To understand the nutritional needs of a Cavoodle, it’s important to firstly understand what other dog breeds a Cavoodle is crossed with. A dog’s breed determines many genetic factors and health issues it may be predisposed to. From here, a better understanding of their nutritonal requirements can be attained.
A Cavoodle is a cross between two different purebred dogs, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and the Poodle. The Cavoodle is a newer breed of dog that originated from Australia as a means to have a smaller dog that was suitable for warm climates but lived well in smaller living spaces like apartments.
Cavoodles are known to be very smart and affectionate, and they are the perfect family dog as they get along well with both kids and other pets.
The Cavoodle is a super cute dog often referred to as resemble a curly teddy bear. Like any other dog, however, they do struggle with some health concerns as they age. Just because the Cavoodle does struggle with specific health issues, doesn’t mean you as their pet owner can’t do anything to lessen their chances of them developing such complications. In fact, feeding your Cavoodle a raw food diet may help alleviate some of the health issues.
That’s why in this article, you’ll learn in-depth about the potential health risks that your Cavoodle may face, as well as how feeding your Cavoodle a raw food diet can help reduce these health concerns.
Health Concerns Of A Cavoodle
Although these sweet little dogs are a bundle of joy, it’s worth considering the health concerns that are commonly found in the Cavoodle. Some of these common health concerns include:
- Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease (DMVD)- A health condition that involves the heart valves where a valve is thickened, making it harder for the blood to flow.
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)- A disease that causes gradual blindness.
- Chiari-like Malformation (CM) and Syringomyelia (SM)- CM is when the dog’s skull cavity is too short for its brain. This results in the back of the brain being pushed against the skull which impacts the flow of the cerebrospinal fluid that is the fluid that flows in and around the brain and spinal cord. Meanwhile, SM is a result of CM and can cause spinal cord damage and pain.
- Canine Hip Dysplasia (CHD)- A health condition that is when the thighbone and acetabulum are too loosely fit which results in joints rubbing against each other.
What Is A Raw Dog Food Diet
A raw diet for dogs consists of unprocessed ingredients like raw meats and vegetables. As long as the raw dog food is hygienically prepared, it can be extremely beneficial for a dog because you are essentially feeding your pet human-grade meats and food that is only of the highest quality.
The raw dog food diet is great for any canine, including the Cavoodle, because if you are giving your pet only the highest quality ingredients, you know they are eating the best to grow up strong and healthy and maintain their weight.
Raw food diets for dogs have been found to have many positive benefits, including:
- Stronger joints and bones
- Improved immune system
- Better coat quality (and shinier)
- Improved dental health
- Better Skin
- More Energy
It’s important that even with giving your dog a raw food diet, they have a balanced diet of meats, vegetables, and fruits for a well-rounded diet. Different examples of foods that can make up a raw food diet are raw eggs, meats, broccoli, apples, livers, spinach, and more!
Is a raw dog food diet safe for a Cavoodle?
The answer is yes! A Cavoodle can eat and benefit from eating a raw dog food diet as long as the food is hygienically prepared and they are consuming a well-rounded diet of both meats and fruits/vegetables.
How Can Cavoodles Benefits From A Raw Dog Food Diet
Raw meat for dogs is an appropriate way of eating for many breeds, including the Cavoodle. This is because the raw food diet is high in protein, which brings about many positive benefits. Dogs evolved to eat high protein, raw meats, and thrive when doing so.
Since the Cavoodle struggles with joint deterioration as they age because of canine hip dysplasia (CHD), a raw food diet for a Cavoodle can be extremely beneficial to help alleviate symptoms commonly experienced with this issue. When the dog consumes an adequate amount of protein and calcium through consuming raw meat and bones, this will in turn benefit their bones. With stronger bones, their chances of having substantial joint deterioration lessens.
Additionally, like other dogs, a Cavoodle can benefit from a raw dog food diet because it is a high-quality diet. So, if you notice your dog having stomach problems like throwing up or having diarrhea, this may be a sign you are giving your dog low-quality food. Unfortunately, many dog foods today have lots of low-quality, processed ingredients. However, switching your Cavoodle to a raw dog food diet will likely help resolve their stomach issues.
Finally, is your Cavoodle not as playful or high-energy as they used to be? Yes, this may be a sign of maturing and aging at work; however, it could also be a sign they are not getting the high-quality ingredients in their commercial dog food kibble to provide them with lasting energy. This is because again many commercial dog food brands today lack quality ingredients; therefore, they are made with tons of preservatives and fillers which could impact your dog’s mood. By switching your Cavoodle to a high-protein diet, they will have more quality, protein-rich diet so they will have the energy levels to thrive and be back to their normal self.
Cavoodles make wonderful family pets, especially for city-dwellers and family’s with young children.. Before making the decisions to buy one though, it’s important to consider how you are going to care for their health and whether you can meet their nutritional needs. A healthy dog makes for a happy home!
BIO:
Melissa Smith is a former dog trainer and forever cat and dog lover. She has spent many years fostering pets, pet-sitting and writes for Raw and Fresh on all things pet-related.