Two dogs sitting next to a bowl filled with We Feed Raw dog food

The Many Benefits of a Raw Diet for Dogs

A raw diet supports a healthy digestive system and helps maintain a healthy skin and coat.Create Your Meal Plan

Your Pup Will Thrive on Raw Dog Food

Whether you choose our frozen raw food diet for dogs of all ages or our freeze-dried raw dog food for adults, feeding your pup healthy dog food has never been easier.We all want our dogs to live longer. The good news is, with the right diet, they can. Many studies have been done on the benefits of a raw dog food diet, with data showing that raw diets support a healthy immune system while being easy to digest. Raw-fed puppies are less likely than kibble-fed puppies to develop chronic ear infections, skin allergies, and gastrointestinal problems as adults.The University of Helsinki is currently doing more research on the benefits of raw dog food. You can check here for their latest studies.

Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of feeding dogs a raw diet.

Nutritional Benefits of Raw Dog Food

Did you know dogs have no nutritional requirements for carbohydrates?Yet, commercial kibble contains an average of 30-70% carbohydrates to form the familiar brown pellets. A nutritionally complete and balanced raw dog food like We Feed Raw contains high levels of protein and moisture—without any unnecessary carbs—to support a healthy body weight.Kibble is typically made using a combination of meat meals, grains, and other ingredients that are cooked at high temperatures. Many kibble recipes include meat meals—ingredients produced by rendering and drying animal tissues—before they are ground into a concentrated protein source. Because rendering changes the texture and flavor of the meat, manufacturers often add flavorings and palatability agents after cooking to meet nutritional goals and improve taste for dogs.At We Feed Raw, we use quality meats from animals raised for human consumption in the United States or New Zealand. We also package our food in a facility with strict compliance requirements for BRC-safe quality food manufacturing.Finally, our food includes the muscle meat, organ meat, vitamins, and minerals your pup needs—plus ground bones in our frozen recipes and fruits and vegetables in our freeze-dried recipes—and nothing else. No artificial colors or flavors. No artificial preservatives. No unnecessary grains, legumes, or potatoes. And no filler ingredients.

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Digestive Benefits of a Raw Food Diet for Dogs

Whoever made dogs (and we can't thank them enough) designed them to eat raw meat.Whether you're looking at a small breed like a Chihuahua or a large Bernese Mountain Dog, an athletic agility star or a couch potato, what all of our pups have in common is short, simple digestive tracts, a high level of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs, hinged jaws, and pointy teeth.Despite their different looks and domestication, all dogs are anatomically designed to thrive on a raw meat-based diet.Today's raw diets mimic what dogs have eaten in the wild for millennia. Why is this particularly important for dogs with digestive issues? When dogs are fed raw, biologically appropriate foods, their bodies can properly utilize the nutrients.With highly processed foods, your dog has to work harder to get the nutrients they need. There is also the bioavailability element (the proportion of a nutrient that is absorbed and utilized). While humans need to cook their meat, dogs receive the most nutrients from raw foods, as shown by this study proving that raw diets are more digestible than kibble.Additionally, a survey among We Feed Raw clients revealed that 96% of their dogs had smaller, firmer, less smelly poops after switching to a raw diet. This is no surprise, especially for dogs with sensitive stomachs or digestive issues.With raw, you're feeding food in its most digestible state. Great in, great out. On the other hand, a dog on a commercial dry diet will often have big, messy poops that are hard to clean up. Pee-ew.

Benefits of a Raw Diet for Dogs With Allergies

Bowl of We Feed Raw's beef recipe for dogs

Allergies are one of the most common reasons for vet visits, and we're not just talking about environmental allergies. Many dogs have flare-ups and are allergic to ingredients found in their everyday dry dog food. Save your dog the stress of an allergic reaction (and your wallet the expense) by choosing a health-forward approach to dog food.Raw diets are high in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates. They are naturally anti-inflammatory, support your dog's immune system, and make the perfect diet for dogs with allergies.When diets are packed with fillers, like grains and other species-inappropriate ingredients, this can trigger an allergic response in dogs, like an upset stomach, ear infection, or other allergy symptoms, such as itchy, inflamed skin. The best raw food for dogs with allergies is made up of real ingredients you can recognize. Unlike commercial dry diets and other popular cooked diets, they're free of ingredients your dog wasn't meant to digest in large quantities, things like corn and legumes. The raw diet is one of the few truly and naturally grain-free dog food options for your pet.While small quantities of things like legumes and potatoes won't likely harm your pooch, these ingredients are not species-appropriate and should not be the main ingredient of any canine diet. Feeding these ingredients in high proportions can lead to an inflammatory response and leave a poor pup in discomfort.The best raw dog food for allergies is made from high-quality proteins, sourced from human-grade meats, and free of fillers.

