There is a fair amount of controversy about raw food diets for dogs and dog owners can argue the pros and cons all day long.
Without having a debate on feeding raw food diets vs. dog food, these 2 questions are for our reader/trainers:
1. are you seeing students ‘feeding raw’ with puppies? (We’ve had a lot of questions about puppies and raw diets lately)
2. do you think dog owners ask their veterinarians about feeding raw diets first, or do they just read up on the topic and make their own choice?
Thanks so much for your insight. Next week, we’ll go back to behavioral topics.
AKC's Canine Good Citizen and S.T.A.R. Puppy Director, Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist
We have raised several dogs on RAW since puppy hood. We have had clients who have raised their puppy on RAW as well.
Most Vets are against feeding RAW so many who are interested in feeding RAW are reluctant to ask their Vet about it.
I’m just learning about raw now. Do you feel it is comparable price-wise to commercial dog food? What sort of meats/bones do you feed?
So did you learn about it through a book, another trainer? How old would the puppy be when you start it? Did you start with chicken?
I don’t feed raw to puppies but on occassion I feed raw chicken to my adult dogs, but main diet is dog food. My dogs like it as a treat. Just how different can the digestive system of a domesticated dog compared to a wild dog that doesnt have a choice but to eat raw meat? And the reason why I dont feed puppies is because I usually buy the leg or thigh with bone. Again going back to the domesticate compared to the wild dog, the wild dog has to eat bones and meat raw. I think its good for them. But I do feel they need more than just protein they are not cats they need veggies also.
I have a few of my clients that do and have been very pleased with the raw diet. I have seen good coat quality and skin with raw, but also see that as well with a grain-free diet (which I do with my own dogs). I find most people who feed raw have done so by their own research or word of mouth. I have yet to know of any local Vets who recommend RAW diet to their clients.
I see more and more going towards a ‘home prepared’ diet – either cooked or raw – simply because of the contaminant issues with processed foods and unknown outsourced ingredients – and no, they are not usually asking their vets; no really ‘health friendly’ vets in this area, and with the new AVMA position even ‘raw’ advocates will not be openly (if at all) recommending it,
We all know (or should know ) safe handling methods for ANY food – ours or the dogs.
I’ve fed a home prepared diet for years – but always recommend several nutritionists web sites and publications for education first – it’s not a ‘one size fits all’ way – just like processed foods – some dogs get along better on one ‘brand’ than another – same thing.
One of my dogs has grain allergies and I have been feeding raw (raw meat, bones, and organs) for about 5 years. He has thrived on it. My other two dogs got switched to raw when my older female (now 11) started showing signs of incipient kidney disease. After a year of raw feeding, her kidney panels were completely normal. So I am a huge fan of raw feeding. I spent quite a bit of time researching it, learned about the few rules for raw feeding (proportions, amounts, etc.) then tried it and liked it. Most vets grew up like the rest of us being taught that we should never give our dogs bones, but the raw feeding plan feeds only raw bones which have not been dessicated by cooking, which makes them brittle and leads to dangerous splinters. Of course a dog can choke on anything, and I keep an eye on my dogs when I give them bones, but I have had zero problems. Occasionally I find a vet who has educated him/herself on the subject and is a fan, but most vets tend to look at me like I’m crazy when I say I’m raw feeding my dogs.
I live in an area that isn’t exactly progressive when it comes to dog training, feeding, and care.
None of my students have mentioned an interest in raw diets, but I know (from discussions with local butchers and farmers) that there are several people in my area who feed raw.
My own dogs (a 6 year old GSD/Beagle mix, a 6 year old Chihuahua, and a 2 year old Pug) eat a combination of kibble/vegetables/supplements (breakfast) and raw (dinner). They are thriving on this diet; my vet has commented on their “glowing good health.” The older dogs’ teeth are brilliant white with very little evidence of tartar and my Pug’s digestive sensitivities have improved greatly.
When I began, I didn’t discuss it with my veterinarian (who recommends Science Diet), but spent a great deal of time researching canine nutrition and consulting with people who’ve been feeding raw for years.
this is something i’ve been studying off and on for the past 2 years. i grew up with dogs and never considered feeding them anything other than dog food because that’s what i was taught. why not? dog foog companies surely have our pets’ best interests at heart, right? wrong. i didn’t know this until i found my now 2 yr old Lab ambling down the street at 2 months old… the day before an ice storm. i hadn’t had a dog since 2001 (school full time and tons of traveling abroad) and never thought twice about nutrition other than kibble. after buying her a quick bag of Pedigree Puppy and feeding her that for 2 months, i began to question the ingredients – she was STINKY! i posted the question to my friends on FB about what food they feed and got some mixed responses and one friend is a vet tech and her boyfriend is a vet and she mentioned Fromm’s and to stay away from the lower brands and, if anything, homemade is best and she could help me with some recipes. that got my brain churning and questioning.
