Why Raw Dog Food May Not Be Working For Your Dog
Raw Dog Food May Not Be Right For Your Dog
Feeding dogs raw dog food has become a buzz word much like many of the human diets.
Unfortunately, too many people are trying to wing the ingredients their diet is based on a few talking points without any real understanding of nutritional requirements. More importantly, they are not understanding what deficiencies or excesses or even transitionary detox can look like & cause to happen in the body. And they are not considering the individual. You can experience these same issues whether you’re feeding raw foods or cooking them.
Did you know that too much of a good thing isn’t a good thing? You can actually create a healing crisis or create the ailment you’re trying to prevent??
When people see health issues — allergies, poop problems, digestive issues, etc — they start looking for some “remedy” from Facebook. You know free support. I’m especially frustrated by the FB groups who have one modality of thinking. And I am frustrated by those people who offer sling-shot ideas to others without asking questions first to understand if their remedy even makes sense for the individual and for a resolution — not just a symptom.
I ask the question in every wellness discussion: what do you feed specifically? And the answer is "I feed raw". As if that's magic and should have fixed everything.
Raw What?
Is Your Raw Dog Food Diet Healthy For Your Dog?
Tossing raw meat into a bowl with rice and veggies and claiming you're feeding you’re dog raw isn't a good idea.
Is Your RAW Dog Food Balanced?
We know there are many benefits to feeding a raw dog food diet. But you need to know the answer to some key question like the following:
*Is your dog getting healthy fat?
*Is your dog getting Omega 3 or Omega 6? Did you know there's a balance to achieve?
*Is your dog getting too many calories -- not enough? What adjustment should make if so that will not create an imbalance in nutrients?
*Is your dog getting enough calcium? Too Much? Did you know it should have ratio of associated Phosphorus? Where does it come from?
*Is your dog getting organ meat? Too much? Too much is not a good thing.
*Is the protein you're feeding making your dog's allergies or temper worse?
*Did you know when transitioning your dog from kibble to fresh food, you need digestive enzymes to help your dog even absorb these nutrients -- since the body doesn't naturally make those enzymes needed while on a kibble diet? It takes a while to get the body doing its best work again! And if your dog is unhealthy or aging he may need them anyway!
*Did you know when transitioning your dog from kibble to fresh food, you need digestive enzymes to help your dog even absorb these nutrients -- since the body doesn't naturally make those enzymes needed while on a kibble diet? It takes a while to get the body doing its best work again! And if your dog is unhealthy or aging he may need them anyway!! is interrupted -- yes, we see the dog & your emotional state relieved -- but the healing process was interrupted.
*Did you know some dogs will do better on a lightly cooked protein source -- that may be to start the transition or maybe for the long-term. Too many people see the dog resist the food and go back to kibble. And when you do the healing is interrupted -- yes, we see the dog & your emotional state relieved -- but the healing process was interrupted.
When you begin transitioning to even the best nutrient-rich diets -- your dog's body may move into flair up of some sort as the body starts to release all the "toxins" it may have been holding onto in the liver & fat storage cells. Many people panic or feel very emotional and revert back to the old foods or even to rush to the vet for more medicine. We try this and that product from Amazon because someone in a FB group suggested it.
Masking issues is not a good idea, even if it makes you feel better to see immediate relief. I'm not suggesting we let the dog agonize -- never! But too many people are winging it & not actually getting nutrition right -- and not getting the body "well".
5 Element Theory of TCM tell us that the body will begin to heal in reverse order of when symptoms arose. We also know that it takes time. Unless the issue is something acute onset, the healing process is going to take time. We didn’t become unwell overnight, healing won’t happen overnight.
Sadly, I see in many FB groups people looking for fast fix it now answers — even with essential oils, homeopathy, or other modalities. We have become programmed to expect immediate results. We think we should not have to work or put in the effort for a resolution. Many people do not let the body work to heal itself, with appropriate support & nutrition.
I see people every day asking what product can I use to fix my dog’s <insert concern here>. And they get an answer — sometimes dozens of them that are incomplete or just plain wrong, because no one is addressing the nutritional core.
Choosing & Designing Healthy Raw Dog Food
Friends -- this is why I really value the Volhard diet. The ingredients are smart, nutritionally complete, and very well designed for a dog's needs. Sure sometimes we customize a bit for the individual. But the work has been done for us to create an extremely high quality product from a trustworthy company. I don’t have to do the math. I don’t have to worry about sourcing ingredients. I don’t have to worry.
That's why I value being able to consult with my clients to help with transition issues, aging questions, and helping people find solutions that soothe and relieve when we need it. If we need to make a home-prepared food -- we can do that too.
This is why I study nutrition, essential oils and homeopathy, herbs, energy work and so on - everday. They all work very well to support wellness.
These modalities are a complement to nutrition, not instead of, and not in spite of.
Food is the foundation on which everything else is built. If it's not right for your dog -- nothing else is going to be as effective as it should be.
Get Support For Your Dog’s Nutritional Needs
Ask for help friends -- have your food and protocols reviewed. Be open to understanding you may be making well-intentioned mistakes that could be big problems. It's ok, we all learn.
But please stop winging your dog's diet, supplements & products.
It’s time to shift your thinking from trying to fix illness — and begin thinking about how you maintain wellness.
Raw dog food deficiencies | Raw Dog Food Imbalanced | Raw Dog Food Nutrients