Pros & Cons of Raw Dog Food?

Question

A coworker just told me that he is thinking of switching his puppy to raw dog food (as in raw meat). He says he spoke to a salesperson last night and the salesperson thinks it's the best thing ever and his dog will be the healthiest it's ever been.

My coworker suggested I switch my dog as well, but I'm a little uneasy about it. What are the pros & cons of a raw diet for a dog? Do you have any experiences with it?

Thanks! :o)

Answer 1

well first, i would not buy any meat just from a grocery store. I would buy supplemented frozen meat from a holistic pet store.

Some people say raw diets don't need to be supplemented, but I think they need to, depending on your dogs own personal needs and requirements (age, joint health, skin and coat, etc)

I would supplement with vitamins and minerals, and enzymes. but again, some people say raw meat doesn't need it. I wouldnt take a chance though myself unless I did alot more reading to understand why raw meat doesnt need supplements.



Here are my opinions only based on my feelings and what I've read:



Cons:

1. expensive. It would cost about $10 a day or a little less to feed my 2 dogs (one medium to large breed the other small) supplemented frozen meat.

2. you have to know what youre doing. You have to make sure youre feeding enough, you have to make sure your dogs getting enough nutrients, and I would say you have to add fruits and veggies at least weekly.

3. and like i said above, i'm afraid about not giving them enough vitamins and enzymes and probiotics and all that.

4. Most vets will turn their nose down to raw diets.

5. if they got sick, and need to be fed special food, will be hard to make the switch, as their digestive systems will not be used to kibble



Pros:

ALOT HEALTHIER THAN MOST KIBBLE OUT THERE





Overall, I'm too afraid to make the jump to raw food diet and i dont think i trust it. i'm looking into more about adding healthy "people" food to my dogs kibble. Like good veggies, fruit, eggs, meat, and how much and when. right now i just give those things as training treats.

And feeding a kibble with no corn in it..

EVO is an alternative to raw food diet in kibble form..

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

Negatives



Price. I know that it can be expensive to feed raw, especially when you have more than one dog or a large breed.



There is still controversy on whether or not it’s healthiest. Some people believe that dogs are too far removed from their wild canine ancestors to be fed this diet. I disagree, they have only been eating dry food for less than 100 years, before that and even now they eat raw meat. But it would be a good idea to research it and see whether or not you agree.



Bone’s can possibly fracture and puncture something. This is very rare but still is a possibility. I honestly don't think it will ever happen if they bones aren't cooked. But some people insist that it does, once again do your research.



Not getting a balanced diet. If you don’t do the research or go about it correctly you could end up not getting your dog important nutrients that are essential in a dog’s diet.



The squeamish factor. Some people just don’t feel comfortable feeding raw.



The ability to keep a lot of frozen food in a freezer and/or have the choice to buy it as need be, possibly every day or so.



Time. Some people don’t have the time to set aside times to prepare, feed, and then clean up after a raw feeding.



Resources, some people can’t get quality raw meat to feed their dogs.



Disease- The dogs will not be affected by the diseases on the raw meat, but if you don't clean up after your self you could be.



Positive



Health. Once again this is my opinion based on my research.



Many dogs are prone to allergies, many of which is caused by the low quality ingredients and grain used in dog food. Feeding raw takes out all the grains and gives you almost complete control over what your dog is eating.



While not feeding grains can still be accomplished through feeding a high quality grain free kibble it is my opinion that cooking takes too many valuable nutrients out of the food.



Dogs have evolved on this diet. While many will try and say that they have become domesticated to the point of not being able to eat raw meat, I disagree. I believe when choosing a diet for a domesticated animal we should base it off of what they would eat in the wild, and what they had evolved on and then make allowances for the domestication. But dogs have not been fed dry food that long when all the time that they have been around is taken into consideration. But once again, this is something that needs to be researched and decided by oneself.



Allergies. Many dogs with allergies seem to become much healthier and less allergy prone once on a raw diet.



The bones are a natural teeth cleaner. They keep the dogs teeth from becoming covered and plaque and provide a great source of calcium.



