Raw diets for pets are popular, but are they safe?
An example of a raw food offering for a dog, ground buffalo and a turkey neck.
flickr photo courtesy of doggybytes
The feeding of pets has changed dramatically in the past 10 years; in large part, these changes have been facilitated by the desire of consumers to provide a better diet to their beloved pets.
As little as a decade ago, one philosophy of feeding pets was on the lips of pet owners everywhere: the BARF diet, an acronym for Bones and Raw Food Diet, made popular by veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst and his book “Give Your Dog a Bone” and Kymythy Schultze’s “Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats."
The philosophy is probably even more popular today, and for several reasons, probably. The number of people that own pets has risen, and especially, the recent pet food recalls have fueled the interest in this feeding method.
In 1909, the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) was formed to ensure consumer protection, to safeguard the health of animals and to provide level playing field in the animal feed industry. This was necessary, as the trade became quite lucrative.
Although canned pet food diets were the primary products produced initially, kibble-based diets ended up being the mainstay for canine and feline diets since about the 1930s. After World War II, the industry saw a boom in viability of commercially produced pet foods.
Fast forward to the present time, and the landscape of the commercial pet food field has changed so much. Many companies have jumped on board to take advantage of the consumer’s interest.
Walk down any pet food aisle, whether it’s a supermarket or pet store and you’ll see a plethora of types of pet diets, whether they be standard, organic or — more popularly — holistic and raw.
Diets are sold in as many forms — kibble, canned, dried concentrates and frozen.
It can all be very confusing, especially when it comes to one issue: Commercial kibble diets vs. raw.
Feed this. Don’t feed that. Commercially produced kibble is a better choice; the experts formulate it. You should do what’s best for your pet — feed raw.
As someone who is immersed in the pet industry, I’ve heard it all.
The fact is, there is a lot of information out there coming from a lot of resources — some reliable, some not. As with another hot-button issue — to vaccinate pets or not — I find that you’ll hear a very one-sided account of the benefits and pitfalls from either side of the fence. And, sometimes, one can feel bullied.
Christie Keith notes this, too in a recent article in The Bark.
Quite honestly, I can say that even today, the resources that are available to pet owners to gain more knowledge about raw feeding, and solid evidence for or against it, can be blurry.
Fresh, raw meat, uncooked bone, raw organ meats and green vegetation is typical of a raw diet and simulates the way pet would have eaten when they were left to their own devices. In scoring an herbivore in the wild (like a rabbit), they would eat a portion of the animal, beginning with the stomach contents (hence the inclusion of green vegetation) and going from there.
Feeding raw has been propelled by the recent pet food recalls, and there are a lot of people who find the feeding method easy-to-manage and say that they see measurable results.
These pet owners note:
- Better health
- Lack of “doggy odor”
- Better dentition
- Improved digestion (due to the action of chewing on raw meaty bones signaling the stomach to begin secreting digestive enzymes)
- Less solid waste
- Allergy problems that subside
- A significant reduction in arthritis
About 10 years ago, I decided to go head-first into feeding raw to Gretchen, after discovering that she had some pretty nasty food allergies. (In fact, that alone is one of the most popular reasons for a pet owner deciding to ‘go raw’.)
Knowing the potiental risks — inadequate calcium intake, intestinal injury from bone fragments to begin with — I went against my vet at the time, who prescribed a whitefish and potato kibble to combat the allergy problem long-term.
After doing some diligent research, I began doling out chicken quarters as a main source of protein — bones and all for her meals — as well as raw meaty bones, but not before giving her digestive enzymes and acidophilus, as instructed. Vegetables were lovingly fed too, as was some fruit that was considered safe.
Did I see any benefits from feeding a raw diet? The truth is, no. I didn’t stay with the program for any length of time because I didn’t feel comfortable with it, for a lot of reasons. I went back to feeding the prescription kibble.
Feeding raw, as you can guess, is a thorn in the side of many in the field of veterinary medicine. One caveat that comes with feeding raw, as the American Animal Hospital Association points out, is the risk of getting an infection, like salmonella.
Not only can the bacteria affect the pet who is eating it, but once the pet ingests it or has it on them, it can affect humans, and children are especially at risk.
In some cases, you'll hear that an animal can deal with the pathogens that are commonly found in raw meat. From a medical standpoint, it's been indicated that it's just not true. Further, pets can shed those pathogens in their stool.
