Is Instinct Raw Dog Food Worth It
Yes, Instinct Raw Dog Food is worth it.
Instinct Raw Dog Food offers complete and balanced nutrition in the form of dog and cat food. Its recipes follow theAAFCO guidelines. Plus, it used high-pressure processing to ensure food safety.
The Instinct brand has 20 years of pet food experience that use research-backed raw formulas that are designed to make pets happier and healthier.
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Is Instinct Considered A Healthy Dog Food
All Instinct recipes meet dog food nutrient profiles established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials . These standards are based on the Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats published by the National Research Council of the National Academies of Science in Washington, D.C. Each Instinct recipe is complete and balanced for the canine life stage printed on the package.
The Benefits Of A Raw Diet For Puppies
Below are some health benefits for your dogs, which includes:
- Chewing enjoyment
- Improves dental health and cleaner teeth
- Increased energy level
- Greater muscle mass
These benefits could not be permanent depending on what raw food they are eating. But, every food has its potential risks on your canine. So, we’ll be sharing those risks for you to be aware of.
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Add Extra Fat On Days Your Dog Is More Active
Fat is used as an energy source for canines, especially the more active ones.
I know what youre thinking, What about pancreatitis? Pancreatitis happens when fat is cooked and can happen when combined with high amounts of carbs.
Raw feed your dog extra fat on active days such as days you go hiking, puppy play date or go for longer walks.
Raw feed bowl meal prep #71:
Turkey neck, green tripe, beef heart, pork fat, quail eggs, calves liver, and leafy green blend.
Recommended Serving Size For Homemade Dog Food:
The amount of homemade dog food that your dog will require is dependent upon how much your dog weighs and how active he or she is. This amount varies from dog to dog. I suggest talking to your vet and getting their advice on a good starting point.
You can also monitor your dog to make sure they are maintaining their weight and staying happy and active.
This recipe makes about six cups of food, which is three days worth of food for Charlie who is about forty-five pounds. You can easily adjust this amount based on the weight of your dog. Also, feel free to scale this recipe up and double or even triple it, if you wanted to cook less often.
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What Nutrition Guidelines Should You Follow
Like humans, every dog is different, so this is not a one-pup-fits-all rule. Serving size, your dogs weight, health conditions, size, and activity level are all factors you should consider when determining whats suitable for your dog.
However, in general, dogs need six basic nutrients to maintain a healthy, balanced diet: water, protein, fat, carbohydrates, minerals, and vitamins. A mix of these nutrients provides energy for your dogs body to metabolize and grow.
To ensure your dog is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs, you may want to add a fully balanced nutrition blend, like one of these blends from Just Food For Dogs. And in addition to meals, you may also want to add a multivitamin like Zesty Paws Multivitamin Chews to ensure your pup gets the recommended balance of vitamins and minerals.
Check with your vet before adding any type of supplement to your dogs diet because over-supplementation of vitamins and minerals can sometimes have serious health consequences in dogs.
Homemade Raw Dog Food Recipe #:
RAW CHICKEN QUARTER & VEGGIE MIX:
This is for a 100-pound Kuvasz dog. He gets this twice per day:
- 1/4 C. plain yogurt
- 1/4 -1/2 C. chopped or ground veggies
- A skinned chicken leg quarter with bone
- 3 ounces of chicken livers
If the chicken quarter does not have a lot of bone, sometimes Biggies owners will add a calcium tablet.
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How To Transition Your Dog To A Raw Diet
Understand, some dogs have sensitive GI tracts. So, to prevent stomach issues, you need to transition to raw dog food, gradually.
Consider the following as a starting point:
Week 1: 25% new food and 75% old foodWeek 2: 50% new food and 50% old foodWeek 3: 25% new food and 75% old foodWeek 4: 100% new food
Some dog owners choose to start at 50% to simplify things but if your dog is hypersensitive, start at 25% . Extend the transition time to 5 weeks or longer if you feel it will make it easier for your dog to adjust.
Do not abruptly change your dogs food. It might cause upset stomachs, diarrhea, or vomiting.
Homemade Raw Dog Food
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An easy recipe and guidelines for making homemade raw dog food that you can tweak as necessary to what best fits your dog.
For as health conscious as I am about what kind of foods I put in my own body, I have to admit for the better part of six of her seven years, I pretty much fed Ginger the equivalent of fast food to humans.
Sure, it was the good fast food but after awhile, even Chick-Fil-A isnt healthy any more if you know what I mean.
Of course, occasionally I made her homemade pumpkin dog treats but more often than not her food was anything but homemade.
Then one day earlier this year it was like a switch got flipped.
The guy who sold us our water softener system was sitting in our kitchen and as Ulysses looked over models trying to figure out which one made the most sense, the sales guy and I started talking about dog food.
He explained how he starting feeding a raw food diet for his dogs and how their energy levels were through the roof , their coats were shinier than ever and their teeth in great shape.
It made sense.