Their digestive system has evolved to eat raw meat. Dry and canned are harder to digest, covered in bacteria that they can't fight off (unlike the bacteria on the raw) and foods without a high water content (raw has a water content from 50%-70%) lead to bloat and can contribute to other diseases.



Supporting a company that promoted raw. When you feed kibble in most cases you’re feeding a dog food that is made by a large chain company. If you feed pre packaged raw this is also true (though they are making a healthier food) but if you aren’t feeding raw that’s from a company you are most likely not supporting a large company, which is always a plus in my book.



To me really the positives all seem to come down to a healthier, happier, hopefully longer lived dog.



I hope this helps a little

Answer 4

I'm going through this debacle right now myself actually. I'm not happy with the current events at Timberwolf (it's still a good food, but they seem to lack customer service skills and organization on a corporate level). I'm consideing feeding raw, but I'm not sure I could stomach it, even if it's the best for my dogs. I love the idea of a raw meaty bone and the dental benefits it has. I love the idea of raw meat and the benefits it have. But when it comes to the execution, I don't think my stomach likes the idea of watching my dogs dive into raw meat. Also, premade raw food is VERY expensive (averages about $5 a pound and my 40lb dog would need about a pound of food a day).



What I will probably end up doing is switching to Innova EVO and serving a pre-made raw a couple times a week (about 3 times a week). That way, they'll still get some of the benefit of raw and if I have to travel with my service dog or board my dogs. They will be okay with kibble.



I'm looking at doing Primal brand nuggets if you were wondering.



Good luck!

Answer 5

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Since it is obvious that you do not have a clue about obedience training, your services should be for free. You cannot train even an adult dog for 8 hours a day. About the most that can be done at any one time is 10 - 20 minutes and that is with an adult dog and not a puppy. The attention span on this baby is extremely short and training session should be no more than 10 minutes and twice a day. Additionally, there isn't going to be much learned if you will only be training for 5 days. Obedience training is cumulative and is done over a much longer period of at least several weeks to several months.

What you can charge is determined by your experience, reputation, and accomplishments and in a case like this, should also include guaranteed expectations. Just working with dogs over several years, is not the experience that is necessary to be a dog trainer. There are too many people who are putting that title to their name and fleecing the public. Don't be one of them.

Answer 6

I've been successfully feeding a raw food diet for 15 years. I do, however, use high quality kibble as training rewards.



Pros:

*Healthy dogs- fewer trips to the vet. I've had NO ear infections, NO need for anal gland cleaning, NO itching/dry skin, NO allergy issues, NO TEETH CLEANING!



*Alert, active, mentally acute dogs- I train Service Dogs and see a marked difference when I train a dog who has been on kibble and I move him to a raw diet.



*Knowing the QUALITY of the product going in to the dog. I have no worries that I am feeding my dog any substance that a dog shouldn't be eating.



*Price: I feed 3 Bernese and a Samoyed. Feeding raw is less expensive than feeding a high quality kibble such as Innova Evo. I buy/get meat from a variety of sources.



*Less waste: I have not cleaned my yard in over a year. The poop decomposes and washes away into the grass within a day or so. (compared to a kibble poop from a visiting dog.. the poop remained intact for 6 weeks!!)



*I believe its a more natural way of feeding dogs, and is very similar to the way my grandparents fed their Samoyeds 40 years ago. Life expectancy of their dogs was 15-17. Life expectancy today is 12-15.. I firmly believe the difference is the quality of the diet.



*My dogs look fantastic. I win at dog shows.



Cons:

*It requires some studying to learn how to balance the diet out over the course of a few weeks. (not every meal must be balanced but balance must be achieved over time).



*It requires a large freezer if you are going to do it with any cost efficiency.



*It requires some degree of cleanliness so the humans in the house don't get salmonella (handling poultry is hazardous whether its for dogs or humans) *I* have never had an issue with it.



