Just because Havanese are little guys doesn’t mean they do not need to eat the same ancestral diet of their wild relatives. Sure their teeth are much smaller and their jaws aren’t anywhere near as strong, but their digestive system functions in the same way. To honor them as carnivores, we feed our dogs and puppies a whole Prey Model raw diet consisting of various meats, digestible bone, and nutrient-dense organs.
However, some folks would rather not handle raw meat; and raw meat can be very messy in certain circumstances. There is another option. Enter freeze-dried raw diets. Convenient and it won’t throw your dog’s system off-kilter.
NOTE: You need to know that commercial pet food manufacturers are required to subject their foods to a high pasteurization process (HPP) which destroys enzymes. So, we do not recommend that freeze-dried or even frozen ground raw comprise the entire diet. Otherwise, you will need to supplement with digestive enzymes specifically for canines and bones. Freeze-dried diets are better used as a supplement to the whole Prey Model raw diet.
Freeze-dried raw diets are really handy while traveling, as a highly dog-desirable training treat for both puppies and adults, extra yummy nutrition for finicky moms-to-be (yes, they go through a picky pregnancy phase!), if a puppy gets finicky (that can also happen!), as a snack for pups flying to their new home that won’t upset tummies, to keep on hand for emergency preparedness (natural disasters, evacuation due to wildfire), etc., etc., etc.
“There are so many brands to choose from so what ingredients do I look for?” you ask. First, find out where the meats are sourced. Look for quality sources that are antibiotic/medication and hormone-free, preferably grown in the USA (or another reputable country), and definitely not from a rendering house.
Next, look for ones without many, if any, added vitamins. The vast majority of those are synthetic which the body cannot recognize as food, so they act as toxins. Commonly tocopherol (Vitamin E) is added as a preservative. A whole raw diet provides all of the vitamins and minerals needed by the body in a truly natural form, although careful supplementation is sometimes in order.
Look for added ground bone only if the freeze-dried raw food will make up most of the diet. As noted above, we do not recommend this. However, if this is your choice make sure to supplement with whole raw meat and bones a couple of times each week. Another reason to do this is that freeze-dried diets simply cannot positively affect dental health the way consuming raw meat and bones does.
Next, please choose a brand that has limited, if any, fruits and vegetables and no grains added. They are out there!
And please legumes. While the information is mixed, there is some evidence that these ingredients can cause organ damage. Until the evidence is solid one way or the other, we feel it is best to err on the side of caution.
Here is a list of a few brands we are familiar with:
Raw Paws
Vital Essential’s
Northwest Naturals
Trudog Feed Me Raw
ZiwiPeak Cuisine Daily Dog
Origen
Steve’s Real Food
Stewart Raw Naturals
Primal Pet
Most of those companies also make freeze-dried treats, too. Vital Essentials has an amazingly diverse variety! I also want to put in a plug here for Gracie’s Doggie Delights, the treat company of an incredible young lady. Check her out!
Please feel free to post your favorite freeze-dried raw diets in the comments below!
#HighlandGlennHavanese #NaturallyRearedHavanese #HavanesePuppiesWA #FreezeDriedRawDiets #PreyModelRawDiet #RawisBest #GraciesDoggieDelights