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7 Reasons To Feed Your Dog a Raw Food Diet

by Mike & Julie Walton on Dec 05 2021
Research shows that feeding your dog a raw food diet can increase their lifespan and reduce their chance of disease. Giving your dog food that resembles the natural foods they would have eaten before domestication can have an extremely positive impact on their overall health.    However, there is some pushback to feeding our canine friends raw dog food. Some people find the transition difficult and aren’t sure where to find proper raw food. K9 Kravings dog food that meet the requirements for a raw dog food diet.    Read on for the reasons you should feed your dog a raw food diet.  1.   Improved Dental Health Dog teeth are sharp, strong, and designed to tear and rip tough meat and bone. There have been many claims that kibble is an unnatural food for dogs because it is so processed and requires little effort to chew. Kibble can also stick to a dog's teeth, which can cause dental issues.    85% of adult dogs develop some form of dental disease like gingivitis. Studies support the claim that a raw dog food diet improves dental health by reducing tartar buildup on the teeth.  2.   Improved Digestion Raw food contains vital nutrients that get processed and used by a dog's body. This results in fewer and healthier bowel movements. A raw food diet requires more effort and chewing than kibble, so the body has more time to release gastric acid to break down the food.    When a dog eats too fast, it has a negative result on the digestive system. If you’ve seen your dog vomit or have diarrhea after scarfing down kibble, it could be because kibble is so easy to eat quickly. Raw food can’t be eaten as quickly because its components — like organ meat and muscle meat — are naturally tough and require those sharp, strong teeth to break it down.    3.   Boost Your Pet's Immune System 70% of a dog's immune system lies in its gut. Raw food provides live enzymes that support gut health. The gut is then able to perform properly, and your dog's immune system gets an immediate boost.   Commercial dog food is highly processed and rich in starches which are unusable by the gut. These ingredients promote inflammation in a dog's gut and can negatively affect the immune system.    4.   Improved Skin and Coat One of the most popular reasons for switching to raw dog food is the improvements in a dog's skin and coat. After switching their dogs to raw food, owners see an almost immediate change in their dogs' coats. Natural and raw meat contains a multitude of fatty acids that keep dogs’ skin moisturized and their coats shiny and healthy.  5.   Improved Stools Raw food contains vital nutrients that get used in a dog's body, so they excrete much less waste. Kibble is filled with starch and carbohydrates that are unnecessary for a dog's nutrition, so they get eliminated in the digestive process.    A dog on a raw food diet will likely experience fewer bowel movements, and when they do eliminate, they will have a much smaller and more consistent stool.  6.   Decreased Veterinary Expenses A raw diet full of vitamins and minerals from K9 Kravings raw dog food can improve your dog’s overall health. Over time, a raw dog food diet has shown to result in fewer vet visits because it reduces many chronic conditions that older dogs experience.    Many dogs who are fed kibble tend to need more vet visits and prescriptions as they age. But a raw food diet reduces a dog's chance of getting those conditions, resulting in fewer visits and a reduced likelihood of the need for prescriptions.  7.   Heightened Mental Quality A dog is naturally programmed to rip and tear at a piece of raw meat, so this diet gives them the psychological satisfaction of doing just that.    When a dog can use their instincts daily, they will be much happier. Dogs are also thought to enjoy the taste of raw food more than kibble. Conclusions A raw diet for your dog can enhance their overall physical and mental wellbeing. Use us as a resource to learn more about raw dog food diets. 3 Raw Hounds carry raw dog food to give your dog the best raw food options available.

