For thousands of years, our pets have looked out for us. Whether vigilantly guarding the campfire at night or excitedly waiting for us when we get home, our cats and dogs (sometimes both!) have always been our faithful companions.

Making sure they have the best possible life is essential and, as we all know, food is one the best things we can offer to make our pets happy. 

So, ensuring that our pets are getting the long-term healthy diet they need is essential. 

The difficulty is that with so many options out there, it can be hard to know exactly which food is best.

So what can we do to ensure that our pets live long and happy lives?

 

Feeding Raw Food Versus Traditional Pet Food

Whether it's out of the bag or from a tin, we have all fed our pets traditional pet food. You know the type – opening a big bag of kibble or cracking a can of pâté.

It’s completely normal as this is the only type of pet food the supermarkets usually sell. 

However, for our pets, the type of processed pet food we know today is completely opposite to the raw food that cats and dogs have been eating for thousands of years.

Traditional pet food is filled with carbohydrates. Usually, this comes in the form of grain. Up to 70% of some commercially available pet food is grain. This grain-heavy recipe is good for humans because the food lasts longer. It can be stored for a long time in our cupboards. It’s also much easier and cheaper to make in large, wholesale quantities.

The problem is that dogs and cats are carnivores. Technically they’re opportunistic carnivores (I think we’ve all had experience of that), which means they’ve been feeding on raw food for millennia.

In the past, cats and dogs used to eat a raw food diet all the time. Whether it was fed to them by willing humans or something they hunted and caught themselves, cats and dogs are designed to eat meat raw.

This is supported by their biology. They have shorter digestive tracts meaning they can’t digest traditional pet food very easily. Despite what’s on the label, these processed supermarket foods can lack important nutrients such as amino acids. 

This, in turn, can lead to health problems. Constipation, restlessness, digging, and chewing are all behaviors that an overreliance on traditional pet food can worsen.

Since the early 90s, veterinarians have recommended a healthy, biologically-appropriate, raw diet that can help your pets feel happier and live a fuller, better life.

Understanding Raw Pet Feed 

Sometimes the idea of feeding raw food to your pets can be offputting. The idea of handling raw food can be challenging for some humans, even if our pets don’t mind. 

With Healthy Pet, you can provide your pets with everything they need, without ever having to handle raw ingredients yourself. We ensure that the raw food we stock is of the highest, healthiest quality.

We do this because raw diets have an incredible number of benefits versus grain-filled, highly processed, supermarket alternatives. 

But what exactly is a “raw diet”?

What is a Raw Diet for Pets?

Simply put, a “raw diet” mirrors the type of raw feed that our dogs and cats would have enjoyed in the wild. This means nothing processed and nothing artificial. 

The long-term benefits that come from feeding raw food are all the result of the core ingredients:

• Raw Meat – the majority of a raw diet is chicken, beef, turkey, or pork. Often more than 90% of our raw feed is meat, organs, and meat on the bone.
  
  
• Raw Bones – whole bones or ground bones provide essential nutrients and amino acids (as well as being great fun for your pet to play with). And don’t worry, we only use raw bones that are safe to chew. Many raw feeds include bone broth to provide extra nutrition. If you have questions about bone safety, call us for guidance.
  
  
• Vegetables and Fruits – such as spinach, sweet potato, and apples provide variety and additional nutrients as well as being a delicious treat. This keeps your pets interested and even more excited for mealtimes.

Alongside these core ingredients, lots of our recipes include other biologically appropriate foods too. These can be included to supplement the raw diet where required. Eggs or yogurt are a great way to add variety and key nutrients. 

Together, these ingredients ensure a balanced and complete meal every breakfast or dinnertime.

Benefits of Switching to a Raw Diet for Pets

As they have so much more protein and nutrients (things like vitamins A and E, Zinc, and selenium), significant and observable improvements can be seen almost immediately. Switching to a raw diet has been shown to help with the following:

• Better Dental Health: Feeding your cats and dogs a raw diet reduces tartar buildup and plaque (especially when eating or playing with bones) promoting healthy gums and improving their breath.
  
