After reading this, would you still feed your dog a raw diet?

Question

http://www.pheasanttracks.com/raw.htm

This is very dangerous. Why would you harm your dog in such away- and where is your scientific evidence?PLease explain what the difference is between a wolf and a domesticated dog. I know- I just want to see if you do.

I challenge you people who feed the raw diet to have your pets stool samples cultured. Then I challenge you to have samples of your yard cultured and see what you come up with. The reason I asked if you knew the difference between a wolf and a domesticated dog was because I am sick of the argument that dogs are wolves so that means they can eat raw- which is not the case. I am sick of that arguement.

Having worked at a vet for the past 14 years,( I have been licensed for 12) every dog that I have seen that has been fed a raw diet is unthrifty, has health problems and has never had a normal stool. The owners just cant figure out why- gee I wonder why???

Did you know that the AVMA will not endorse a raw diet? Do you know why? If a human were to get a parasite or bacterial infecton from a dog that was fed this diet- the veterinarian can get sued and their liability insurance will not cover it. So it is our duty to educate people on the right thing to do.

Would you yourself eat a raw diet? Why not? Years and years ago we used to, before fire was discovered, so why not eat raw food? So why would you do this to your dog?

"Neither the American Veterinary Association nor the British Veterinary Association endorses the health benefits of raw food. Both organizations caution that animals fed raw meat run the risk of contracting food-borne illnesses. The British veterinary group declares that "there is no scientific evidence base to support the feeding of raw meat and bones," and warns humans they risk exposing themselves to bacteria like salmonella."[11]

http://www.jaaha.org/cgi/content/abstract/39/6/538

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=339295

Quote from article:
"Since dogs are a potential source for several zoonotic pathogens, feeding raw meats to dogs is also a public health concern (5). Given the current popularity of the BARF diet, concern about environmental contamination with Salmonella spp. from the stools of dogs fed this diet is obvious. There are no published studies examining that aspect of this nutritional trend. The present, preliminary study was conducted to determine if dogs fed a BARF diet shed Salmonella spp. in their stools."

http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1140397

Quote from article
"There is currently inadequate information regarding the safety of raw diets in terms of both animal and human disease. However, considering the variety of infectious and potentially zoonotic pathogens identified here and in other studies, the potential risks must be taken seriously. Given these safety concerns, the absence of any scientific data indicating beneficial health effects of raw diets, and nutritional deficiencies that have been reported with such diets, it is difficult to recommend their use at this point. Veterinarians should discuss the risks of raw diets to pet owners who have decided to feed these diets. As reports of real and potential problems with raw diets increase, liability issues could arise if veterinarians do not discuss the potential risks, particularly if they are recommending or selling raw diets. Factors that should be discussed include safe handling of raw diets, disin

Would you like me to keep going on and on? because I will

Answer 1

Thanks for posting this. I sure never felt comfortable about it.

Answer 2

Do you actually believe the rubbish written on that site? Do you actually think that I am going to feed my dogs raw if I hadn't researched it thoroughly first? Do you honestly believe that I would intentionally harm my dogs? What scientific evidence? That raw is best? How about four current dogs fed raw from the day they came into this house.....with not *one* vet visit for any of them......they are all different breeds (Collie, Terv, NZH/Collie cross, Aussie/Collie cross) and range in ages from 4 - 11 y/o. Not one illness in all that time. Does that sound like dogs that are being harmed? Your self-righteous attitude really p***es me off. I have studied raw for 14 years now. I have analysed raw diets to the nth degree, and I can assure you my dogs get every nutrient they require. Every dog is capable of eating a raw diet, if it's done properly. The only difference between a wolf and a domestic dog is their looks. Internally the digestive system is exactly the same......it has not changed at all in all those thousands of years of domestication, so don't try that issue. A chihuahua is as capable as eating raw as a wolf. Please stop being so condescending. I have a barf/raw list, and the dogs on there are not ill, they are not being sick, etc., etc. as your site says. In fact, my list is too sodding quiet because the dogs are all so well!!!!

Answer 3

I feed my dogs raw and they are fine. They do get canned green tripe made by solid gold every night which has potato in it. But for breakfast they get steak and eggs or pork ribs, or cornish hens, or I feed through a whole chicken, or turkey legs, or beef heart, they get organ meats once a week. I feed them fresh veggies and fruit sometimes and canned pumpkin. They get canned salmon with bones once a week. I also supplement with solid gold sea meal and fish oil. The article you supplied gives no numbers to support their claim. A "few and some" are not accurate figures. Did she meet the people and see the dogs she speaks of or did she she simply make them up or receive an email from a stranger?

