[I'm aiming for intelligent discussion/education here, if you don't want to read all of it, at least skim some of it, it's worth it.] Dogs are not omnivores, wolves do not eat the stomach contents of their prey, your pets will not get deadly parasites from human-grade raw meats, most commercial pet foods cause more health problems than they are claiming to fix, many vets are paid to sell certain pet foods and will tell you to buy them to increase their profits.
I'm sure someone will try and refute. I'm prepared. As irked as I have been lately, I'm prepared for this, I know it. So, bring it on.
Raw feeding, the right way.
First, dogs (lets' focus on dogs, but this can all apply to cats as well) are not omnivores. Everything about their structure, their insides, right down to their teeth screams carnivore. So why do pet food companies litter their product wrapping with pictures of bright orange carrots and lovely green peas? Because you like to look at it, of course. The animal doesn't know what it's eating, it cannot read, it relies on you, so you target the consumer, and in this case, it's a reversal; you aren't eating it, it's eating your wallet.
Yes, dogs are extremely adaptable, but feeding a carrot to a dog (or cat) doesn't make it's insides change, just like feeing a steak to an herbivore doesn't make it able to digest it.
Simply put, dogs are not omnivores.
It's a common misconception that dogs must be omnivores because 'wolves eat the stomach contents of their prey'. Not sure where that myth came from, but wolves shake loose those contents, because they are far too bitter and acidic. The nutrients they need (which, yes, are contained within vegetables) is gotten through the animal that ate them, in a way they cannot obtain them through eating them raw.
And as far as science is concerned, dogs are not too unrelated to wolves to come to this conclusion.
Second, no, your dog won't die from eating raw meat. Nor will it become vicious and attack you or your family (that's a really bad myth). Human-grade meat, the things you'd eat, are usually safe. If you'd eat them, with your low ability to fight off such horrid infections, you can't imagine how your dog's body reacts to them. We aren't built the same, so, do not expect the same sicknesses to put us down and be unable to be taken care of naturally. Freezing meat, if you're actually scared of it for whatever reason, can kill most bacteria, regardless of whether it is harmful or harmless. Cooking does more harm than good. It kills not only bacteria, but essential nutrients your pet needs. This can cause serious digestive issues, which many dogs on commercial diets already have.
Also, if you're worried about your own health, just think of how mom cooked dinner. That should cancel out your worries. Just remember to clean up like you would any other time when handling raw meats.
Third, possibly most important, most commercial pet food diets (Iams, Alpo, Purina, Pedigree, Science Diet, etc) are not nutritionally complete, and do more harm than good. Millions of dogs eat this kibble and wet food (which I'll get to later), and 85% of them have moderate to severe periodontal disease by the age of 3. Literally, their teeth are covered in plaque, and harmful bacteria causing harmful erosion to the gums and teeth themselves. Dogs, by myth, are supposed to have bad breath. It's just not true. That bad breath is the bacteria in their mouth. I have yet to meet a raw-fed dog with horrid breath. Unpleasant by our standards, yes, but in no means unbearable or forcing me to push it away. Dental chews and toys do little to alleviate said problems, and have as much harmful ingredients as the pet food they attempt to cancel out.
Millions of dogs also have food allergies. They lose their fur, they chew at their feet, the push at their teeth with their paws, they develop harmful allergies to fleas, develop kidney, digestive, and bone problems, and people just keep finding more kibble in hopes of treating the problem, which is rather ironic given the information.
Keep in mind, the pet food companies admit to these problems. They know, and make it clear, that these are very common. That's because they really can't hide it anymore.
Kibble is a very new concept. One hundred years, and still in the making. Dogs fed on raw diets have note-worthy differences.
Their skin and coat are improved, taking away the typical doggy odor that most people find offensive and foul. Their teeth are white and clean, and their gums are not irritated, dis-coloured, or bloody. Their stools are firm, small, and virtually odorless as opposed to large, runny piles that smell from yards away. Their energy is revitalized, appropriate to their age. Their overall immunity system is greatly improved, making it easier for them to fight off infections (meaning less vet visits and less money you spend). Fleas are rarely, if ever, a real issue. Heart, liver and kidney diseases are a much lower risk. Temperaments are greatly improved in moody dogs. Lifespans are increased by years, which is important for very large breeds with the shortest life expectancies, which often die much earlier than even that due to health problems in their breed.
You simply do not get that with kibble.
Of course, there are people who have had pets live fine on kibble. The difference is that they could be better, much much better. Regardless of if your pet seems healthy, there are most likely underlying issues that you brush off as being 'general for dogs' and 'inescapable', or try to treat with things that do nothing but act as a non-adhesive band-aid.
Bones, uncooked are perfectly fine for dogs. Chicken bones included. They have a better chance of choking on the rawhide you bought them at the pet store. Giving them bones that are appropriate for their size will help aid in their teeth and gums becoming much healthier, shiny and clean, and help with the bad breath so many have.
As a footnote, any breed, size not being an issue, can be fed raw. From the tiniest to the largest. They will also enjoy eating it much more, because dogs do have a natural prey instinct, and it is even perfectly fine to feed carcasses.
http://www.threecheersrawrawraw.com/Dogs_004.jpg
http://asquared.phanfare.com/show/external/233521/309562/13811612/file.jpg
http://www.abbotsbourne.co.uk/images/gwppups2.JPG
By the way, fish are also good, as long as it is the proper kind.
Some websites to get you started:
http://www.rawlearning.com/
http://www.justamere.com/newsletter/rawfeeding.asp
http://rawfed.com/
http://www.bravorawdiet.com/
Edited to add: Always avoid raw pork and raw salmon.
And remember, some dogs will have a strange odor the first couple of days, naturally they have to let their bodies get used to this natural diet. The change can happen very suddenly, or it may happen as soon as you start feeding.
Post edited at 1:01 am on Nov. 13, 2007 by The Raven
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