Is Raw Meat Good for Your Dog?

by larry

http://spoiled-mutts.com Raw Meat Diet - Good For Your Dog?

I frequently receive emails asking my opinion on raw meat diets for dogs.

I will present my biased opinion momentarily but first a little background why I am qualified to answer this question.

I've been raising dogs for more than 30 years now. I've tested and retested various diets and have come to a final conclusion based on the longevity and health of not only pedigree dogs, but mutts as well.

Almost invariably I'm asked to compare dog food diets, raw meat diet vs home made dog food, and occasionally to compare these two dog food diets to commercial dog food.

I consider myself to be very well versed on all three dog food diets and have spent much time investigating every aspect of the three. Many of which I've written about on this blog.

My suggestion to you is to do your own thorough investigation before changing your dog’s diet. Not to listen to me or any other "dog food experts". After all, you are responsible for the health and well being of "mans very best friend" and must care for him as you would yourself.

Only you can make the decision on the outcome of your dog?s full and happy life.

The following is a response to an emailed question;

Hello Kathryn,

To me there is no debate regarding feeding a dog raw meat.

Domestic dogs must be conditioned to eat raw meat
by slowly adding it to their "normal" food and most
do not adjust, ever.

Domestic dogs in the US, Canada and many european
countries stopped eating raw meat over the past four
decades when we began feeding exclusively table
scraps and commercial dog foods.

These dogs are no longer conditioned to eat a raw
meat diet. They cannot safely and efficiently digest
and use the necessary vitamins, proteins and other
necessary complex minerals to remain healthy over a
long period of time on a raw meat diet.

Another danger of the raw meat diet is that many
proponents suggest and promote only raw meat, without
the addition of vegetables or other ingredients.

They automatically are shortening the dogs life by
many years and promoting this method to others wrongly
thinking they are improving the dogs overall health.

I say Phooey! to that idea.

The argument is that because they once were wild, this
is a natural diet. This simply is not true and this
is the basic argument for a raw meat diet. We were
once wild also, but alas, we no longer eat raw meat.
We could be conditioned to do so, but our health
would certainly suffer greatly, as does a dogs.

Raw meat, especially chicken, can cause numerous
medical issues with dogs, particularly when their owners
feed raw meat to them exclusively. Chicken, as you know,
contains salmonella and other bacteria that can create
numerous problems, not to mention the sharp, hard to
digest bones therein.

I believe anyone who proposes a raw meat diet for dogs
has not really investigated the issue. The so called
"raw meat diet experts" are pushing only one thing in my
opinion, "their supposed expertise. Certainly there
is enough proof that raw meat contains enough
toxoplasmosis, salmonellosis and E. coli to cause
various and serious infections and there is significant
proof that the blood work of dogs fed a raw meat diet
differs significantly from that of a "normal" dog, in
the negative sense.

As strongly as I disagree with feeding a dog commercial
dog foods, I would feed this before ever feeding a
raw meat diet.

Hope that answers your question on my position and
thanks for asking.

Congratulations on your decision to prepare home
made dog foods and good luck on your endeavor.

There is a good market for what you are doing,

Regards,
Lare

Raw Meat Diet - Good For Your Dog? NO!

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By; Lare Parsons
Author/writer with more than 30 years
raising & caring for multiple dog breeds.
http://spoiled-mutts.com