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Happy dog posing with We Feed Raw's turkey recipe

Skin & Coat Health Benefits of a Raw Food Diet for Dogs

The raw diet for dogs with skin allergies is a game-changer, but what about other skin conditions? Is raw the best dog food for skin health in dogs? 9 out of 10 We Feed Raw clients said their dogs' skin and coat got healthier after switching to a raw diet.Raw diets make dogs' skin less greasy and oily, which in turn leads to softer coats. With the right balance of amino acids and omega fatty acids, raw diets promote the healthy function of skin cells. Raw-fed dogs are always ready for their close-ups. Why? Because gut health affects skin health and raw-fed dogs have healthy guts.Biologically inappropriate diets and those devoid of proper nutrients lead to inflammation and allergic responses. Clean, raw, bioavailable nutrition allows the body to function optimally, resulting in shiny, picture-perfect coats and an itch-free life!

Urinary Health Benefits of Feeding a Raw Diet to Dogs

Dogs who get urinary tract infections and bladder struvite stones often do so because of a diet lacking in moisture. Raw food is a good solution for dogs with urinary health problems because of the naturally occurring high moisture content in the food, which is about 70%.The high moisture content helps dilute the urine and potentially eliminates and prevents struvites. Low-moisture foods, such as kibble, can lead to chronic dehydration in dogs, which puts them at a higher risk of urinary issues.Pets rarely have urinary problems on the raw diet.

Small dog waiting for bowl of We Feed Raw's beef recipe

Raw Is the Best Dog Food for Weight Loss

Not all calories are created equal. Protein-packed, nutrient-dense, moisture-rich raw diets allow your dog to lose excess weight or gain what's needed. Raw diets are low in carbs and high in protein and fat (a dog's greatest source of energy).90% of our customers said their dogs maintained a healthy weight after switching to We Feed Raw. Carb-heavy commercial pet foods filled with species-inappropriate ingredients are the leading cause of obesity and diabetes in dogs today.If you're seeking dog food for weight loss and dog weight management, you can't go wrong with perfectly portioned raw meals.

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Happy owner feeding a dog a bowl of We Feed Raw dog food

Dental and Oral Benefits of a Raw Diet for Dogs

Kibble companies like to say that crunching on kibble helps keep dogs’ teeth clean, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The carbohydrates in kibble actually contribute to dental disease in dogs.On the other hand, raw dog food not only lacks cavity-causing carbohydrates, but it also contains enzymes that actively help improve your dog’s oral health.

Dog eagerly waiting for a bowl of raw dog food

Benefits of Raw Dog Food for Picky Eaters

This is a no-brainer. When food tastes better, it performs better (think: tons of tail wags and happy barks). Most picky dogs find the raw diet highly palatable, which means more mealtime excitement guaranteed.It's the same for us: it's so much easier to get excited for fresh, real, tasty food our bodies crave over a bowl of dry cereal, right? Dry cereal may be ok once in a while, but nobody wants to eat that for every meal. Bo-ring.

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How to Feed Raw Dog Food Safely

One objection you might hear for raw feeding is a concern over food safety and potential bacteria that can exist in raw meat. This should not be a concern if you are using high-quality meats and taking basic steps, the same way you would with raw human food.First, by choosing We Feed Raw, you can rest easy knowing that we use high-pressure processing (HPP), a pasteurization technique that uses cold water and intense pressure to inactivate potential pathogens. This makes our complete and balanced recipes safer than do-it-yourself raw diets and more nutritious than cooked recipes.Having said that, there are some things you should keep in mind when feeding raw dog food to keep yourself, your pup, and your family safe:

Keep frozen raw dog food in the refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to use it. Keep freeze-dried raw dog food in a cool, dry place.
When you are ready to feed your dog, thaw frozen raw food overnight in the refrigerator or submerge a still-wrapped We Feed Raw patty in a bowl of warm water. If you'd like to get your pup's food closer to room temperature, you can let it sit on the countertop for 15-20 minutes to take the chill off. Do not leave the food out longer.
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after handling raw dog food.
Place the raw food in a clean bowl or on a clean surface. Do not place it on a countertop or cutting board that you have used for raw meat, poultry, or seafood.
If you are using raw ground meat, bones, or organs, make sure they are ground fine enough that your dog can digest them easily. (We Feed Raw does this for you!)
Do not feed raw fish to your dog regularly. Some types of raw fish can contain toxins that can be harmful to your pet.

Customizing Raw Dog Food for Maximum Benefits

Not every dog will enjoy or be able to tolerate the same meats, which is why we offer frozen raw food for dogs of all life stages in 6 different proteins (chicken, beef, turkey, lamb, venison, and duck) and freeze-dried raw food for adult dogs in beef and chicken. For dogs with allergies, 3 of our recipes come from single protein sources: turkey, chicken, and beef.When you sign up for a meal plan, we also ask lots of questions about your dog, like about their age, activity level, body condition, and more, so we can tell you the perfect portions of We Feed Raw to help your dog reach or maintain their ideal weight.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Raw Dog Food

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