Top 5 Benefits of Raw Diets For Dogs: The Science Behind Optimal Nutrition

Have you been wondering: Is a raw diet good for dogs? The answer is that yes, a raw diet is great for dogs! Let’s take a look at the top 5 benefits of raw diets for dogs and important things to know for your dog to have the best experience eating raw dog food.

What Is a Raw Food Diet for Dogs?

A raw meat diet for dogs consists of uncooked muscle meat, organ meat, and bones. Raw dog food may contain fruits or vegetables but typically does not contain grains or other refined carbohydrates. A raw diet for dogs mimics the prey that dogs would eat in the wild.

The Benefits of Feeding Your Dog a Raw Food Diet

There are many benefits to raw feeding dogs. Here are the top 5 benefits of a raw dog food diet.

1. Longer, Healthier Lifespan

Without disease-triggering carbohydrates, a species-appropriate raw food diet helps dogs live longer and healthier lives. Studies have shown that diets high in carbohydrates are tied to high levels of inflammation, and chronic inflammation is associated with diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, allergies, and other health conditions.

Dogs have no nutritional need for carbohydrates in their diet, yet commercial kibble contains an average of 30-70% carbohydrates.

With all of this information, it’s easy to see why a raw food diet for dogs can help them have fewer life-shortening diseases.

1. Shinier Coat and Healthier Skin

Since it’s rich in healthy fats and free of inflammation-causing carbohydrates, raw dog food can help your dog itch less, have less dander, and grow shinier fur. It does this by starving yeast, adding moisture to the diet, and providing a balanced ratio of fatty acids as well as enzymes for cellular regeneration and amino acids to support skin cells’ protein function.

1. Improved Digestion

Studies have shown that puppies fed a raw diet are much less likely to develop chronic enteropathy (CE)—an inflammatory gastrointestinal disorder—than puppies fed kibble. However, it’s never too late to switch your dog to the better digestibility of a raw diet.

While dogs may look quite different from wolves on the outside, their digestive system (in form and function) is still nearly identical, meaning dogs are better suited to digesting raw meat and bones than they are to digesting highly processed, high-carbohydrate foods like kibble.

Dogs on a raw diet typically have less gas and smaller, firmer, less frequent bowel movements than dogs who eat kibble.

1. Reduced Allergy Symptoms

One study showed that puppies fed a raw diet significantly decreased their odds of developing allergies later in life. Even adult dogs can benefit from switching to a raw diet, however. How?

For one thing, raw diets for dogs naturally have fewer ingredients than kibble, so it’s easier to avoid triggers for dogs who have food allergies. A large review showed that the most common dog food allergens include wheat, dairy products, beef, and chicken. By feeding a single-protein raw dog food (like our turkey recipe), you can avoid feeding your dog common allergens and eliminate food allergy symptoms.

That’s not all. Even environmental allergies can be improved by switching your dog to a raw diet. That’s because highly processed, high-carb kibbles can contribute to dry, flaky, itchy skin, exacerbating allergy symptoms. Raw dog food, on the other hand, supports a healthy skin and coat, improving allergy symptoms.

1. More Mealtime Excitement

While some dogs get excited over kibble (due to its high starch content and addictive qualities), more dogs are excited to eat REAL food. It smells, looks, and tastes like the food they’re meant to eat and is a lot more appetizing than highly processed crunchy brown balls. Raw diets also offer variety that kibble doesn't.

Potential Risks Associated With Feeding Your Dog a Raw Diet

Skeptics of the raw diet, including some vets, believe that feeding dogs raw meat could be dangerous. Let’s look at some of their arguments and why those arguments don’t hold up against We Feed Raw.

Bacterial Contamination

Vets often point to the risk of bacterial contamination as a reason why dogs shouldn’t eat raw food. However, dogs’ digestive tracts are designed to handle potential pathogens.

