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Many Australian Shepherd mother and father are turning to the most effective uncooked pet food manufacturers for Australian Shepherds for his or her pet’s dietary wants. Kibble is likely to be the handy possibility, however it usually lacks the protein and vitamins that canines profit from. Raw pet food is a weight-reduction plan that may assist hold your Australian Shepherd in form whereas additionally interesting to choosy eaters.
However, switching to uncooked pet food requires some analysis to be sure to select a recipe that’s ultimate to your Australian Shepherd’s wants. Consider your Australian Shepherd’s weight, well being situations, allergic reactions, and preferences when deciding what sort of uncooked meals to get them.
What is Raw Dog Food?
“Raw dog food” normally describes any sort of pet food that makes use of uncooked, raw components, comparable to meat, organs, bones, fruits, and greens. It’s designed to imitate the high-protein diets of your Australian Shepherd’s ancestors.
In the wild, it’s widespread for canines to devour entire animals after searching them, bones and all. So, your Australian Shepherd’s ancestors ate meals that was excessive in protein with minimal carbohydrates. Dogs have modified lots since their time within the wild, however they nonetheless profit from a weight-reduction plan that incorporates plenty of actual meat.
Most Australian Shepherd mother and father feed their canines dry meals, which is excessive in carbohydrates to provide it a crunchy texture and enhance its shelf life. Kibble usually has extra carbs than canines are supposed to ingest, which may result in weight acquire and different well being issues in some instances. Thus, many Australian Shepherd mother and father at the moment are attempting uncooked pet food to provide their pups meals which might be increased in actual, nutritious animal merchandise.
Raw pet food is normally served in frozen or freeze-dried varieties.
Raw Dog Food vs. Fresh Dog Food
Fresh pet food is one other sort of pet food that’s rising in recognition resulting from its excessive protein and high quality components. Both uncooked and recent meals include entire components, together with meat, fruits, and greens. However, the principle distinction is that recent meals goes by means of a cooking course of whereas uncooked meals doesn’t.
If you’d fairly serve your Australian Shepherd recent meals as a substitute of uncooked meals, try the most effective recent pet food manufacturers.
Can You Make Your Own Raw Dog Food Recipes?
Yes, many Australian Shepherd mother and father select to create their very own uncooked pet food recipes versus shopping for a model. However, this may be dangerous should you don’t know what you’re doing. You’ll want to make sure your Australian Shepherd will get a correct steadiness of protein, fats, carbs, and vitamins. If you’re not assured you may put together that to your canine, you may speak to a vet or canine nutritionist for recommendation.
Even although creating uncooked pet food recipes is difficult for learners, it could possibly assist you to really feel extra assured about your Australian Shepherd’s well being in the long term. You’ll know precisely what’s going into your Australian Shepherd’s meals, so you may cater these components to suit your canine’s wants, comparable to together with their favourite meals and excluding their allergic reactions.
However, uncooked pet food manufacturers are typically safer and extra handy for Australian Shepherd mother and father utilizing uncooked meals for the primary time. They’ll already present a nutritionally-balanced meal to your furry buddy, so there are much less dangers concerned.
Raw Dog Food for Australian Shepherds: Pros and Cons
Like all forms of pet food, there are advantages and disadvantages to uncooked pet food. Here are some execs and cons to think about.
Benefits of Raw Dog Food for Australian Shepherds
- Uses restricted, high-quality components
- Appeals to choosy eaters
- Improves digestion
- Reduces allergy signs
- Improves pores and skin and coat well being
- Leads to firmer stools
- Assists with weight administration
- Increases power ranges
Downsides of Raw Dog Food for Australian Shepherds
- It’s costly
- Has the next threat of spreading micro organism
- Can be more durable to retailer
- Takes extra time to organize and serve
Best Raw Dog Food Brands for Australian Shepherds
Below are a few of the greatest uncooked pet food manufacturers for Australian Shepherds available on the market that can assist you resolve which one is the only option to your furry buddy.
1. Darwin’s Natural Pet Products
Darwin’s is a subscription-based uncooked pet food model for Australian Shepherds, making it among the finest uncooked pet food supply providers. Customers begin by filling out a questionnaire about their Australian Shepherd, after which, the corporate will counsel the most effective uncooked meals to suit their pup’s wants. The meals is auto-shipped to your door frozen for no further price. So, you’ll have to thaw it within the fridge in a single day earlier than serving it to your canine.
