Raw Diet For Pitbulls With Allergies: Benefits, Dietary Concerns And Risks
As a responsible dog owner, you’re probably doing the best you can to keep your Pitbull healthy and masculine on a daily basis. You feed your dog regularly, clean the food and water bowls and even take him out for walks. However, if your pitbull has allergies, it may be time to consider switching to a raw food diet before spending hundreds of dollars on medical care.
In this article, we’ll discuss raw diet for Pitbulls with allergies, the benefits,and dietary concerns, as well the risks it may pose to your mutt. Let’s start with the basics!
Pitbull Raw Food Diet And Nutrition
With a naturally stocky body, the Pitbull is a medium-sized dog that weighs anywhere between 30 pounds for small females to about 70 pounds for large males. These agile and masculine dogs use a considerable amount of energy, especially young adults and growing puppies. As such, they need a nutritious protein-packed diet to support their active lifestyle.
Proposed first in 1993 by Ian Billinghurst – an Australian veterinarian, raw dog food helps adult dogs to thrive as it’s the evolutionary diet for canines. Billinghurst referred to his feeding diet as the BARF, an acronym for Bones, Raw Foods and Biological raw foods (vegetable scraps). This diet is common for racing breeds like the sled dogs and Greyhounds, but feeding other housedogs on this diet is an idea that’s recently gaining momentum.
As Pitbulls are prone to allergies, it’s important for owners and breeders to feed their dogs food without common allergens. These irritants may include wheat, corn, dairy products, chicken, soy and beef. That said, I’d recommend a raw diet for pitbulls with allergies as it’s the simplest and most effective way to avoid known allergens.
Why Raw Diet Is Ideal For Pitbulls With Allergies
We recommend a raw diet for pitbulls with allergies because:
- It’s easier to digest
- The nutrients in raw food are fresh, fast to absorb and easy to utilize
- Your pitbull gets all the nutrients he needs in his diet
- Raw diet incorporates living enzymes in the menu, strengthening your mutt’s gut and immune system
- You can easily track everything that your dog feeds to protect him from allergic ingredients such as chicken
- Raw food is species appropriate for Pitbulls
Aside from that, other amazing benefits of a raw diet for pitbulls with allergies include:
- Gorgeous skin and fur
- Cleaner white teeth
- Healthier body weight, joints and organ functions
- Higher energy levels
- Smaller stool size
Many mainstream veterinarians have also documented the risks of feeding your pup on raw food diets. These potential risks include:
- Threats to the dog’s health from bacterias present in raw meat
- Whole bones may choke your pitbull, break his teeth and even cause an internal injury
- An unbalanced diet might damage your dog’s health if offered for a prolonged period
Nevertheless, you can feed your pitbull on raw diet while avoiding these risks. Here is what you need to do:
- Boil your dogs meat or cook it in the oven with little to no spices before feeding it. That will kill most bacteria that maybe present in raw meat.
- Avoid feeding your pitbull small broken bones. I’d recommend raw chicken bones, but you need to ensure that your pup isn’t allergic.
- To avoid feeding your mutt an unbalanced diet, I’d recommend talking to your vet first. The vet will recommend a healthy diet based on your pitbull’s age, size, weight, dietary needs and medical history.
Does Raw Diet Work For Pitbulls With Allergies?
While top-selling dog food brands offer commercial grain-free solutions with limited formulas to avoid these allergens, not all dogs will respond well to these products. As such, a raw diet is highly effective if you’re trying to avoid a certain food substance. Nevertheless, we advise consulting a professional veterinarian before switching your dog from commercial dog feed to raw. Puppies will also need to get the right amount of phosphorous and calcium to avoid deformities and growth issues.
What Are The Best Raw Foods For Pitbulls?
To start feeding your pitbull on a raw diet, it’s best to start with meat treats in the first three to four days and increase the amount gradually. For vegetables, you can use collard greens, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, radish, yams, turnip, sweet potato, radish and brussel sprouts. However, you’ll need to experiment and customize your recipe according to your dog’s dietary need and preference.
Here are two simple recipes for pitbulls:
1. Beef Dinner
This recipe is not only delicious and fun for your mutt, but it also contains a generous amount of proteins for building strong muscles. Additionally, the meat balls are easy to chew, making the dish ideal for pitbulls of any age.
Ingredients
- 5 pounds ground beef
- Whole eggs with shells
- 3 cups cooked brown rice
- 2 cups mixed vegetables
To make the dish, combine the vegetables, meat and eggs in a large bowl and mix them. Use the mixture to make large balls and put them in a baking dish. You’ll then need to pre-heat your oven to 4000F and cook the meatballs for 45 minutes or until the food is fully cooked inside.
2. Meat patties
This dish will enhance your pup’s fitness level and give him adequate energy for exercise. The recipe is great for its versatility and ability to accommodate a low budget.
Ingredients
- Ground meat (5 pounds)
- A can of sadines
- 4 eggs
- A cup of vegetables
Prepare the meal by chopping the vegetables into small pieces and cook them, before mixing the ingredients together. However, you’ll need to use at least two or three different vegetables to ensure give your dog adequate nutrients. You will also need to include the egg shells before mixing and then form patties appropriate for your pet’s serving.
Conclusion
While some sources advice against switching from commercial dog keebles, we recommend raw diet for pitbulls with allergies and food intolerances. You’ll need to experiment a little with various ingredients to know exactly what works for your pitbull for the benefit of his health and taste buds.
