Many people like the idea of feeding their dog a raw food diet because it seems more natural to them. Though domesticated dogs have three key genes that let them digest starch much more easily than wolves, they have the teeth and gastrointestinal make-up of a carnivore!
Common Myths
1. Your dog will get sick from raw food. Dogs are not furry humans. They are descendants of wolves, and their digestive systems are designed to handle raw meat and bones. For example, their stomachs are more acidic than ours, and they can eat more bacteria without getting sick.
If your dog does get an upset stomach from eating raw meat, it’s most likely because of the switch in his diet in general. This can also happen when you switch a dog from one brand of dry dog food to another. Just make sure to give your dog time to adjust to the new type of food, and he will most likely be fine. Older dogs will have a harder time making the switch from dry food to raw food than puppies.
2. Your dog will choke on a bone. Raw bones are not a choking hazard if you know which bones are safe for your particular dog. Raw, edible bones like chicken and turkey bones are safe for most dogs. Dogs have no trouble crunching them up and digesting them.
There are certain bones you do need to be careful about. Never feed cooked bones because they become harder and potentially sharp. You also have to be careful about feeding larger bones such as beef bones. These dense bones are not edible and could also potentially harm a dog’s teeth. Some dog owners give these types of bones for “recreational chewing” and have no problems. Others stick to strictly chicken and turkey bones.
3. A bone will puncture the dog’s insides. Yes, this is possible, but only if you’re feeding inappropriate bones such as cooked bones or non-edible beef bones. Your dog will have no trouble digesting turkey or chicken bones and even most pork bones. If you’re still worried about bones, you can always feed raw dog food recipes containing bone meal, where the bones are ground up and can be added to the meat.
4. Raw meat will make your dog aggressive. Sure, some dogs could act possessive over their food, but that’s not because of the raw food itself. It’s because the dog has a behavioral problem in general, possessiveness of highly valued objects.
5. Raw food is too expensive. It can be, but only if you’re buying commercial, pre-made raw dog food. If you make the food yourself, the overall cost of raw dog food goes down. There are plenty of ways to save money so the price ends up being similar to a high-quality dry food. Yes, it does take some work to put together your own meals, but it’s well worth it if you want to save money while knowing exactly what your dog is eating.
Benefits
- You choose all of the ingredients yourself so you can select good quality ingredients. You know how the food is made and what you are feeding your dog.
- Raw diets can be better for dogs with food allergies or certain other health problems since you can tailor the diet to your dog’s specific needs.
- Many people who feed a raw food diet to their dogs believe that their dogs are healthier. They will tell you that their dogs have good skin and coat, bright eyes, white teeth, and don’t have to deal with ear infections and some of the other problems that sometimes plaque dogs that eat commercial kibble. Their dogs usually produce less waste, too.
- Raw diets that include bones can often help dogs have good dental hygiene and satisfy a dog’s urge to chew.
- You avoid the problem of pet food recalls when you feed a raw food diet.
Drawbacks
Bacteria is always a concern with raw food. Adult dogs with healthy immune systems won’t usually have a problem with common bacteria, but they can pose a more serious danger to humans, especially to infants and children and to the elderly, or to anyone with a compromised immune system. Young puppies, some elderly dogs, and dogs with a weakened immune system can also be at risk when exposed to pathogens such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria, E. coli, and others.
Some raw meats pose special risks because of possible parasites. Raw beef can carry Neospora caninum,; raw salmon from some areas can carry Nanophyetus salmincola; and raw pork and some wild game can carry Trichinella spiralis. These parasites can make a dog sick or worse.
While bones provide calcium in the diet, help keep a dog’s teeth clean, and satisfy the urge to chew, they can also pose problems such as choking, intestinal blockage, causing a perforation in the gastrointestinal tract, or causing broken or chipped teeth. Owners always need to be careful in choosing bones as part of a dog’s meal or for recreational chewing.
As with homecooking for your dog, it can be difficult to provide a nutritionally balanced diet with a raw food diet. Most of us aren’t nutritionists and we have learned about what to feed our dogs by reading books and articles, sharing information with others who make meals for their dogs, and talking to experts when possible. Dogs who eat a raw food diet can be subject to nutritional deficiencies. They may not get some of the vitamins and minerals they need. Even if your dog looks and acts healthy, he can have a deficiency that shows up months or years later. This is one reason why many veterinarians oppose raw food diets.
Feeding your dog a raw food diet can be very time consuming. It can also be somewhat costly. It takes planning to feed a raw diet. Even though there is no cooking involved, you still have to shop for the food. If you have a large dog or more than one dog, you will probably need to buy food in bulk in order to save money, which brings up the issue of food storage. Many people who feed a raw food diet invest in a freezer chest of some kind to store meat. You may also wish to buy a meat grinder to grind your own meat. Some people prefer to grind bones to avoid the risk of having a bone crack their dog’s tooth or cause a puncture. If you shop around and buy in bulk, you can find savings on the food you purchase, but this also takes time. There is also a certain amount of clean-up involved with raw food that you don’t have with kibble – a dog eating raw meat tends to be messier than a dog eating kibble from a bowl.
A raw food diet can also be inconvenient if you travel with your dog. You can prepare meals in advance and store them in a cooler. It helps if you stay in hotel rooms with a refrigerator so you can keep the raw food refrigerated. But there is a limit on how far in advance you can prepare your dog’s meals and expect them to stay edible. Most owners probably won’t want to have to purchase ingredients to make raw meals for their dog while they are on vacation but it is possible to do this if necessary.
These are all things you should consider before switching your dog to a raw food diet. It’s also advisable for your dog to be in good health. Some people who have dogs with specific health problems will make the decision to change their dogs to a raw food diet but they are doing so (hopefully) after expert advice. In general, you should talk to your vet before changing your dog to a raw food diet. Even if your vet disagrees with you (and he or she might), you should confirm that your dog is in good health. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) “discourages” the feeding of animal-source proteins to cats and dogs. Considering this position, it’s very likely that your veterinarian will disagree with your decision to feed a raw food diet to your dog. But not all vets disapprove. There are many vets who support whatever you are feeding as long as your dog is healthy.
We do suggest that you discuss your dog’s raw food diet with a canine nutritionist if possible. A canine nutritionist can help you map out exactly what your dog needs to be eating, taking into consideration his age, weight, health, breed or mix, activity level, and other factors.
Source: https://dogfoodguru.com/
