Should I Feed My Pet A Raw Diet?

This is a question I get asked quite often. In my veterinary training we were taught that feeding raw diets were not safe, nor nutritionally complete. That was 40 years ago. With the advent of more accessible sources of raw products and better food preparation knowledge my clients are asking more about feeding a raw diet.

What is a raw diet? A raw diet is a combination or raw uncooked meat, whole or crushed bone, fruits, vegetable, uncooked eggs, and some dairy.

Why feed a raw diet? Dogs have a carnivorous heritage, but over time over 400 breeds of dogs ranging in size from chihuahua to a Great Dane have been developed. Many people want their pet to go back to the diet of wild wolfs but, dogs have developed into omnivores over generations, meaning they need meat and plant sources of nutrition. They have developed genes that allow them to produce amino acids from carbohydrates which traditionally come from a meat-based diet. This classifies them as omnivores.

Cats on the other hand, are true carnivores and must have a meat-based diet.

What are the benefits of a raw pet food diet? Many people claim that with a raw diet their pets have better digestion, increased energy, improved skin and hair coat, relief from food sensitivities, weight improvement, smaller firmer bowel movements, great for picky eater, and increased mealtime excitement. None of these have any clinical or scientific research evidence to support these claims.

What are the Cons with feeding a raw diet? There are no clinical benefits to feeding a raw diet. It is expensive and time consuming. The main drawback why most veterinarians do not recommend this type of diet is the risk of bacterial, parasite contamination and nutritional inadequacy. Salmonella and other bacteria can be shed in the pet’s feces, making this a source of bacterial infection for humans. The shedding of bacterial can be of concern if immune-compromised individuals are around these pets. Large chunks of bones can cause intestinal obstruction, perforation of the bowel, or get stuck in teeth.

Yes, there are commercial raw food products on the market some are good sources of nutrition for your pet. With all the sources of home prepared meals for your dog being marketed on the internet, beware that many of these diets have no research and no quality controls. Websites that have veterinary nutritionist are available that can help you formulate a diet for your pet.

Some people feel that there is more nutrition in raw food because processing damages many of the necessary nutrients for pets. There have been studies done, especially in cats where some amino acids, such as taurine, are not sufficient in some raw meat sources.

Many commercially prepared high-quality kibble and canned products have been nutritionally formulated with all the vitamins and minerals your pet needs.

I do see pets whose owners fed raw diets and they look and feel great, but these owners spend considerable time in preparation and researching what is nutritional complete.

If you have more questions about feeding a raw diet to your pet, contact Dr. Norette L Underwood of Trumann Animal Clinic at catdoc56@gmail.com.