There is this ongoing battle between raw feeders and kibble feeders. Ask 10 vets and you’ll get 10 different opinions, but one thing we can all agree on is NEVER TO GIVE A DOG COOKED MEAT & BONES!
We would like to share our opinion in the matter of “raw feeding or kibble feeding” and provide you with some facts from studies to make it easier for you to form your own opinion.
First, let’s talk about the canine background.
Dogs have been around for millions of years. Research and studies show that the ancestors of coyotes, wolves and the domestic dog, the Canidae from 34 million years ago evolved to the first of the Canis genus around 6 million years ago. The domestication of dogs didn’t start until only about 15,000 years ago. We started to breed them to fit into our own needs and before we knew it we had developed around 340 different breeds. Their genotype remains essentially the same with should tell us something about the foods they should eat. Dogs have been eating raw meat and bones their entire history until about 100 years ago when commercial pet food companies gave us a much more convenient alternative… the dry food! Kibble and canned foods were a success and we have since then bought the idea that this food is somehow better and safer than raw food.
People often make the mistake of comparing dogs with wolves, it’s not totally wrong but it is like comparing humans to apes, we have the same ancestors but have evolved differently. Dogs and modern wolves are not lineal ancestors but they still belong to the Canis genus and their genetic makeup is still just as relevant today.
Dogs have jaws that move up and down, unlike our own that also move sideways, and sharp interlocking teeth designed to rip flesh apart. They are gulpers, not chewers and their intestines are shorter to process the food and get it out quickly.
We want to give them species-appropriate foods, remember that dogs evolved while consuming fresh and whole animals, they didn’t evolve to digest clean, sterile food. They have natural digestive tracks that are designed to deal with naturally occurring bacteria.
So what should we feed our dogs?
We feed our own dogs raw food combined with commercial foods.
A balanced diet of meat and organs is important. Hearts, liver, kidneys and other parts are just as important as the meat itself. Think of it this way, if a dog in the wild catches a bunny, they eat everything there is, including the fur, claws bones, intestines, everything! The bunny itself has probably been eating some grass and vegetables and still has that in its stomach. A carnivorous animal like the dog can not process that kind of food raw in the same way on its own but since the bunny’s stomach has that capability and it’s already been fermented the dog is able to draw more of those nutrients out of the food too.
This means that throwing your dog a chicken drumstick every day is not enough.
As much as we try to get the ingredients to a balanced diet it’s a lot of work and that’s why we combine it with kibble. Always do your research regarding which brands have the most natural ingredients and choose accordingly. Remember that there are many brands out there that charge for the brand itself not the quality of the food, so just because it’s expensive it doesn’t always mean that it’s in any way better.
We do freeze the raw food for at least 3 weeks before we feed it to make sure the non-natural bacteria and worms are dead.
You will notice that your dog looks better, has less stinky poop, cleaner teeth, better breath, shinier coat, develops a better physique and much more once you start feeding them raw food.
