Alternatives to raw:
Now, of course, we know that the only species appropriate diet for dogs is a raw diet, however, at times this may not be possible. This list is to give you a few options when raw is simply impossible to feed.
Short-term situation such as post surgery or when your dog is unwell:
Please follow our recovery from illness blog
Medium term situation such as camping:
Feeding non-raw for more than a few days will result in you then needing to transition to raw when ready to move back to raw
Below we list the alternatives you can look into using for medium term alternatives, with pros and cons of each to help you make an informed choice.
We recommend adding Dorwest Tree Barks or Proflax Tummy Tastic as well as adding, if UK Based some pre-made dog safe bone broth like Alexander's Natural or Karnlea
What is best to feed?
If we put all pet food choices into a list of best to least, it would be as follows:
A varied raw diet
A lightly cooked diet with extras added
A pre-made cooked diet
Freeze dried food
Cold pressed food
Tinned food with a high meat content
Dry food with a high meat content
As we are a raw feeding group, with raw feeding nutritional training, it would be inappropriate for us to make any recommendations of kibble (dry food) as this is the lowest level of nutrition for pets however at the end we will “spill the beans” on what you can add to your dogs food should you feel you simply must feed kibble, to best support them, so bear with us.
Lightly cooked at home - short-medium term option:
If you are finding your dog is super fussy, and despite a vet check proving they are ok health wise, your own anxiety is telling you to swap their food, then before you reach for the ultra processed bag of kibble, have you considered a lightly cooked diet?
It is important to note that cooking food does denature the fats, including those beautiful anti-inflammatory omega 3’s, and they can become blocking agents to good fats which will reduce the nutritional content of the food.
You could feed a raw meaty bone for the bone content separately to the cooked food (of course NEVER feed cooked bones), or if not you could add Aniforte ground beef bones or ground horse bones for the bone content (this is of course not as beneficial as an actual raw meaty bone but it is a safe substitute)
Chunks of meat or even minced meat can be used.
Don’t forget to add in offal too, liver should always make up 5%, plus another 5% secreting organ such as kidney, spleen, testicles, sweetbread, pancreas or brain
Remember, you do not want to incinerate the food, just cook it through (white meat should be white throughout when cooked)
For the plant matter component check out our blog about fruits and vegetables
To this we would recommend adding a raw egg 2-3 times a week and if you are not feeding any oily fish mixes, you could also add in some raw oily fish (or if not possible then algae oil). Another great add on would be Aniforte Colostrum and Bovine Blood to help to support the microbiome.
To support gut health & joint health, we do recommend every dog is fed a daily dose of bone broth too
Premade lightly cooked - short - longer term option
If your dog is not yeasty or itchy when it comes to root vegetables, the Different Dog could be an option for you as they offer recipes with no grains, legumes or fillers.
To this we would recommend adding a raw egg 2-3 times a week and if you are not feeding any oily fish mixes, you could also add in some raw oily fish (or if not possible then algae oil). Another great add on would be Aniforte Colostrum and Bovine Blood to help to support the microbiome.
To support gut health & joint health, we do recommend every dog is fed a daily dose of bone broth too
Freeze dried food - short - medium term option
To read about freeze dried foods check out our blog
Cold pressed food - short - medium term option
There are varied levels of standards with cold pressed foods too sadly, with poor quality fillers and additives (often not very bioavailable to dogs unfortunately) however one of the best cold pressed options on the market is Tribal Pets
To this we would recommend adding a raw egg 2-3 times a week and if you are not feeding any oily fish mixes, you could also add in some raw oily fish (or if not possible then algae oil). Another great add on would be Aniforte Colostrum and Bovine Blood to help to support the microbiome.
To support gut health & joint health, we do recommend every dog is fed a daily dose of bone broth too
Tinned food - short - medium term options
Below is the list of some of the options you may want to research and consider using. These are not long term recommendations, as the best diet for dogs is honestly the species appropriate one (so raw feeding), but for medium term options such as holidays these may be required to feed.
