Ever since a rise in pet food recalls and problems with contaminated pet food, pet owners are getting more educated regarding the pet food industry. Many are doing their research and finding out that dogs and cats were designed by nature to digest natural, unprocessed food that consists primarily of protein.
Dry kibble, no matter how "premium," is not healthy for any dog or cat, especially one with health issues of any kind. Kibble is high in carbohydrates, and the brands that boast they are low-carbohydrates are not compensated with extra protein--making it even lower in quality and nutrition. Kibble often derives its proteins from plants rather than meats, meaning it does not supply your pet with his basic nutritional needs. This includes Science Diet and other dry kibble prescribed by your veterinarian.
"It's important to note that veterinarians have no formal education in nutrition, vitamins, minerals, or supplementation unless they seek it out themselves outside of their training," said Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM, a holistic veterinarian who practices in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.
Of prescription food like Hill's, Dr. Carol said, "these diets are commercial, not organic, and filled with chemicals and by-products. The more we get such ingredients our of our bodies the better; for pets and humans alike."
Enter home-cooking and raw food. Home cooking for your pets can be safer than feeding store-bought brands, with two exceptions:
1) Pet owners interested in home cooking for their pets need to research which foods are safe to include. Garlic, onions, grapes, raisins, and chocolate are just a few of many ingredients that can be toxic and deadly to dogs and cats. Likewise, some ingredients are absolutely essential and must somehow be included, like taurine for cats, and calcium.
2) Studies have shown that cooking food removes and destroys many of the key nutrients that are beneficial to the unique systems of dogs and cats. Our pets have come from thousands of years of ancestors who feasted on raw prey. Commercial pet foods were not popularly used until the mid-1900s, and were invented for the convenience of pet owners.
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Raw food is the healthiest option for pets. While raw meat is dangerous to humans, pet owners need to remember that our pets' biological makeup is very different from our own. The digestive tract of dogs and cats is very short and acidic, making it the ideal environment to break down the nutrients of food in its most natural form - raw - and quickly expel the leftovers. This is why lions and cougars can feast on a carcass that has been laying in the sun for hours, and why wolves and coyotes can bury their prey only to dig it up days later to finish.
But wait - what about all those reports of dogs getting salmonella poisoning from contaminated dry food? What happened with their short, acidic digestive systems then? The answer lies in, once again, the unnatural state of dry kibble. Processed foods like dry kibble sit in our pets' systems for 8-12 hours while their bodies work to break down all the extra added fillers, grains, and chemicals. This is very hard on their systems.
When dry kibble sits in a bag in a damp warehouse, there is plenty of time for all kinds of questionable overseas ingredients, chemicals, and bacteria to invade and multiply in the bag...and then again in your pet's system. Raw food, however, is not processed and is digested in under 5 hours. With raw food from a known, trusted source, the food is farmed, packaged, and frozen quickly, killing much of the bacteria, then thawed at your home and served straight from the refrigerator. Raw food is eaten immediately and the bowl is taken up; there is no "free grazing" in raw feeding and bacteria has no time to multiply when handled correctly.
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But this doesn't mean that you should grab some ground beef from the grocery store and set it down for your dog or cat. Raw feeding is not that simple. Here are some tips to make sure you give your pet the proper amount of nutrition:
- Make sure you buy your meat from a trusted source (Northeast Ohio residents see the next article, Where Can I Buy Raw Pet Food In Cleveland). Organic is the safest, as are whole meats. (If you want to feed beef, offer cut up pieces of steak, don't buy ground beef from the grocery store. Frozen ground formulas especially for pets are fine.)
- Research what must be included in raw feeding and what should not. Raw meat is not enough; pets also need bones and organs for calcium, vitamins and nutrients. Good places to start and return to for refreshment are: CatInfo.org for cats and RawLearning.com for dogs.
- Some commercial frozen raw brands are recommended by raw-feeding veterinarians because their makeup is closest to that of your pet's natural prey diet. This eliminates questioning, measuring, hard work, and opens freezer space. The one down side of these foods is they do not clean your pet's teeth like gnawing on raw bones does. Your pet will need professional teeth cleanings and/or you'll need to brush their teeth. Nature's Variety is one such brand, and is readily available at many pet local stores.
- Veterinarians and pet food nutritionists disagree on whether anything should be added to raw food for supplementation, like fruits, vegetables, and vitamins. However, consensus seems to be that dogs fare better with fruits, vegetables, and grains than cats do. The prey diet is supposed to mimic what your pet would eat naturally, so no supplementation should be needed. But it won't hurt, unless you have a pet with IBS - in which case, you should eliminate all grains and limit fruits and vegetables.
- Get your pet used to variety, which is a big key to health! Try to feed one type of meat at a time, but rotate daily or weekly between chicken, beef, rabbit, duck, venison, and turkey.
- Some pets require that their diet be switched slowly to avoid stomach upset, change refusal, and stress. Never feed raw food together with dry kibble because of the difference in digestion times. If you must feed raw and kibble during transition, feed one in the morning and one in the evening. Mixing raw with canned or pounched food, however, is fine. Grain free should be considered, however, as it is closer in likeness to raw food.
