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Natural Pet Feeding FAQs
- What is so special about raw food?
- Is it OK to feed raw meat to dogs and cats?
- How should I introduce a natural feeding diet as I have been feeding complete/processed petfoods?
- Raw chicken carries salmonella - will this harm my dog/cat?
- Will my dog get worm from eating raw products?
- I am told to feed chicken wings but I am not sure why?
- Why is lamb / chicken and rice mixed raw or cooked good for my animal?
- At what age can I start feeding my dog or cat on a natural diet and how should I introduce this diet at an early age?
- What do I need to add to raw meat and how do I make sure my dog is receiving a balanced diet?
- I am told that a high protein level in a product makes it better for my dog and I am worried that my dog is not receiving enough protein with simply meat and biscuit so I add the meat to a complete biscuit - is this OK?
- Is it OK to feed my dog minced bones especially in the poultry product and what benefit will my animal get from receiving bone?
What is so special about raw food?
Any kind of cooking process will damage the nutritional content of food. This is made worse still if the ingredients that went into the food weren’t much good in the first place. Vitamins, proteins, fats and carbohydrates are all damaged during processing, and food can lose as much as 70% of its nutritional value before it gets to your pets bowl.
Feeding raw food gives your pet access to the full nutritional content of food. You need to feed smaller amounts and your pets digestive system has do to a lot less work to get the goodness out of the food. Raw feeding is new to most people, but it is quite straightforward as long as the balance of ingredients is right. For a range of recipes and information try one of the books about raw feeding. “Give your dog a bone” by Dr. Ian Billinghurst and “Home prepared dog and cat diets” by Donald R. Strombeck are both excellent.
Is it OK to feed raw meat to dogs and cats?
Pre-prepared pet food is a relatively modern invention. Forty years ago most pet dogs were fed on cooked scraps, and this is still the case in many other countries. Only a little further back in time dogs were fed on raw scraps and cats had to fend for themselves! Dogs and cats evolved to eat and digest raw food and there is plenty of evidence that a raw diet has health benefits.
Of course, not all raw food is safe for cats and dogs. Sharp bones can cause injury to the throat, stomach or intestine. You should always avoid meat that is spoiled by bacteria or is not clean and healthy looking. Cats should never be fed raw fish because enzymes in it can break down nutrients the cat needs. If your pet has a problem with chronic illness or a weakened immune system then you should discuss any change of diet with your vet first.
The choice of raw meat is important; AMP raw foods are made from the best ingredients and are guaranteed to be healthy and safe.
TOP OF PAGE How should I introduce a natural feeding diet as I have been feeding complete/ processed petfoods?
Gradually! Sudden changes in diet can cause digestive upsets no matter what new type of food you introduce. It is always best to introduce a little more of the new food mixed in with the animals old diet each day, until after two weeks you are feeding only the new food. It is best to consult one of the books about raw feeding so you get the diet exactly right from day one.
Raw chicken carries salmonella - will this harm my dog/cat?
Salmonella is everywhere, not just in raw food. Cats and dogs walk around and lick their feet. They find bits of old food to eat. Salmonella is even found in dried food! Fortunately dogs and cats have an intestine that is designed to kill and break down bacteria in the food they eat, including Salmonella. In fact there is an argument that a dog or cat that eats a diet that contains bacteria will be better able to cope when they do eat something that is really rotten. It is like a form of natural vaccination.
Will my dog get worm from eating raw products?
Possibly, but the same argument as above applies. Worms are a part of normal life for all species except most humans in developed countries. Cats and dogs fed on anything will get worms. The solution is simple; regular worming prescribed by your vet.
I am told to feed chicken wings but I am not sure why?
Chicken wings are a good source of fat, protein and minerals. The chewiness of chicken wings helps keep teeth clean without brushing. The only downside is that chicken bones a small and sharp; not all dogs chew their food enough to break the ones into small, safe pieces.
Why is lamb/ chicken and rice mixed raw or cooked good for my animal?
If cooked this is a very bland diet that is good for any animal that is recovering from illness. It is great for a tummy upset or a pet recovering after surgery. This kind of diet should not be fed long term because it doesn’t contain all of the vitamins and minerals a healthy animal needs.
At what age can I start feeding my dog or cat on a natural diet and how should I introduce this diet at an early age?
Wild dogs and cats begin to eat raw food as soon as they are weaned. You can begin to feed raw food to any completely weaned puppy or kitten. Both Donald Stromberg and Ian Billinghurst recommend a raw diet for puppies, and Ian has written a book about the subject called “Raise Your Pups With Bones”.
What do I need to add to raw meat and how do I make sure my dog is receiving a balanced diet?
If you feed a variety of meat and a variety of fruit, vegetables and raw bones, your dog and cat will manage very well, just as we do. We do not worry about whether we’re getting enough vitamin E do we? No, we just make sure we eat a good variety including lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Any of the books mentioned previously will give you recipes for a balanced diet, but if in doubt then you could give a vitamin and mineral supplement.
I am told that a high protein level in a product makes it better for my dog and I am worried that my dog is not receiving enough protein with simply meat and biscuit so I add the meat to a complete biscuit - is this OK?
No! The proportion of meat in a complete biscuit is designed to give your dog the right amount of protein. If you add extra meat then the diet can become unbalanced. If you want to add raw meat, then feed less of the biscuit and perhaps give a raw foodmeal at the other end of the day, according to the guiding principles for feeding a bones and raw food diet. This is then two balanced meals, rather than just upping the protein levels of one. How do you know how much protein your dog needs? How much protein do you need? If in doubt, consult the food manufacturer, your vet or one of the books mentioned above.
Is it OK to feed my dog minced bones especially in the poultry product and what benefit will my animal get from receiving bone?
In the wild, cats and dogs eat whole carcasses including the bones. Whole bone contains important minerals such as calcium as well as complex fats and vitamins. The only problem is that some bones, particularly in chicken, are sharp and difficult to chew up properly. Mincing makes the pieces of bone so small that it is easily digested and absorbed with no risk of an obstruction.
Do you have a question for our vets? Please email vet@anglianmeatproducts.co.uk
