More and more dog keepers are looking for a diet other than the widespread dry food or wet food cans. Certainly, in recent times we have witnessed the rise of different options that promise a more natural diet adapted to the physiological characteristics and needs of dogs, such as homemade food, both cooked at home and purchased. In addition, the alternative of offering raw food has become popular, but what is better? Cooked or raw dog food? We talk about it in the next article on our site in collaboration with Food for Joe.
Pros and Cons of Cooked Dog Food
First of all, if we choose to feed our dog homemade food we should know that this alternative is not synonymous with giving him leftovers or the same dishes that we cook for ourselves. Offering this type of food implies that we must put ourselves in the hands of a nutrition professional to prepare a balanced menu, capable of covering all the nutritional needs of our dog. Otherwise, the result could be deficiencies that affect his he alth
A balanced diet for a dog will have to include, fundamentally, proteins of animal origin from meat or fish, but also, although to a lesser extent, vegetables, fruits, legumes, cereals, eggs, etc. If we do not want or cannot cook at home, there is also the possibility of buying this food already prepared. An example is the cooked food Food for Joe This company prepares a menu totally adapted to the needs of each dog and following the advice of veterinary nutritionists. It is sous vide cooked at a low temperature, using only natural ingredients and shipped frozen.
Benefits
The benefits of the cooked diet are clear, since it allows us to select quality and 100% natural ingredients As for the benefits of cooking them boiled, steamed or vacuum-cooked at low temperature, so that the loss of nutrients is minimal, without a doubt we find the fact of offering a food much safer, free of pathogens. We will see the result in our dog's he alth, in his stools, well-formed, not abundant and with little odour, in his energy and in the state of his coat
Disadvantages
The main drawback of cooked food for dogs is the time you have to invest in preparing the menu, buying the ingredients, cook them and, in most cases, freeze the portions to administer them on successive days, since a problem with this food is that it will spoil if we leave it at room temperature. Likewise, the remains must be discarded to avoid contamination by pathogens or the presence of insects or other animals.
A good part of these inconveniences are solved if, instead of cooking at home, we trust a company like Food for Joe, specialized in cooked food. In addition, we add the advantage of acquiring a totally homemade food prepared by experts, which guarantees us that there are no nutritional deficiencies.
Pros and Cons of Raw Dog Food
Raw food has become popular in recent years under the premise that it is the natural option for dogs, as this is how their relatives, the wolves, eat in the wild. Now, is raw food better than cooked food for dogs?
Benefits
This option also involves the selection of quality ingredients and the preparation of a menu adapted to the nutritional needs of each individual, hence its potential he alth benefits for our dog. In addition, as in the case of cooked food, we have the option of preparing it ourselves or buying ready-made menus. Of course, doing it at home also requires a deep knowledge of canine nutrition, so we will always need the guidance of a professional.
But you have to know that stating that raw food is the best option for dogs in the 21st century is based on a hypothesis discussed by many experts: and it is that dogs they are not wolves, but have gone through a process of domestication that has included their adaptation to food cooked or handled by humans (cooked, fermented, smoked, etc.), as well as to function as omnivores, hence their diet includes, in addition to meat or fish, vegetables, fruits, legumes, etc.
Disadvantages
Proper cooking of food limits the loss of nutrients that is attributed to cooking, facilitates digestion and, also very importantly, eliminates potential pathogens, such as bacteria, such as Salmonella or E. coli. Also, keep in mind that raw foods can transmit parasites such as the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii or anisakis. Dogs can get sick, but they can also become carriers, contaminating the environment and constituting a potential risk to people, especially those who are immunosuppressed. Hence, it is more advisable to freeze meat and fish beforehand (each species will require a certain time and temperature), if you want to give them raw, and wash fruits and vegetables very well, with plenty of running water, in addition to observing the rules of basic hygiene in terms of food handling.
Which is better, cooked or raw dog food?
In view of the advantages and disadvantages that cooked or raw food has for dogs and with the information that we currently have, we opt for choose cooked food, especially since it is the one that avoids any risk to animal and human he alth, by allowing the elimination of potential pathogens such as the ones we have mentioned, which may be present in raw ingredients that are not properly frozen or washed as necessary. Keep in mind that domestic freezers do not usually reach the necessary temperatures to eliminate these pathogens by freezing.
On the other hand, light cooking facilitates digestion and preserves the nutrients in the food. This does not mean that raw food is bad for dogs, but rather that, without the proper knowledge, cooked food is safer, even more so if we choose to purchase it already prepared by professionals, such as the one we have mentioned from Food for Joe.
Keep these considerations in mind if you are wondering how to feed dogs meat, fish, vegetables, etc. In any case, remember that the best diet is the one tailored to your dog's needs, hence it is essential that you cook according to the instructions of a nutrition expert or buy the food directly from a specialized company such as Food for Joe.