I completely buy into the same theories from a human perspective, why wouldnt it be the same for dogs?
So, next trip to Petco, I was forking over some serious money for frozen raw dog food patties and giving this whole thing a shot.
The first meal I gave her the homemade raw dog food, she came running back into the kitchen after licking the bowl clean as if she was begging for more.
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Senior Dogs Picky Dogs
One tip I can share is you can use riced frozen vegetables. I have used packages of riced cauliflower, sweet potato, and broccoli. All work great, save time and are convenient, but they are a little more expensive. These will work great for dogs that can’t chew well, are picky, don’t each much food, or won’t eat larger pieces of dog food.
Simple Raw Food Recipes
These are 5 of our best homemade dog food recipes. Make and serve them right away or freeze them in individual servings.
Some recipes have bone, some have a calcium supplement. Some recipes are for adult dogs. Some are for all life stages. That means you can feed those to puppies too. And they all meet The Association of American Feed Control Officials minimum requirements.
Im excited to share these recipes with you: beef, chicken, turkey, fish, pork and rabbit. Yes rabbit. You can get several meals out of it for a 50 pound dog.
Lets start with a beef and chicken recipe. These are the most common proteins fed to dogs.
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Nutritional Blueprint Testing For Raw Fed Dogs
You might wonder how I can share these basic recipes and feel confident that they work. Well, they work for my dogs. I’ve fed five dogs this way for years, successfully. I know this because I have them nutrient tested with ParsleyPet to confirm that they are receiving all of their nutrients. So far, so good.
When Can I Start My Puppy On A Raw Diet
Your dog’s age doesn’t matter if you want to feed them raw food. But, starting them on a raw diet at an early age would be a great help for them to get used to it. It would also help them prevent indigestions.
You just need to ensure the right amount for them and if it is safe for them. But, there are also things that you need to consider, just like the potential risk they might face.
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Influencing Factors On Determining Feed Amount
Activity level
Be honest with this assessment. Is your dog mostly a lounger that hangs out inside all day with a few backyard jaunts or is it a truly active dog like a sporting breed that hunts, a working dog like a police K9 or your pal that goes hiking with you multiple times a week for hours on end?
Human tendency is to over emphasize/assess activity levels.
Adjustments for weight gain or weight loss
Simply put, does your dog need to lose weight? Gain weight? Maintain? The answer to those questions will help you figure out which end of that 2-3% spectrum you want to start with when starting a raw food diet.
Life stage
Notice I said adult dogs when referring to the 2-3% of body weight for food amounts. Puppies are an entirely different story as theyre quickly growing and need more calories to support that growth.
There are two approaches for feeding puppies:
- 2-3% of their expected adult weight
- 5-6% of their current puppy weight adjusting with the dog as it grows
Senior dogs shouldnt have drastically different needs than a middle-aged dog unless of course, activity level impacts them.
Pregnant dogs are something you should speak to your vet about in determining the best amount of raw food to support a healthy pregnancy.
Making her homemade raw dog food has just become a part of the weekly routine now.
Its a 30 minute weekly commitment that has made both her and I incredibly happy.
Prep Time: Total Time:
How Do I Know Theyre Getting Everything
Variety is the key to avoid nutrient deficiencies and excesses. Still, poor ingredient selection aside, the general decrease of nutrients in our food chains means your dog could very much benefit from a supplement here and there. As Hippocrates said, let food be thine medicine. We agree. So feel free to pop into some medicinal herbs, some dark berries, all very powerful food additions.
One of the most popular supplements you can add in is probably seaweed. It has an unbelievable range of vitamins, minerals and entirely unique antioxidants. We sell a lot of it here on Dogs First. Its important when shopping for seaweeds you choose those not dried with heat and ideally sustainably farmed in clean fresh waters. So please check out our range of seaweed products. As a good all-rounder, certainly for dogs that have just jumped from dry, I recommend BioFunction8 to start off on.
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Friends And Family Who Are Skeptical Of Raw Dog Food
This is just a small annoyance, but there are people who are obviously opposed to Ace eating raw food. I have to just brush their opinions aside and worry about myself.
I wanted to mention this because its something you will likely come across if you switch your dog to a raw diet.
I dont waste time trying to explain the diet to certain friends and family members. I know whats best for my dog. They can feed their dogs what they want.
Food & Health In Dogs: Why Feed Raw To Dogs
The convenience of kibble and the belief that commercial dog food is a good option is what makes so many people choose it.
Unfortunately, food dog allergies arise from commercial dog food. The culprit? Kibble ingredients such as protein sources, high levels of animal fat, preservatives, meat by-products , food coloring, grains, and fillers are responsible for more cases of allergies and several other health problems in dogs.
Dog food-related allergies tend to manifest as dry, itchy, red skin leaving resulting in your dog biting, scratching, and chewing at their skin and paws excessively.
