If you ask ten different people about raw feeding, you’ll get ten different answers ranging from "it’s a miracle cure" to "it’s dangerous." The truth, as usual, lies in the biology.

For years, the conversation around raw food has been focused on the "wolf ancestor" theory. While true, that doesn't help you understand why your domesticated Labradoodle might benefit from it today. We need to move the conversation away from evolutionary theory and toward bioavailability.

The question isn't "Did wolves eat this?" The question is: "How much nutrition is your dog actually absorbing from their current bowl?"

If you are looking to move beyond ultra-processed kibble and unlock a new tier of health for your dog, here is the modernized, no-nonsense guide to raw feeding.

The Core Concept: Bioavailability vs. Survival

Most commercial kibble is cooked at extremely high temperatures. While this kills bacteria and creates a shelf-stable product, it also denatures proteins and destroys natural enzymes. To compensate, manufacturers spray synthetic vitamins back onto the food. Your dog can survive on this, but are they thriving?

Raw food is "living" food. Because it hasn't been heat-blasted, the amino acids, enzymes, and intracellular moisture remain intact. This brings us to the most significant benefit of raw feeding: Bioavailability.

Bioavailability is the rate at which the body can absorb and use nutrients.

  • Kibble: Moderate bioavailability. The body has to work hard to break down the carbohydrates and processed proteins.
  • Raw: High bioavailability. The body recognizes the food immediately and absorbs it rapidly.

This isn't just theory; you can see the proof in the backyard.

Benefit 1: The "Scoop" on Waste Reduction

Let’s talk about the number one thing new raw feeders notice within 48 hours: There is significantly less poop.

It sounds funny, but it is the clearest indicator of health. When a dog eats a diet filled with fillers (corn, wheat, soy, or excessive potato), their body can't use it, so it ejects it as waste.

As Mike, our owner and the premier raw feeding advocate here at Pets Etc., puts it, dogs on a raw diet absorb roughly 96% to 97% of the food they eat. Because the body is utilizing almost everything for energy and muscle repair, there is very little left to come out the other end. The waste that does remain is smaller, firmer, and biodegradable.

Benefit 2: Intracellular Moisture (Protecting the Kidneys)

Chronic dehydration is a silent epidemic in pets. Dogs and cats have a low thirst drive; biologically, they are designed to get moisture from their food, not a water bowl.

Kibble has a moisture content of about 10%. Raw meat has a moisture content of about 70%. When you feed raw, you are hydraulically hydrating your dog’s organs with every meal. This is critical for long-term kidney health—a major concern for senior pets—and helps flush toxins from the system naturally.

Benefit 3: The Skin and Coat Transformation

Your dog’s skin is their largest organ, and it consumes a huge amount of protein to maintain. If the protein they eat is low-quality or hard to digest, the skin is the first place to suffer. This manifests as:

  • Excessive shedding
  • Itchy paws (often a yeast issue fed by carbohydrates)
  • Dull, brittle fur

Raw diets are high in unheated, unoxidized fatty acids (Omega-3s and Omega-6s). Because these fats haven't been cooked, they are incredibly potent. Most owners see a difference in coat softness and a reduction in "doggy odor" within 3 to 4 weeks.

Debunking the Safety Myth: HPP and The Acidic Stomach

The biggest barrier to raw feeding is fear: What about Salmonella?

It is important to understand two things:

  1. Your Dog’s pH: A healthy dog’s stomach is highly acidic (pH 1-2). It is designed to handle bacterial loads that would send a human to the hospital.
  2. Modern Technology (HPP): Many of the brands we carry at Pets Etc., such as Primal and Stella & Chewy's, use a safety technique called High-Pressure Processing (HPP). This uses cold-water pressure to neutralize harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. Coli without cooking the meat or destroying the nutrients.

You Don't Have to Be "All or Nothing"

Here is the 2026 approach to raw feeding: It doesn't have to be 100%.

You do not need to empty your bank account or throw away your kibble to see benefits. We are huge fans of the "Topper Strategy." By replacing just 20% of your dog’s kibble with fresh raw food—like Raw Dynamic or Vital Essentials—you can boost their enzyme intake and palatability significantly.

Even adding freeze-dried raw treats, like Chicken Hearts, adds vital nutrients to their diet that cooked treats cannot match.

How to Start Your Journey

If you are curious about raw, don't just guess. Stop by the Frozen Section at Pets Etc. in Plainfield.

We stock the highest quality raw options, including Raw Dynamic, OC Raw, and Small Batch. Whether you want to dive in with frozen patties or start simple with freeze-dried toppers, we can help you build a bowl that helps your dog thrive, not just survive.