There are three foremost forms of uncooked formulation: Natural Selections, BioLogics, and Intelligent Design. Natural Selections are made utilizing free-range meats and natural greens whereas BioLogic makes use of conventionally-sourced components at a extra inexpensive worth. Then, Intelligent Design has formulation catered to particular well being situations. There are many protein choices out there, together with rooster, duck, turkey, beef, and lamb. Canine nutritionists helped formulate the recipes.
All of Darwin’s meals is excessive in animal protein, with over 70% protein in every meal. This meals can ship nationwide within the United States, however you gained’t discover it in any pet shops. Many Australian Shepherd mother and father love this model as a result of it presents balanced uncooked diets in easy-to-open packages. The solely draw back is that this meals is pricier than different common uncooked meals manufacturers.
Benefits:
- Offers customized feeding plans
- Variety of meal choices
- You can select between completely different ingredient-sourcing choices
- Free transport to your door
- Good for Australian Shepherds with allergic reactions
- Recipes formulated with the assistance of canine nutritionists
2. We Feed Raw
We Feed Raw is one other pet food firm that creates meal plans that cater to your Australian Shepherd’s wants. All it’s important to do is reply some questions on your Australian Shepherd, after which the corporate will counsel the best meals for them. During the questionnaire, the corporate takes under consideration your Australian Shepherd’s age, weight, breed, allergic reactions, and present weight-reduction plan.
This firm presents uncooked pet food in a number of proteins, together with rooster, beef, turkey, duck, lamb, and venison. All the formulation are created by a PhD animal nutritionist who has over 30 years of expertise within the business. The meals is at all times excessive in protein, so the primary 4 to 5 components come from actual animal merchandise. All the meat comes from animals raised on farms within the United States and New Zealand.
This firm solely makes use of USDA-certified and human-grade meats for its merchandise. The meals is shipped to your door at no further price. It may be shipped to any of the 48 contiguous states. The meals ships chilly, and it could possibly keep recent within the fridge for as much as 4 days. In the freezer, it could possibly final for as much as six months.
Benefits:
- Offers customized feeding plans
- Free transport to your door
- Good for Australian Shepherds with allergic reactions
- Only makes use of human-grade meats
- Formulated by PhD animal nutritionist
- iHeartDogs Offer: Save 20% in your first order
3. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Raw Dinner Patties
If you’re not trying to decide to a questionnaire or subscription to get uncooked Australian Shepherd meals, Stella & Chewy’s is a extra handy possibility. Their uncooked meals comes within the type of freeze dried uncooked patties, which helps give it an extended shelf life whereas nonetheless preserving the vitamins of uncooked meals. The firm presents all kinds of protein choices, together with rooster, lamb, pork, rabbit, beef, turkey, and venison.
Since the meals is in patties, it’s simple to portion out your Australian Shepherd’s meals. You can serve the freeze dried patties as-is, however Stella & Chewy’s recommends rehydrating them to provide your canine some added moisture. To rehydrate, you may crumble the meals and add a 1/4 cup of water for each two patties. These patties can be utilized as full meals, however many pet mother and father use them as meals toppers as a substitute.
95% of the formulation contains meat, organs, and bones. The recipes even have natural vegatables and fruits in them. The components used can profit pores and skin and coat well being, coronary heart well being, and digestion. The patties are additionally grain-free to cater to Australian Shepherds with allergic reactions. This firm’s merchandise are bought in pet provide shops throughout the United States, and the meals is formulated in USA services.
Benefits:
- Easy to portion
- Easy to retailer
- Several methods to serve
- Good for Australian Shepherds with allergic reactions
- Variety of choices
4. Instinct Freeze Dried Raw Meals
Instinct presents one other among the finest uncooked freeze dried Australian Shepherd meals resulting from its comfort. It is available in small, freeze dried pellets which might be concerning the dimension of kibble items. You can feed the items as-is or you may combine them with heat water, which is right for ensuring your pup will get sufficient moisture. These freeze dried items may be served as full meals or meals toppers.
85% of the formulation contains meat, organs, and bones. Then, the remainder incorporates non-GMO fruits, greens, nutritional vitamins, and minerals. Despite trying like kibble, this Australian Shepherd meals has by no means been cooked and it’s minimally processed to protect the vitamins. All the pet food is made in USA kitchens. This meals comes with both beef, rooster, or lamb as the first protein.