In a case study of two family cats that died, the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine demonstrated that salmonella in tissue cultures isolated from one of the cats was identical to cultures from the raw beef used in the cat’s home-prepared diet.
Since I decided to end my attempt at it, the area of feeding a raw diet, or something close to it, like an all-natural diet — has morphed into methods that have become more manageable for many. Raw/dried, raw/frozen, freeze dried and home-cooked are typical forms.
A slew of pre-packaged raw, and naturally based foods/mixers have made it onto the market, like those from Bravo, Wysong The Honest Kitchen and Sojos.
The idea to feed raw, as I alluded to before, usually comes at a time when a pet is struggling with a health issue. And, as Monica Segal, author of "Optimal Nutrition, Raw and Cooked Canine Diets: The Next Level" says, raw diets aren’t a good choice for every pet.
“If you have a really immune-compromised dog, it might not be the way to go.”
This goes for senior dogs, too.
But as someone who creates raw diets for clients, Segal indicates that they are a good choice for many dogs.
In the end, we chose to feed kibble, but going grain-free has always been a must. As it turns out, sticking with a limited ingredient diet works well for Gretchen. EVO and Taste of the Wild are favorites
There is a lot to digest when it comes to raw, home-cooked and natural diets for pets, but this is clear: good, honest communication with your veterinarian is essential (especially when it comes to understanding any health problems that your pet is experiencing), and having realistic expectations for your pet’s health and knowing how much time is needed to invest in putting together a truly balanced diet daily for your pet is key.
Feeding raw takes diligence and is a huge responsibility, and as I've said before, no one knows your pet better than you.
So, in seeking the assistance of anyone who can mentor you in getting your pet on a BARF diet, it's essential to know their background, where they gain their expertise from. Also, if they are actually putting together meals for you — know where they get their ingredients from.
There isn’t one thing that is going to keep your pet healthy. The bigger picture, including proper amounts of exercise, mental stimulation, diet, a sense of safety and security — an overall healthy lifestyle — is what encompasses a recipe for a healthy pet.
Take the poll, and please, leave your comments below.
Lorrie Shaw is lead pets blogger for AnnArbor.com and owner of Professional Pet Sitting. Shoot her an email, contact her at 734-904-7279 or follow her adventures on Twitter.
Comments
Melinda Regner
Wed, Jun 8, 2011 : 10:54 a.m.
"Raw meat bad for dogs and cats???? Well what the heck did they eat before they were domesticated on a mass scale??? If you look into the "benefits of grains" and all the other stuff they put in dog food today you'll notice a surge in desease and illness. I can't imagine thousands of years ago seeing a wild dog on the pasture eating grains.... I can imagine them chasing and catching small aminals and eating them.. Oh and i don't think they knew how to cook back then.. Dogs and cats have been around for millions of years. it has only been the last 100-200 years that we have feed animals grain..." - Caveman So true! I agree with you. It's a hard thing to do it at first. Giving your dog a dog diet like this one is a very hard tasks. But it's a thing worth doing. About the diarrhea and other disease they're saying that your dog might get with this diet, I remember it was answered and was proven that it's not the real cause of those diseases.
Steph B
Thu, May 26, 2011 : 3:53 a.m.
We feed our dogs raw and they love it, we love it, they're healthier, and they have smaller stool than when they were on normal kibble (our vet says it's because they're bodies are utilizing more of the food). They have zero digestive issues, no allergic reactions to food anymore (one of our dogs gets sick every time she eats a certain popular kibble), and they're teeth and coats are way healthier than before. We pay more for the quality raw foods that include meat and veggies, but it works for our dogs and family. I've been researching this for two years now...raw is the way to go for our pups! Thanks for bringing up this great topic!
Petal
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 7:41 p.m.
