Why Raw?

Why Raw?

May 5, 2022

My why: Because my brother told me to!

lol Well, that was my introduction to raw, actually, not my why :) Who listens to their brother, anyway? Am I right?

My brother fed raw long before I did. I didn’t really know anything about it, and I thought it sounded like more of a hassle than anything else, so I never bothered with it. That was, until he started up a raw dog business (a super fab one too, if I might say so myself!). Like a good sister, I decided I would support my brother in his business. I started researching, as the scientist in me is inclined to do.

Immediately the raw diet intrigued me, and I kind of kicked myself for not paying attention to it sooner. You see, over the years I have been more and more conscious about the chemicals I have been allowing into our home through the air we breathe, the food and drinks we consume, the things we rub on our skin... Toxins are literally EVERYWHERE!

I’ve been making efforts to change our habits. For example, cleaning without toxic chemicals, reading product labels, choosing more natural products and materials, opting for organic, non-GMO food ingredients, etc.. Actions like this make me feel better about the health of my family.

When I started looking into raw diets, and I became aware of what was actually in kibble, I was ashamed that I hadn’t considered the toxins I was feeding my pups! That was when I decided to ditch the kibble and start on a raw diet!

The MANY, MANY benefits that come with feeding raw, were actually an after thought but they confirmed for me that it was the right decision.

While my “why” was to eliminate the toxins and the many unnecessary filler ingredients in kibble, my “proud to feed raw” reasons are plentiful!

~ Sister Radowg

Why Raw is Better:

1. Raw is naturally digestible - nutrients are more readily absorbed through raw than they are with synthetic vitamins that are added into kibble and canned foods. Raw also is easier to digest because there are no filers, additives, or preservatives!

2. Healthy skin and coat and less shedding - the natural, active enzymes in raw food help breakdown and consume nutrients - without these enzymes, it’s harder for dogs to absorb things like starches, fats, and protein which can result in dry skin and dandruff along with thin or coarse fur.

3. Dogs are not as stinky - this ties into the last comment; a healthy skin and coat means it’s producing less odour filled oils. Also the better digestion of a raw diet is known to reduce the amount of toxic gases accumulating in the alimentary canal (aka flatulence, cutting the cheese, rectal turbulence, breaking wind, passing gas, tooting, butt cheek squeaking...you get the idea)

4. Less poop to scoop - kibble often contains ingredients that are not naturally part of a dog’s diet like grains, peas, corn, etc. Pups have a hard time breaking these down which results in more fecal excrements. With raw, the meat, bone and organ are more easily broken down and converted to energy so much less is “wasted”. Another added benefit is that the poops decompose much faster and can be raked right into the lawn!

5. Not as many allergies - allergic reactions like itchy ears, paws, and skin, along with rashes, digestion and joint issues typically stem from stress on the immune system, which is often a result of poor gut health. And as I have mentioned previously, kibble is loaded with fillers and toxins; this can lead to a build up of intolerances in your pup and often results in allergic reactions.

6. A rockin’ immune system - with raw containing only ingredients that your fur baby was meant to digest, your pups’ immune system isn’t burdened defending against an exposure to fillers, additives, and species inappropriate foods, or the the infections and diseases stemming from them.

7. Better organ health - this is mainly due to raw food being naturally rich in moisture. Hydrated organs are happy organs because hydration helps with blood flow and with flushing waste.

8. Increased energy - when less energy is being spent digesting carbs and sugars and dealing with the myriad of fillers, your pup will have more energy and you will definitely notice they are more energetic!

9. They get the water they need - water consumption is greatly reduced as they are naturally hydrated!

10. Weight management - raw diets are high protein with no additional carbs and sugars. This assists with balancing your dog’s system and helps maintain a healthier weight.

11. Natural toothbrush - Dental issues often arise from the high sugar content in commercial foods. Dogs on kibble are known to have a build up of plaque, tartar and bad breath. Raw food contains naturally occurring enzymes which actually promote oral health and help curb that doggie breath. Don’t forget to include the raw meaty bones in their diet as these help scrape away plaque, messages their gums, and improves circulation.

12. Less scrounging - Raw diets help with a feeling of fullness, so your dog is less of food pest!

13. Overall health - everyone knows the benefits of a high quality protein diet compared to those packed full of carbs and sugars.

This list is not exhaustive, as there are many benefits to choosing raw like mobility improvements, eye health, performance, etc. Whatever your need may be, raw is typically the answer!

A recent survey conducted by Radowg showing reasons for switching to raw ranked in order of importance:

#1 It's a biologically appropriate diet

#2 The owners found out what’s REALLY in kibble

#3 Pets had health concerns (eg itching)

#5 Problems with skin and coat

#6 More energy

#7 Allergies

#8 Doggie odour

#9 Looking to strengthen the immune system

#10 Weight management

One other noted reason was that were dogs refusing kibble (smart dogs!)

Some real life stories shared from our customers...

Michele Anne Lopaschuk (and her pups Angel and Diablo).

