Are you a new dog owner, or would you like to know whether you can feed your furry friend raw meat? The answer is yes. Most dog foods on the market are made of raw meat and bones—for example, poultry, fish, organs, and more. This kind of diet may resemble how your pet would have eaten if it were in the wild, although dogs are now domesticated animals living with human beings.
In this blog, we will answer the question, “Can dogs eat raw mince?” and also understand the benefits and health-related risks associated with it.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?
Answering this question is complex when you look at it at a deeper level, although dogs can eat raw meat. However, feeding your pet only raw meat is not medically advisable because of the health risks it causes. Besides that, the younger puppies are still developing and may need to be accustomed to a proper meal plan, while the older ones have an already weakened immune system. Therefore, feeding your dog on cooked meat or other dietary foods can help build a strong immune system.
However, pet owners prefer the popular BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food ) diet. It was invented by the Australian veterinarian Ian Billiinghurst and consists of uncooked meat, offals, vegetables, fruits, and eggs, all combined. Additionally, supporters of this kind of diet have argued that dogs are omnivores that need to feed on a raw diet as their digestive systems can easily digest this food.
Benefits Of Raw Diet Meals For Dogs
As dogs are omnivore animals, some raw meat in their digestive system is not that bad. Let's look at some of the benefits of raw meat for your dog.
Healthier coat and skin
Research has shown that raw meat helps your dog get a healthier coat and skin. This is because raw foods contain little to no carbohydrate fillers, plenty of fat, proteins, and high levels of vitamin E and zinc. These nutrients help build a healthy coat and skin for your dog.
Improved digestion
Raw meat also helps the dogs to absorb more nutrients. Raw foods take about one or two hours to fully dissolve in your dog's digestive system. With this, your dog gets to poop less frequently, and the stool does not smell as much.
Increased Energy Levels
Raw foods also help increase your pet's energy levels. Most pet owners have reported an increase in the energy levels of their pets after a switch to raw diets.
Improved breath and oral health
Raw meat also ensures fresher breath and cleaner teeth for your dog. Softer foods lead to insufficient dental activity compared to raw foods. Therefore, this helps to reduce plaque buildup and enhance gum strength.
Potential Risks Of A Raw Meat Dog Diet
While feeding your dog raw meat does have some health benefits, it also comes with some potential risks, especially if you do not follow a veterinarian-recommended diet plan.
One risk of raw meat is contamination because it is uncooked. Raw meat can harbor pathogens like Listeria, Trichinosis, Clostridium, and more. These pathogens could cause diarrhea, infections, and other diseases in your dog. Therefore, cooking the meat ensures that these pathogens are destroyed by the heat generated during the cooking process.
How to Reduce the Risk of Feeding Dogs Raw Meat
Dogs can still eat raw meat as long as they follow a proper diet or a veterinarian's recommendation. Let's look at some of the ways to reduce the risks of feeding your pet raw meat.
Check hygiene and meat quality
If you decide to feed your dog a raw diet, ensure that the meat is fresh and of good quality. Therefore, when buying meat for your dog, check that it smells fresh and has not been displayed for too long. Also, practice proper hygiene when preparing your pet's food to reduce the risk of infections.
Balanced nutrition
Also, ensure you feed your dog a balanced diet to provide balanced nutrition and enhance its health. Most veterinarians offer pet dietary plans that you can follow.
Be cautious when feeding your dog bones
When feeding your dog on bones, ensure they are big, as the small ones could choke it. Also, you should be careful with cooked bones as they could get stuck in your dog's throat, causing a choking hazard or damage to its intestines.
Evolution Of Dogs Nutritional Needs
Dogs have evolved over the years to become domesticated species that live with humans. However, this does not draw them away from their past of feeding in the wilderness like other wild animals. When puzzled over the question, can dogs have raw mince, you will need to consult with your veterinarian for proper guidance.
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) concluded that most raw pet foods are produced with little to no regulatory oversight by State or federal governments. The studies have found excess vitamins A and D and low levels of calcium and phosphorus present in the raw diets. Therefore, it is important to be cautious about the kinds of raw foods you feed your pet.
Conclusion
We hope this blog has helped shed more light on the topic “Can dogs eat raw mince?” Many pet owners ponder this question frequently. Although raw meat has some health benefits, such as a healthy coat and skin for the dog, improved dental health, increased energy levels, and more, it also has some potential risks. So, you should follow up with your veterinarian for professional advice when you want to ensure a balanced diet and proper dog health.
FAQs
- Are there other raw foods I can feed my dog?
There are plenty of raw foods, such as vegetables and fruits, that you can feed your dog, which are good for their health.
- Should I completely remove the raw meat from my dog's diet?
As dogs are omnivore animals, having some raw meat in their diet occasionally is not that bad as long as you maintain a proper balance with other types of foods.