Commercial pet foods were created for convenience of storing and feeding. Something most pet owners are truly in favor of. A proper homemade diet is the best for both humans and pets. There are health reasons why we need to cook some ingredients of our pet's food just as it is important we cook our own. Cooking makes ingredients easier to digest and nutrients more readily absorbed. Hence, observing the uncooked carrots and other veggies pass through looking unchanged in the stool. It is also important that meat proteins be cooked because we are buying( even the most organic situations) product that is more likely to carry parasites or house disease that are very harmful to you and your pet when eaten. It is important that our pets receive a well balanced diet of whole foods some cooked and some raw based on safety, digestibility, and nutrient absorption. But that takes time and planning. With an ever increasing market of fast food and convenience stores constantly opening, some people are not up to the challenge. And although we have evidence to criticize the makers of dog foods, you have to know that these same companies are making our breakfast cereals, potato chips, crackers, candy bars, and such and the same issues arise in these products, but we are more concerned with our pet's nutrition then our own. The dog food recall due to contamination also effected millions of cans of baby formula, but that was barely reported and drew little attention from the public. Our pets are living longer, healthier lives than in the past. Including dogs fed Purina Dog Chow, a formulated convenient food studied and fed to animals for many years now. What's more sad to me is that people are taken in by the Labels on any brand of pet food purchased, even at the most posh of pet store claiming organic, natural, and health benefits. Homemade diets are best. But only if formulated correctly, and certain ingredients are cooked for safety and absorption of nutrients.
Boo Radley
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 1:32 p.m.
Lorrie, Thank you for reading the comments and for taking the time to make so many follow up comments of your own. I have been interested in trying the raw diets for my cats, but just have too many cats to have time to do all of the work that would be involved in preparing and feeding that type of food.
RunsWithScissors
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 2:33 a.m.
I have a 1 year old mixed breed dog. I never thought about feeding him home-prepared meals until I realized his chronic diarrhea was due to food intolerance. I'm a bit lactose-intolerant myself so I can sympathize with the pup's digestive distress. After one particularly bad episode, I switched him to a bland diet of nothing but rice, boiled sweet potato & cooked turkey. Within 12 hours he had normal stool, almost no gas, and was able to sleep through the night without a "doody-call". Over a period of several weeks I've been able to add in grain-free kibble. He's now fed a diet of 3 parts dry kibble and 1 part rice & sweet potato. Previous to this I tried different types of dry kibble, or pro-biotics, or yogurt or cooked pumpkin. Each different trial required a minimum of 30 days to slowly introduce a new food or supplement. Each different trial was a bust. Doing online research and consulting with my vet didn't provide any clear answers. I briefly thought about the BARF approach but I'm not dedicated enough to provide clean raw food on a regular basis. In short, I had to find my own solution (apparently I am dedicated enough to do that much). My journey has taught me to think for myself (and for my dog) to achieve the goal of a healthy happy pet. Thank you, Lorrie, for bringing up this topic & sharing your experience.
Lorrie Shaw
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 4:39 a.m.
RunsWithScissors: Wow, what a story. I am so sorry to hear about the trouble that your pooch has been through. It's so tough; digestion is everything. And to top it off, he can't verbalize how he's feeling, which can make the mystery for you even more difficult to decipher. All you want is for them to feel better. It's sounds like you're doing all of the right things... wow, and such a great combination of ingredients! I'm sure that he's appreciative of the yummy food and the fact that his gut isn't in a constant state of revolt. I'm glad that there are pet owners like you out there that are willing to really pay attention and try to figure out a better solution than what they've got. It sounds like you're both happier, and that's the goal. :) Thanks for sharing that. I'm quite certain that you're not alone.
Lorrie Shaw
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 1:24 a.m.
Pam: Awesome! All important things to do when feeding raw. I imagine that there isn't a pet that would turn their nose up at raw food. How long have you been feeding raw? How did you formulate a diet for your pets? Have you had a problem with your veterinarian because you feed raw? And, you're right - eating fresh, raw foods is best for humans. If only we had a warmer climate here in Michigan... it would be much easier to do, as far as variety. I do love farm stands. Meijer is a good source of fresh stuff out of season.
Lorrie Shaw
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 1:18 a.m.
LauraM: Thanks for sounding in with your comment. Hopeffully this won't be the last time that you participate. After reading the piece, do you think that is an avenue that you might explore?
Lorrie Shaw
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 1:12 a.m.
Boo: That's very true. And, it IS amazing to see how well feral cats fare. An animals biology to survive is an ever changing one that is quite flexible and can morph wen it needs to. Great point. Thanks for participating!
Lorrie Shaw
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 1:09 a.m.
