Why Is Raw Food Good for Dogs?

You may have recently realized that highly processed kibble isn’t the best thing you can feed your pup, but why is raw food good for dogs? There are lots of reasons why a raw diet for dogs is the most nutritious food option available today.

Here’s a deep dive into the benefits of a dog eating raw food. Why are raw diets good for dogs? What is the best raw food diet for dogs? Keep reading for these answers and more.

What Is a Raw Food Diet for Dogs?

A raw food diet for dogs is composed of raw muscle meat, organ meat, and bone. It’s based on the idea that modern dogs’ digestive systems are still nearly identical to their wolf ancestors. As much as we’ve changed how dogs look on the outside over many millennia, their insides have hardly changed at all.

Dogs have pointy teeth and hinged jaws designed for shredding meat rather than grinding plant matter and a short digestive tract for digesting meat rather than the long intestines required for digesting carbohydrates.

While dogs have evolved some ability to digest carbohydrates, they never developed a biological need for carbohydrates, so carb-rich, heavily processed kibble is not the best thing for them to eat (just like sugar-filled, highly processed food isn’t the best thing for humans to eat).

Why Is Raw Food Good for Dogs?

Raw food contains all the nutrients that dogs need, without carbohydrates and filler ingredients that they don’t. As a result, it’s easier for dogs to digest and less likely to trigger allergies since raw dog food is a naturally limited-ingredient diet.

Nutritional Advantages of Raw Diets

Just like a whole-food diet is better for people than a highly processed one, raw dog food is also better for dogs. Canines are better able to digest raw dog food and use the nutrients to power their bodies—and in the process, dogs also produce less waste since their body can utilize more of the food.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Food Safely?

Yes, dogs can safely eat raw food thanks to their highly acidic stomachs and very short digestive tracts. Pathogens are unlikely to survive the stomach acid, and those that do typically don’t stay in the digestive tract long enough to reproduce and cause problems.

Having said that, We Feed Raw uses a cold-pressure process to inactivate potential pathogens, making our food safe for not only the dogs who eat it, but also for the humans who serve it (or get licked by their dogs after mealtime).

Is Raw Food Better for Dogs?

Here’s more information about why raw food is better for dogs than commercial dry or canned foods.

Comparative Analysis: Raw Diet vs. Commercial Pet Food

One study showed that frozen raw dog food is more digestible than any other type of food for dogs. Other studies have found that, compared to kibble-fed pups, raw-fed puppies are less likely to suffer from digestive issues, skin allergies, and ear infections when they grow up.

Dog Eating Raw Food: Observational Benefits

According to a survey of We Feed Raw customers:

• •96% said their dogs had smaller, firmer, less smelly poops after switching to a raw diet

• •88% reported healthier skin and coat

• •86% of dogs showed more mealtime excitement

• •87% told us their dogs had better digestion

• •90% said their dogs maintained a healthy weight

• •79% saw a decrease in allergy symptoms

Are Raw Diets Good for Dogs?

Yes, raw diets are excellent for dogs! A few benefits of raw dog food include fewer allergies, shinier fur, smaller poop, cleaner teeth, better weight control, stronger immune system, and improved digestion.

What Is the Best Raw Food Diet for Dogs?

While it is possible to make a raw diet for your dog by yourself, you must work with an animal nutritionist to ensure you’re giving your dog all the nutrients they need to thrive. You may need to weigh every ingredient and add supplements to each meal.

On the other hand, you could choose nutritionally complete and balanced We Feed Raw. Our 6 recipes meet AAFCO nutrition standards for dogs of all life stages, including the growth of large-breed puppies, so you can be sure your dog will get all the nutrients they need by feeding only our food with no need for weighing meat, adding supplements, or planning out a rotational feeding schedule.

Our pre-portioned patties each contain approximately 80% muscle meat (with associated connective tissue and fat), 10% organ meat, and 10% finely ground bone, along with a small amount of a vitamin and mineral mix.

Additionally, We Feed Raw uses a cold-pressure process to inactivate any potential pathogens, making our food extremely safe.

