Raw Feeding Excellence A Guide to Crafting Optimal Raw Dog Nutrition

Build a foundation in companion animal nutrition. This course is the recommended course before the canine diet formulation course.

This course provides you with recommended reading fromSmall Animal Clinical Nutrition (Free)andCanine and Feline Nutrition.You can find those here.

It is also constantly updated. That means as I learn more, I will edit lessons. I also am adding to the advanced formulation section. Other sections that are scheduled to be added include content surrounding how to choose supplements (forms and quality), therapeutic conditions, and more.

This course provides primarily information for dogs- but much of the information can be applied to cats. Please check in the RFN group regarding feline nutrition when going through the course.

I am also in the process of working on videos and voice recordings to accommodate all learners.

Please reach out to me at [email protected] any questions you may have!

Thank you so much for your support on this journey. It has changed my life tremendously.

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At Nutriment, we are wholeheartedly dedicated to raw feeding and the principles of Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF). Providing a complete, nutritious raw diet, which is easily digested, is the best way to promote ideal health and happiness for your pets.

Our in-house nutritionists carefully select high-quality, raw ingredients including meat, fish, vegetables and superfoods which contain the essential nutrition to support the bodily functions of dogs and cats. The lack of processing ensures that our premium ingredients maintain their nutritional profile, meaning that our raw food products are packed full of protein, amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals for your pet to truly thrive.

Commercially available pet food products often contain biologically inappropriate ingredients such as grains, sugars, fillers, artificial additives and preservatives, which can all have detrimental effects on your pets health. Dogs and cats are not naturally designed to consume and digest these ingredients, and this may affect the absorption of what nutrition is available. Common side effects of a poor diet can include digestive discomfort, poor oral health, allergies and intolerances, poor skin and coat health and much more.

Just like humans, diet is a huge contributing factor to health and wellbeing. Raw protein-rich food is your pets natural diet and is first choice for optimal animal nutrition.

Why choose raw feeding?

Raw food promotes optimal health for dogs and cats. Choosing to feed your pets a raw food diet can help to:

• Support overall health
• Support digestive health
• Reduce waste (poop)
• Support oral health and hygiene
• Support coat and skin health
• Reduce allergies and intolerances
• Support bone and joint health
• Support energy levels
• Encourage food enjoyment
• Encourage ideal nature and behaviour

Responsible Raw Feeding

With an overwhelming mine field of information for pet owners researching suitable diets for cats and dogs, FEDIAF offers some key advice on feeding a raw diet responsibly.

What is raw feeding?

Providing a diet of raw food for cats and dogs made up of raw meat, offal and raw bone, along with other ingredients such as fruit, vegetables, oils, nuts and seeds.

Some proponents of raw feeding also advise that dietary supplements are added to ensure the entire essential vitamin and mineral requirements are met. There are two types of raw feeding; homemade raw diets and commercially prepared raw diets.

What are the concerns with a homemade raw diet?

A fundamental concern, as with any homemade diet, is whether all the right nutrients are provided in the right proportions for healthy bodily function. There is a concern amongst some veterinary professionals that many homemade diets do not provide adequate nutrition.

In one study, 95 samples of raw food rations were analysed; 60% of the rations were found to have significant dietary imbalances and the remaining 40% were reported to have minor imbalances or were found to be balanced¹.

Whilst homemade diets provide more flexibility for pets with very specific nutritional needs, they are challenging and require significant research and expert guidance to undertake with any success.

Commercially prepared raw foods

Some manufacturers produce frozen and freeze-dried raw foods for cats and dogs with both complete and complementary varieties available in a range of convenient formats. These products help owners to feed their pet raw diets responsibly. The complete pet foods have been specially formulated to provide the nutritional balance a cat or dog needs in their daily diet, whilst a complementary pet food will need to be fed alongside another food source. The pet food label will tell you whether its complete or complementary along with directions for feeding and feeding guidelines.

Owners feeding complete commercially prepared pet foods (in line with the feeding guidelines on the packet) can have confidence they are addressing all their pets nutritional needs. Raw pet food manufacturers are always happy to provide further help and advice with their products.

Think about food safety

As with all commercially prepared pet foods, commercially prepared raw foods are subject to stringent legislation and require various tests to ensure they are safe. This, therefore, minimises the risk of food-borne contamination to both owner and the pet. In contrast, to prepare a homemade raw diet the ingredients must always be from safe and reliable sources to ensure food safety as they are often not subject to the same level of testing and control as commercially prepared raw foods.

Hygiene and handling tips

Good hygiene practice is always important and even more so when handling raw meat:

• Purchase products that are in good condition. You should see no visible signs of damage to the packaging such as dents, tears, discolorations, etc.
• Wash your hands with hot water and soap after handling either your pet or their food
• Wash all surfaces that have been in contact with raw meat
• After each use, wash your pets bowls, dishes and utensils with soap and hot water, rinse properly and dry before the next use
• Correctly store unsealed containers/open bags to limit any risk of cross contamination
• When storing pet food in the fridge ensure raw products are at the bottom

When buying prepared raw foods you can find the storage instructions on each package.

Considering a change in diet for your pet?

If you are considering a change in diet for your cat or dog, there is a range of reliable sources of advice from your vet and nutritionists. Theyll be able to discuss your pets needs, make suitable recommendations and give guidance on how to transition from one food to another.

DEFROSTING RAW PET FOOD TIPS:

• Defrost in a sealed container or your pets bowl and cover it
• Defrost in the fridge or at room temperature for an appropriate time
• Never refreeze
• Never discard the thaw juice as this can contain essential nutrients for your pet

Consult the manufacturer for further information on preparation and storage.

Downloadthe factsheet or clickherefor more factsheets

¹Dillitzer, N, Becker, N, Kienzle, E. Frequency and extent of nutritional imbalances in bone and raw food (barf) rations.