Dogs have been eating raw meat for thousands of years so now why is it harmful to them?

Answer 1

Dogs and cats are carnivores, eaters of raw meat. Their systems are designed to extract protein and nutrients from meat in its naturally raw state. Carnivores are unable to break down complex carbohydrates. Dogs and cats have no use for corn, wheat, soy, rice or grain, which is the base ingredient used for most dry and canned foods, even the “healthiest” brands. Feeding dogs and cats carbohydrates that they cannot utilize, frequently leads to health problems. Furthermore, once meat is heated, during the canning or pelletizing process, most of the nutritional quality is lost.

Answer 2

It's not. At least, not any more harmful to them than it always was. In the wild, raw meat might have spongiform encephlopathy components and harmful germs, and if they ate already dead things that had been lying around, there might be toxic chemicals from decomposition that would make them sick.

People are probably advised not to feed dogs raw meat for the same reason that people should not eat it: the path from the animal to the table goes through many steps that are not sanitary. That's why you see in the news this or that fast-food place having a breakout of e. coli or worse.

Answer 3

It's not, but you have to consider that dogs 1000 yrs ago were living out in the wild and on their own. They were subject to parasites and sometimes died from it. No big deal, that's the way nature worked. Now, dogs are living in homes with humans and their children and if they get parasites and diseases from raw and low grade meats chances are they are endangering the people they live with. Just something to think about.
In addition, wild dogs would eat all components of a kill, including cartiledge, bones, organs and stomach contents which all contain important nutrients. If all you are feeding is the meat, the dog would be lacking those nutrients and you would have to substitute.

Answer 4

I feed a half raw diet, including raw meat. I do not get it at the grocery store though. I buy a cow every 4-7 months and it is prepared and frozen. The dogs prefer it frozen anyway.

And bacteria cannot be too bad a concern, my dog found some really old deer last week and ate soem of it before I could stop her!!!!! She was fine.

Answer 5

if the dog is use to earing raw then it can be ok but it is hard to get the right nutritional balance with raw feeding.
also domestic dogs arnt compleatly like the wild ones and can get food poisoning and have evolved to live on a diffrent diet.

there was an artical in "your dog" magazen about the pros and cons of a raw diet.

Answer 6

It's not. Many people feed raw meat including my folks. The dogs love it and it helps them to live longer, healthier lives.

Answer 7

it's harmful now because of all the disease and virus floating around inside of it. if the quality is good and germ free the dog can still eat raw meats and be healthy.

Answer 8

Have you heard of the B.A.R.F. Diet?
"BARF is an acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food and also stands for Bones And Raw Food,"

http://www.barfworld.com/

Alot of poeple feel that raw food is the best you can do for your dog, My breeder wants me to feed my dog the barf diet, raw meat and mashed veggies.

Im sorry, I just hate cooking

Answer 9

there is a lot more to meat nowdays, cows are giving fertity drungs and steriods,sheep and pig get drugs to cut down body fat and increase muscle and chickens eat less and less natural food.you want to get your dog some thing wild like deer but be careful like the drugs a dog pollution in it's system etheir

Answer 10

Did you ever tested out Eating for Energy (120 raw food diet recipes) program? Check out this site : http://www.StayEatingRaw.com/Guide . It may clearly support anybody!