Although many dogs enjoy eating anything that you give them, this does not necessarily mean that those foods are the best for your dog's health. Dogs are biologically designed to be carnivores, and because of this they benefit far more from meat products than vegetables. Although the majority of vegetables in moderation won’t harm your dog, there are far too little benefits to justify having your dog on a plant-based diet. To have the healthiest and happiest dog, you have to remember that they need to eat like a dog, and what works for you doesn’t necessarily work for them.
SCIENCE BEHIND THE CARNIVORE DIET
The walls of plant cells are thicker and therefore harder to open than the walls of raw meat, which makes it an unappealing choice for dogs. The digestive system of a carnivore is considerably shorter than ours and because of this, there is not enough time for the vegetables to be broken down properly. Therefore, raw meat is perfect for the shorter digestive system because the nutrients are released much quicker, giving dogs the vitamins that they need.
If you are worried about feeding dogs raw meat will make them sick, there is no need. Their short gut and portend digestive bile allows any pathogens that may exist on the meat to exit quickly, ensuring the health of your dog as long as safe food handling practices are followed.
EVOLUTION OF DOG’S MOUTHS
As the digestive system of dogs have adapted to facilitate their carnivorous diet, so has their mouths. The size, shape, and dentition (the way the teeth fit together) of a dog’s mouth facilitates their diet. Compared to a herbivore, such as a horse, that has long, large, and flat molars, carnivores, like dogs, are completely different.
Carnivore teeth are designed to tear meat, swallow, and be further digested in the stomach. The canine teeth are sharp, pointed, and long, giving the strength necessary to penetrate raw meat. As well as the shape and sharpness, dogs teeth are fitted more tightly together, which means less chewing and the ability to simply swallow for digestion.
VEGETABLES THAT ARE COMPLETELY OFF LIMITS
Whilst a strictly raw food diet for dogs is highly recommended, some dogs enjoy a vegetarian treat. In order to keep your dog as safe and healthy as possible, here are some fruits and vegetables that should be avoided at all costs:
- Grapes & Raisins
- Onions & Garlic
- Cherries
- Mushrooms
- Currants
- Raw and Green Potatoes
- Apricots
- Rhubarb
- Apple Seeds and other fruit pits
- Tomato Plants (nightshades)
As always if you have any questions, get in touch with us! The team at Iron Will Raw is always happy to talk to fellow raw feeders and answer any questions that come our way.