TheRaw Truth
Find out why 1,000s of dog owners are moving away from dry kibble & switching to fresh, natural, raw food diets.
Calling all dog owners!
#ditchthedry is a national campaign backed by experts and endorsed by dog lovers. It aims to encourage and inspire dog owners like you to introduce more natural foods to your dogs’ bowl. Here, you’ll find everything you need to make the best choices for your dog’s diet, health and happiness.
Help from our experts
Get our FREE video series direct to your inbox.
In 3 mins a day over 5 days we’ll share all you need to know so you can ditch the dry dog food with confidence!
On a mission for
real nutrition
While dry dog food has become the accepted norm for many dogs’ dinners, the truth is, it’s far removed from the healthy choice. Despite what clever marketing may lead you to believe, highly processed dry dog food often contains little real nutritional value compared with real food alternatives like raw. Many brands use indigestible fillers, synthetic additives, species-inappropriate ingredients and manufacture using methods that deplete any nutrient value that may have originally existed within the ingredients.
There’s no doubt the canine species is adaptable. Dogs are facultative carnivores, which means they are anatomically designed to thrive on a diet of animal tissues (meat, fat, organs and bones) but will eat whatever types of food are available in a starvation situation.
Despite eating a modern dry diet they will survive for some time— but there’s a world of difference between surviving and thriving. [1]
Is your dog ready
for a menu change?
Many dogs are experiencing a host of health problems, from the devastating to the irritating, yet many can be eased or resolved through feeding the correct nutrition.
Did you know a dog’s natural life span can be almost 30 years of age? Nowadays we seem to get excited if a dog makes 10!
Great nutrition is a critical component of longevity [2]
Discover More
Join Dr. Nick Thompson, world renowned vet and canine nutrition expert, as he shares reasons to consider ditching the dry, debunks myths about raw feeding, and offers tips for transitioning your dog to a raw food diet.
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3
Obesity and Diabetes
Dogs are anatomically designed to eat meat and animal products.
Feeding a fresh, natural, raw food diet is not a fad. It’s not even a new concept! It’s simply the original diet of the canine species, the way dogs evolved to eat.
Dogs’ digestive systems are perfectly designed to process the foods their ancestors would encounter in the wild, predominantly meat, organ and bone with a little vegetation from time to time. Dry dog food doesn’t even come close to being canine species-appropriate. Not only does it offer very little natural nutritional value to a dog, often full of low-grade, intensively processed ingredients, BUT it also can be DETRIMENTAL to a dog’s HEALTH by promoting inflammation and putting strain on vital organs, leading, in some cases, to serious health conditions.
Check out our benefits to raw feeding guide for more on the crucial importance of species-appropriate feeding.
Cancer
Research points to ultra-processed foods being a key contributor to increased risk of cancer [6]
Thomas Sandberg’s groundbreaking research. [5]
Following 6000+ dogs over 30 years, the study is in its 24th year and due to end in 2030. The data so far has highlighted some inescapable facts:
– The cancer rate of dogs over 10 years old is 50%.
– Of the dogs taking part in the study, very few (only 3%) of any age fed a natural, raw, whole food diet got cancer.
Is now the time to make a change? With stats like this, there’s no doubt your dog needs you to make more conscious choices on behalf of their well-being.
Learn more in our Raw Dog Food For Beginners guide
Gut Health
A raw diet leads to better overall health for our dogs.
Research evidence shows that when compared to an intensively processed diet, feeding a raw diet to dogs can significantly enhance the metabolic and bacterial markers associated with good microbiome health, leading to better overall health for our dogs. [7]
Help from our experts
Get our FREE video series direct to your inbox.
In 3 mins a day over 5 days we’ll share all you need to know so you can ditch the dry dog food with confidence!
Dive Deeper
Encouraging you to #ditchthedry is grounded in solid canine nutritional science. Despite the marketing myths from pet food corporations, we promote a savvy approach for dog owners. Be open to learning the facts—some of them will blow your mind!
“Forever Dog Life” by Dr. Karen Shaw Becker and Dr. Rodney Habib is an excellent starting point. This insightful, practical guide offers a straightforward approach to enhancing your dog’s health and happiness with natural, life-extending nutrition. It provides clear, scientifically-backed advice for nurturing your pet’s diet.
This book is a must-read for dog lovers and truth seekers!
Skin Conditions
Dry food can contribute significantly to itchy skin. Raw food is proven to relieve it.
Feeding a bitch raw food when pregnant and puppies when young seems to have a protective effect against Canine Atopic Dermatitis, a 2020 study of 2236 dogs concluded. [8]
Flatulence
Raw fed dogs are less flatulent; they produce less offensive gas compared to kibble fed dogs. There are no wasted ingredients in raw meals, meaning less rubbish going into the body and less nastiness coming out the other end.
Need a little help in
making the switch?
We understand that transitioning to raw feeding can seem overwhelming. There are numerous myths and misconceptions to navigate. You might be concerned about:
- Raw feeding is difficult / dangerous
- Raw feeding isn’t safe
- Raw feeding is expensive
- Your vet doesn’t advocate raw feeding
- Or maybe you’re dubious simply because it’s just not what you’re used to
We’ve got you covered!
