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All the things I wish I knew before I got my first ever puppy!
Raw vs kibble: Image
Raw vs Kibble! I'm not sure what it is about some people's obsession with food, but just like the hardcore vegans that throw red paint over people that eat meat, those that support the Raw food dog food movement seem to be equally as insensed about those who don't.
Like in collar vs harness, I don't have anything against either option. Personally I feed Cooper on kibble, it's what he came to me on, and the food he's on currently has done wonders for his stomach. But, if we didn't find a kibble which agreed with him, I would have happily gone down the raw option.
This article has been a difficult one to research for many reasons. I've seen people's arguments on facebook for raw food... but looking online, none of their points actually seemed to be backed up scientifically... although none are disproven either. Then when it comes to arguments for dry food, some people claim that the scientists are sponsored by brands of dry dog food, so their arguments are not valid, but I feel like thats a bit of an exaggeration as I doubt EVERY study would be sponsored by dog food suppliers, and it would kind of defeat the point of the study if it was completely biased!
To avoid getting into the in’s and out’s of what people think is right/wrong/skewed/biased, I’m just going to put down the pros and cons and whether they are opinion or proven fact - what you chose to believe is up to you!
Raw vs kibble: Text
Raw vs kibble: List
RAW
Raw diets are controversial, but are on the rise popularity wise. The idea is you are feeding your dog what canines would have eaten before they became domesticated. A raw diet typically consists of muscle meat, bones, organ meats i.e. livers and kidneys, raw eggs, vegetables, fruit and some dairy.
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PROS
Great way to help a dog lose/maintain weight.
Owners claim that it promotes shinier coats, healthier skin, improved energy levels, smaller stools, cleaner teeth and fewer digestive problems.
CONS
Little or no direct research in the safety or benefits of the diet.
Harder to get hold of than commercial dog food.
Generally more expensive
Not recommended for households with young children due to the cross contamination risks from the raw meat and dog faeces.
Potential for bones to choke an animal, break teeth or cause an internal puncture.
Harder to get a complete and balanced diet if homemade, and commercially produced raw diets do not guarantee nutritional balance.
Raw vs kibble: List
KIBBLE
Millions of dogs every year survive off of a dry dog food diet and for decades it has been the only commercially available option on the market.
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PROS
Convenient, easy to store and keeps for longer.
Formulated to meet a dogs nutritional needs.
Lots of brand choice.
Food to suit all different budgets.
Simplified feeding guidelines based on a dogs weight and age.
Easy to clean up.
Raw vs kibble: List
CONS
Lower quality foods can contain a lot of common allergens such as wheat and corn.
Can contains a lot of fillers such as rice, which although adds calories, doesn’t actually benefit your dog nutritionally.
Often recalled due to contamination.
Big industry, profit often comes before quality.
Some people believe it contributes to bloat in some breeds.
Raw vs kibble: List
Raw vs kibble: News Articles
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