Raw Meat Diet: Healthy Alternative for Feeding Your Dog
While some pet experts recommend a
BARF raw food diet, which includes raw meaty bones as
well as fruits, vegetables, grains and even dairy, there is
a growing trend toward feeding dogs strictly a raw meaty
bones diet. This idea is based on the prey model, i.e.,
this is what wolves eat in the wild, and as dogs descended
from wolves, they are biologically geared to be carnivores,
not veggie and grain eaters. Further, most commercial dog
foods are heavily grain based, and many people suspect that
the grains in dog food are what cause a lot of the allergies
dogs experience, particularly skin allergies.
How to Feed Raw Meaty Bones
The raw meaty bones diet is simple. Feed your dog
chicken, such as chicken quarters, beef, pork, venison, rabbit
and other game. Nothing else. No vegetables, no fruit, no
grains. Raw feeders advocate about 10% of the diet should
consist of bone and the rest meat, including a small portion
of organ meat such as liver, kidney and heart. I have been
feeding my six-year-old springer spaniel this way for several
months now, and her once-yellow teeth are now pearly white,
her breath is fresh (yes! no more doggy breath!) and her coat
is soft and shiny. Where I once had to coax her to eat her
kibble by adding special treats like cheese or tomato, now
she stands in the kitchen and eagerly awaits mealtime.
People are bound to be skeptical, because they are so
conditioned by pet food companies. Most people wonder:
Is my dog going to get all the nutrients he needs?
Yes. Dogs are carnivores. They need meat. The proof of whether
your dog is getting proper nutrients will be in his improved
coat, clean teeth and breath and relief from skin allergies.
Is he going to choke on the bones? Very unlikely,
if they are raw. Cooked bones are another issue; they can
splinter and be dangerous.
What about parasites and bacteria like salmonella and
e coli? Dogs are not human. Their systems are different
than ours. They have an extremely acidic gut that helps prevent
bacteria from colonizing and there are enzymes in their saliva
that have antibacterial properties. They have a higher bacteria
tolerance than we do. It is highly unlikely that a dog will
get sick from raw food, unless the dog is already immunocompromised.
Just be sure to use common sense and practice good hygiene
when you are feeding raw, just as you would when handling
raw meat while preparing your own meals.
More information on Raw Feeding and Raw Meaty Bones
There is a wonderful Yahoo
newsgroup on raw feeding that I highly recommend you check
out. Join it and just lurk for a few weeks. Read the postings,
read their suggested readings and ask some questions. That
is the best way to decide if raw feeding is right for you.
Raw feeding is not rocket science. In fact, you will be surprised
at how easy it is and it costs about the same as feeding your
pet a premium dog food.
Valerie Goettsch
Webmaster
Click to join rawfeeding
All statements made in this article
are my opinion and experience only. Please do your research
and make your own conclusions on whether raw feeding is right
for your dog.
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