The RAW Truth About Feeding Your Furry Friends

The RAW Truth About Feeding Your Furry Friends

In the ever-evolving world of pet nutrition, a new trend has captured the attention of devoted pet owners: RAW feeding. At the forefront of this movement is The Hound Hut, a pioneering force with a decade of experience in the RAW pet food industry. Today, we're exploring the fascinating realm of RAW pet food, navigating the pros and cons, and shedding some light on why some veterinarians may raise an eyebrow.

Pet ownership is like a club, and anyone with a dog will tell you this. It's during regular dog walks that many owners get advice on how to keep their dog in tip-top health or other training tips. During these walks, many more pet owners are becoming RAW feeding enthusiasts, swearing by its myriad benefits, attributing shinier coats, increased energy, and healthier teeth to the unprocessed, species-appropriate nature of the diet. The logic is simple – a diet rich in RAW meat mirrors the ancestral roots of our four-legged companions. And at The Hound Hut, owners Anthony and Rob have seen tails wagging with joy as pets thrive on a diet that's as close to nature as possible.

The Pros of RAW Feeding

1. Enhanced Nutrition: RAW food is rich in natural enzymes, vitamins, and minerals, providing a well-rounded nutritional profile for your pets. Many pet owners who say their pet is a fussy eater are astounded when their dog spins at the fridge door at meal time and continues to lick the bowl for the rest of the morning!

2. Dental Health: Gnawing on RAW bones can help clean teeth and gums, reducing the risk of dental issues that plague kibble-fed counterparts. Wild dogs and wolves in nature have healthy teeth and gums without the need for dental cleaning. The action of ripping meat from the bone and gnawing on them helps to promote teeth health, which is a key part of a balanced RAW diet.

3. Shiny Coats and Healthy Skin: The omega-3 fatty acids found in RAW fish and meat contribute to a luscious coat and promote skin health. This is why many ready-made RAW pet foods contain salmon oil or other oils rich in omega-3.

The Concerns

1. Bacterial Issues: Critics argue that RAW food may harbour harmful bacteria such as Salmonella or E. coli, posing potential health risks for both pets and their owners. In the early years of RAW feeding, there were no manufacturers of RAW food, so people made it themselves. It was quickly understood that RAW pet food needs to be frozen and stored for 10 days to kill bacteria before it enters the food chain. This is something the early adopters of RAW feeding struggled to achieve, leading to the talk of bacterial infections so often cited by critics today. With the rise in popularity of RAW feeding, many RAW food manufacturers have come into existence, following industry guidelines on the freezing process to kill all bacteria and parasites within the RAW food they produce.

2. Balancing Act: In the early days, creating a well-crafted and well-balanced RAW diet required careful planning to ensure pets received all essential nutrients and that the bone particles were the correct size. While some owners still prefer to make their own RAW food, it's no longer necessary. The manufacturing of RAW pet food has been ongoing for over 15 years, and as this food option moved from its infancy to an established pet food, there are now many complete and balanced RAW food options available to pet owners. Manufacturers have nutritional specialists working with them to create balanced nutritional recipes, meaning the only thing owners now need to worry about is if they have any food defrosted!

3. Vet Scepticism: Veterinarians, the unsung heroes of pet health, occasionally raise a cautious paw when it comes to RAW feeding. Many veterinarians advise against it due to concerns over bacterial contamination and nutritional imbalances. Their reservations stem from a genuine concern for the welfare of animals, as they advocate for non-RAW diets that are thoroughly researched and well-rounded. However, it's worth considering that these opinions about bacterial infection and nutritional imbalances were formed, and rightly so, in the early years of RAW feeding.

The Hound Hut: Your RAW Experts

The Hound Hut, a pet shop on Rochester High Street, specialises in nutrition and diet for dogs and cats. With over a decade of expertise, they offer personalised nutritional advice to give owners the tools they need to make an informed decision on food, whether that's RAW, dry, or wet. They help guide owners through the minefield of information available to choose a pet food that is healthy and one that suits their lifestyle and budget. The Hound Hut's mission is not only to keep pets happy but also to keep them healthy by helping owners make the right nutritional choices.

Moreover, The Hound Hut is deeply committed to supporting local brands and businesses. Their shelves are adorned with locally produced products, ranging from pet-friendly candles to strong leads and collars made from parachute cord. In doing so, The Hound Hut not only contributes to the economic prosperity of their community but also offers pet owners a chance to provide their furry friends with high-quality, locally sourced products.

In conclusion, the proportion of pet owners feeding RAW has itself gained a greater market share of the pet food industry as owners see the benefits of RAW feeding for themselves. We are continually told to eat an appropriate, unprocessed diet, so it seems strange that we wouldn't want the same for our pets. The Hound Hut stands as a testament to the positive impact nutrition can have on the health of your pets, complemented by a commitment to the community and the well-being of our four-legged friends.

Visit www.thehoundhut.dog to explore their range of products and services and embark on a journey toward a happier, healthier life for your pets.