Raw Natural Dog Food: Top 2 & Whether They're Right for Your Dog

Is raw natural dog food better than cooked food or organic store-bought dog food?

Meat

Dairy

Beans

Grains

Veggies

Yes and no, depending on which expert you talk to. But raw food for dog health, especially raw meat, has at least one overwhelmingly positive argument going for it - it is the closest thing most dog owners have to the food dogs evolved to eat. Meat is the most natural food for carnivores as it is rich in protein and other vitamins and minerals needed most by dogs.

Even state of the art food processing cannot mimic the complex nutritional value of fresh raw meat. And partially cooking meat can destroy its most beneficial attributes.

There are a few factors to consider before diving into a raw food diet for your dog:

• How some leaders disagree
• What is the best raw food for my dog?
• How should I store raw food?
• What are the best raw natural dog foods on the market?

How Some Leaders Disagree About a Raw Natural Dog Food Diet

Unfortunately, not all of the experts agree. Obviously the more conservative route is to at least partially cook all raw food, especially raw meat, but that may not be the most beneficial to your dog's health. As always, you should decide for yourself after reading this page and consulting with your local holistic vet (link to dog vet care).

The majority of experts in our research are in favor of a raw food diet. The fresher the raw food, the more nutritious and safer it will be. Here are a few of their opinions:

Richard Pitcairn

"My clinical experience over the last 27 years confirms" that "a diet of cooked foods alone will not maintain your pets in top-notch condition... The difference in many animals given a home-prepared, raw food diet after eating processed foods most of their lives is nothing short of amazing."

Joan Weiskopf

"Cook the meat... The risk of bacterial infection is too high, and the consequences too dire, not to cook the meat."

Juliette de Bairacli Levy

"Raw meat should form 75 per cent of the diet of every carnivorous animal...The main reason why dog owners cook meat is the sheer superstition that such food is made more safe...the feeding of meat or milk destroyed by being submitted to the forces of heat will only bring positive health degeneration."

Regardless of which advice you decide to take - raw, cooked or processed organic dog food - there seems to be a general consensus that:

• A diet of completely raw meat and bones is not entirely beneficial since most domesticated dogs are not active enough to process all of the rich nutrients. In other words, the lower the level of your dog's physical activity, the less raw meat they should be fed.
• Unless they are extremely fresh, if you decide to introduce fish, rabbit or pork, be sure to cook them first to kill parasites that are often found in these animals.
• Raw bones are great, but do NOT cook them, as cooked bones will soften which increases the likelihood that they will break. The shards from a broken bone can hurt your dog.
• Always cook grains.
• Some vegetables can be served raw, others should be cooked (list below).
• Do not OVERcook the foods as it will destroy many of the beneficial nutrients.
• Any raw or other foods purchased should be certified organic ("organically raised," "chemical free," etc.) for their many beneficial aspects over most commercial dog food.
• Be especially careful when serving raw meat to older dogs and sick dogs as their systems may not be able to handle it.

If you decide to serve raw natural dog food, always gauge your dog's reaction and act accordingly. There will usually be an adjustment period whenever you introduce a new diet. Many alarming symptoms can show up that are completely normal. They are simply your dog's body's way of ridding itself of toxins. Take special care when transitioning your dog to a raw food or any other new diet and learn what to expect.

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What is the Best Raw Food for My Dog?

If you decide to take the raw food route for your dog, meat should make up between 55% and 70% of their diet. Less expensive protein substitutes for meat include eggs, dairy products and beans. This is consistent with the proportion that wild dogs have evolved to eat. The remainder of their diet should consist of a balance of grains and vegetables.

Meats

As a rule of thumb, the fresher the meat the better. Below are some tips on storing raw natural dog food that your dog won’t eat within two or three days of purchase.

If you are on the fence about raw meat, you may want to first try turkey, duck or raw lamb dog food instead of cattle, chicken or pork as the latter have higher cancer rates. It is also a good idea to use a variety of meats with different cuts to more closely mimic the dog’s diet in the wild.

Avoid bacon and ham as they are too high in fat.

You can also sprinkle meat-drippings or low-sodium soy sauce over tofu for a great meat substitute. As always, make sure that the meat you purchase has been organically raised.

Eggs & Dairy Products

Another good substitute for meat as a source of protein are eggs and cottage cheese. Yogurt is also a good alternative, as it contains acidophilus which helps to prevent the overgrowth of yeast in the body.

Beans

Beans are a very inexpensive source of protein and can allow you to reduce the amount of raw meat in your dog’s diet. Split peas and lentils are preferred.

Taylor Tips! Soak longer-cooking beans overnight to reduce gas after your dog eats them. Not that a proper lady like me has ever had gas.  You know...um...that's what a friend at the dog park told me happened to her.

Grains

Carbohydrates should be the second largest part of your raw natural dog food diet next to protein, and grains are a great source. They also include important vitamins and minerals.

The best grains are cornmeal, oatmeal, millet and bulgur. And remember – grains should always be cooked!

Vegetables

Vegetables are an extremely valuable source of vitamins and minerals. In the wild, dogs eat digested fruits and vegetables in the digestive organs of their herbivorous prey and as herbal medicine to heal themselves and boost their immune system.

Always rinse vegetables thoroughly whether serving them raw or cooked.

These are the most nutritious raw vegetables for your dog…

• Alfalfa sprouts
• Bell peppers
• Carrots (can be cooked as well – also gives ‘em something good to chew on!)
• Chopped parsley
• Finely grated beets
• Finely grated carrots with peel
• Finely grated zucchini and other soft squash with peel
• Fresh corn
• Lettuce and mixed greens

…these are the most nutritious cooked vegetables…

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Corn
• Green beans
• Hard winter squash
• Peas
• Potatoes

…and these should be avoided:

• Onions
• Rhubarb
• Spinach
• Swiss chard
• Tomatoes

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How to Store Raw Natural Dog Food

You should freeze raw meat if you are not going to feed it to your dog within a couple of days. Freezing meet does destroy some of the nutrients, but it is still far better than most commercial dog food.

Thaw the frozen raw natural dog food in the fridge 24 hours before you are ready to serve it. If it is not completely thawed, add a little hot water – it will also make the food taste better!

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What are the Best Raw Natural Dog Foods on the Market?

Here are the best raw natural dog foods that we have researched.  In order to earn our recommendation, each food must pass our Dog Food Ratings Healthy Label Test with a 5 out of 5. 

We continue to research more foods and will add them as we find them!

Best Raw Natural Dog Foods on the Market
Nature's Logic Raw Food Diets	Nature's Variety Raw Food Diets
Note:  If you review the Healthy Label Test results (links or 'dancing dog' images above, like the one pictured to the left) for a particular product, you may notice test responses that don't match the label.  In addition to evaluating the label, we have further researched each dog food company listed. In some cases, useful information not found on the label is included in other company documents.

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