Today’s pet food manufacturers insist that their pet foods contain 100% nutritional ingredients for dogs and cats. However, the current diet for domestic pets is based entirely on human food by-products and waste. Fortunately, some pet food companies are up to the challenge and offer healthy, organic pet food. Still, some pet owners, concerned about the health of their pets, opt for a raw food diet for their dog or cat.
Pros of the raw food diet
When chewed, there is less chance of raw bones causing splinter damage.
Supporters of raw pet food diets suggest that raw foods have all the nutrition pets need, including vitamins, phytonutrients, minerals and antioxidants to stay healthy.
Cons of the raw food diet
Finding and organizing a raw food diet for your pet can be expensive and time consuming.
Caution should be used when feeding your pet a raw food diet. Pets today are more vulnerable to various diseases and more susceptible than their predecessors, due to the poor selection of pet food that has been produced over the years.
Unfortunately, meats at the grocery store are full of antibiotics and various other contaminants, making raw meat a highly toxic potential risk for cats and dogs.
Are raw pet food diets still possible?
It’s very hard to copy nature when you’re trying to integrate identical amounts of fats, vitamins, carbohydrates, and protein into your pet’s diet. Small inadequacies in meal arrangements can miss important nutrients and end up with an unbalanced meal for your pet.
Although there is much to admire about a raw food diet for your pet, caution is still needed. Some veterinarians suggest adding raw, organic protein and vegetables to your pet’s diet by lightly steaming poultry, meats, vegetables, and eggs slightly before feeding them to your pet; this decreases the likelihood of parasite and bacterial contamination.
A healthy diet for your pet
A pet owner must be sensitive to the needs of their pet. A pet in good shape has a beautiful coat, clear eyes, fresh breath, and a cheerful, playful attitude. Unfortunately, many pets do not meet this criteria and suffer from numerous health problems due to their diets, just like their human owners.
Holistic veterinarians feel that harmful ingredients in many pet foods are disease instigators in pets’ lives. Her suggestion is to feed pets natural dog and cat food. The big pet food companies don’t provide what their labels suggest “a well-balanced natural diet.”
A well-known veterinarian and head of a well-established animal clinic advises supplementing commercial pet food with minimal amounts of human food, such as meat and vegetables; however, greasy table scraps and pizza should be avoided.
In addition, it is recommended to change the food every month to avoid food shortages and toxicities. Healthy pet food should have quality ingredients without harmful chemicals. It is made up of essential fatty acids, a mixture of mixed tocopherols and natural preservatives. As a pet owner, making sure your pet eats healthy is your responsibility. Your pet’s health depends on you.