What is Natural Feeding?
In recent years, concern about the nutrition and well-being of our pets has grown exponentially. More and more dog and cat owners are seeking natural and healthy alternatives for their companions' diets, driven by the desire to provide a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life for their pets. This movement, reflecting a broader trend in human dietary care, emphasizes the importance of fresh ingredients that are minimally processed and free from artificial additives.
Natural feeding for dogs and cats is based on providing a diet made up of whole, nutritious foods that meet the specific needs of each species and, if possible, each individual pet.
This approach can include raw diets, known as BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), homemade cooked diets, and the inclusion of natural supplements. The central idea is to mimic the ancestral and biological diet of animals, thereby promoting a range of benefits. Here are some of the main benefits of natural feeding for dogs and cats:
Improved Overall Health:
Shinier Coat and Healthier Skin: Natural diets rich in omega-3 fatty acids promote a shiny coat and healthy skin.
Increased Energy and Vitality: Fresh and natural foods provide high-quality nutrients with greater bioavailability, thus boosting the animals' energy levels.
Healthy Gut Microbiome: Natural feeding can significantly impact the microbiome of dogs and cats, which consists of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract.
Improved Digestion:
Higher Digestibility: Natural, unprocessed ingredients are easier to digest, potentially resulting in fewer digestive problems.
Firmer, Less Voluminous Stools: Natural diets are more bioavailable and absorbable, leading to firmer, less voluminous stools with less odour.
Weight Management:
Better Weight Control: Natural diets, especially raw diets with meaty bones, contain fewer carbohydrates and can be adjusted to meet the specific caloric needs of each animal, helping with weight control and obesity prevention.
Reduction of Allergies and Food Intolerances:
Fewer Additives and Preservatives: Natural feeding does not use artificial ingredients, which can be responsible for allergies and food intolerances.
Identification of Allergens: With a natural diet, it is easier to identify and eliminate ingredients that cause allergic reactions.
Improved Oral Health:
Cleaner Teeth: Some natural foods, such as raw meaty bones or recreational bones (appropriate and safe), help keep teeth clean and reduce plaque and tartar build-up.
Reduction of Bad Breath: Natural feeding can help reduce bad breath, often caused by an inadequate diet and an imbalanced microbiome.
Strengthened Immune System:
Essential Nutrients: Fresh foods contain essential nutrients in their natural forms, so in addition to macro and micronutrients, they also contain many other compounds that help strengthen the immune system.
Disease Prevention:
Reduced Risk of Chronic Diseases: Natural diets help prevent chronic diseases, often associated with low-quality commercial dry diets.
Satisfaction and Eating Pleasure:
Variety of Flavours and Textures: Natural feeding can include a variety of foods that make meals much more interesting and enjoyable for pets, compared to eating the same dry food every day.
Greater Satisfaction: Owners report that their pets seem more satisfied and happier with a natural diet.
To maximize these benefits, it is essential that natural feeding is well-planned and balanced. This typically involves including a variety of fresh, high-quality ingredients and, in some cases, specific supplements to ensure all nutritional needs are met. Consulting a veterinarian, veterinary nurse, or a nutritionist specializing in natural diets for pets is crucial to help develop an appropriate feeding plan.
On this website, I will explore various aspects of natural feeding for dogs and cats, discussing its advantages, the necessary precautions to ensure a balanced diet, and the main challenges faced by pet owners when adopting this type of feeding. I will also cover the differences between the nutritional needs of dogs and cats, highlighting how a natural diet can be appropriately planned to meet each one's specific needs. Through this website, I hope to provide a comprehensive understanding of natural feeding, empowering pet parents to make informed and beneficial decisions for their pets' health and well-being.