Beyond that, We Feed Raw starts with high-quality, USDA-certified meat that’s processed in an USDA-inspected facility, then uses a cold-pressure process to eliminate any potentially harmful pathogens. We also inspect every batch, so you can be sure that you will be safe handling the food and your dog will be safe eating it (although we still recommend washing your hands after handling our food, just as you would after handling raw meat before cooking it for yourself).

Nutritional Deficiencies

When feeding your dog a DIY raw diet, you do need to worry about making sure the diet is perfectly balanced and contains everything your dog needs to stay healthy. We Feed Raw takes all the guesswork out of raw feeding.

Our pre-portioned patties are nutritionally complete and balanced and meet AAFCO nutrition standards for dogs of all life stages, including the growth of large-breed puppies, so you never have to wonder whether your dog is getting proper nutrition.

Choking Hazards

Traditionally, a raw diet for dogs contained whole bones, which could theoretically cause a choking hazard or get lodged in a dog’s intestines if they didn’t chew it well enough. We Feed Raw incorporates finely ground raw meaty bones into our food, so your dog gets all the benefits of raw bones without any of the risks.

How to Introduce a Raw Diet for Dogs Safely

While some dogs can start a raw dog food diet cold turkey without any problems, we generally recommend that people transition their dogs slowly to prevent any stomach upset. 

Gradually Introduce Raw Foods

Start with up to 25% raw food and 75% of your dog’s current diet, and gradually add more raw food over the course of about 10 days. You may also have the best results starting with just one We Feed Raw protein and getting your dog (and their digestive tract) used to it before offering them other protein selections.

Monitor Your Dog’s Stool

Loose stool is not uncommon when switching your dog to a raw diet. If your dog starts having loose stools, simply add a little bit of canned pumpkin or goat milk to your dog’s diet and make the transition a little more slowly. 

Get Your Pup Started on Raw Dog Food Now

Ready to make the switch to the convenience of We Feed Raw’s nutritionally complete and balanced patties? Start your meal plan or browse our bulk options now. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is a raw diet good for dogs?

Yes, a raw diet is great for dogs! High in protein and extremely low in species-inappropriate and disease-causing carbohydrates, a raw diet is the best thing you can do for your dog.

What are the benefits of a raw diet for dogs?

The benefits of a raw diet for dogs include a longer lifespan, improved digestion, healthier skin and coat, fewer allergy symptoms, and more mealtime excitement.

What are the risks of feeding my dog a raw diet?

Feeding your dog a DIY raw diet could cause nutritional deficiencies or introduce pathogens into your household. However, We Feed Raw is nutritionally complete and balanced and goes through a cold-pressure process to eliminate pathogens.

Are there any nutritional deficiencies in a raw diet for dogs?

Creating a raw diet for dogs by yourself could lead to nutritional deficiencies, but We Feed Raw is nutritionally complete and balanced and meets AAFCO nutritional requirements for dogs of all life stages, including large-breed puppies.

What are some good raw food recipes for dogs?

Some good raw food recipes for dogs include We Feed Raw’s turkey, chicken, beef, duck, venison, or lamb recipes.

How do I introduce my dog to a raw diet?

It’s best to introduce your dog to a raw diet gradually, over the course of about 10 days. Start by adding about 25% raw food to 75% of your dog’s current diet and gradually increase the amount of raw you feed.

Can all dogs eat a raw diet?

Most dogs can eat a raw diet, with very few exceptions for certain health problems, such as HUA Dalmatians, who are not supposed to eat diets high in purines.

Are there any health risks associated with a raw diet for dogs?

When you feed a nutritionally complete and balanced raw diet like We Feed Raw, there are few, if any, health risks associated with a raw diet for dogs.

What are some common mistakes to avoid when feeding my dog a raw diet?

The biggest mistake somebody could make when feeding raw food dog diets would be to try a DIY diet without enough information and fail to give their dog a properly balanced diet. You can avoid that risk by feeding nutritionally complete and balanced We Feed Raw.