June has been a long educational month in the land of raw food. We have talked through some of the benefits which you can read about here. The different brands that Braxton's carries and how they compare to one another like Primal Pet Foods and Answers Pet Foods, Bones & Co. and Stella & Chewy's, My Perfect Pet, Small Batch Pet Foods and Instinct. Finally, we are going to take a look at some of the most frequently asked questions our Braxton's employees get on a regular basis on raw food.

FAQ

"If raw food is the superior diet to kibble and wet food, why doesn't everyone feed a raw diet to their pet?"

There are few reasons pet owners choose kibble or wet over raw food and the first one is convenience. There is no preparing or thawing needed with both dry or wet diets and they travel well if you are taking trips with your pets. Secondly, it can be very costly to feed your pet a raw diet compared to a kibble diet. Feeding a high quality kibble like Orijen or Farmina N&D you will pay somewhere around $3.20-$3.50 per pound. Where as raw food with brands like Primal and Answers, you will pay about $6.75-$7.75 per pound.

"What will my pet's stools be like after I start them on a raw diet?"

You will actually see fewer stools since raw food diets are highly digestible and are naturally absorbed by the body. Other than fewer stools, they should remain a consistent and not be overly soft or hard.

"Can I just do my own raw food at home?"

"DIY" raw food is doable but usually not recommended. It is very easy to become malnourished if your pet does not receive the appropriate macro nutrients, vitamins, and minerals. All of the brands of raw food that Braxton's carries are AAFCO certified balanced diets to ensure they are appropriately nourished.

"What if harmful bacteria like salmonella is not processed out of the food properly?"

Dogs can tolerate a higher level of bacteria than humans. Dogs have shorter digestive tracts and higher levels of acidity in their digestive system. The acidity level in their stomachs is why it is an undesirable environment for bacteria.  We know that when a dog is fed a species-appropriate diet, their immune system is optimally strong and their digestive system is functioning properly.

NOTE: To ensure your own safety when feeding raw, use the same safe handling practices you would use when preparing your own raw meats: exercise basic hygiene, wash your hands and sanitize surfaces after use.

"Can I switch proteins regularly on a raw diet?"

Yes! As long as your pet has no known allergies in the formula you can switch meat sources easily. We recommend offering your pet a variety of proteins! When possible, it is beneficial to feed your pet 2-3 meat proteins per week which is called "Rotational Feeding".

"What if my veterinarian does not approve of raw diets."

Most Veterinarian programs only include one nutrition course in their curriculum. University of Pennsylvania is ranked one of the top Veterinarian schools in the country. They only require one course of nutrition training in their first year of the program. This one course has to encompass a range of domestic animals and how to handle their nutrition, so their understanding of pet nutrition may be limited. Most vet's also see the worst-case-scenario with DIY raw feeding with malnourishment or over-weight pets. Most veterinarians are experts in critical care, but there are sub categories of vet's that specialize in nutrition. Braxton's employees are by no means veterinarian specialist, however we do value nutrition as a core remedy for most ailments and overall health.

NOTE: Braxton's loves to work with local vets and if you are looking for a Integrative Vet that endorses raw, we highly recommend Dr. Heyde from Pet First Veterinarian Center in Bryn Mawr and Dr. Whipple from Berwyn Veterinary Center For Integrative Medicine. If you don't live within those areas, here is a great site to help you find an Integrative Vet near you! https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/

That’s it for our series on raw pet food! We hope you found it informative. Be sure to check out the rest of the series which is linked in the first paragraph. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us – we love talking about all things pets! Have a great day and happy feeding!