One of the hottest topics in the dog world is the raw food vs. dry food debate. Everybody seems to have their own opinions on what they feel is right and how best to feed their dogs. With so much conflicting information out there, it is easy to get confused about what to feed your dog/s. So, today I wanted to discuss how I feed Amos and why.
* Now I would like to state that I am not a qualified canine nutritionist or veterinarian and the views and opinions are expressed here are my own based on my life, research, and consultations with more experienced people. I strongly encourage you to do your own research and seek out help if required to do what is best for your dogs.
WHY I CHOSE RAW
Before I even owned a dog, I always knew that I wanted to feed my dog a raw diet. I absolutely adore Amos and I want him to live as long as he possibly can and I truly believe that feeding him a raw diet rich in essential vitamins and minerals will help this.
I feel that his diet is so important to me and I prioritize food over everything else.
He is my world.
After being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, I totally changed my diet and saw the dramatic change it had on my life, so my views are also based on my personal experiences and beliefs around food. Like humans, dogs need an appropriate and varied diet so that there can body function as it is supposed to. Diet and nutrition are crucial for optimal muscle tone, skin condition, immunity, behavior, dental hygiene, and gut health.
People often get concerned about feeding raw as opposed to cooked meat for dogs. Cooking the meat destroys a lot of the essential vitamins and minerals and reduces the overall health benefit of the food.
DOG ANATOMY
Let’s have a quick look at some basic anatomy of dogs to discuss why feeding raw totally works!
The jaws and teeth of our furry friends are built for tearing, crushing, and breaking down food whilst their saliva helps to kill bacteria as opposed to breaking down food as in humans.
Their stomach is like a blender and helps to mix and liquefy food. The stomach acid in dogs is also approximately 10 times higher than that of humans which allows for the digestion of raw meat and bones.
The intestine and bowel are much shorter than that of a human which means that nutrients are absorbed quicker and passes through which reduces the risk of bacterial infections.
MY JOURNEY
When we first adopted Amos, he was being fed the standard kibble diet and was being fed 3 times a day because he was so underfed. You could see all of his ribs and he was starving. I am forever grateful to RSPCA for taking him in and feeding him up before we took over. I would like to point out here that there is no way to expect a shelter to feed their dogs raw. It is just not financially viable.
In our first few months with Amos, we noticed that he was a food monster and absolutely loves food. We did, however, struggle with:
- Smelly, yeasty ears
- Eye goobers (that’s what I call them!)
- Red belly rash
- Stinky farts!
After researching more on raw food, we slowly started to transition Amos over but it took us about 6 months to get there. We had to go slowly to allow his body to get used to his new diet. We initially transitioned Amos to a grain-free kibble from the standard kibble whilst adding in the occasional bone and raw meat. Once Amos was transitioned over to the grain-free kibble, we pushed more to the raw diet and Amos then became 100% raw fed.
In this time, we also consulted with a Canine Naturopath who assisted me to achieve his optimal and nutritionally rich diet. We never struggled with Amos disliking his food and he gobbled everything down.
WHAT WE NOTICED
Swapping Amos over to a raw diet has made him more energetic. We also noticed there was a significant reduction in his eye goobers and smelly ears. His farts are definitely less smelly too, and the rash disappeared.
In fact, those are signs that I know his diet is off and I need to tweak something.
Amos’s coat is also extremely smooth and shiny and most people usually comment on how soft he is.
I sure hope you enjoyed reading a bit of information on why I choose to feed Amos RAW.
My name is Mel and I am the proud dog mum of Amos Pearce. We live in Brisbane, Australia and just love adventuring though life together. Growing up, I used to hate dogs but after being diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, I started to see dogs in a different way. Now I like to think of myself as the ultimate Dog Mum and I love it! I honestly can’t imagine life without Amos. Amos is a rescue from RSPCA Queensland and a proud RSPCA Furbassador. Together we share our most precious moments with you all as part of one big awesome life journey. Our little family rocks!
2 comments
Looks like Amos loooooves his raw diet!!
Soooo very much!!! Food monster!