Alex Seilis
Raw feeding is becoming an increasingly popular option for dog owners looking to provide a more natural, nutritious alternative to traditional kibble.
With its many advocates praising its benefits, raw diets offer a way to give your dog unprocessed, wholesome food, but it sparks a key debate: is it better to make your own raw meals or buy them pre-made?
Both homemade and store-bought raw diets have their merits, but pet owners need to consider several factors, including convenience, cost, and ensuring their dog gets balanced nutrition. Below, I'll explore the pros and cons of each option to help you make the best choice for your pup’s diet.
Homemade Raw Food: Complete Control Over Ingredients
Making your own raw dog food for your dog offers complete control over what goes into every meal. This level of customization is perfect for dogs with food sensitivities, allergies, or specific health needs, allowing you to adjust ingredients and portions according to their individual requirements.
Plus, in your homemade dog food you can choose high-quality, ethically sourced ingredients, ensuring your dog is getting the best possible nutrition.
A balanced raw food diet goes beyond simply feeding your dog muscle meat. To provide complete nutrition, you need to incorporate a variety of components such as muscle meat, organ meat, and raw bones, along with some fruits, vegetables, and essential fatty acids like phytoplankton or coconut oil. This ensures that your dog gets all the necessary vitamins, minerals, and nutrients for sustained health.
To keep things simple, a great formula to follow for homemade raw dog food is 50% muscle meat, 10% organ meat, 15% raw bone, 20% vegetables, and 5% fruit, plus a healthy fat source. Don’t stress about making every meal perfectly balanced—focus on achieving balance over time to give your dog all the nutrients he needs.
Homemade raw food also offers flexibility in accommodating special dietary needs. For example, adding bone broth can support joint health, while dried seaweed may help with thyroid function. This adaptability makes homemade raw a great option for senior dogs or dogs with unique health concerns.
Store-Bought Raw Food: Convenience And Ready-Made Nutrition
If preparing raw meals from scratch seems too time-consuming or you’d rather not handle raw meat regularly, store-bought raw food can be a convenient alternative. These products come pre-made, often in patties or nuggets, making them easy to store and serve. For busy dog owners, the convenience of store-bought raw food can be a game-changer.
The biggest benefit of store-bought raw food is that it’s pre-formulated with the correct ratios of meat, organs, bones, and other essential nutrients. This ensures your dog receives balanced nutrition without you needing to calculate ratios or worry about missing ingredients. Simply thaw and serve for a complete, nutrient-rich meal.
Many store-bought raw food brands offer a variety of protein sources, including more novel options like rabbit, venison, or pheasant. This is especially helpful for dogs with food sensitivities, allowing you to easily switch up their meals without worrying about hidden allergens or ingredients that may trigger reactions.
While convenient, it’s important to check the ingredient list on store-bought raw food for synthetic vitamins and minerals. These additives are less bioavailable than naturally occurring nutrients and can be less beneficial for your dog’s health. Look for products that derive their nutrition from whole food sources, without relying on artificial supplements.
High-Pressure Pasteurization (HPP) In Store-Bought Raw Food
High-pressure pasteurization (HPP) is a process that some store-bought raw dog foods undergo to eliminate harmful bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. While it sounds like a good safety measure, HPP involves subjecting the food to extreme pressure, which can slightly "cook" the food and alter its raw state, potentially reducing some of its freshness and nutrient quality.
The advantage of HPP is that it significantly lowers the bacterial risk when compared to unpasteurized raw dog food. This can make it a safer option for some dogs, particularly in multi-dog households or in environments where foodborne illness is a concern.
However, the downside is that HPP can alter the food’s structure, possibly diminishing its nutritional integrity. Additionally, the process occurs after the food has been packaged, which raises concerns about chemicals like phthalates from packaging materials potentially seeping into the food.
For dogs with weakened immune systems, HPP-treated raw food may be a recommended option by veterinarians due to its lower pathogen risk. However, a gentler and potentially fresher alternative is to lightly cook homemade raw food, preserving most of the nutrients while reducing bacteria, without the concerns associated with HPP.
Cost And Transportation Considerations
Store-bought raw food, while convenient, often comes with a higher price tag. The cost stems from labor-intensive processes like freeze-drying, packaging, and ensuring the correct nutrient ratios.
On average, a 6-pound bag of freeze-dried raw food can cost upwards of $30 to $50, which may only last a large dog about a week, making it significantly more expensive than homemade raw meals.
Transportation can be another issue when it comes to store-bought raw food. Even if the manufacturer maintains strict quality control, thawing and refreezing can occur during distribution, which can affect the food’s quality.
Signs of spoilage, like puffiness in packaging or a foul odor, are indicators that the food may have been compromised during transport. Pet owners should inspect packaging carefully to ensure the raw food is still fresh.
Combining Both Options: A Balanced Approach
One practical solution is to combine both store-bought and homemade raw food. Using pre-made raw food for part of the week offers convenience when time is tight, while homemade meals can be prepared on other days to reduce costs and offer variety.
This balanced approach gives your dog the best of both worlds—convenience without sacrificing quality or affordability.
Even if feeding an all-raw diet isn’t feasible, incorporating a few raw meals into your dog’s routine—whether homemade or store-bought—can deliver noticeable health benefits. You don’t need to feed raw every single meal to see improvements in your dog’s vitality, digestion, and overall health.
FAQ
Is homemade dog food better cooked or raw? Raw food advocates generally recommend raw homemade dog food because it retains more nutrients and enzymes compared to cooked food, offering a more natural diet. However, it's essential to ensure your dog's food is part of a balanced diet to avoid deficiencies, as dog food advisor sites often recommend.
Is homemade dog food healthier than store bought? Homemade dog food can be healthier than some commercial dog foods because it allows you to control ingredients and avoid synthetic additives. However, ensuring that the dog's food meets nutritional needs with the right balance of proteins, fats, and supplements like fish oil is crucial for optimal health.
Is it cheaper to buy raw dog food or make it? DIY raw feeding is often more cost-effective than buying pre-packaged raw food brands, especially for larger dogs. However, it requires more time and planning to ensure the homemade dog's food is balanced and meets food and supplement regulations.
Do vets recommend homemade dog food? Some vets support homemade diets when done correctly, ensuring they provide a balanced diet that meets all nutritional requirements. Some vets may caution against it unless pet owners follow guidelines on the best natural dog food diets.
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