There are numerous dog feeding options these days, and dehydrated dog food is no longer your only choice. Raw diets for dogs are becoming increasingly popular--so much so that many pet stores and distributors now sell frozen and commercial raw diets, something which was almost unheard of in the 1990s. Dry dog food has also changed--choose from grain-free and dehydrated raw food as well as the grain-based varieties.
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Types of Raw Food
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While many people primarily rely on butchers or grocery store meat aisles for raw dog food, pet food distributors across the country offer products such as green tripe, rabbit, goat and mutton. Many pet stores now carry ground raw dog diets. These may be simply a mixture of meat, bones and organs, or include vegetables and added supplements. Commercially available ground raw dog food tends to be expensive compared to purchasing chicken, beef and pork by the case or at the grocery store.
Types of Dehydrated Food
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Dehydrated dog food runs the gamut from the brands of kibble you commonly see on grocery store shelves, to specialty dry foods using minimal preservatives and human-grade ingredients, dog food that contains no grains (typically using potatoes for bulk) and even dehydrated raw meat and vegetables. Several companies offer dehydrated foods that, when you add raw or cooked meat, form a complete meal.
Cost Comparison
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Although some specialty dehydrated dog food can be quite expensive, on the whole a raw diet costs more to feed than a dehydrated diet. Those with multiple dogs, or a very large dog, should factor in the cost of an extra freezer. A dog needs to eat approximately 1 lb. per day for each 50 lbs. it weighs. So a 100-lb. dog will eat 2 lbs. of raw dog food daily.
Benefits
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Most dogs do fine eating a high-quality dehydrated diet. It is cheaper and much more convenient to feed than a raw diet, especially when traveling or if the dog is frequently kennelled. Dehydrated diets are generally safe and most veterinarians are more comfortable when their clients feed commercial dry dog food. It's usually well tolerated, and you can add variety by rotating between different types of protein or adding safe table scraps and nutritious fresh food.
Dogs that eat raw diets tend to have cleaner teeth, which leads to a healthier dog. Veterinarian Tom Lonsdale, in his book "Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health," states that chewing bones scrapes the teeth clean, while dry food adheres between the teeth and gums, allowing a buildup of bacteria which travels through the bloodstream and can cause heart and organ damage. An owner who feeds a raw diet can control the type of food and ingredients his dog eats in case of food allergy or intolerance.
Detriments
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Dog owners know little of the sources of the ingredients in most dehydrated foods. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued 979 pet food recalls between January 1, 2006 and June 10, 2010, including the 2007 melamine-tainted pet food recall in 2007. Some dog owners are also concerned about additives such as preservatives and food coloring, some of which are known carcinogens.
Raw dog food is not without dangers--raw meat is inherently contaminated with bacteria that can sicken a dog. Some people only feed the more expensive ground raw food, or grind their own, because of the risk eating bones pose. If not fed in correct proportions, a raw food diet can be nutritionally incomplete or unbalanced. There are also some concerns that the daily handling of raw meat poses a health risk to humans in the household.
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