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What Is a BARF Diet for Dogs?

by Mike & Julie Walton on Oct 04 2021
The BARF diet refers to a type of dog food diet that includes only raw foods. BARF or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet has become a popular diet for dogs because of its health benefits.    The BARF diet removes processed meat and other less-than-desirable ingredients used in commercial dog food. It’s also known to contain a higher amount of protein than traditional dog food. BARF eliminates all processed ingredients and instead consists of:        Fruits and vegetables     Whole grains     Minerals      Organ meat     Raw muscle meat      Raw meaty bones     Supplements   This raw food diet is similar to what dogs naturally ate before humans domesticated them. K9 Kravings raw dog food was developed as BARF-friendly dog food by a world-renowned animal nutrition doctor. It’s a great option for those seeking to try a BARF diet for their dogs.    Is the BARF Diet Good for Dogs? The BARF diet has gained popularity in recent years for its health benefits. This raw diet has benefits that go beyond just animal nutrition. It also has overarching environmental benefits.    The production of raw dog food has a lower carbon footprint than most traditional commercial dog foods, making it more environmentally friendly. A BARF diet also consists of more minerals and nutrients utilized by a dog or cat's body, resulting in less waste.    A raw diet has been shown to result in the following health improvements:        Weight loss and muscle gain      Less anxious behavior     Improvements in odor      Dental health improvements     Allergy elimination     Increased energy levels      Improvement in positive behavior   There have been many health benefits associated with raw diets for dogs like BARF. Dogs thrive on a raw diet because it’s more nutritious and includes foods that are more natural for them to eat.    What Can I Feed My Dog on the BARF Diet?  An important part of BARF is ensuring that your dog receives balanced nutrition. It’s difficult for many dog owners to give their dogs a properly balanced raw food diet without using nutritionally dense raw dog food like K9 Kravings.    A good rule of thumb is to transition to a raw food diet slowly. Give your dog a short period of fasting before changing over to a BARF diet. The fast should last for about half a day and should not exceed a full day.    The proportions of the BARF diet are recommended as follows:        5% liver     5% organ meat     10% fruits and vegetables     10% raw meat and ground bone     70% raw muscle meat   A BARF diet should include both plant-based and carnivorous foods. Plant-based foods included in the BARF diet are:       Fresh herbs     Fresh vegetables like squash, leafy greens, pumpkin, carrots, broccoli, and carrots     Fresh fruits like blueberries, apples, and cranberries   It’s important to know which plant-based foods are appropriate for dogs as some can be toxic and harmful. Toxic or harmful plant-based foods include:        Avocados     Onions     Raisins     Grapes   A BARF diet is made up of mostly raw meat. The proteins included in the BARF diet are:        Raw eggs     Liver meat     Kidney meat     High-quality muscle meat      Raw ground bone     Raw whole bone     A small amount of raw fish     Turkey meat     Pork meat     Beef meat Most animal-based proteins are safe for dogs, but some dogs do have preferences that you’ll learn as you feed your dog the BARF diet. Any bones given to dogs should always be whole or ground bones and should never be cooked. Ground bones are typically easier on a dog’s digestive system.     Do Vets Recommend a BARF Diet?  Research has shown that feeding a dog a raw diet can be exceptionally beneficial to a dog's overall health. Studies found that dogs fed a raw food diet instead of traditional dog food are less prone to disease. Professional veterinarians have also indicated that when dogs are fed raw food, their lifespan can increase by 25%.    Conclusion The BARF diet is a healthy and safe raw food option for your canine friend. Make sure to transition slowly and pay close attention to the amounts of each kind of raw food you’re giving your dog. K9 Kravings food products are a great addition to your dog's BARF diet.    Learn more about K9 Kravings for the BARF diet and its benefits to your dog's health.  

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Commercial Dog Food Versus Raw Dog Food: Picking the Right Food for Your Dog

by Mike & Julie Walton on Sep 17 2021
A balanced diet for a domestic dog is formulated on the theory that dogs are discretionary carnivores. Like humans, dogs can survive on grains with minimal access to meat in their diet.

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Which People Foods Are Safe for Dogs?

by Mike & Julie Walton on Sep 16 2021
If you’re wondering which people foods are safe for dogs, you’re in the right place. Here, we will go over the various safe meats and vegetables for dogs to consume in raw dog food.

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A Complete and Balanced Raw Diet for Your Dog

by Mike & Julie Walton on Sep 16 2021
 If you haven’t heard about raw dog food diets yet, you’re in the right place to learn what raw dog food is and what benefits it can bring to your dog’s health.