- Many people are frightened to feed bones, claiming that pets can break their teeth and choke. Raw bones are fine if given at an appropriate size for the pet. They are easily chewed, completely digested, and the perfect source of calcium. Cats can easily chew up small chicken rib bones and work their way up to wings, thighs, and necks. Cooked bones should NEVER be fed, because cooking removes the bone's moisture and flexibility, causing splintering.
It's important to accept that not all foods work for all beings. Some cats do great on anything while some can't seem to handle beef. Some pets like rabbit and some do not. Some pets will gain weight eating the same food as their thin housemates. Resist the idea of setting down one food that all pets will, can, or should eat. Pay attention to your pet's coat, eyes, ears, and teeth for signs of malnutrition.
References:
Dr. Carol Osborne, DVM; American Pet Institute, Chagrin Falls, OH
Dr. Lisa A Pierson, DVM; Lomita, CA
Dr. Elizabeth Hodkins, DVM; Practicing at All About Cats Health & Wellness Center, Orange County, CA
Where to buy raw pet food in Cleveland, Akron and Northeast Ohio
Comments
I enjoyed your article. Compliments on your thoroughness and command of the subject. I had hoped that vets had more knowledge of nutrition than medical doctors, but apparently not.
Cats in the wild eat stomach contents of their prey, usually herbivores, so they have evolved to require small amounts of plant-based foods. If not included in a mix they would need access to grass, at least, in addition to an all-meat diet. At least you mentioned the importance of a safe source of raw meat and proper handling. Organisms such as salmonella and Toxoplasma gondii can be present in raw meat and cause disease in humans who come into contact with feces of animals who have eaten the meat. (Toxoplasmosis is why pregnant women are advised not to clean litter pans. Indoor-only cats with no access to raw meat have lower cases of toxoplasmosis.) Can you tell us which raw food diets have passed AAFCO testing?
Thanks Leigh for the informative article. I've shared a home all my life with furry family members (mostly in Chagrin Falls) where only once did I have the privilege of working with a country Vet who practiced this wisdom.
Norak: as I wrote, vets (and raw feeders) disagree about the need for plants, fruits, veggies, etc. Brands like Nature's Variety include 5% to mimic the stomach contents of prey, but some argue that pets with IBS should not have anything but meats/bones/organs.
There was so much more I could have covered including going more in-depth regarding handling. Having heard of toxoplasmosis as a danger for pregnant women long before I ever heard of feeding pets raw, that could be an article in itself. But, the title of this article is regarding pet safety.
Regarding AAFCO, not I cannot. Seeing as many raw feeders buy whole meat direct from a butcher or farmer, I don't think many would care. While raw food can help with symptoms such as diarrhea immediately (as it did for my cat), its main benefit is in prevention and long-term health. So, I'm not sure a 26 week trial would matter much. Pets can survive for years on food less nutritious than they deserve, doesn't mean they are thriving.
We eat Nature's Variety medallions, and it is AAFCO certified. It took me a couple of weeks to transition from canned food (EVO) to raw, but now I LOVE it. I have a much bigger appetite now, more energy and really look forward to mealtimes.
Interesting, I have never even considered a raw food diet for my cats, but after reading this Im concerned with the dry food I give them. Thanks for the info Leigh... nice article.
Jaime
Great information!
The raw food diet has meant so much to our dog, Sweetie. She’s a beautiful young collie mix, but developed a skin rash that we couldn’t get rid of.
We tried everything… expensive shampoos, medication, hypoallergenic kibble—nothing seemed to help much.
Sweetie would chew her skin raw and even bite her toenails. Her skin and lips were pink and inflamed, and she constantly itched and scratched. Sometimes her tummy would get so red it would bleed… and her feet smelled, too!
After switching to Paw Naturaw, www.PawNaturaw.com, the difference in Sweetie’s skin has been tremendous. All the itching, scratching, stinky feet and red spots cleared up within a week!
Her coat is glossy and thick, and her skin is white again. She also has increased energy, and is lean and trim, with great muscle tone.
We can’t believe how quickly the change took place, and we recommend this diet to everyone—especially for dogs with allergies.
Very poor information about Veterinarians not knowing about nutrition. This school of thought is a fad and will go by the wayside when millions of pet owners' dogs and cats start dying of kidney disease. Keep doing what you are doing and see what happens. I will stick with my commercial pet food (what motivation do the companies have to harm your pet?). I have had HUGE success for YEARS feeding Science Diet, and all vets have recommended it to me. I feel sorry for those listening to internet message boards/blogs over their Veterinarians. Quite comical.
Nick, that was a quote directly from a Veterinarian. She saw first hand that her coursework was void of nutrition topics. Veterinarians are given seminars by Science Diet representatives and then in turn get a kick back to sell their food. The commercial food companies don't seek to *harm* our pets, they only seek to use inexpensive fillers like corn and unnatural ingredients to raise the protein levels. I use commercial foods too, along with raw food. But there are some commercial foods I won't feed because they aren't as healthy. (Hostess might not seek to harm us with their cupcakes, but that doesn't mean it's healthy or I should eat it every day!) I just want readers who are curious about feeding raw to know that it IS safe if you do it correctly, to not take every word from their vet as the end-all be-all, and to seek out alternatives. Variety is the key to health for our pets.
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