i’d also seen a picture Dr. Karen Becker had posted of one of her Rotties eating raw chicken legs and was shocked! i couldn’t believe a vet would let their dog do this! i’d always learned poultry bones were no-no’s! after a little more digging and research within the next few days after seeing that picture, i started calling around to random vets and asking their thoughts on raw and homecooked for dogs. they ALL adamantly said NO and that kibble is best blah blah blah, but they didn’t have any explanation as to why other than “kibble is specially formulated”, etc… but when i asked about kibble ingredients they got really defensive and annoyed that i was asking questions.
i wasn’t satisfied so i read as much as i could and joined groups on FB and Yahoo and learned ALOT! it’s intimidating for sure because there are some raw feeders who are total snobs and don’t have patience for beginners (yet they want everyone to automatically know what to do). i had questions about bacteria and safety and had issues with bones and digestion, etc and decided to go further and learn about a dog’s digestive system and how it works and how it relates to and promotes health with all other systemic functions!
a dog’s digestive system is much different than many people realize- it’s the shortest in the mammal world. their digestion doesn’t start in the mouth with saliva like ours does, they also have a higher concentration of hydrochloric acid in their stomachs (for bone and bacterial break-down), their digestive tracts and process is faster and doesn’t allow for enough time to spoil and cause foodborne illness like human stomachs and small intestines (this is all assuming we’re talking about a healthy, properly functioning dog, of course). their bodies are made for this! they also require more water in their diets and raw food provides that (or homecooked). dry food, among a list of other nasty ingredients, has sodium and pulls water out or they need to compensate by drinking more water.
many people will say that dogs are omnivores and this is true to an extent, but they’re made to eat MEAT and FAT and BONE! supplements are good if needed – probiotics, glucosamine/chondroitin, Omega 3/6, but this all needs to be in the right proportion to ensure your dog is getting everything they need and not too much of one thing or another. it takes time and patience and a good support system to figure this out, but it will be better for your dog in the long run! promise!
the only reason it’s not more mainstream or that it’s so taboo is because there’s no published research in place to back it up. why do you think this is? there’s a monopoly in the pet food industry. vets don’t have focused classes in nutrition, or they’re sponsored by Hill’s and, well, they end up prescribing it and selling it as the best! yuck! nutrition is the fundamental basis of health for all living things and your dog is no different. would you eat kibble? why not? why should your dog?
there are plenty of resources out there for learning about canine nutrition, as well as groups and forums for questions and support. it really depends on you, your wallet, your time… it does need to work for you and your particular situation because it should be consistent so that your dogs are getting the right balance of nutrients (ex: too much calcium can be bad! too much fat or organ meat isn’t good! etc) and don’t be scared to be “new” and ask questions. if you’re a little hesitant about something, that’s ok, too. it’s a learning process and it’s something you should be comfortable with and not forced. if you’re not interested in raw, homecooked is good, too!!!!
heck, anything’s better than kibble!
and regarding the price comparison of feeding raw vs kibble, it can be a little more expensive, but there are groups to help find butchers and good deals on meats. an investment into a good deep freezer is good, too! but if you think about all the issues dogs have and why they go to vets (for diabetes or chronic liver/kidney conditions, etc) and the amount of money you could spend on medication, etc, introducing a new, healthy diet will likely stem these issues and can even correct them without the need for medication. think of it as preventative nutrition (or therapeutic nutrition) and the long term benefits it will have on your dog… and your pocket book
Will you please let us know where you found your information. I am very interested in this since my boxer has many allergy problems and it would be great to know where to start researching.
Thanks,
Charisse
I think it’s down to personal choice and in many cases financial constraints . But I think organic dog is right, making sure your dog has a good balanced diet is the most important thing. I’m a pet store owner and unfortunately I have to also agree that vets are often promoting the food of their sponsors and many of the canned and dried food on offer whilst fortified with vitamins are also loaded with added fillers, which will eventually lead to conditions such as diabetes and digestion problems in later life. This is compounded by the fact that many dog owners, especially those with large families simply can’t afford to buy quality dog food and end up buying discounted food on the cheaper end of the market many of which have very little nutritional value.
Many pet owners need educating on pet nutrition and as the previous poster touched on, if they factored in the cost of future vet bills, paying extra for good nutrition works out cost effective in the long run.
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