ALIMENTAÇÃO NATURAL EM DIETAS PARA CÃES: BENEFÍCIOS E LIMITAÇÕES

Abstract

Dogs have developed a close relationship with humans, receiving credit from family members. As a result, many owners are opting for a more natural diet, free of additives and that promotes greater health, well-being and longevity for their dogs. This work consisted of a bibliographic review, with the aim of obtaining information on the use of natural food in dog diets, highlighting the potential benefits and limitations of this type of canine diet. The review covered scientific works in Portuguese and English, published between 2001 and 2024 and available in the Capes, Scielo and Google Scholar databases. It was possible to observe that natural food in the diet of dogs presents benefits such as greater selection of ingredients, palatability and digestibility, however, it presents serious limitations regarding microbial contamination, particularly in raw diets and clear nutrient imbalances when the formulation does not meet the nutritional requirements of the animal, whether a raw or cooked diet. In view of this, it is essential that guardians make a conscious and scientifically based choice and seek specialized professional guidance to ensure the health, well-being and longevity of their animals.