When you sign up for a We Feed Raw meal plan, we ask you a bunch of questions about your dog’s age, weight, body condition, and more so we can tell you precisely how much of our food to give your pup each day. And if you can’t afford to feed a fully raw diet, we also offer partially raw feeding plans, so you can mix our food with kibble for a more budget-friendly option.

How to Transition Your Dog to a Raw Diet

As with any diet change, you should switch your dog to a raw diet gradually, over the course of about 10 days. While some dogs can make this transition faster than that with no ill effects, dogs with a more sensitive digestive system may need a longer transition to avoid any stomach issues that can result from switching foods too quickly.

Step-by-Step Guide for Switching to Raw Food

Here’s a guide on how to change your dog to a raw diet over 10 days. You can adjust this schedule to a shorter or longer transition period based on how your pup’s stomach tolerates the changes.

Step 1: Start a Probiotic and Prebiotic (Optional)

A lifetime of kibble does nothing good for a dog’s digestive tract, so starting them on a prebiotic and probiotic combination a few days before beginning the transition to raw can help prevent tummy trouble. Continue the probiotic and prebiotic through the transition. You may be able to stop it if your pup gets through the transition without any stomach problems.

Step 2: Mix 25% Raw With 75% Old Food

For the first 3 days, give your dog 75% of the usual daily amount of their old food and feed 25% of the recommended daily dose of raw food. Assuming this goes smoothly, you can increase the amount of raw food on day 4. You may also choose to stay at this step for a few days longer to let your pup’s stomach adjust to the new food.

Step 3: Mix Half Raw and Half Old Food

Once your dog’s digestive system has adjusted to eating 25% raw, increase the amount so that you’re feeding half as much of their old food and half their eventual daily dose of raw food.

Step 4: 75% Raw and 25% Old Food

By about day 7, your pup should be able to increase to 75% of their new raw food and only 25% of their old diet.

Step 5: 100% Raw Dog Food

Hopefully, by about day 10, your dog can now eat a totally raw diet without any stomach problems.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

There are two main problems people occasionally come across when switching their dogs to a raw diet: some dogs have loose stool during the transition, and some dogs are hesitant to eat the new food because it’s so different from anything they’ve eaten before.

For Dogs With Digestive Problems

If you’ve ever gone through a period of eating lots of junk food and then trying to switch suddenly to a healthy diet rich in greens, you’ve probably experienced some digestive upset, and the same thing can happen to dogs when they switch from highly processed kibble to a raw diet.

Adding a little canned pumpkin puree to your dog’s bowl and slowing down the transition a little is often enough to get your dog over the hump, but we have tons of additional transition tips in this blog post if you need them.

For Picky Pups

Consider what a big change it is for your dog to go from eating room-temperature crunchy food to cold, wet raw food. This switch can be shocking for some dogs, making them hesitant to try the new food.

When you choose We Feed Raw, the bone fragments are small enough that you can lightly sear the patty to warm it up, and that’s often enough to convince picky pets to try raw food. As your dog gets used to the new food, you can sear it less and less until you’re serving it fully raw.

You can find more tips for transitioning picky eaters here.

Raw Feeding and Specific Health Conditions

While a raw diet is the best choice for most dogs, you may want to discuss the pros and cons of a raw diet with your veterinarian if your dog has a medical condition that may impact their ability to benefit from a raw diet.

Is Raw Dog Food Good for Dogs with Sensitivities?

Yes, raw dog food is an amazing choice for dogs with sensitivities or allergies. We Feed Raw has 6 naturally limited-ingredient recipes, 3 of which (turkey, beef, and chicken) are made from a single protein source, making it easy to feed to dogs with known or even unknown food allergies or intolerances.

Is Raw Feeding Good for Dogs with Medical Conditions?

A raw diet is good for dogs with most medical conditions, but it may not be appropriate for all dogs. For example, HUA Dalmatians may need a lower-protein diet to prevent kidney or bladder stones. When in doubt, consult your vet.

Benefits of Raw Feeding

Raw feeding has numerous benefits. It has been shown to help puppies grow up healthy, with fewer instances of chronic ear infections, skin allergies, and digestive issues than kibble-fed dogs. Raw dog food has also been shown to be more digestible than any other type of dog food.