I love my dogs and they deserve to eat the best raw food.... Their coats are beautiful, no stinky dog breathe, they have lots of energy and good poops!! I have always known [raw is] best and at the time didn't know you can buy privately (pet stores are expensive), so once I met Evan (great guy so knowledgeable - answered all my questions), it was an easy decision as it's not that much more to feed them quality raw food. Bye bye [*insert expletive] dry poison dog food.

Beth Harte

We have two Australian Shepards Lucy and Earl. Lucy is 6 months older and definitely the alpha of our pack. Until they were about 3 we fed them dry food. Earl would let us know he was hungry by putting his front paws in his dish and we started to notice he was doing this more and more. At the same time we noticed that though we controlled what Lucy ate she was gaining weight. We were very concerned as Lucy had hurt her back when she was 6 months old chasing a deer. She fully recovered but we were concerned that being overweight would not be good for her back. We figured out that Lucy was finishing her food and then pushing out Earl who is the slower eater and finishing his. We couldn't make Earl eat faster and if we separated them Earl wouldn't eat because he was to busy looking for Lucy. We decided to try raw food in hopes Earl would like it so much he would not let Lucy push him out and we could essentially put Lucy on a diet and get her weight down. It was a huge success. Lucy lost weight and Earl gained. Lucy became more energetic again.

The other bonus was Earl had problems digesting poultry which has completely reversed since switching to raw. The kibble had to be grain free and beef or lamb. Otherwise he threw it all up. When we first switched to raw we kept it beef or fish but after a couple months we started introducing turkey and chicken and he hasn't had a problem since.

Lucy and Earl are now 6 years old. Their coats are beautiful, soft and shiny with no signs of dry skin and l rarely see them scratch. We now have an Old English Sheep Dog as part of the pack who has eaten nothing but raw since coming home at 8 weeks. With three healthy dogs we still have a yard we can walk in and grass that grows, my Spring clean up consisted of only 3 pooper bags! I recommend to all dog lovers that they try raw food for their pups, once you do, both humans and dogs are hooked.

Lisa Lange

We have a 10 month old Newfoundland/Great Pyrenees pup who started off on giant breed kibble, it became impossible to find so we switched to another brand of large breed puppy food. It went well for several months until he stopped eating it. We started to add wet food as recommended by our vet. He was only consuming half of the daily recommendations. Something had to change.

A week ago I was in Orangeville and met a total stranger who stopped to meet Jigs, we started chatting about food and our issues. That night he messaged me Radowg’s info and the next day I contacted Evan who responded immediately and gave us samples and some other goodies for our dog to try.
I’m familiar with raw as our Sphynx cat is on a raw diet however the brand she’s on would’ve cost us about $400 a month to feed our 120 lb and growing puppy. So I never considered that as an option but he did, regularly get raw meaty bones, chicken feet, sardines and other raw treats.

Radowg was a hit from the first mouthful. He now licks his bowl clean! I noticed already the clean up in the yard is smaller, that’s a bonus!

My cat also enjoys Radowg so 1 trip locally to get food is another win in my books.

Being a groomer, the benefits of raw don’t go unnoticed. Clients pets that are on raw have amazing teeth, skin and coats.

Thanks for feeding our fur/furless kids!

Kristine Coad

I have a Briard and a Retriever... Retriever is allergic to everything. The Briard wouldn't eat his kibble breaki or dinner for days sometimes. Turned his nose up at every kibble brand i bought. So after chatting with a few of my friends who feed their dogs raw, and their dogs are so heathy looking. I decided to try it... jumped right in. No transition. They loved it. I mix chicken beef offal. They get an egg, avocado oil, spinach, a toppers. They eat both breaki and dinner. No fuss. Retriever has stopped scratching and Briard has lost much needed weight and looks forward to him meals. RADOWG is ready and easy to feed. I thaw enough for 4 meals each at a time. I give chicken necks for treats, and freeze dried liver. Beef marrow bones. Highly recommend this way to feed!

The bonus is they shed less and poop less and poop disintegrates into the grass. My groomer said they were both easier to brush out and their breath isn't bad and teeth are white again. No plaque

Andrea Pease

My three “Why"s lol
Penny - 13 month old Pudelpointer/Lab
Winnie - 6 yr old English Setter
Maddy - 10 yr old Chocolate lab
Clemy - Baby Nigerian Dwarf Goat, does not eat meat but is in the picture LOL

So Penny got me to switch, she was very picky on every diet as a pup, I tried a few high quality kibbles and she was never enthused. Based on her size and her increasingly dirty ears, I decided to try homemade cooked food and it was very expensive and VERY comprehensive and a lot of work. But she liked it. I then started trying raw chicken from another supplier and she loved it! I got comfortable with balancing it very quickly. I saw Evan’s add in the local Facebook group and decided to try him out. I’m so so happy with how they are all doing, Winnie actually likes meal time and Maddy’s mobility and activity level is better, not to mention her weight is very good for an older lab! I choose to balance with my own free range eggs and veg/fruit/seeds etc based on the BARF diet principles. Thanks for being a quality, reliable, reasonable and LOCAL raw food supplier!