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For the last few years, dog owners have heard about raw diets… and the growing popularity of them. BUT… is a raw diet beneficial for my dog? Is it better for them than bagged or canned dog food? What are the pros and cons of feeding a raw diet?
We are all asking ourselves these questions… and trying to figure this out (me included). I am currently conducting research on the ingredients that are being put in dog foods… and have been a little shocked to discover what was in Molly’s food… so shocked in fact, that I have recently changed the kind of dog food that I have been feeding her. I will have this report ready soon for you.
There has been a lot of controversy about feeding dogs a raw diet. But even with all the controversy out there, the popularity of raw diets are still rising.
When I say a “Raw Diet,” what does that consists of? A raw diet usually consists of raw meat, bones (whole or ground), Organ meats (like livers or kidneys), raw eggs, fruits (apples, bananas, etc…), vegetables (like broccoli, spinach or celery) and some dairy (like yogurt).
In 1993, a Australian veterinarian, Dr. Billinghurst, suggested that dog owners feed their dogs a diet called BARF, which means Bones and Raw Foods. He stated that grain-based commercial pet food were harmful to a dog’s health. BUT… many veterinarians and the FDA disagree with Dr. Billinghursts suggestions. The disagreement stems from the risks of a raw diet.
The benefits of a raw diet can include:
–Shiner coats
–Healthier skin
–Cleaner teeth and better smelling breath
–Higher energy levels
–Smaller stools
The Risks of a raw diet are:
— Bacteria in raw meat which can make both dogs and humans ill.
–If the raw diet is unbalanced, it could damage your dog’s health.
–the risk of choking on a bone.
Dog Foods have been in the news so much lately with contaminated ingredients that pet owners are showing more and more interest in a raw diet for their dogs. Raw dog food recipes are available online and even in books.
A Pennsylvania vet, Dr. Doug Knueven, DVM, says a raw diet is more beneficial for most dogs than processed foods. He specializes in holistic medicine and is a consult for Nature’s Variety, a company out of Lincoln, Nebraska that manufactures frozen raw food diets and also cooked dry and canned dog foods.
What or who do I believe about a raw diet??
Lisa M. Freeman, DVM,PhD, a nutrition professor at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, did a study on raw dog food diets and published her findings in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association in 2001. In her publication, she warns pet owners against raw diets saying that many dog owners are choosing raw diets simply because of online myths and scare tactics that people have heard on the news.
Freeman suggests that if pet owners want to avoid commercial dog food, that they have a homemade diet designed by a nutritionist certified by the American College of Veterinary Nutrition. Freeman says that some of the benefits of a raw diet, like a shinier coat is the result of the high fat composition that is in a raw diet. She says that high-fat commercial foods are available that will also produce the same results and supplements are also available that can used to add fat to a dog’s diet.
What about bacteria contamination in a raw diet?
Recent studies have shown bacterial contamination in raw pet food. In a study of 20 commercially raw meat diets conducted in 2006, 7.1% contained a type of salmonella. E coli bacteria was discovered in 59.6% of raw meat diets. BUT… in this same study, four canned dry dog foods were also looked at for bacteria. The study found E.coli in ALL of the commercially processed, cooked foods and in one brand of dry food. Bacteria contamination can be found in a dog’s feces, which can possibly also lead to a source of human exposure and infection.
Are raw diets concerns blown out of proportion?
Dog owners who feed raw diets say that commercially processed dog foods contain harmful bacteria too.
One lady who feeds a raw diet says that the whole concern about bad bacteria has been blown out of proportion. She says when people feed a raw diet, they know that it’s not sterile so they are just really careful about washing their hands. She says feeding your dog a raw diet is no different than feeding your family chicken- you just have to be diligent about cleaning your counters and the knife that you use.
“The only place I’ve seen a problem with the raw diet is with puppies,” Dr. Knueven says. “If you don’t get the calcium and phosphorous ratio right, you can have bone deformities and growth issues.”
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/raw-dog-food-dietary-concerns-benefits-and-risks#4
******This is just the beginning of a series of articles on this topic. As I finish my research on the ingredients manufacturers put in dog foods, I will write more on this subject. Stay tuned…
Until next time,
Hugs and Pug Kisses,
Candy
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