Most packaged pet foods contain grains, byproducts and toxic preservatives. Part of the reason is because it's cheaper to use grains and byproducts. These "byproducts" commonly contain beaks, skins, feet/hooves, animal organs and guts, road kill, you name it. As pet owners become more educated, they are opting for more natural diets.

So what is a natural diet? Dogs and cats are meat eaters – raw meat eaters. In the wild, they’ll eat raw meat and bones to fully support a healthy immune system. Furthermore, gnawing raw bones give dogs and cats strong, clean white teeth.

When changing your dog’s diet, you should change it gradually and not shock the beast. Mixing the new food in their diet and increasing the portion over time is the recommended best practice. A homemade diet is OK as your dog can be given a wide variety of foods so long as they provide the right amount of nutrition your pet needs.

The popular premium kibble type dog and cat food is baked which destroys all the enzymes and many of the food nutrients. Dogs and cats are designed to eat raw meat and bones not baked grains, baked animal waste parts and preservatives. Your pets’ immune system becomes compromised eating processed pet food because they are not getting enough nutrition. With a weakened immune system diseases can gain a foothold and creep into your pet’s body. Feed your pet table scraps off your plate may be a better alternative than store-bought dry pet food.

There are no existing agencies or guidelines to inspect, support or certified claims of dog food manufactures. You have to take these claims at face value. So if you are going to weigh commercial dog food against a homemade diet it’s probable good for you to ask your vet how your homemade diet plan stacks up.

Other pets such as guinea pigs, birds, rabbits or horses also need natural raw food in order to live well. In the wild they do not forage for store bought dry food. Many birds are omnivorous so they'll eat fruits, veggies and meat besides their birdseed. Our other pets need to eat fresh fruits and vegetables also.

If you want to see your pet live healthier, longer and happier, switch to a raw natural food diet. You’ll reduce the vet bill and your pet will thrive.