The freeze dried uncooked meals are the extra common selection, however there are additionally frozen uncooked meals out there. If you’re not prepared to change fully to uncooked, Instinct additionally presents “Raw Boost” recipes, that are kibble combined with freeze dried uncooked items.
Benefits:
- Convenient to retailer
- Several methods to serve
- Good for Australian Shepherds with allergic reactions
- Other forms of uncooked meals are additionally out there
5. Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw
Open Farm presents all kinds of Australian Shepherd meals, together with dry, moist, recent, and uncooked. Their uncooked pet food is freeze dried to make it simpler to retailer and serve to your pup. Like different freeze dried choices, it may be used as a full meal or a topper. Freeze dried uncooked meals may be pricy, so many pet mother and father get monetary savings by mixing it can kibble.
The freeze dried items are concerning the dimension of kibble, in order that they’re able to serve while you pour them out of the bag. If you’re apprehensive your Australian Shepherd isn’t ingesting sufficient liquid, you may combine heat water with the meals. Otherwise, be certain clear water is accessible to your canine whereas they’re consuming.
There are six formulation out there: surf & turf, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised lamb, homestead turkey, harvest rooster, and farmer’s desk pork. Each recipe incorporates meat from humanely-raised animals, together with natural vegatables and fruits. On Open Farm’s web site, the supply of each ingredient is listed.
Benefits:
- Convenient to retailer
- Can be served in a number of methods
- Good for Australian Shepherds with allergic reactions
- Lots of protein choices
- Lists ingredient sourcing on the web site
6. Sojos Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food
Sojos’ uncooked pet food is designed to offer full uncooked meals in a handy kind. Their recipes are perfect for Australian Shepherds of all ages, sizes, and breeds. They at present have 5 formulation: turkey, beef, lamb, rooster, and senior turkey & salmon. They even have “Mix-a-Meal” recipes which might be uncooked pet food toppers.
To serve this meals, you must combine and measure the right amount of meals and water as directed on the bag. Then, you’ll let the meals soak within the water for quarter-hour earlier than feeding it to your Australian Shepherd. The preparation time is a bit longer than it’s for different manufacturers, however the further soaking helps activate the vitamins and enzymes within the meals. Every pound of Sojos pet food makes as much as 5 kilos of meals when rehydrated.
Sojos makes use of ingredient lists which might be “short and sweet” to keep away from allergic reactions in canines. The USDA-approved animal protein is paired with human-grade, air-dried vegatables and fruits. All the formulation are made in kitchens within the United States.
Benefits:
- Uses USDA-approved and human-grade components
- Rehydrating prompts the vitamins
- Variety of choices
- Good for Australian Shepherds with allergic reactions
- Easy to retailer
7. Wysong Raw Dog Food
Wysong presents just a few various kinds of uncooked Australian Shepherd meals diets. Their unique uncooked weight-reduction plan known as Archetype, which is a bag of freeze dried uncooked pet food that must be rehydrated earlier than serving. Some recipes of the Archetype meals additionally come within the type of burgers for patrons that need bigger portions. They additionally promote “UnCanny” moist meals recipes, that are designed to be combined with the Archetype formulation.
This model’s uncooked meals is available in rooster, rabbit, quail, and beef. All choices are excessive in pure protein and fats. They additionally include plant vitamins, prebiotics, probiotics, nutritional vitamins, and minerals. These “Non-Thermal” uncooked pet food choices are designed to imitate your Australian Shepherd’s ancestral weight-reduction plan by specializing in excessive protein. The meals is simply bought in small packages that protect vitamins, so it could possibly make an incredible meals topper should you don’t wish to use it as a meal.
If you want this model, however your Australian Shepherd isn’t a fan of their uncooked meals, in addition they have dry and moist meals formulation. All the merchandise may be ordered on-line or bought at choose pet provide shops.
Benefits:
- A wide range of uncooked pet food choices
- Contains plenty of vitamins
- Packaging preserves vitamins
- Good for Australian Shepherds with allergic reactions
- Several methods to serve it
- iHeartDogs Offer: 10% off wholesome meals with the code 10OFFWYSONG
8. Primal Freeze Dried Raw Nuggets
Primal’s freeze dried uncooked pet food comes within the type of smooth nuggets. The nuggets make it simple to portion out meals to your Australian Shepherd primarily based on their weight. To flip the freeze dried items into wholesome meals, you may crumble up the nuggets as soon as they’re portioned and add heat water, broth, or goat milk to it. You’ll combine the chosen liquid with the meals to rehydrate it, making it extra nutritious and flavorful to your Australian Shepherd.
