Questions and Answers about Raw Food
Here are some commonly asked questions that we came across in our research
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Is it better to purchase a ready made product or buy the ingredients and make it myself?
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Purchasing a ready made product we believe is the best option due to the difficulty in balancing the food correctly and ensuring that all the dogs needs are being met. However there are questions that you should always ask before doing so. Do read through the What to Look For so you have an idea of the questions you should ask.
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Is Raw food ok for Puppies?
Yes, provided the food has been registered with the Department of Agriculture Act 36 of 1947.
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If I feed raw, will I have to still add Kibble to the food?
Yes - UNLESS the food is registered with the Department of Agriculture Act 36 of 1947 for all Life Stages.
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My dog seems to be drinking less water daily - is this normal?
Yes and no reason for you to be worried. Raw food is full of naturally occurring water! All the moisture needed to digest raw food is contained in raw food!
Although a lower sodium intake is part of the reason that dogs on Raw drink less water, the real reason is that raw food has not had the water removed like kibble has. The difference between kibble and canned dog food is the water content...they leave the water in the canned and dry out the kibble. It takes a lot of water to re-hydrate those little nuggets! |
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Basic food safety techniques are really not much difference for handling dog food as they are for people food. Basically they involve washing your hands after handling meat etc, making sure cleaning cloths are clean and washed regularly (or use paper towels) and washing down benches with soap and hot water to curb bacteria growth (I use vinegar too). Some people do additional things, but these are the basics.
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When thawing, is there a point where the food is considered dangerous and should be thrown out?
For my dogs here, it is when the smell of the meat is so bad I nearly throw up ;-). That usually takes a quite a number of days of being thawed out in the fridge. If it smells a little 'gamey' (a few days old) I will still feed it. With a dog new to BARF I would try and keep the meat fairly fresh for a while though. Easiest way is to thaw slowly in the fridge, or to thaw for a few hours or overnight in a container on the kitchen counter. Just thaw as much as you need for one day at a time.
For my dogs here, it is when the smell of the meat is so bad I nearly throw up ;-). That usually takes a quite a number of days of being thawed out in the fridge. If it smells a little 'gamey' (a few days old) I will still feed it. With a dog new to BARF I would try and keep the meat fairly fresh for a while though. Easiest way is to thaw slowly in the fridge, or to thaw for a few hours or overnight in a container on the kitchen counter. Just thaw as much as you need for one day at a time.
Can I use my microwave for thawing RMBs?
When using a microwave to thaw RMBs, you must be extremely careful, as the microwave can begin to cook the food from the inside (the bones) out. Thawing RMBs in the microwave is NOT the recommended method. NEVER, EVER give your dog a cooked bone, as it can splinter and cause severe internal complications. The safest method of thawing is room temperature or, if you're in a bit of a hurry, soak the RMBs in cold water in the kitchen sink.
I've noticed my dog pooping less and it's white. Is this normal?
Yes, this is completely normal for a BARFing dog. The reason your dog is pooping less is because most of the food he is now ingesting, is being digested and properly utilized by the body...thus, less waste. The RMBs account for it turning white.