  
• Sleek Coat and Healthy Skin: Raw diets give our pets shinier coats and healthier skin. This is thanks to the healthy fats and naturally occurring oils found in raw feed.
  
  
• Improved Digestion: Because raw foods are not processed, they are more easily digested by our pets. This means they get more for less,  leading to better holistic nutrition. As an added benefit, it makes it much easier to clean up after them too.
  
  
• Reduced allergies: Cats and dogs aren’t really meant to be eating the grain that they pack into supermarket-bought, processed pet foods. It can lead to intolerances and a heightened allergic response. Moving to a raw diet can reduce these symptoms and is better for their tummies.
  
  
• Long-Term Health: Raw diets are always high in protein. Along with all-natural ingredients, the high protein content helps to maintain lean muscle and reduces obesity. By reducing weight, our pets live longer, healthier lives.
  
  
• Increased Energy and Vitality: Pets fed with raw diets are full of energy and vitality. They can be more active, running around and exploring the world. This means you can play with them and show them even more of Austin without worrying about them getting tired.

Switching to biologically appropriate raw food provides pets with a healthy diet. It has long-term benefits that will significantly improve the quality of their lives. 

And the best thing is, you know exactly what’s in them. There are no artificial preservatives, no bulking agents, no artificial colors, or any of the other potentially harmful additives that are so often crammed into the big bags of supermarket pet food.

Raw Pet Food Diet Options

Luckily for those who are looking for healthier options for our pets, over the last few years, there has been an incredible increase in the number of healthy, raw food options. Here at Healthy Pet, we ensure the finest quality by carefully selecting our partners.

We know that all of our pets are loveably different, so below, we’ve included some of our favorite menu options so you can pick healthy, tasty treats:

Raw Food Options for Dogs:

Here is a selection of our favorites for our faithful friends:

OC Raw: with plenty of flavors to choose from, OC Raw’s products are complete, balanced, and packed with nutrition. Their team makes each batch fresh, then packs it by hand to ensure the best quality. This family-owned kitchen is one of our favorites and definitely belongs on the list.

Primal Raw: these make the list because they’re so easy to prepare and store. With certified organic produce, they have a great range of shelf-stable menu options from classic homestead blends like beef and chicken to more gourmet meals with rabbit and venison.

Stella & Chewy’s: with more than 90% meat, these meals are so close to our dog’s ancestral raw diet that they simply have to make the list. With economical options designed to suit your dog’s size and a range of flavors, they are both healthy and tasty.

Raw Food Options for Cats:

Here is a selection of our favorites for our clawed wanderers:

Primal Raw: These make the list because of their ethically sourced protein, crafted in the USA. Primal make sure they don’t use any corn or soy so you know exactly what’s in their recipes. All the vitamins are natural to promote the health of your cat (try the chews, they’re a real favorite)!

Savage Cat Food: The top pick for anyone who wants to know where their feed comes from and where the ingredients are sourced. This is because Savage only uses ethically-harvested, US protein. For example, their chicken and duck are all born in California to ensure certified free-range and antibiotic-free meals.

Stella & Chewy’s: With an incredible 98% meat content, Stella and Chewy’s are a great choice for owners who want protein-packed, delicious, nutrient-dense meals for their cats. On top of this, their meals are enhanced with probiotics and antioxidants for long-term health and vitality.

Learn More in the Store

Healthy Pet is more than simply a pet supply store. We truly believe in making the lives of your pets better. Whether it’s with our natural remedies for things like pet anxiety or discomfort, or going back to basics with our healthy raw food options, every pet is different and we strive to meet their unique needs.

We put your pet first. We’d love to invite you to one of our stores all across Austin. Discover our Healthy Pet locations throughout Austin here. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are on hand to answer any questions about feeding raw diets so please ask away!