Raw food options have been available for feeding to pet dogs for several years now but what is a raw food diet and are there any benefits associated with feeding it to your dog?

What is a Raw Food Diet?

A raw food diet, commonly known as a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food (B.A.R.F), is a diet based on that of wild-living canines and thousands of years of evolution. A raw food diet consists of bones, meat, fat, offal and vegetables which mimic what a dog’s ancestors would have eating in the wild. This means not feeding grain-based cooked and/or processed food which is what most dog owners currently feed. Proponents of the B.A.R.F. diet say that artificial grain based diets cause health problems because dogs have not evolved to digest such diets.

Feeding a raw food diet can be time consuming and inconvenient, however several raw food diets are now available commercially and can be purchased from pet supply shops. While these can be more expensive compared to the typical supermarket brands of pet food, the ingredients used are grain and preservative free.

Benefits of Feeding a Raw Food Diet

Many dog owners attest to the health benefits of switching to a raw food diet. Some vets have seen a reduction in skin and arthritic problems, orthopaedic issues encountered in young dogs of giant breeds and improvement in hip and elbow dysplasia resulting from switching from a commercial dog food to a raw food diet.

There is a wealth of information on the internet where you can research in greater detail how to feed a raw food diet, the benefits and cost of doing so and decide if switching your dog to a raw food diet is something you’re prepared to do.