and food in tolerances.
When To Contact Your Veterinarian
In recent years, many veterinarians have embraced raw foods as an essential part of a holistic approach to long-term canine health. Still other veterinarians remain opposed to raw diets for dogs.
Opponents often cite the lack of scientific evidence in favor of raw diets and the risk associated with raw meats and chewing bones.
Supporters usually counter that the risks are small and outweighed by the long-term potential health benefits.
Every diet, raw, kibble, canned or homemade, carries with it potential advantages and disadvantages.
Before putting your dog on any diet, raw or otherwise, we suggest discussing its appropriateness for your dog with your veterinarian. This is important if your dog currently has any veterinary conditions.
If your dog refuses to eat for more than 48 hours, develop symptoms or otherwise seem unwell, contact your veterinarian.
If a dietary transition leads to vomiting that continues for 24 hours after you stop feeding or begins again after you re-introduce food, contact your veterinarian.
How to Choose A Frozen Raw Dog Food
There are four steps to choosing the frozen raw dog food diet that is most likely to fit your and your dog’s needs.
Choose between rotational and non-rotational feedings.
There are two ways to feed Frozen raw diet‘s.
Non-rotational feeding - Non-rotational feeding means feeding your dog the same food every day.
This is the simple approach to raw. If you’re new to raw or just want to keep things simple, choose non-rotational feeding.
Rotational feeding - Rotational feeding means feeding your dog different foods on different days.
This approach is closer to a dog's ancestral diet. Its advantages include exercise, entertainment, greater variety and lower cost.
The disadvantages of rotational feeding include the need to use a feeding schedule, including the need for more freezer space, the need to supervise dogs while they chew raw animal parts and the need to disinfect afterwards.
Choose Between HPP and Non-HPP
High pressure pasteurization ( HPP) uses pressure to kill pathogenic bacteria.
Everyone agrees pathogen free food is good, but authorities differ on the extent to which HPP leaves proteins, enzymes and other nutrients less of bioavailable, digestible and usable.
HPP foods are probably safer, especially for households that include elderly, small children or people with compromised immune systems.
Non-HPP foods are closer to nature.
Choose the Form that Works Best for You
Nuggets/medallions - Nuggets are more expensive to feed but are easy to measure and quick to defrost a great fit for small dogs.
Patties - Patties are easy to handle and generally a better value than nuggets, a great fit for medium and large dogs.
Chubs - Chubs are cost effective, and they are a great fit for giant dogs and multi pet households. They require the most effort to measure and saw.
Parts - Parts including raw meaty bones, chicken necks and other minimally processed animal parts.
They’re used as elements in a rotational diet and as natural, nutrient rich treats or dietary supplements.
Choose the Best Meat Protein
Choose the meat protein that works best for your dog.
Of the meat used in frozen dog food, chicken has the most complete amino acid profile.
If your dog has an allergy or intolerance to chicken or a history of doing better on a different meat, use what you know about your dog to guide your choice. Otherwise, start with chicken.
Nature's Valley | Primal | K-9 Naturals | Northwest Naturals | Tucker's | Primal | |
1. Rotational or Non-Rotational | Non-Rotational | Rotational | Non-Rotational | Non-Rotational | Non-Rotational | Non-Rotational |
2. HPP or Non-HPP | HPP | Both | Non-HPP | Both | Non-HPP | Both |
3. Forms | Medallions, Chubs | Chubs | Nuggets | Bars Chubs, Nuggets | Patty | Patty, Nuggets |
4. Meat Proteins | Lamb, Chicken, Beef, Venison | Sardine, Lamb, Chicken | Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Lamb Tripe | Beef, Chicken, Bison, Salmon and Chicken | Pork, Beef, Bison, Lamb | Lamb, Turkey, Sardine, Duck, Phesant |
How to Transition from Kibble to Raw Frozen
Supplement raw frozen for part of your dogs kibble or transition to 100% raw
Most raw food experts believe the greatest benefits for dogs come from a diet that’s 100% raw.
Most dog owners who feed raw, especially owners of medium and large dogs, combine 25% to 50% raw with a corresponding amount of kibble because this approach is less expensive and more flexible in feeding all raw.
To transition your dog to this kind of diet, simply reduce the amount of kibble you feed your dog by 25% to 50% and simultaneously begin feeding him 25% to 50% of the amount of raw food that’s recommended for a dog his size, apply the same percentages in both cases.
Raw foods and kibble are digested at different pH levels, so feed them at a different meal.
For puppies, feed kibble in the morning and early evening and raw right before bed to reduce nighttime urination.
Most dogs can adjust quickly to a small substitute of raw for kibble, but owners transitioning their dogs to 40% to 50% kibble should start with a 25% substitution and then increased to 40% to 50% substitution after a week.
You can increase your dog’s chances of a seamless transition to raw by starting a prebiotic and digestive enzyme supplement, In Clover Optagest Is a splendid choice, a few days before transitioning to a raw and continuing for a few months.
After you’ve been feeding raw for a few weeks, adjust the amount of kibble or raw slightly upper down if you or your veterinarian believes your dog needs to gain or lose weight.
Substituting raw for part of a dog’s kibble is unlikely to lead to health concerns, but if your dog refuses to eat or develops vomiting, diarrhea, excess gas or constipation, you may be transitioning him too quickly. If this happens, stop the transition and withhold food for 24 hours.
Then begin feeding frequent, small meals of his original diet. If all symptoms cease and he appears to be back to normal, restart the transition a few days later, but with a more gradual approach.
If the transition leads to vomiting that continues for 24 hours, contact your veterinarian.
Safe Handling of Frozen Raw Dog Food
Minimizing the risk associated with feeding frozen raw dog food isn’t hard, but it is important.
Results of Feeding Frozen Raw Dog Food
You should begin seeing improvements in your dog skin, coat, and energy levels within a few weeks.
Significant benefits are likely to become a parent of the following two or three months.
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