Kibble is extremely processed regardless of the ingredient claims . All the ingredients are cooked. This destroys some of the nutritional value of the food. Whats even more alarming is that a study from the University of Helsinki found that processed dog food such as kibble can cause oxidative stress and lead to an unbalance between free radicals and antioxidants a dogs body, thus increasing their risk of dog cancers.
Another harmful by-product of processed pet food is Acrylamide. This chemical is created during this process and is known to increase the risk of several types of cancer in animals and people8.
Nearly 60% of dogs who eat kibble are overweight or obese, says The Farmers Dog9. Sadly high-starch carbohydrates like high-glycemic, genetically engineered corn, wheat, rice, or potato make up most kibble, further contributing to the dog obesity pandemic.
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What Are The Benefits Of Homemade Dog Food
Homemade dog food can benefit your canine companion in several ways especially if you have a pet who suffers from allergies, skin problems, or gastrointestinal sensitivity.
Highly-processed foods also lose nutritional value, whereas making dog food from scratch maintains more vital nutrients during the cooking process. With fresh food, you know exactly what your dog is getting versus reading the label and being confused by all the additives and preservatives.
How Much Raw Food Should Puppies Get
Puppies need more calories than adult dogs. Puppies should eat about 5% to 10% of their current weight to support their growth.
As a general raw feeding guideline for puppies, feed:
Puppies 2 to 3 months: 8% to 10% of body weight dailyPuppies 4 to 5 months: 6% to 8% of body weight dailyPuppies 6 to 8 months: 4% to 6% of body weight dailyPuppies 9 to 12 months: 3% to 4% of body weight daily
Puppies should be fed 3 to 4 times per day. When they mature , you can feed twice a day.
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Finely Chopped Dog Food
If your dog is picky or will only eat finely chopped dog food , you can either run the vegetables through a food processor or finely chop them on a cutting board. Hand held boxed graters work but take a lot of time. I use the shredder blade on my processor and buzz everything through. Also, try frozen riced vegetables, they are a great option and work great!
Cbd Oil Raw Dog Food Meal Idea
CBD oil is a supplement with anti-inflammatory benefits. CBD oil can also help improve digestion, relieve nausea, inflammation, joint pain, epilepsy and seizures, cancer, and other forms of pain.
Raw meal with CBD contains: Ground beef , green tripe, pork tail, lamb kidney, quail eggs, green lipped mussel powder, organic wheatgrass, turmeric paste, and CBD oil.
Disclaimer: CBD oil that does not contain THC is legal and will never get a dog high.
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Natures Variety Instinct Recipe For Kittens
Natures Variety Instinct Real Chicken Recipe for Kittens has a high protein content to support the nutritional needs of growing kittens. Made with real chicken, salmon, and beef liver, this wet kitten food is tasty and formulated to help young kittens develop lean and strong muscles. This products first ingredient is chicken.
It has natural DHA for brain and eye development. It is free from grains, corn, soy, and potatoes, as well as artificial enhancers and preservatives. You can be assured that your young kitty is getting only nutritious ingredients in every serving.
This wet foods first five ingredients are chicken, beef liver, chicken broth, salmon , and eggs.
Pros
Easy to digest. Kittens who were previously suffering from digestion problems such as diarrhea, IBS/ IBD have shown improvement since switching to Instinct kitten food. The improvement in their digestion made the kittens feel so much better, and now have more energy to play.
Beautiful, shiny coats. Many kittens who eat this wet food regularly have grown healthy, shiny coats and their owners could not be prouder. Their fur are soft, silky, and shinier than before.
Cons
Varying textures.A few reviews from cat parents state that the textures vary from can to can sometimes. There are times when they get a smooth paté, and other times when they get more meaty bits, or watery food.
Does Raw Dog Food Go Bad
There are a few further indications that dry dog food is bad. Verify the bags date. If they havent been opened, most dry dog foods are safe to eat for twelve to eighteen months. The purchase date and the expiration date arent always the same. Its also crucial to keep in mind that the expiration date only applies if the bag hasnt been opened if youve already opened it. If not, its preferable to discard it after two weeks because a damaged bag can contain mildew or pests.
The majority of dog food, whether canned or dry, is made to last. ideally, for a while. A lot of dog foods sold in stores have a long shelf life.
They do not, however, last forever. If dog food is not stored properly, it may degrade or get rancid. But dont panic there are various ways to preserve the freshness of your dogs food.
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How Is Instinct Dog Food Made
Instinct Dog Food uses high-quality ingredients sourced from all over the world.
Each Instinct Dog Food is manufactured to provide dogs with a raw diet that is entirely healthy, so it comes out rich, real, and less processed. It is made using raw meat and no fillers like corn or wheat.
Instinct Dog Food does not use artificial flavors or preservatives in its products. Each one is formulated and tested by the companys on-staff professionals .
Please note that while Instinct Dog Food makes use of high-quality ingredients, it cannot be classified by the USDAs definition of human-grade because the facilities used in its production are used for pet food rather than human food.