- Contact ProDog’s Canine nutrition team for FREE tailored advice for your dog’s diet Contact Us
- Read our Switching your Dog to Raw
guide for help making the transitions
and/or
- Get our FREE video series direct to your inbox.
In 3 mins a day for 5 days, we’ll share all you need to know to ditch dry dog food with confidence!
Meet some of
our experts
Dr Nick Thompson
The Holistic Vet
BSc (Vet Sci) Hons, BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS. The UK’s leading expert in natural veterinary care for pets. Practising vet, animal nutritional consultant and writer. Dr Nick Thompson has dedicated his life to the study and practice of animal health care, the natural way.
Learn more with Dr Nick Thompson through his online courses for beginners
Dr Judy Morgan
Internationally Renowned Author & Veterinarian
Certified in acupuncture, food therapy, and chiropractic care for dogs, cats, and horses her core focus is to educate and empower as many people as possible to be confident in taking a natural and holistic approach to their pets’ health and wellbeing.
Learn more with Dr Judy’s online courses: Homemade Food for Dogs 101 and Kick the Kibble: How to Feed Your Cat
Use code REALFOODFORPETS20 at checkout for 20% off
Or order her latest book ‘Raising Naturally Healthy Pets’
Dr Katie Woodley
The Natural Pet Doctor
As an expert holistic veterinarian and founder of The Natural Pet Doctor, Dr Katie Woodley is passionate about integrating Eastern and Western medicine to help pets achieve optimal health and vibrancy by utilising nutrition, acupuncture, and herbal medicine. She loves partnering with pet parents to provide guidance and specialised care to help their pets live their best lives through consultations, online programs, and webinars.
Learn more with Dr Katie Woodley through her Free Simple Guide To Pet Gut Health and Free Heal Your Pet’s Gut Health Naturally Masterclass.
One lucky doggo will win
£150 of FREE ProDog Raw food
Play at home
Post pics of you and your four-legged pal ditching the dry on the competition post on Facebook or Instagram, tag ProDog Raw with #prodograw and #ditchthedry hashtags, and we’ll pick our favourite to win at the end of the month.
Or… take part with your local ProDog Raw stockist
Simply ask in store for the #DitchTheDry Selfie Frame and take a quick snap of you and your doggo. Upload the photo to your social media channels, tag the store and use the #prodograw and #ditchthedry hashtags and you will be in with a chance to win!
You don’t need to be a
ProDog customer to get involved!
Join thousands of dog owners who are embracing a natural approach to feeding their dogs. Witness the transformation first hand and make vibrant health and happiness your dog’s new normal.
Ditch the dry. Be part of the real food for dogs movement.
Four ways you can help inspire others:
- Share the #ditchthedry on your social media
- Talk about the change you’re making with your nearest and dearest
- Share this #ditchthedry web page with other dog owners
- Buy your #ditchthedry t-shirt and post pics on your social media wearing it (don’t forget to tag #ditchthedry)
Let’s create a ripple effect of happier, healthier dogs living their best lives—
the way nature intended.
References
1. Jaffey J A, Su D, Monasky R, Hanratty B, Flannery E, Horman M (2022)Effects of a whole food diet on immune function and inflammatory phenotype in healthy dogs: A randomized, open-labeled, cross-over clinical trial.Frontiers in Veterinary Science, Vol 9. Doi:10.3389/fvets.2022.898056
2. Lippert G, Sapy B (2003) UKRMB. Relation between the domestic dogs’ well-being and life expectancy statistical essay. Essay for the Prince Laurent Foundation. Accessed June 2023. https://www.ukrmb.co.uk/images/LippertSapyFullReport.pdf
3. German, A.J., Woods, G.R.T., Holden, S.L., Brennan, L. and Burke, C (2018) Dangerous trends in pet obesity. Veterinary Record, 182: 25-25. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.k2
4. Salt, C, Morris, PJ, Wilson, D, Lund, EM, German, AJ (2019) Association between life span and body condition in neutered client-owned dogs. J Vet Intern Med. 33: 89– 99. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15367
5. Sandberg,T. The Odin Project. Long Living Pets Research. Accessed 12th June 2023
6. Fiolet T, Srour B, Sellem L, Kesse-Guyot E, Allès B, Méjean C et al (Feb 2018) Consumption of ultra-processed foods and cancer risk: results from NutriNet-Santé prospective cohort. The British Medical Journal 360 :k322. Doi:10.1136/bmj.k322
7. Vuori, K.A., Hemida, M., Moore, R. et al (2023) The effect of puppyhood and adolescent diet on the incidence of chronic enteropathy in dogs later in life. Sci Rep 13, 1830. Doi:10.1038/s41598-023-27866-z
8. Hemida M, Vuori KA, Salin S, Moore R, Anturaniemi J, Hielm-Bjo ̈rkman A (2020) Identification of modifiable pre- and postnatal dietary and environmental exposures associated with owner-reported canine atopic dermatitis in Finland using a web-based questionnaire. PLoS ONE 15(5): e0225675. Doi:10.1371/ journal.pone.0225675