Should I be feeding my pet a raw diet?
Should I be feeding my pet a raw food diet?
There has been a recent increase in people feeding their pets raw diets. With the recent popularity of eating whole foods and eating clean for people, we have placed more emphasis on clean eating for our pets. Many raw food proponents argue that our ancestors (and dogs’) did not require cooked food, and that dogs should not need it nowadays either. They also argue that cooking decreases the nutrients in the food.
Our pet’s ancestors used to eat one large meal that would sustain them for days – they would take down prey and eat it, bones and all. However, dogs and cats are not wolves or wildcats. They have adapted to live with humans, and we have adapted to live with them as well. The decision about what to feed your pet has to be an individualized decision. You need to choose the diet that works for both you and your pet now, not what you would have fed them generations ago.
Benefits and concerns of raw food diets
Proponents of raw diets recommend it because it is more “natural” and “preservative-free.” However, because there are no preservatives, you need to make sure you are buying the freshest ingredients possible – always purchase from a source you trust. One of our biggest concerns as veterinarians is the risk of bacterial contamination in raw diets. In general, dogs and cats are resistant to a lot of food-borne illnesses, but they are not completely immune. They can get salmonella, e. coli, and parasites from raw meat. If your pet has an underlying illness (diabetes, cancer, etc) or is on certain medications that suppress the immune system (such as steroids), they are more at risk of developing a food borne illness. For this fact alone, I would not recommend changing a sick dog onto a raw food diet.
Things to remember when feeding a raw food diet
Please choose a good meat vendor that you trust. The raw meat should smell fresh and not be allowed to sit outside. If not eaten right away, raw meat should be refrigerated and/or frozen while awaiting consumption. If you decide to feed your pet a raw diet, it is essential to practice extremely good food hygiene. It’s not enough to just wash your hands. After preparing raw meat, you should wash your hands and bleach any surfaces. You should keep your pet’s feeding utensils and bowls separate from the utensils you use. Furthermore, the bacteria from the raw food can persist in your dog’s saliva and feces. Do not allow your dog to lick your face if you feed a raw diet (especially if you are immune-compromised) and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after petting your dog. If you have small children or elderly or immune-compromised people in the home, you may also want to keep them away from the dog during feeding time.
Final thoughts
Some people swear by feeding a raw diet to their pets. If you look on the internet, there are many stories of raw diets fixing food allergies or chronic digestive issues. This can happen – but it’s not necessarily because the diet is raw; it may be a combination of factors, such as lower fat in the diet, different meat sources, and different fiber amounts. If you decide to feed your pet a raw diet, make sure to do so safely. Make sure that your vet knows you are feeding raw food so that they can alter any recommendations needed to suit your pet. Make sure that the diet is nutritionally complete. As with any diet change, the diet should be changed slowly over time. If your pet does not eat the raw food, don’t force it – the best diet is the one your pet eats consistently.