These freeze dried nuggets make nice full meals or meals toppers. They are available quite a lot of protein choices, together with beef, lamb, pork, duck, venison, and rabbit. This firm additionally presents some frozen uncooked choices.
All the components utilized in primal meals are sourced from sustainable ranchers and inspected by the USDA. In addition to high quality animal protein, in addition they have natural vegatables and fruits, together with non-synthetic nutritional vitamins and minerals. Overall, this can be a handy selection for Australian Shepherd mother and father who’re new to uncooked pet food. However, some prospects complained that the nuggets have been crumbled once they acquired them.
Benefits:
- Comes in quite a lot of proteins
- Easy to portion
- Can be served in a number of methods
- Packed with vitamins
- Easy to retailer and journey with
9. Raw Wild LLC
Raw Wild is a web-based uncooked pet food subscription service. The meals will ship to your door in a Styrofoam cooler, and it must be saved within the freezer to protect its freshness. When making ready to serve the meals to your Australian Shepherd, it is best to thaw it within the fridge in a single day. You can get a reduction should you order the trial for the primary time.
All of Raw Wild’s meals is constituted of wild elk and deer. Over 99% of the meals contains meat and bones from wild animals. The firm selected to not embody organs as a result of they didn’t wish to add organs that might doubtlessly contaminate the wild meals. The remainder of the meals is made up of important nutritional vitamins and minerals.
Raw Wild is a bit pricier than many different uncooked pet food manufacturers as a result of they’ve a restricted inventory since all of the meat comes from wild animals. They hand-pack and hand-inspect each product to make sure it’s the best high quality. All the merchandise meet AAFCO requirements, and the meat is processed in a facility that additionally processes elk and deer for human consumption. So, the requirements and degree of high quality are at all times excessive with this model.
Benefits:
- Only makes use of meat from wild animals
- Over 99% of the meals is meat and bones
- Avoids organs to cut back the danger of contamination
- Subscription ships to your door
- Uses uncommon forms of human-grade meat
10. Halo Meal Bites Freeze Dried Raw
Halo Freeze Dried Raw Meal Bites was once known as TruDog Feed Me Freeze Dried Dog Food. The branding modified in July 2022. Even although the title and packaging are completely different, the meals nonetheless has the identical nice recipe and style. The firm freeze-dries uncooked components into crunchy pellets to lock within the pure vitamins and flavors.
The meals may be served as-is, however the firm recommends rehydrating it to provide your Australian Shepherd further moisture. If you don’t rehydrate the meals, be certain your pup has entry to scrub water. The first a number of components of the meals are animal meat and organs, together with nutritional vitamins and vitamins. Looking on the ingredient checklist won’t sound interesting to you, however it’s wholesome and mouth-watering for Australian Shepherds.
You can select between beef, turkey, whitefish, or turkey & duck recipes. Some Australian Shepherd mother and father aren’t keen on this meals as a result of it has sturdy odors, however that signifies that it normally pursuits choosy eaters.
Benefits:
- Convenient to retailer
- Locks in pure vitamins and flavors
- Multiple methods to serve
- Appeals to choosy canines
- Good for canines with delicate stomachs
11. Raw Paws Pet Food
Raw Paws has the most effective selection with regards to uncooked pet food. They supply uncooked meals recipes in patties or ground-up. They have merchandise with and with out vegatables and fruits, they usually even supply uncooked meat by itself. So, you may both order pre-made uncooked recipes or you may order less complicated merchandise and add components to them to create customizable meals to your Australian Shepherd.
They supply rooster, beef, turkey, salmon, lamb, goat, and venison merchandise. So, there are many merchandise to select from no matter your Australian Shepherd’s preferences. Most of the meals must be saved within the freezer, after which you may thaw it within the fridge while you put together to your canine’s upcoming meals. There are a number of uncooked deal with choices too. The meals can all be ordered on-line and shipped to your door. It’s not out there in any pet provide shops.
The huge choice of uncooked pet food merchandise may be overwhelming for brand new prospects, however it means that you can select the one that’s greatest to your Australian Shepherd. All the merchandise use components sourced from “responsible and ethical farms.” One of the most effective elements of this firm is that they ship the merchandise rapidly in order that they don’t thaw throughout transport. US orders positioned on weekdays ship out on the identical day, and weekend orders ship out the next Monday.
