Dog nutrition is an important part of raising a dog. Dogs just like us get sick and need proper nutrition and diet. There are many kinds of dog food in our market shelves. Some of the most popular brand of dog foods are Bravo, Purina, Alpo and Pedigree. Dog food can be categorized into two varieties: the dry and raw.
Dry dog food has been favored by dog owners because they are easier to store. Indeed we see sacks of dog food in supermarkets. They are relatively lighter than the tinned variety and they last longer too. However, dry dog food or kibbles have been linked to incidents of cancer, diabetes, heart disease and joint disorders and even skin issues. Dogs that are fed kibbles develop these kinds of diseases at relatively young ages.
Raw dog food on the other hand is very similar to what the domestic dog's ancestors ate when they were in the wild. Meat, bones, organs and some greens were part of the typical dog diet in the olden days. It is part of their primal instinct to eat their meat raw. There are store bought dog food that offer this type of nutrition. They are canned and ready to eat. Or an alternative is to make your own recipe by mixing the ingredients together.
One of the advantages of giving dogs raw meat is that they contain more protein and essential vitamins and minerals dogs need in their diet. While manufacturers do add vitamins and minerals in kibbles, these levels are significantly lower than those present in raw meat. Dry dog food will keep your dog full but it is also bad for their health in the long run. In fact, studies have shown that dogs that are fed raw meats have longer life spans, are less sickly; they visit the vet less often and have healthier teeth and gums than their kibble-fed counterparts.
Raw dog food is available as canned goods or you can concoct your own special recipes. A simple recipe of dog food can be composed of ground beef, pork and some ground organ meat mixed with pureed vegetables (variety). You can add some powdered vitamins like ascorbic acid and bonemeal powder. To make this dog food yummier, add some minced garlic (not the powdered kind).
Some people simply opt to toss their dogs some steak. While this can be done, remember that steak sometimes have lots of fats in them that can make your dog sick. While dogs can eat raw steak, this is quite expensive and impractical for most dog owners.