Jake C: That is an interesting point that you made about the dietary evolution of dogs and cats. Interestingly, enough, dogs have had to be the fastest evolving animal, and have had to do the most changing. It really makes me wonder what the species would have turned out like had humans not had such an influence. They have had to certainly evolve to eating grains; that isn't to say that it was a good thing. It's been shown by what is on prescription diet shelves in vets offices, as well as the Limited Ingredient Diet (all of these usually based with potato, pea protein or sweet potato) diets on pet store shelves. Grains in pet food are an inexpensive source of... filler. They do typically cause allergies, and in Gretchen's case (and many of my clients), they fare better on a grain-free diet. Your point is an interesting one! Thanks for making it!
pvitaly
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 6:19 p.m.
I don't get these polls sometimes. Where is the "NO" option. As in no, i don't feed my dog raw food. Not because I don't think it's a good idea... I just don't.
Lorrie Shaw
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 1:16 a.m.
pvitaly: I really appreciate that you made your voice heard with your comment. I hope to see more of that from you in the future! Thanks!
LauraM
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 12:59 a.m.
That is why I didn't vote!! I don't feed a raw diet but I have no clue if it's a good idea or not.
caveman
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 4:50 p.m.
Raw meat bad for dogs and cats???? Well what the heck did they eat before they were domesticated on a mass scale??? If you look into the "benefits of grains" and all the other stuff they put in dog food today you'll notice a surge in desease and illness. I can't imagine thousands of years ago seeing a wild dog on the pasture eating grains.... I can imagine them chasing and catching small aminals and eating them.. Oh and i don't think they knew how to cook back then.. Dogs and cats have been around for millions of years. it has only been the last 100-200 years that we have feed animals grain...
Lorrie Shaw
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 1 a.m.
Very true, caveman. Both dogs and cats ate very differently , and through our intervention, that changed. Some of the changes good, other stuff, not so good. I agree with you on the grain issue. These animals do not eat grain in the wild. In fact, I think that they are bad and likely proliferate some diseases and obviously allergies. The problem today with most sources that meat is obtained, from is that it's mass produced, and quality suffers. With mass production, comes slip-ups and lapses in sanitation, etc. There's just more of a chance for the meat that is used to be contaminated with E. coli, salmonella or otherwise. (Think of all of the pet food recalls that I write about - both treats and food.) When a pet owner feeds an animal tainted meat, and worse yet, (if the animal has an underlying medical problem that puts their immune system at a disadvantage,) that's a problem. I guess a way to combat the issue is to, like I stated, know where the meat comes from. Organic, small-scale operations would be ideal. Thanks so much for your comment, it's much appreciated!
Pam
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 12:46 a.m.
I feed mine raw in the p.m. And grain-free kibble in the a.m. Just use care in washing bowls thoroughly and do not leave the raw out too long. ( yah like that's a concern here)! I've seen a significant difference in my dogs coats (for the better) since being on raw. If thesis visible, I can only believe that what's happening on the inside is as good or better. I do believe we are what we eat, human or canine. BTW -the best diet for people is also RAW! Veggies,fruit, etc. We were made to eat whaTever was available in the garden of Eden (minus what came from the tree of knowledge...)
Boo Radley
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 10:44 p.m.
Feral cats and dogs still hunt for and catch their own small animals and eat them raw. However, the life span of feral animals is very short. It's short for many reasons, disease, predators, being hit by cars, etc., but in any event, too short to compare their diet to that of a domesticated house pet living many years longer.
Jake C
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 5:49 p.m.
Proto-humans have been around for millions of years too, but if you want to compare humans, cats, or dogs to our primitive ancestors, you won't find very much in common. Cats and dogs have been domesticated for roughly 12,000 years and have undergone dramatic evolution in that time period to take advantage of the grain-based diets that most human civilizations have been formed upon. This applies more to dogs than cats (since most cats remained rodent-hunters) but it's silly to pretend that just because a species of animal ate a certain way a million years ago, that's their optimal diet.... well no, it's just what was available at the time.
Jake C
Mon, May 23, 2011 : 2:49 p.m.
There is lots of good information in this article, but it would benefit greatly from some professional editing. I realize it's a "community article" but there's no reason why a simple article like this should have more than a dozen clauses separated by " — " punctuation marks, or so many unnecessary commas.
Sarah Rigg
Tue, May 24, 2011 : 2:44 p.m.
Community pieces are professionally edited, but many professional editors like to let the writers's personality come through, and some people do speak/write in clauses set off by dashes. If you don't like lots of dashes, you'd hate Emily Dickinson's poetry. :)