Aniforte Tinned: No cheap fillers, no protein substitutes, no artificial colourings. Meat broth is included and does have rarer protein options available. Root vegetables MAY be an issue for yeasty dogs however it is only a low amount and some vegetable free options may be available.
Cannagan Tinned: Real food used, no cheap fillers, does contain peas and carrots however as a wet food this is another potential option as above.
Carnilove Tinned: Real foods used, no cheap filler though does contain pea flour and lignocellulose which are small amounts but still something to be aware of.
Dogs Love: Another tinned food that uses real food. Does have root vegetables though and potato starch which both may not be suitable for all dogs. Some synthetic additives are used too unlike in other options.
Eden wet food: Approximately 70% meat / fish, some additives though are shown and not always on the website so if using, check the tin itself for full ingredients breakdown.
Country Hunter wet food: Approximately 80% meat, some additives and sunflower oil which is pro-inflammatory and has no place in a dog's diet.
Mixed Diets
Understanding Feeding a Mixed Diet: A Comprehensive Guide
In an era where every penny counts, pet owners are increasingly pondering a classic dilemma: What's the most cost-effective way to feed our furry companions? Is it better to stick with kibble, wet, freeze-dried, or explore the realm of raw diets?
Many turn to mixing raw with other options to balance expenses. But with this approach come risks, ones that demand careful consideration of the full facts.
Benefits of Full Raw Diets:
Let's start by acknowledging the advantages of a complete raw diet:
Species Appropriate: A raw diet aligns perfectly with a dog's natural dietary needs, reflecting what their ancestors consumed in the wild.
Rich in Essential Nutrients: It provides a spectrum of essential natural nutrients that are lost or degraded during the manufacturing processes of commercial dog foods.
Reduced Health Risks: A full raw diet has been linked to reducing various health risks in dogs, including:
Obesity: Raw diets, when appropriately managed, can assist in maintaining healthier body weight due to their balanced nutrient profile.
Cancer: Studies suggest that dogs fed a natural diet have approximately a significantly lower chance of developing cancers.
Joint Diseases: Properly balanced raw diets contribute to better joint health, reducing the risk of joint diseases as compared to commercial alternatives. They can also be a key component to effectively managing joint disease when it does strike
Gum and Heart Diseases: Raw diets can help in reducing the risks of gum diseases and contribute positively to heart health. Of course, it is still vital that you continue to brush your dogs teeth though daily too
Diabetes, Pancreatitis, and Improved Health: Additionally, a well-structured raw diet decreases the likelihood of diabetes and pancreatitis while promoting overall better health and vitality in dogs.
Other Diets:
Comparatively, kibble, freeze-dried, and similar alternatives offer one primary benefit: convenience.
It is essential to understand that these options carry risks although at times a cooked diet can be of great benefit such as when recovering from illness or surgery, or another type of diet may be useful for short term needs such as holidays
The Risks of None Raw Diets:
Feeding a mix of raw and non-raw food involves inherent risks:
Moisture and Nutrient Content: Raw food contains vital vitamins, even in its moisture content which is far beyond just water. Simply hydrating non-raw food won't therefore match the benefits of raw.
Nutrient Imbalance: None raw diets lack essential components present in raw diets, such as raw bone content that provides crucial nutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, essential amino acids, and fat-soluble vitamins A, D, and E. These are added synthetically into none raw diets to meet nutritional needs. The problem is though. synthetic additives are not able to be as effectively absorbed and utilised by the dog's body compared to naturally occurring vitamins & minerals.
Choosing Alternatives: When looking for a non-raw food, you should look for minimally processed, natural ingredient-based products. Always read the full ingredients panel and be aware that any number of additives will mean the vitamin or mineral is not natural and therefore not as bioavailable as it is in a raw diet.
Quality Concerns: Higher quality non-raw products can be incredibly costly, which means in theory feeding full raw could actually be cheaper for you, and better for your dog, with some smart cost cutting tips.
