Why raw food is great for keeping active and working Gloucestershire dogs healthy
Known for its rolling countryside and vibrant agricultural sector, Gloucestershire is home to many active dogs and working breeds suitable for country life and farm work.
Being constantly on the go, it’s important to keep county dogs active and working healthy with the right diet – as SoGlos finds out from Cotswold RAW, which caters specifically to these breeds with its whole raw food recipes. nutritionally.
About the Expert – Cotswold RAW
Cotswold RAW is an independent, family-run business that produces raw dog food, delivered straight to your door as part of its hassle-free subscription service. Its BARF-approved formula contains raw meat, bones, herbs and seasonal vegetables to replicate a dog’s natural diet, without harmful additives.
As well as catering for puppies and senior dogs, the Cotswold RAW Active 80/20 range has been created especially for active and working dogs and includes all the nutrients they need to keep them happy and healthy. .
Do active dogs and working breeds need a different diet than older or more sedentary dogs?
The amount of food a dog needs will depend on how much energy they need to function over the course of a day, which can vary depending on their breed, age, and of course, level of fitness. ‘activity.
Raw feeding guidelines recommend feeding your dog around two to three percent of his ideal body weight per day. Owners may then need to adjust the amount they feed depending on their dog’s lifestyle.
We recommend starting at the lower end of the spectrum, feeding around 2% of their ideal body weight per day and increasing the amount as needed. The goal is to achieve ideal physical condition – so you should be able to see the dog’s natural size when looking at him from above and be able to feel the shape of his individual ribs with just a little pressure when you reach your hands over them. on their chest.
How does Cotswold RAW deal with active or working dogs?
Our Active 80/20 range is scientifically formulated to meet the nutritional needs of active working dogs – it is made from 80% raw meat and bones and 20% fresh vegetables and natural herbal supplements.
We follow FEDIAF guidelines to ensure all of our recipes contain the correct levels of nutrients for active dogs and we test our batches in labs to keep our recipes complete and consistent.
We have a variety of flavors and active and working breeds can benefit from the higher calorie flavors of our active 80/20 line, such as lamb and turkey, which are higher in kilocalories than our beef and tripe flavor.
Do you have any feeding tips for active dogs?
Full bellies are not ideal before exercise. You might want to try our beef and tripe recipe before you go, as it’s very lean and a good option for a full pre-workout meal.
We also recommend supplements for active dogs and working breeds. Herbs and botanicals have been used to support biological functions since time immemorial and our Butcher’s Blend is a natural herbal blend full of vitamins, minerals and trace elements – all of which will help maintain the balance in the body for a healthy dog.
What’s the best way to introduce an active or working dog to raw food, with minimal risk of stomach upset?
The transition is usually simple – you can alternate meals for a while, but most dogs will transition to raw with relative ease.
What are the major health and behavioral benefits of feeding your active dog a raw food diet?
Raw food has many health benefits. We receive many reviews on trustpilot.com/cotswoldraw from customers who have switched to a raw food diet and have noticed an improvement in their dog’s overall health.
For the most part, it’s simply an improvement in the condition of their coat, an increase in their energy levels or a greater appreciation of their food – but we’ve had more extreme cases. where owners found their dog’s life was dramatically transformed by a change. from a commercial processed food diet to a natural raw diet with no additives, fillers like grains or preservatives.
