Expanding our understanding of nutrition and the role it plays in our lives not only impacts us, but also those animals which rely on us for food. Recent years have seen pet owners shift away from heavily processed foods, as they contain various fillers which have proven to not only be unnecessary but potentially harmful for dogs. As a provider of raw pet food in PA and nearby, we believe it’s important that pet owners know, can dogs eat raw meat?

With the shift away from processed foods, some dog owners are even looking at making their own dog food at home, utilizing raw pet food and other healthy ingredients. While this is generally a great idea, it’s important to know which meats are suitable, and to consider what your particular dog needs. With years of experience supplying raw pet food in PA, we’ve had the privilege of learning about what meat to feed Fido, and which meats to avoid under certain circumstances.

Here’s a look at which meats are good for your dog, and other important considerations when feeding your dog raw pet food.

What a Dog Needs & Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?

When it comes to what a dog’s nutritional requirements are, many people will quickly espouse that protein is of the utmost importance. While this isn’t necessarily true, as adult dog’s can synthesize their own protein, they do require the amino acids and nitrogen present in protein. This is important not only in their muscle and organ protein synthesis, but also in the creation of enzymes, the creation of hormones, and energy.

The Nutritional Research Council (NRC) recommend a minimum of 20g and maximum of 25g of protein per 1000kcal consumed for dogs 12 months and older.

On top of protein, dogs also need fat and carbohydrates.

Fat

A nutrient which has been tarnished by its association with being unhealthy, fat is absolutely necessary in the diet of most omnivorous mammals. In fact, fat is the primary source of energy for dogs, and acts as a vehicle for nutrient absorption and transportation.

The NRC recommends a minimum of 13.8g and a maximum of 82.5g of fat per 1000kcal consumed for dogs 12 months and older.

Carbohydrates

As with fat, carbs have had a bad rap in recent years due to its association with plain starchy foods like white bread and potatoes. Although, as with fat again, it is a necessary part of both our diet and our dog’s diet, as it another source of energy. Carbs also provide easily accessible glucose, which are a necessary part of a dog’s diet.

The NRC does not suggest a minimum or maximum amount of carbs for your dog’s diet, but they do recommend glucose which can be sourced from carbs. Try to include carbs in your dog’s diet but not to the same degree that we eat them, instead in much smaller portions.

Water

Probably the most important part of a dog’s diet is water, so be sure to have plenty of water available to your dog during meal times and in general.

Suitable Raw Dog Meats

Considering all of the above, it’s clear to see that some common meats will not be suitable for dogs due to their high fat count.

The following are the best meats to feed your dog:

  • Beef preferably lean grass-fed (not cheap mince or fatty offcuts)
  • Alpaca or llama as they are lean low calorie high protein meats
  • Bison as it has less fat than beef and is full of vitamins
  • Buffalo as it is a high iron and high protein meat
  • Chicken as it is readily available and a good source of protein

After this we dive into a slightly more obscure world of meats, although we do provide several of the following types of raw pet food in PA and nearby.

  • Eggs aren’t technically a meat but contain all 20 amino acids, making them an excellent addition to your dog’s diet both raw and cooked
  • Venison and elk are very lean protein sources
  • Duck is a rich protein source, but don’t include the skin as it is high in saturated fats
  • Emu and ostrich are both low in fat and high in protein
  • Goat is a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals
  • Sardines and herring are great sources of protein and full of Omega-3 fatty acids

Unsuitable Raw Dog Meats

There are some meats which you simply shouldn’t feed your dog, such as:

  • Bear (including polar bear)
  • Fox
  • Walrus
  • Wild boar

Beyond this, you will want to exercise caution with the following types of meat:

  • Pork when uncooked can contain trichinosis which is harmful to your dog, so only feed them cooked pork and only in moderation as it is high in fat
  • Trout and salmon as both are prone to pollution
  • Fresh-caught or fresh-killed meats should be frozen for 3 to 4 weeks prior to feeding to kill off any potential parasites

Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat? Yes! Consider Buying Raw Pet Food In PA | Happy Critters

If you’re looking to get access to high quality pet food, our team at Happy Critters Pet Food is happy to assist. Contact us today to learn more!