Feeding a Mixed Diet:
If opting for a mixed diet, for whatever reasons, we have to respect that you have made an informed decision so that is ok, you have made the decision to still feed some fresh which is incredible news.
So to feed a mixed diet we recommend you:
Balanced Ratio: Ensure at least 50% of the meal comprises raw elements (meat, bone, and offal or a pre-made 801010 mince). This ensures your dog is getting a great base for their diet.
Incorporate Vegetables: Introduce 10-20% of lightly steamed fibre-rich greens, these are relatively low cost and will help to add dietary fibre / bulk to the diet. Vegetables, and fruits, can be found here
Treats and Supplements: Limit treats to 10% of the diet and focus on 100% animal-based treats.
Include Raw Elements: Oily fish & raw eggs should be added each on 2-3 days of the week. Bone broth is also essential and can be easily added to give extra hydration and nutrients whilst supporting gut health and joint health.
Organs: You could also blend some additional organs such as testicles, pancreas and spleen and freeze into small portions of about 5-15g then add these every couple of days. We recommend not using too much extra liver though, and being aware that if you have a dog who needs a low purine diet such as a dalmatian, this option will need to be discussed with a practising nutritionist. The amount extra of this that you feed will depend on the individual dog so you will need to poop watch, too loose means you need to feed less of this.
Remaining Non-raw Portion: Follow recommended feeding allowances for the remaining portion of your dogs diets, this should be a minimal amount due to the above additional aspects
Freshen Up Those Non-Raw Bowls
We are aware that not everyone is ready, or even able to, switch to full raw. This us a list of things that can be added to spice up a none raw bowl
Eggs: chicken, duck or quail (even goose or turkey for those large breeds). Add them raw on top of the current food 2-3 times a week
Small oily fish: use our fish calculator to work out the amount you can feed up to, of course monitoring your dogs body condition, they can be given frozen, defrosted, as a snack or on top of food. Split the allowance over the week.
Dark leafy greens: spinach, kale, broccoli for example are great. Lightly steam to aid digestion or blitz them up. Feed 1 tablespoon per 10kgs of dog weight, every 2-3 days
Mixed berries: raspberries, blueberries, cranberries are all fabulous choices. Blitz or crush a little to aid digestion. Limit to a small amount though as they do have sugar albeit natural.
Organic spirulina: 2-3 times per week, mix with some water or bone broth and start with a ⅓ of the dose and build up slow over 3 weeks to the full dose for a nutrient booster OR Super Green powder from Dogs Lounge
Fresh mussels: Must be cooked and de-shelled (never feed the shell)
Frozen mussels: Should state "cook and frozen"
Bone broth: such as if you are UK based, pre-made dog safe bone broth like Alexander's Natural or Karnlea
When choosing to feed foods other than full raw, a few general rules to stick to to help you to pick better choices are as follows:
Any additives that mention oxide - this is not going to be worth your money as it simply is not bioavailable to dogs
If it has colourings or flavouring - it is a waste of your money
If it has grains or legumes in it, it is not going to benefit your dogs health and could actually make them incredibly unwell over time, costing you more money on health care in the long run
Emergency Supplies
As standard we do recommend always having a stock of the following items for those times they are needed:
Dorwest Tree Barks or Proflax Tummy Tastic (Great for upset gut)
Include Green lipped mussels in the diet such as canumi Green Lipped mussels, or powdered GLM available from Riaflex, Aniforte. (great for joint support)
Final Thoughts:
The decision to feed raw or a mixed diet should consider more than just financial aspects. It’s about prioritising your dog's health and well-being. While raw feeding isn't for everyone, understanding the associated risks empowers responsible decision-making.
Our community respects diverse feeding choices and offers guidance without judgement. We've tested various alternatives ourselves for our members and we have also fed mixed or non-raw diets to our current dogs in the past, as well as fed our family and friends dogs their choice of diet too when caring for them.
We therefore comprehend the complexities surrounding this decision. Ultimately, the choice rests with you, and we're here to support your dog’s overall health journey, no matter the path you choose.