Many people, myself included, believe that raw food is more natural and healthier for dogs than processed kibble. However, it's essential to do your own research and ensure you are feeding your dog a balanced diet that meets all their nutritional needs for their particular age.
Some vets caution against feeding raw food due to the risk of bacterial contamination. I navigated this situation by only providing meat from one animal to begin with, which was chicken. Chicken is inexpensive, and there are many good choices for feeding dogs a variety of tastes while minimising different bacterial profiles for the dog to adjust to.
My three dogs regularly consume raw chicken wings, drumsticks, necks, giblets, hearts, and frames without issues. I feed these with raw minced vegetables, which could include sweet potato, carrots, pumpkin, celery, zucchini, green beans, cabbage, Brussel sprouts, broccoli, lettuce, cucumber, beetroot, or whatever else is available and reasonably priced. I don’t feed potatoes because dogs don’t need carbohydrates, and I don’t feed turnip because it stinks!
None of the dogs have had any signs of digestive problems; quite the opposite. Their stools were smaller and tighter and had a lot less odour. After a few weeks, I introduced raw beef into the diet without any issues. I did this by slowly including beef with the chicken until I was serving 100% beef after a 7-10 day transition period.
I supplement my dogs’ foods with fish oil capsules, purple carrot extract, calcium tablets, and milk formula, which I feel covers any shortfalls they may have in their diet. I still feed kibble, which accounts for 20-30% of my dog’s diet. This is generally consumed as training treats, as I don’t provide my dogs with "Doggy Treats" as they are overpriced and can be too rich if too much is consumed, which restricts the time we can train for. Instead, I use dog treat pouches Australia, which offer a convenient way to carry and dispense treats during training sessions.
Ultimately, the decision to feed your dog raw food is a personal one, and you should consult with your vet if you are not confident to embark upon this journey alone. Unfortunately, many vets recommend only feeding kibble, which is unfortunate and may not be good advice and is somewhat outdated, so finding a new Vet may be the only solution.
