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Originally Posted by lemonlauren  So, could someone please explain to me RAW options? Do you need a supplement, like with home-cooking? Or is RAW just a store-bought thing, frozen, that you heat up and it somehow includes vitamins? I also heard someone mention RAW in kibble form, I think? I really like kibble - less work, and at least a smidge better for the teeth from what I understand. I also live a little bit in the middle of nowhere, so are there places I could mail order from? I don't think any stores around here offer it.
What made YOU decide to feed raw instead of kibble or homecooked? Also, could RAW be good for a dog with allergies? |
Raw can be either pre-made raw (like Natures Variety) or you can feed prey-model (where you give raw meaty bones and they eat the bone and all, and organ meats) or freeze dried raw. I have never heard of raw kibble - that would seem like an oxymoron to me, lol
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Raw is considered a complete diet, so supps. are not necessary - although many people do still supplement -- like Omega 3&6, probiotics and digestive enzymes etcetera. You do *not* heat raw. Pre-made is bought frozen - I usually dethaw about 4 days worth and keep it in the fridge. Raw is GREAT for teeth bc the natural enzymes in the raw meat actually do some work on the tooth surface, keeping them cleaner. Raw can be purchased online - you can either put the brand in a google search - or just go to the brand's website and look for store/online locator.
Freeze dried raw is just that - NV has freeze dried and so does Honest Kitchen. My dogs didn't like HK, but I know others on here love it. It comes in a powder and you have to re-hydrate it, and then you can also add in your own cooked or raw meats if you like.
I used to feed kibble, then I homecooked, then moved to raw. I made the choice bc 1) the more research I did, the more raw made the most nutritional sense to me and 2) balancing supplements for homecooking is very complicated and if you don't do it properly, you put your dog's health at risk.
Lastly - yes, raw can be excellent for allergies if your dog has a food allergy and you can pinpoint the allergy. But, you can eliminate ingredients whether feeding raw, cooked, or kibble. It could also be seasonal or environmental too, though.
Hope that helped.