Being more digestible, raw food helps dogs have fewer stomach problems, smaller poop, and stronger immune systems.

Raw dog food is also better for dental health since it’s free of cavity-causing carbohydrates, and it’s great for skin and coat health since it’s full of both moisture and fatty acids.

Finally, dogs LOVE the taste of raw food. They instinctively know it’s what they’re meant to eat, so most picky pups immediately dive into their bowls when switched to raw dog food.

Why Choose We Feed Raw?

At We Feed Raw, we’re dedicated to making raw dog food as easy to feed as possible. We ship pre-portioned, nutritionally complete and balanced raw patties to your door and tell you how much to feed your dog each day. Our recipes all meet AAFCO nutritional standards for dogs of all life stages, including the growth of large-breed puppies, so you can start your dog on our food as a puppy and never have to change it.

We’re also committed to ensuring our food is safe. We use USDA-certified meat from animals raised in the United States and New Zealand, and all of our food is made and packaged in the US. Additionally, we use a cold-pressure process to inactivate potential pathogens, making our food safe to feed.

Learn more about why We Feed Raw is the best choice for your dog by clicking here, or take our quiz now to find out how much it will cost to start your dog on their life-changing raw journey.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is feeding my dog raw food a good choice for their health?

Yes, feeding raw dog food is a great choice for your dog’s health! Studies have shown that raw dog food is easier to digest than any other type of dog food and that raw-fed puppies grow up to have fewer problems with ear infections, skin allergies, and digestive issues than kibble-fed puppies.

How can a raw diet improve my dog's skin and coat condition?

Raw dog food is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids and protein, both of which are important building blocks for a healthy skin and coat. A raw diet also contains more moisture than kibble, which can help dogs stay more hydrated and contribute to improved skin and coat health.

Will my dog have less odor if I feed them a raw diet?

Probably! For starters, the high carbohydrate content of kibble contributes to dental decay, which is one of the main causes of foul “doggie breath.” Since raw dog food is much easier to digest than other types of dog food, pups who eat it also tend to be MUCH less gasy than kibble-fed dogs. 

Finally, the healthy skin and coat built by a raw diet may be less likely to cling to odors.

Can feeding raw food to my dog reduce the amount of waste they produce?

Yes! Since dogs are better able to digest raw dog food, and since it doesn’t contain bulky filler ingredients, raw-fed dogs have smaller, firmer, less frequent, and less stinky stools than kibble-fed dogs.

How does a raw food diet affect my dog's allergies?

For starters, it’s much easier to avoid a dog’s food allergy triggers with a naturally limited ingredient raw diet. Additionally, the moisture and fatty acids help prevent dry skin that can be exacerbated by itchiness caused by allergies.

In what ways does a raw food diet support my dog's immune system?

Did you know that 70-90% of your dog’s immune system lives in their gut? Since raw dog food helps improve gut health, it naturally supports a healthy immune system, as well.

Can switching to raw food increase my dog's energy levels?

Maybe. You probably don’t have a lot of energy when you’re having digestive issues, and the same can be true for dogs struggling to digest their carb-rich kibble. Dogs frequently have more energy after switching to an easier-to-digest raw diet.

Does a raw diet help with keeping my dog hydrated?

Yes! Dogs are meant to get much of their daily moisture needs met from their food rather than a water bowl. While raw dog food contains about 70% moisture, kibble averages less than 10% moisture.

How can a raw food diet facilitate weight management for my dog?

High-protein diets have been shown to help dogs lose more fat and retain more muscle than carb-rich diets with the same number of calories. Kibble must contain a lot of carbohydrates—it absolutely can’t be made without it. So a naturally low-carb raw diet is the best way to help dogs reach and maintain a healthy weight.

Will feeding my dog raw food improve their dental health?

Yes! The carbohydrates in kibble contribute to dental decay, while raw dog food contains enzymes that actually help to clean your dog’s teeth. Feeding your dog the occasional raw meaty bone or dehydrated whole prey snack can also help provide scrubbing and flossing actions that crunching on kibble just can’t do.