Edit: What I feed my dogs raw is not very different in appearance from what I myself eat after cooking. Chicken, turkey, ground meat (stuff for the dogs comes from the butcher and has some organ meat in it) meaty bones (commonly called soup bones when intended for human consumption). I quite often buy whole chickens, strip off breasts and legs or whatever for human consumption and feed the rest to the dogs. Yes, its handling raw meat... but I have to do that if *I* want to eat too.

Answer 7

Hi Green Eyes,

I am a dog trainer and I have successfully fed my dogs the raw diet for 3 years. I think that it is the responsible thing to do to call your vet. In MY experience with my local vets they are ABSOLUTELY NOT versed in raw feeding. My personal vet warned me against the process, siting that the dogs would not get the nutrients that they needed and they may develop food poisioning. AFTER my first 2 years of feeding he finally agreed with me that it was OK.



Vets generally don't spend very much time in schooling on this subject (approx. 4 hours on general dog nutrition to become a vet is what I have been told by VETS) So they aren't the be all end all when it comes to the subject.



I have found that out of ALL of the packaged food that I have sampled over the years with my dogs NOTHING comes close to providing the balanced nutrition that a raw food diet gives. The only con is cleanup and prep time. It isn't quite as fast as scooping out some dry food.



You can do more research yourself to see if it is the right choice for you and your pooch by searching B.A.R.F or raw food diets for dogs.

Answer 8

I was looking into this as well, but I don't have the freezer space for it. There are some raw feeders on this site that I'm sure will be of more help to you, so I starred your question.



Pros are that you know exactly what your dog is eating... so no worries about recalled pet food. They tend to defecate less, which means less yard clean up for you. In the dog having a better diet, there is also the advantage of having less vet bills in the future.



Cons are the storage issue. I have heard that you really should have an extra freezer for this. While some say it is more time consuming, it is cheaper to buy in bulk, separate the food into individual meals, then freeze. So in one day, you will have all your dogs food for a month. Then each day, put a few meals in the fridge to defrost.

Answer 9

My 5 year old Doberman has been on RAW diet based on the whole prey model. It has been great for him, his coat and skin are healthier, his breath is better smelling and his doggie waste is less in size, frequency and odor. Basic pros and cons:

Pros: Natural ,antibiotic and hormone free food is ALWAYS healthier for humans and dogs, It is the way nature intended our canines to eat, And I've had less vet visits because of less GI upset or issues

Cons: Can be costly, there is allot of info to research, you need to ensure they dog is getting all the nutrients they need, when traveling- storing the food may be an issue, and you need to make sure you have a good hygiene system going since you can spread salmonella and ecoli to yourself !

Answer 10

Prey model raw has been excellent for our dogs, improving their weight, coat, leanness, shininess, energy level, and overall wellness. It's even improved a few major medical problems, like chronic liver disease and severe allergies. No recipes-- just 80 percent muscle meat, 10 percent bone, 10 percent organ. No supplements or add-ons, which can easily unbalance the diet. I try to feed the raw diet in large pieces-- whole chicken, etc.-- if possible. The gnawing is better for dental health, and larger pieces prevent choking. But I do use a variety. I think it's best to buy on sale or in bulk, then pre-measure portions using a cheap little kitchen scale. You can put the pre-measured portions in baggies, and then freeze the baggies in a big cardboard box or extra large plastic bag in the freezer. Each night, take out the next day's portions and put them in the fridge to defrost overnight. Then, in the morning, you can just toss the portion to your dog. You'll also learn tricks to save money and time as you go along. For example, I use a lot of chicken backs, because they're cheap (like 20 cents a pound!), and they include meat, bone, and organ stuck to the frame. I really like the books "Raw Meaty Bones Work Wonders" by Tom Lonsdale and "Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs" by Lew Olson-- and I got them both for really cheap on Amazon. Also-- switch "cold turkey" (no pun intended), and not gradually. Dogs digest raw food very quickly, which is why the bacteria in it isn't harmful to them. Kibble is digested much more slowly, and those differing rates of digestion can cause problems with bacteria. That's also why it's not advisable to feed kibble *and* raw, even at different meals. Good luck! And: Raw is not a "fad," Beatty!! It's a dog's *natural* diet, from thousands of years ago...



