Natural dog food has become very popular in recent years. These are foods of natural origin, without synthetic additives and with the least possible processing. To do this, some people have taken to making their own homemade food. Others prefer to buy the food already prepared from specialized companies, which manufacture food based on nutritional studies.
In this article on our site we tell you why this type of diet is on the rise, what it is and what its benefits and risks are. In addition, we give you the keys to start making your own natural dog food: quantities, recipes and tips.
Feeding the dogs
Dogs and wolves undoubtedly belong to the same species (Canis lupus), although they are considered distinct subspecies. The dog began to be domesticated about 15,000 years ago[1] and, like its wild relative, it is considered a carnivorous animal and must be fedbe based on ingredients of animal origin
However, the diet of dogs should not be equated with that of wolves. Due to domestication, dogs changed their lifestyle and had to adapt to a diet more similar to that of humans. Thus, they acquired the ability to digest certain nutrients of plant origin[2], that they must make up as little as 30%[3] of your diet, and decreased your need for protein.
Natural dog food or feed?
The best-selling feeds currently usually contain cereals that are not very digestible for dogs, such as corn[4] In addition, it is common for them to be the main ingredient, replacing meat. It's also common for animal-derived ingredients to not be certified fit for human consumption, which means they may contain waste parts, such as beaks and feet.
Another characteristic of conventional feed is that they are usually ultra-processed products, which go through a large number of physical-chemical processes. As a result, the bioavailability of nutrients decreases and the natural palatability of the food is reduced[3]
Although there are feeds made with natural and quality ingredients, their texture is very different from that of meat and bones. This is important because the natural process of tearing the meat helps clean dogs' teeth and prevents periodontal disease[5]
For these reasons, natural dog food is highly recommended for the he alth of our best friends.
What natural food can I give my dog?
There are many people who want to care for and improve the he alth of their dogs through food. For this reason, many companies have launched into the development of natural food for dogs. This is the case of feed with ingredients of natural origin However, they are often processed foods, which is why many people do not consider them he althy.
Another option is the cooked natural foods, which we can make at home or buy ready-made. When cooking the ingredients, all the pathogens that they may have are eliminated, so, in addition to being natural, it is a completely safe food. However, due to heat, the amount of nutrients, such as vitamins, may be reduced. Because of this, some people prefer to feed their dogs raw foods, known as the BARF diet for dogs.
What is the BARF diet?
BARF natural dog food has become one of the most popular canine foods. Its name comes from the acronym BARF, which in English means "biologically appropriate raw food" or "bones and raw food". It was devised by Ian Billinghurst, a veterinarian who advocates that dogs, like their ancestors, should eat only raw food
This type of food is based on raw meat, fish, soft bones and offal mixed with small amounts of vegetables. Compared to processed feed, this type of diet can have positive consequences on the he alth of dogs, such as improving their intestinal flora [6]However, there is still not enough scientific evidence to confirm that it produces other types of improvements.
Barf natural dog food has also been associated with certain he alth risks in dogs. This is because it is often made by inexperienced people, which can cause malnutrition in the animal[7] In addition, incorrect handling of raw meat has been related to various bacterial infections and parasites[8]
For these reasons, if you do not have enough knowledge to prepare natural dog food, it is best to ask a professional for advice. It is also possible to purchase the BARF food already prepared and based on canine nutrition studies. The company ComprarDietaBarf.es offers menus for dogs made up of carefully selected raw ingredients, obtaining a complete and adequate food for the he alth of our dogs. Here you will find both raw and cooked frozen products, for puppies, adults and elderly dogs. They also have totally natural complements or snacks that you can use as a reward.
Quantities of natural dog food
Preparing natural food for dogs is not easy, since a large number of factors must be taken into account. Each dog has different nutritional needsthat depend on its age, size, musculature, physical activity and he alth
In general, a dog in good physical shape and he alth requires about 81, 5 kilocalories per day for each kilogram of body weight[9] We just have to multiply this number by the weight of our dog and we will have the daily energy it should consume. Of course, it's important to keep in mind that the more physical activity you do, the more calories you'll need.
After performing the indicated calculation, we must select the proportions of each type of food. The most important thing is that the main ingredient is of animal origin, assuming between 70 and 80% of the daily food. The rest corresponds to vegetables suitable for canine consumption, taking into account that there are many foods that are prohibited for dogs.
How to prepare natural dog food?
Most natural dog food made at home is deficient in some nutrients[10] Therefore, Before putting your hands in the dough, it is very important to consult a professional. The quantities that we are going to indicate here are only indicative
So, to help you prepare natural food for your dog, we share two simple recipes. Both recipes can be given raw if you have the necessary knowledge. They can also be cooked to kill pathogens that may exist in the meat. The best thing to do, in any case, is to prepare a large quantity and freeze it to always have it available.
Turkey Home Meal Recipe
Turkey meat is highly digestible and one of the he althiest. For every 100 grams of food, we should provide the following quantities of ingredients:
- 64 grams turkey meat
- 15 grams turkey offal (heart, liver, etc.)
- 1 turkey neck
- 9 grams carrot
- 5 grams spinach
- 4 grams of apple
- 2 grams pumpkin
- 1 gram of olive oil
Recipe for homemade chicken and beef
Mixing different types of meat is also an excellent option. In this way, we will provide more nutrients to our dog's diet. As in the previous case, these are the quantities for each 100 grams of product:
- 70 grams of chicken meat
- 20 grams of cow viscera
- 5 grams of pumpkin
- 4 grams of beets
- 1 gram of olive oil
Again, if you want to enter the world of natural dog food, but you think you do not have the right knowledge, remember that you can consult a veterinarian specialized in nutrition or go to reliable companies that sell this type of food already prepared, such as ComprarDietaBarf.es.
