Frederick Jace
Introduction
Feeding your dog can be tricky; there are countless brands of dog food on sale in Australia, from dry food brands to brands that sell raw dog food, and picking the right option can be difficult with so much choice. On top of the range of brands, you have also got to think about the specific nutritional needs of your dog, as smaller dogs and larger dogs can have very different requirements.
Raw food for dogs has become increasingly popular in recent years, with more and more pet owners turning towards the many benefits of raw food rather than processed dry food or premade wet food options. Choosing the highest quality raw food for your dog can be tough, though, and potentially very expensive. Let us take a look at some of the best brands that sell raw dog food in Australia and how they stack up against one another.
Why Raw Food for Dogs?
Do you feed yourself and your family a healthy balanced diet? Do you try to eat more natural foods and avoid heavily processed products? If so, why would not you do the same when you feed your dogs? It is only logical to take as much care with your dog’s diet as you would with your own!
What to Look For in Raw Dog Food
Ensuring your dog is only getting the highest quality foods can be difficult, as the AAFCO does not test raw pet foods. There are a few guidelines you can follow when looking for good raw food products for dogs. However, keep an eye out for features like this in order to ensure you are only buying the best.
Safe Handling
Unfortunately, Australia has very weak regulations on pet food. This means that unscrupulous companies can do whatever they want with their product, and there is very little legal consequence for that. This means that it is essential for you to research any company you are considering buying from, to ensure that they handle the food safely and responsibly. You are looking for raw food produced within Australia in reputable facilities. You also want to ensure that it is a brand with some sort of production oversight and that the food is kept fully frozen from the time of production until you thaw it out for your pet’s dinner!
Good Flavor
Would you get bored of eating the same thing every day? Well, so would your dog. With the same diet every day, your dog will get bored, even if you are feeding them the best quality meat. Look for raw food offerings with a range of different meats included, and ideally some sort of seasonings, such as herbs and a range of vegetable ingredients.
Balanced Raw Food Diets
Dogs need a lot of protein, but they also need a range of vitamins and other nutrients. That means that just lean meat will not be enough, and you should feed a diet including the right balance of animal proteins, bone, and organ meats. In general, aim for roughly 80% meat, fat, ligaments, and sinews, 10% edible bone, and 10% organ meats. This should cover your dog’s basic needs for amino acids, vitamins, and calcium.
What is the BARF approach?
BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, which means a well-rounded diet that does not just include meat. Dogs need more than just meats to thrive, and the BARF approach focuses on the inclusion of other products, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes such as peas, flax ingredients, and fish oils. This mixture provides a balanced, healthy diet for your dog.
Best Raw Food Brands in Australia
There are a huge number of different raw food brands on sale in Australia in 2022, and discussing all of them would take days. However, we have taken a look at some of the best and have put together a short list of raw food for dog brands that you can trust. Keep an eye out for these names when you are buying raw dog food!
Proudi
Proudi is a reliable, popular Australian pet food manufacturer that supplies raw food for both dogs and cats. This manufacturer uses a prey model rather than the BARF system, with 95% animal products in their food and 5% vitamins and minerals. This is a high protein diet choice with clear nutritional information and a good level of transparency, although it should be noted that Proudi products are currently only available in Brisbane and Melbourne.
Prime100
Prime100 is a new contender for the top spot, with food products carefully formulated to be easily digestible for dogs with food sensitivity issues. They use the BARF approach to food composition, and all of their recipes are designed by veterinary nutritionists. However, they can be quite expensive, and there seems to be very little information available about their environmental commitments.
Big Dog
Big Dog has been the biggest and most popular raw dog food brand on the market in Australia for a long time, with a huge range of different products available for different dogs. That means they have got smaller products for smaller dogs, as well as tailored recipes for dogs with food sensitivities or skin conditions, ensuring your dog can get the best nutrition possible regardless of who they are.
Petyzo
Petyzo was the first Australian raw dog food company to tailor recipes to individual dogs. This company uses the BARF approach, with a healthy mix of meats and vegetable ingredients, and is clearly transparent about product sourcing and handling, as well as their environmental commitments.
Conclusion
The world of raw dog food is a complex one, but the brands above are all safe, reliable choices for your pet. Doing your research before buying is an essential part of responsible pet ownership, and you should always look into the ingredient sourcing and handling of any raw pet food company you are considering buying from. Your dog’s health is important, and you should always do what you can to ensure that you are only feeding them the best.
