In recent times, there have been many incidences of product recall from many commercial dog food companies. There have been numerous cases in which commercial dog food has proved to be detrimental for dog health. This has forced dog owners to look for other alternatives for their pet's diet. Raw food dog diet has emerged has one of the most sought after diets for dogs. Actually, this diet is one of the most primitive diets for dogs, hence the most natural choice for dog food. Earlier, it was called Bones and Raw Food (BARF), which was later changed to Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF).

Advantages

Raw food dog diet includes unprocessed, uncooked and non-refined meat and bones as a part of dog food. Since the ingredients used in raw food are often fresh, the enzymes and proteins do not get altered in any way. Thus, the nutrients remain intact so that dog can benefit the most from this diet. Another advantage of this diet is that you can bring in a lot of variation in raw dog food recipes. In case of commercial dog foods, the choice is limited as most of the products are grain based with little variation in meat and veggies. Since, most of these products taste more or less the same, the dog does not find the food appealing. A BARF diet on the other hand offers a wide range of variety in terms of meat, veggies and fruits used. Proteins form the integral part of this diet form. The risk of food allergies in dogs, or food intolerance and other complications originating from food are minimum in case of a raw food diet.

Pre-packaged Raw Food

Many dog food companies have made available pre-packaged raw dog food in frozen form. Dog owners simply have to dethaw the packaged food before feeding it to their dogs. Alternatively, you can make homemade dog food for your pet. This is actually a safer option as you can yourself monitor what goes into your dog's food. You can choose from variety of meat like pork, chicken, turkey, wild game, beef, fish, lamb, etc. Fresh fruits like pears, oranges, apples also constitute a raw dog food diet. Veggies like broccoli, ground pepper, spinach should also form an integral part of your dog's raw diet. Other healthy dog food sources include raw eggs, dairy products, organ meat (preferably liver), etc. The raw ingredients can be found easily at grocery stores, butcher shops, etc.

Risks

The only risk associated with a raw food is that of bacterial infection. Hygiene is of prime importance when you are feeding raw foods to your dog. Ensure the raw ingredients are of best quality only. Handle these ingredients with proper care and hygiene. Most healthy dogs can withstand bacterial contamination from salmonella and E.coli. Immune system compromised dogs may not be the candidates for this type of diet plan. Similarly, some dog breeds cannot digest raw food. Hence, check with your vet if it is alright to give raw food to your dog. While feeding bones, it is best to feed raw meat bones ground to hamburger like consistency. This prevents any incidences of choking. Boiling or cooking bones is a bad idea as it makes them brittle and may lead to splinters. Feeding the most hygienic and best raw food can prevent all the possible risks with this diet plan.

You may go through the reviews on Internet to find out which diet is the best for your dog breed. If your dog has any underlying health issues, it is recommended that you consult a vet before putting him on a raw diet.