Feeding raw meat to dogs is one of the best gifts you can give. It helps improve both their physical and mental wellbeing, and offers many specific benefits such as less shedding, reduced allergies and naturally clean teeth.

For some owners, the natural nature of a raw diet leads them to believe they can source, purchase and prepare a raw diet on their own. There are a few typical reasons for this; some owners see it as a money-saving venture, others to bond with their pet, some just simply enjoy it. Most are a combination of these three things. However, in our experience traveling to pet shows and talking to pet owners, making your own raw food can be more trouble than it's worth.

FEEDING DOGS RAW MEAT MEALS: GULPER OR CHEWER?

It is important to understand your dog’s chewing habits, rituals and styles. By doing so, you’re able to provide the most comfortable atmosphere to your dog and also ensuring safety when feeding your dog a raw meat meal.

A common problem that new raw feeders experience, especially those who are buying and preparing the meat on their own, is not knowing how the meat should be served. Some dogs will naturally “gulp” raw meat meals, which can be dangerous if their meat is not ground properly. Even if your dog is a “chewer” or you’re confident in your ability to ground the meat, there are food preparation dangers, such as ensuring the meat is untainted and remains wholly frozen prior to thawing.

Not only is it safer to serve pre-ground food for most dogs, having a commercial producer that you can trust will give you peace of mind when raw feeding raw meat to dogs. Producers, such as Iron Will Raw, are subject to strict safety measures and regular inspections.

WILL PREPARING OWN RAW DOG FOOD SAVE MONEY?

Bringing dogs, cats or any other pet into your life is one of the most wonderful experiences you can have in life. There is little that can compare to the pure emotions that pets will inspire within you. That’s why it is no surprise that, psychologically, pets make us happier (and healthier!)

This bond also brings a great deal of responsibility as well. Pets require attention, care, exercise, love, support, healthcare, food, activity, toys and more. And some of those things can be expensive. For this reason, some owners will look at preparing their own food as a way to reduce the expense of owning a dog. There are a couple of problems with this lens.

First, it is not a sure thing that you will save money when purchasing raw food on your own. Producers and retailers often live with pets themselves and are mindful of the costs associated. Plus, they offer consistent pricing that you can count on in your budget.

With a commercially produced raw diet, you can set your budget and trust it will stay similar for the next few years. You’ll also have the peace of mind of feeding your dog the safest and healthiest diet possible.

Second, meals produced by professional manufacturers like Iron Will Raw adhere to nutritional standards, ensuring nutritional benefits are accessible and validated. Many “do it yourselfers” may not be providing the necessary nutrients in their pet’s meals.

Finally, even if you do work out that buying raw and preparing it on your own can save money, this is usually a short-term gain for long-term pain. That is to say that the related costs from increased health risks will far outweigh those short term savings.

If you’re interested in learning more about raw feeding or have any questions about feeding raw meat to dogs, contact us today.