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Answer 11

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Answer 12

Pros:

http://www.rawmeatybones.com/papers.php

Cruise around that site for a bit. It's pretty good.



Cons. In some areas the cost of raw feeding is higher than kibble. Mostly this depends on which raw feeding program you are looking into. I feed RPM (raw prey model) and it is cheaper unless I'm ordering from a wholesaler.



add: My fan club is here today:P, Forgot to mention that finding the cheapest/highest quality deals is a hassle but it gets to the point where it's kind of a game. A friend and I have contests each month to see who can get the best deals on hormone/chemical free meats.

Answer 13

I did consider but rejected raw feeding based on our breeder's experience (and problems) with it.



I don't think there is one feeding method that is perfect for every dog (or dog owner) and there are some dogs that have problems with raw feeding - broken teeth, choking, problems for dogs prone to pancreatitis or with lowered immunity to disease. (The first two are probably not an issue with a ground commercial product, but you give up more control over the quality of the ingredients.)



However, many dogs do thrive on raw feeding and there are many knowledgeable owners and breeders who are committed to raw feeding.



Consider carefully *your* dog and good luck.

Answer 14

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Answer 15

HA! Gee, I wonder why the guy SELLING the stuff would think it's excellent ;-)

Worked in pet food store for years.



Would not recommend raw food diet.



A high quality dry & canned food is easier, safer, and because there is such a demand for it improvements have

been constant, so it's formulated very, very well.



I mean, good quality foods. I like nutro, it's a good food

for the price.

No Iams. No Eukanuba.

Science Diet's okay.



Innova, California Natural, Avoderm, Solid gold, all great foods.

The concerns with raw food diets are obvious: illness from

spoilage, and bad teeth from constantly eating soft food.

Dogs in the wild ate on the bones. Raw food kind of requires

that you devote yourself to defrosting, extra precautions

to avoid salmonella, and it's not worth the hassle.



If you show dogs and they are your complete lifestyle, it'd

probably work out, because you would then know what to

do to counteract any deficiencies from a raw food diet.



Also, the diet needs to be changed GRADUALLY, over a period of months, or you'll be dealing with raw food at

one end and raw sewage at the other ;-)



Hope that helps. Salesmen are only interested in hooking

someone else.

Answer 16

Pros: My dog loves it. She no longer throws up. Her stools are very regular. Her coat is shiny. She is active and muscular. Her allergies have subsided. She does not have gas as much as she use to. She has NEVER gotten sick from her raw diet.



Cons: It can be expensive. Raw chicken is really gross to look at. They digest it much faster than kibble (in ~ 4 hours, dry kibble digests in ~12 hours) . Because of this, my dog gets an all organic kibble in the morning and raw food in the evening.



You should really give it a try and see the difference for yourself. Hopefully, it works for you!

Answer 17

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If properly trained, they should also understand whistle and gesture equivalents for all the relevant commands, e.g. short whistle or finger raised sit, long whistle or flat hand lay down, and so on.



It's important that they also get gestures and whistles as voice may not be sufficient over long distances and under certain circumstances.

Answer 18

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Answer 19

I think that a raw diet is the best for your dog.



However, it is important that you kill the meat yourself. I would suggest local game, perhaps a chicken at a local farm or perhaps you might know someone who is into hunting, they can help you learn to shoot.



This is very important because it allows you to choose the the proper meat right from the start. Once you have "dressed" the meat it will provide you with a great opportunities to include various healthy additives such as pure bovine bile, which is very good for adding years to your dogs life.



I have been feeding Rango, a Fox Tarrier raw chicken heart with a mixture of vitamin e, raw organic cow intestine, plus bovine bile for three years now, and she appears healthier and healthier every day.



The only down side to all of this is that I can't kill the cow myself. This limits me from picking the best for Rango. Anyways, I hope this helps you and your dog have a long and healthy life.

Answer 20

That dog is going to grow up. If he decides I don't feel like buying meat any more or this is to expensive. It is very very hard to get them to eat dog food once they get use to only eating raw meat.

