Raw Feeding – The Natural Way
Go back 20 years, even 10 years & you’ll find that the only practical way to feed your dog was through a dry kibble. However, as I’m sure most dog owners know, that is no longer the case! There are a huge variety of ways to feed your dog now, one of the most prominent methods now is through a BARF diet.
Okay, don’t get put off by the name, we know it sounds disgusting too. Now before you start getting nasty thoughts in your head, it’s an acronym. Thankfully it stands for: Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. You can say that if you prefer, it’s just a bit more of a mouthful.
Rising in popularity in the pet food market & for good reason. Raw food can take away the worries of what ingredients you are feeding your dog. Feeding a raw diet at first may seem daunting, but once you get into the routine it is almost just as easy as dry food. Purchased normally in frozen blocks, all you need to do is allow time for the product to defrost & feed as is! No need to cook or any additional work. Here are some things to look for when purchasing a raw diet:
- No Added Ingredients – The main selling point of raw food is that you’re getting exactly what is advertised. If you find any foods with any additional ingredients you weren’t expecting, it would be best to avoid.
- Bone Content – If you’re new to raw feeding, you might see bone content as something to avoid. This could not be further from the truth! Bone content found in raw food is essential to their diet to ensure they get the necessary nutrients needed.
- Offal Content – Alongside the bone content, a small amount of offal should be part of your mince.
The 80/10/10 Split
The 80/10/10 Split is a commonly referred to ratio of raw dog food. It simply stands for the split between Meat, Bone & Offal. It is considered the most complete way to feed your dog a raw diet, giving them the full benefits each part has to offer.
Thankfully, Brown’s Pet Range follows this split with our raw foods (minus Tripe Mince, which should be fed alongside another mince.) Following the 80/10/10 split will ensure that your dog leads a happy & healthy life!
The Benefits of Raw Food
Time for a break in the paragraphs, we’ve designed an easy-on-the-eye information sheet showing all the common benefits seen when switching over to a raw-based diet!
What Brown’s Pet Range Can Offer
Brown’s Pet Range have been changing and improving our Raw Dog Food Range for many years. We’ve gathered a huge selection of raw products available to your dog! This includes to our Complete Raw Minces to Complementary Raw Fish to be fed alongside their main diet.
You can find the full list of products we supply by clicking the picture below.
The FAQ’s
Making the jump to a raw diet may seem a daunting task, so we aim to cover a couple of frequently asked questions when making the jump!
How Much Should I Feed? This section can really vary depending on the dog & their activity levels. However, a starting point is easy to get & should be adjusted to your dog's needs. For adults, we recommend 2% of their current bodyweight to be fed daily. With Puppies, you feed closer to 5% of their current bodyweight, which you slowly drop down to 2% as they approach the 18-month mark, signaling adulthood. Starting at these percentages should give a good idea, which you can customise to suit your dog's needs further.
How to Defrost? Defrosting your raw dog food should be done by leaving out at room temperature. Avoid microwaving or other methods if possible. Once defrosted, store in fridge until fed.
Should I Cook the Mince? Short Answer: No. Long Answer: Nooooooooooooo. But seriously, don’t cook the mince. Cooking defeats the purpose of raw dog food, loosing the living enzymes provided in its raw state. With the bone content aswell, it is also unsafe to do so!
Is it Safe? Absolutely! Always remember to store this food as you would your own raw meat. Only defrost what you need at a given time. Aslong as you follow those simple steps, our raw food is completely safe. It’s also DEFRA approved!
Is it More Expensive? You would think so! However, it really isn’t the case. Our raw food is incredibly competitive in price compared to other leading brands, dry and raw alike! Visit our website if you don’t believe us!
How do I Switch from Kibble? Changing between raw & dry foods should be done over a 2 week period as above; starting with a 90/10 split with the old/new diet. Slowly increase the new diet, with you aiming to have 50/50 split after 1 week & to be 100% new food after 2 weeks. However it is incredibly important you feed the raw separately from the dry food, with a 3 hour period between feeds. Raw & dry kibble is digested differently & will upset their stomach if fed at the same time.
If your dog is completely new to raw food, you may notice some negative traits with your dog for the first month after the initial switch. If a dog is accustomed to kibble then there will be an initial shock to your dog’s digestion in the beginning. The signs will usually be in their stool, which will be rather loose in the beginning but should quickly improve as your dog becomes more acclimatised to the new food.
Conclusion
With everything in mind, the most important thing to remember is keeping safe. If we can help in any way, we can be reached on 01268 690706 or email us at hello@brownspetrange.com.