Believe it or not, our canine friends are anatomically built to be carnivores. Since the dawn of time, our four-legged predecessors were natural born hunters and scavengers. They spent thousands of years evolving due to their natural instinct to survive. These survival instincts lead them to consume whatever necessary in order to exist and procreate. Look at the Wolf! This species is a fine example of how all dogs would have predominantly lived. They worked in packs to land their prey and only the fittest would have survived.

The whole anatomical structure of a dog is designed to function for its own existence, just like us humans. They are built for movement, speed, endurance, strength, alertness and to track to in order to work, hunt, prey and retrieve. From their structural frame, muscle mass, teeth, jaws, skin, hair type, eyes, claws and even their senses, it all serves a purpose! Why do you think a dog’s sense of hearing and smell super exceeds ours? Because it has to, to survive.

Humans played a big role in revolutionising many breeds of dogs so they could serve a purpose. Blending breeds and types meant that they were more suited to the job man intended them for, whether it was for herding cattle, hunting prey, guarding herds, retrieving kill, or working. For example: The St Bernard, which is classified as a ‘giant’ breed, has significant size and strength as it was originally bred for rescuing and transporting in the Western Alps of Switzerland and Italy. They had to be strong to move large objects such as people and equipment and their thick coats had to withstand the harsh winter weather.

As times gone by, the original purpose for many breeds has surpassed and they are no longer required to do the job that they were originally intended for. Instead, the purpose of the majority has been replaced to provide us humans with companionship, comfort and sometimes therapy.
Unfortunately for many, not only has their purpose declined, but so too has their eating habits, natural instincts, and general health. Too many dogs are being fed an unhealthy diet that lacks the nutrition they really need, and why?, because it’s more convenient to buy kibble, you can keep it anywhere, it doesn’t smell or look nauseating and the guy from the pet shop said ‘it’s the best thing to give your dog’, so you fell for his advice and purchased it anyway! Unfortunately, it’s your dog that is going to pay the price, not you!

Leading dog food manufacturers have capitalised on the industry by providing foods that are not always in the best interest for our dogs. It is known that dogs have difficulty digesting cereals and grains, yet so many large organisations still continue to use these ingredients into the making of their products. Even if the food claims it is “Grain free”, it doesn’t always mean that they are. They could have replaced it with an alternative such as potato or beet pulp. Grains and fillers are appealing to large food manufacturers as they are cheap, assist with production, easily transportable and can assist with the sustainability of the products shelf life.

A diet that is based on raw meat, organ and bone is what every dog can benefit from. You only have to look at their teeth and jaw structure to understand that they have the ability to tear through skin, rip muscle and crush bones. Give a dog a chicken wing and see for yourself!

Dogs that undertake sporting and working duties require good muscle development and structure. Consuming a diet rich in essential nutrients can aid their ability to perform the tasks they are required to do. Even if your dog has no other purpose but to keep you company, you still have a duty of care to keep your dog fit and active and by that, it requires a nutritional diet.

There are too many health defects in dogs these days such as hip dysplasia, bone disease and cancer to name a few, and many conditions are blamed on the genetics rather than the nutritional deficiencies. I mean, how many dogs these days have digestive problems or skin complaints? How many are over-weight? Why are so many not living into double figures? Does a balanced diet really come from a 15kg bag of dried out mixture containing who knows what? I certainly think my health would be affected if I had to eat kibble every day for the rest of my life, don’t you?

Providing your dog with a varied diet allows him/her to benefit from all of the essential vitamins and minerals. The majority of your dog’s immune system is located in the GI tract, which means the right balance of gut bacteria is vital for their protection against allergies and determines their overall health. This is why a raw diet is the key to fighting allergies and to building a solid foundation of health. A raw diet is easier to absorb and doesn’t clog up the GI tract with “fillers”, which can be found in most kibble and processed pet food/ meat.

Skin and yeast problems are ever occurring with dogs and the main reason for that is simply down to their diet. The skin is a living organ and reflects the inner health on the outside. Yeast thrives on carbohydrates and sugar and as most kibble is grain based, the yeast is able to grow to levels that the immune cannot suppress. As raw foods contain little to no carbs or sugars, the yeast is literally starved and is unable to manifest itself to unmanageable proportions.

A raw diet can strengthen a dog’s immune system. It does this by delivering a balance of essential fatty acids, trace elements, cartilage, marrow, immune normalising agents, and strengthening nutrients that all help fight infections and reduce inflammatory conditions. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel, act as immune boosters by way of increasing the activity of white blood cells that eat up bacteria. Essential fatty acids also protect the body against damage from overreactions to infection.

Dogs not only require physical stimulation but mental as well. Providing your dog with a bone stimulates their physical and mental wellbeing as well as being an appetising, filling, healthy stress reliever. Your dog can enjoy chewing a bone as a past time as well as given them the opportunity to descale their teeth at the same time.