Answer 21

Did you tested Eating for Energy (120 raw food diet recipes) technique? Go to this url : http://www.StayEatingRaw.com/Support . Possibly this could immediately instruct anybody!

Answer 22

Remember,dogs are ANIMALS. They have the resources in their bodies to eat,digest,and live off of raw food diets. Before they were domesticated,they were wild animals that survived only off of raw foods. I believe it to be much more healthy to do a raw food diet than to do a normal dog food diet. Besides, theres more deaths each year from bad dog food companies(Diamond,etc.) than deaths from raw foods. If you can afford it, go with Raw food diets.

Answer 23

CALL YOUR VET! Personally no way. NO NO NO, go ahead and shoot me down, but I've no problems with my dogs. My Rottweiler lived to 13yr.s, 2 German Shepherds 18yr.s and the other 15 yr.s. They all ate Iams dry only. I've worked for 6 vets and not 1 likes the idea. There is going to be people out there saying well thats what wolves eat. They have no choice, and they also don't live very long. Just please make some phone calls to the vets and ask. This sale persons, and breeders out there didn't go to collage to find out what's best for our domestic animals. Also with all my past and current dogs, I've no teeth needed to be pulled, no vomiting/diarrhea problems, skin and coats been wonderful, no allergies, no problems. None past with cancer either. I currently have 4, my parents have 4 they follow the same our neighbor has 3 does the same. All our animals are healthy ages range from 13yr. down to 4yr.s.

Answer 24

Raw food diets have been shown to help the body deal with many common ailments such as flea infestations, hot spots, continual shedding, poor dental & gum health, allergies, gastro-intestinal problems such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, immune disorders and degenerative diseases. Diet is the foundation of health. The fresher the diet, the more nutrients are available for the animal's system to utilize in building immunity, healing from illness and warding off disease.

http://www.onlynaturalpet.com/KnowledgeBase/knowledgebasedetail.aspx?articleid=5&Keywords=

Answer 25

Ehm..

One of the best sites around is The Online Dog trainer. It has fantastic videos on establishing yourself as the pack leader and live better with your furry friend. Here is the link: http://www.goobypls.com/r/rd.asp?gid=572

Have a nice day

Answer 26

Here is a page that will answer your question for you! It talks about feeding raw meat to cats and dogs. I hope it helps!

http://www.caberfeidh.com/Safe.htm

Answer 27

Raw meat contains undamaged: amino acids, protein, fat, antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, & minerals.

Cooked meat contains damaged: amino acids, protein, vitamins, & minerals. Questionable bioavailability. Mutated trans-fats, and no enzymes or antioxidants.



Raw bone contains undamaged: amino acids, protein, fat, fiber, antioxidants, enzymes, vitamins, & minerals.

Bone meal contains possible high contaminant & lead content. Damaged: protein, vitamins, & minerals. No enzymes or antioxidants.



Raw vegetables contain undamaged: vitamins, minerals, carbohydrates, fiber, enzymes, phytochemicals, & antioxidants.

Grain contains refined carbohydrates with damaged nutrients. May contain: mold, fungus, aflatoxins, & phytic acid (nutrient absorption inhibitors). No enzymes or antioxidents.



Essential Fatty Acids contain undamaged fatty acids, omega 3 & 6, vitamins, & trace elements.

Fiber contains possible: beet pulp, wood pulp, newspaper, or peanut shells.



Kelp/Alfalfa contains undamaged: protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, trace elements, antioxidants, & fiber.

Denaturing Chemicles are used to keep pet food out of the human food chain making them 'not fit' for human consumption.



Vitamin C contains viable vitamin C for immune system support & optimum health.

Vitamins & Minerals along with Artificial Preservatives, Dyes, & Flavorings. Vitamins & Minerals may expire before use and amounts may be over or under recommendations. They also have low bioavailability. Artifcial additives have been linked to cancer, epilepsy, birth defects, liver & kidney problems, allergies, behavior disorders, reproductive problems, cataracts, & other health issues.