Here is a rebuttal to the site you posted line for line.
http://rawfed.com/myths/rebuttal.html

Answer 4

There isn't a subject in the world that you can't find articles for that support both sides, especially an emotive subject like this. You have to be discerning with what you read on the internet - most of its rubbish, and this article would be an example of one that is not written in a particularly impressive way. It isn't scientific, it isn't even informal. The author claims to be involved in an 11-year independent study, but they don't seem to have much of a clue how to write a scientific paper. They don't even know how to properly reference!

Chalice

Answer 5

Yes, I would.

There are also plenty of web sites (and even doctors) that would tell me that the Atkins diet will kill me, ruin my kidneys, wreck my cholesterol, whatever. After two years of following it and RESEARCHING it, I know they are wrong. So am I going to chose a diet for my dog based on ONE person's opinion on the internet? Nope.

Here is Dr. Billinghurst's rebuttal to your article.
http://www.bestfrisbeedogs.com/mybluedog.html

BTW, I don't feed raw, most of my dogs eat kibble and one is on a cooked homemade diet, so I'm not a rabid raw-supporter. To each his own, I say. If you are feeding your dog what YOUR research has indicated is best for him, then I'm not going to argue with you.

Answer 6

First.. do you honestly believe *I* would purposely harm my dog? Since you don't know me you cannot make any assumptions. The way you pose your second question is inflammatory and is not conducive to leading a discussion.

I've read the article.. in several different places at various times. What I would like to know is prior to the invention of dog kibble in various forms a hundred years or so ago what do YOU believe dogs were fed? My guess is that through the millenia of dogs involvement with humans most of them survived off of scraps that humans did not eat. I know that 75 years ago my grandparents didn't have the money to purchase that "high falutin dog food" and that their working farm dogs (who also happened to be purebreds who were bred for their ability to work as well as for pin money for my grandmother) were fed scraps. These scraps included chicken heads, feet and innards as well as household scraps my grandmother didn't think were good enough for the pigs. Come butchering time the dogs were given scraped pig skulls... usually any bovine or deer heads in hunting season were just tossed to them as they were not used for human consumption. These dogs lived until they were 15-18 years old.. the average age of death in this same breed (Samoyed)now is 12-15.. and *I* believe the issue is a change in diet.

I have two primary breeds of dogs. Samoyeds and Bernese Mtn Dogs. The Sams are one of the oldest and most natural domestic breeds.. original instructions on feeding them when they came from the arctic was "toss them a medium frozen fish". These dogs will still hunt and consume wild game.. just as they did 100 years ago when pulled out of the arctic where the Samoyed people set them loose in the summer to forage for themselves. Do you honestly believe the Samoyed people spared fuel to cook dog fodder?

As far as the Bernese go.. with the high incidences of cancer in the breed I have chosen to be cognizant of every thing they put into their bodies... this includes feeding them the way my mentor feeds her dogs.. and the way her mentors in Switzerland feed their dogs. If it helps my dogs live longer, I'm all for it.

My dogs are healthy. Very healthy. As I've said in other posts.. I'll feed my dogs nearly anything that doesn't eat them first. I do not do a pure BARF diet.. because I like the notion of cooking up a touch of oatmeal with some eggs (shells and all) adding a can of mackeral and whatever form of fat I have around the house and then watching the dogs dance as they wait for it to cool. I even feed a high quality kibble from time to time as I don't like to travel with raw... and showing dogs means traveling.

The difference between wolves (which wolves? Timber? Arctic? Red?) and dogs is centurys of human tweaking and interference to create animals that serve some purpose in our lives. Genetically there is not much difference. You could still take Chihuahua semen and impregnate a female wolf.. and have viable pups capable of breeding.

I really hope you did not mean to sound as inflammatory and condescending as you did. Open, honest discussion is always appreciated among adults even when they have to agree to disagree.

EDIT

Its nice to hear that you're a vet and have done your research.. I do not hear you asking how we as raw feeders deal with salmonella issues in our dog feces (the same issue we all have every time we get ready to cook raw chicken). Or how we deal with worms.. which is most likely the same way your own practice advises for dogs that are out amongst other dogs or are actively working a farm. What I'd really love to know is where your practice is so that I can make sure not to help support a vet who is argumentative rather than working with potential clients. Feel free to email me at [e-mail].

Answer 7

i knew that feeding a dog a raw diet was dangerous, but i know that a wolf is wild and has lived on raw meat forever, but a domesticate dog was adapted to eat. and i know that bigger dogs can handle raw meat better, but thanx for postng that article

Answer 8

i would only feed my dog a raw diet if i found a dog in a wild palce like in the woods where nobody lives or like on the mountains or s/t becuz they probably all eat raw stuff anywayz but i would only feed them wat they like and wat it good 4 them!

Answer 9

i wish i had a dog...mom won't let me get one