Cautionary Measures for Raw Dog Food

Feeding your dog with a raw dog food diet keeps him healthy and free of common diseases that affect kibble-fed pets. Raw foods are proven to increase the life spans of your German Shepherd Dogs or any other dog – irrespective breed, type, group and sex. Large breeds like German Shepherds, Labradors, Great Danes, Rottweilers, Mastiffs etc. usually respond very well to the BARF diet. However, other dog breeds are of no exception! There exist a common myth that toy and small breeds of dogs cannot be kept on raw dog food diet.

Raw dog food recipes, containing correct mix of all essential nutrients that your dogs require, should include fresh raw meats, raw meaty bones, adequate and correct combination of vegetables (that are rich sources of Vitamins A, B, C, and K) and last but not least – certain fruits (berries, bananas, apples etc.) that provides enough Vitamin C and antioxidants. Uncooked, raw meats provide good amount of protein, which is immensely important for the health and immune system of your dog. Raw meaty bones are the rich source of calcium and phosphorous, which act as the essential nutrients for your growing German Shepherds or any other dog breed and help development of their bones. Pregnant females should be kept on raw dog food recipes that help their growing puppies build powerful bones and innate strength and immune system. You will also help them to avoid suffering from common digestive illnesses.

However, raw-feeding comes with responsibility, too. Here are cautionary measures for people who give raw dog food to their dogs.

1. Freeze wild game meat overnight because that is the only way to kill the parasites that it contains. Freeze for at least 24 hours before you give wild game meat to your dog. There is no need to defrost the meat prior to serving. Game birds like doves, quails, and pheasants have been shot with lead bullets. They produce lead poisoning when eaten. Check the animals thoroughly for traces of lead pellets.

2. All Pacific salmonids (steelhead, trout, salmon, etc.) carry a parasite that’s only deadly to dogs. Freeze the fish for at least 24 hours before you give them to your dog. It’s recommended not to feed your dog with any fish that’s caught in the Pacific Northwest. Carp, smelt, catfish, and herring must be fed sparingly, too.

3. All wild rodents (rats, mice, squirrels, etc.) and rabbits have parasites like tapeworms and the bubonic plaque. The dog will not get sick. But you will be potentially affected by the parasitic disease. Freeze all rodents for a month before you give them to your dog. Rabbits must be bought from a reputable rancher. Check in your area if there’s a local rabbit supplier.

4. Don’t give the knuckle bones, femurs, etc. (all weight-bearing bones) of cows and other large herbivores. Those bones are very tough and they can damage your dog’s teeth.

5. Don’t give as standalones the small bones of chicken. Chicken wings and chicken neck bones must be fed with the raw meat still clinging to them.

6. Raw organ meat (heart, liver, kidneys, etc.) must be fed in moderate quantities. They are very nutritious for your dog, but an organ meat diet produces diarrhea and runny stools. Feed your dog with organ meat twice or thrice a week.

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Author Bio: I am Maggie Rhines (London, United Kingdom) – canine nutritionist, and specialist in raw dog food. I would recommend BARF Raw Dog Food Diet for your dogs. It is immensely important that you should know certain most important things while skipping from regular food to BARF diets. Learn how to save money and how to switch to a much healthier raw dog food diet for your pets.