Benefits:
- Wide number of merchandise can be found
- Fast transport
- Full meals, elements of uncooked meals, and treats out there
- Good for choosy eaters
- Offers free meal plans
Transitioning Your Australian Shepherd to Raw Dog Food
It’s at all times a good suggestion to do a gradual transition when switching your Australian Shepherd to a brand new meals as a result of it helps forestall tummy troubles. Transitioning is particularly vital when there’s a drastic change in weight-reduction plan, comparable to from kibble to uncooked pet food.
Here’s our advisable transitioning course of:
- Days 1 to three: Serve 80% previous meals with 20% new uncooked meals
- Days 4 to 7: Serve 50% previous meals with 50% new meals
- Days 7 to 14: Serve 20% previous meals with 80% new meals
- Day 15: 100% new meals
Since uncooked meals is far completely different than dry pet food, it’s greatest to have a gradual transition. It ought to take not less than one to 2 weeks earlier than you feed your Australian Shepherd a 100% uncooked weight-reduction plan. If your canine is delicate to new meals, you could wish to make the transition much more gradual. It’s higher to be protected than sorry with regards to your Australian Shepherd’s well being.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some widespread questions canine mother and father switching to uncooked meals ask.
Are Raw Dog Food Diets for Australian Shepherds Safe?
Yes, uncooked diets are protected for Australian Shepherds, so long as they supply a balanced weight-reduction plan. Australian Shepherds have shorter digestive tracts and better acidity of their digestive methods, permitting them to tolerate micro organism higher than people. So, so long as you select a model with a perfect steadiness of components and comply with by means of with a gradual transition, your Australian Shepherd shall be unlikely to face points.
How Will Raw Food Change My Australian Shepherd’s Stool?
Once a Australian Shepherd will get used to a uncooked weight-reduction plan, their stool will doubtless be smaller and firmer. However, through the transition interval, you could discover free stool as their physique adjusts to the brand new weight-reduction plan.
Can Australian Shepherds Get Salmonella From Raw Chicken?
Yes, canines can get Salmonella from uncooked meals, however canines can deal with the next degree of micro organism than people can. So, uncooked pet food poses an even bigger threat for people than it does for Australian Shepherds. To forestall the unfold of micro organism, at all times wash your fingers and anything the uncooked meals touched after making ready your canine’s meals.
Are Bones in Raw Dog Food Dangerous?
No, uncooked bones are helpful to your Australian Shepherd’s well being. They don’t splinter the way in which cooked bones do, in order that they’re safer to eat. However, uncooked bones aren’t advisable for puppies beneath six months as a result of their enamel aren’t sturdy sufficient to chew them.
Can Dogs With Allergies Eat Raw Food?
Yes, uncooked pet food is mostly higher for canines with allergic reactions as a result of it has fewer components. So, it’s simpler to maintain monitor of what components your Australian Shepherd is consuming so you may keep away from potential allergens.
Can You Switch Between Meat Sources When Serving Raw Dog Food?
Yes, as soon as your canine has transitioned to a uncooked weight-reduction plan, you may swap between meat sources often. Using quite a lot of meat sources is nice to your Australian Shepherd’s well being and retains them within the meals, so long as you don’t use meat they’re allergic to.
Why Isn’t Raw Dog Food for Australian Shepherds More Popular?
The variety of Australian Shepherd mother and father utilizing uncooked diets is growing, however it’s not very talked-about for just a few causes. The largest purpose is price. Quite a lot of Australian Shepherd mother and father aren’t in a position to commit further time and cash to making ready pet food, so sticking to kibble is the simpler selection. Also, many pet mother and father are unaware of the advantages and the number of choices with regards to uncooked pet food.
Australian Shepherd mother and father trying to attempt uncooked meals with out wanting to change the meal fully can attempt uncooked meals toppers.
Is Raw Dog Food Right for Your Australian Shepherd?
If you’re in search of a more healthy weight-reduction plan to your Australian Shepherd, the most effective uncooked pet food manufacturers must be thought-about. Raw pet food may be nice for choosy eaters or canines who aren’t getting sufficient vitamins of their present diets. However, uncooked meals may be pricy and should take extra time to organize to your canine, so it’s not for everybody. If you don’t wish to must hold your canine’s meals chilly, you may go for a few of the greatest dehydrated uncooked pet food for simpler storage.
No matter what model you select, the most effective uncooked pet food weight-reduction plan can assist your Australian Shepherd have a more healthy life-style. Any of the manufacturers on this checklist are nice choices to change to, so long as you present a gradual transition.
