People who feed their dogs a diet of whole, raw meats, bones and organs, often notice a variety of improvements to their dogs’ health within a very short period of time. While there are 101 benefits to feeding raw, these are the benefits and improvements reported most by raw feeders within as little as a week after starting the diet.
1. Healthy Gums
Eating raw muscle meat, raw meaty bones, tendons, cartilage, and other connective tissues, requires chewing, tearing and crunching. The consumption of a whole, raw diet promotes superior gum health as well as excellent overall oral health.
2. Pearly White Teeth
The plaque and tartar that develop on kibble fed dogs’ teeth is largely due to the starchy, carb-rich ingredients found in most all commercial dog food. The consumption of whole, raw foods does wonders to keep a carnivore’s teeth clean, healthy and white. When dogs are fed a proper raw diet there is no need for expensive teeth cleaning, even in later years.
3. Fresh Breath
Dogs that are fed raw have less offensive breath because of their cleaner teeth, healthier gums and balanced digestive systems.
4. Weight Control
Pet obesity among dogs who are fed processed foods is an increasing problem. Extra weight causes a multitude of health issues including joint problems, heart problems, a higher risk of cancer and diabetes, and many others. But with a raw diet, a healthy, lean weight is easily manageable.
5. Properly Formed Stools
The stools of dogs fed commercial pet food are unnaturally large and extremely foul smelling. In comparison, a raw fed dog’s stools are much smaller, have very little odor and easily biodegrade just like the natural scat of a wild carnivore.
6. Fewer Yeast Infections
When dog eats starch-filled kibble day after day, this can often trigger yeast infections and even contribute to chronic problems. Starting dogs on raw diets early in life can prevent such conditions altogether and switching to raw has been known to help manage or even heal yeast issues.
7. Healthier Skin and Coats
Dogs who are fed processed food usually have coats that are dull in appearance and coarse to the touch, while people who feed their dog’s raw are amazed at how much softer, cleaner and glossier their dogs’ fur becomes. In fact, many who feed raw bathe their dogs as little as once a year, if at all. Plus, when your dog takes a dip in the pool you’ll notice that “wet dog smell” is much milder.
Feeding a natural, consciously sourced, species appropriate diet is the single best thing you can do for your dog to ensure that they are healthy from the inside, out. As soon as you make the switch you’ll begin to see these improvements and many more.
Disclaimer: All content provided on WhitneyLiving.com is for informational purposes only. The materials contained here are not intended to be used for the diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed veterinary professional.
These suggestions are based on research and personal experiences. Whitney Bryson, the author of this site, assumes no responsibility or liability for the use of this information. This content is not meant to replace veterinary advice.