Benefits of a Fresh Meat Diet/ Raw food diet

Use the big cats at Zoos as an example of the benefits of a fresh meat diet. Supplements aside, they receive whole chunks of fresh meat containing bone and hide.

In addition, heads and legs of indicative prey species for the chewing and crunching. Whilst a diet such as this is not always practical for a domestic cat or dog, it can be used as a guide when considering what fresh meat to use. These zoo animals are living out of their natural environment but are fed as they are designed to be fed. The basis of this diet has been identified as beneficial to their holistic wellbeing.

Cats are thought to more clearly benefit from a raw diet. In many instances a raw diet is reffered to as a "BARF Diet" , Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriatte Raw Food. The degree of assumed benefit varies based on the form of commercial cat food. Most commercial cat foods contain a disproportionate amount of carbohydrates. Because cats are obligate carnivores, little grain is generally found in their natural diet.

In addition to grains, cat foods often contain a large amount of vegetables, often included to achieve proper nutritional balance. Taurine, an essential amino acid for cats, is reduced or eliminated in heat processing. Pet food manufacturers must add taurine supplements to cat food, which is generally unnecessary in a raw diet. Proponents of raw diets believe that a raw diet more closely matching the diet of cats in the wild will yield many improved health benefits, including a noticeable reduction in the incidence of many late-life feline health issues.

Also of great importance is to encourage young cats and dogs to chew so that

throughout their life they maintain good oral hygiene. Tooth and gum problems are becoming a real problem for our cats of today and by teaching young cats to chew early in life you can hopefully avoid problems associated with poor dental health in later life. The chewing process also encourages saliva and gastric juices which prepare the gut for food and assist in efficient digestion.

Dogs being fairly opportunistic in their natural habitat will exist quite happily on a variety of food. They will however require less volume when fed on a diet of fresh meat and bones. Stool volume and odour will be greatly reduced and the exercise benefits for a dog when eating bones is notable, particularly with pups as it can encourage good muscle development through the jaw, head neck and shoulders.

The fresher the food, the more bio available the nutrients in that food.

Raw foods help your pet maintain a healthy pH and enzyme levels in their stomach and digestive tract, this in turn helps your pet to maintain a naturally strong immune system to prevent opportunistic and degenerative diseases from attacking their bodies.