Paw Prints
By Dr Mark Newkirk
Rumors about raw food are rampant. Let’s set the facts straight by looking at five common falsehoods about feeding dogs and cats a raw food diet.
Although raw feeding isn’t new, it’s still not widely understood. Many people remain wary about offering their dogs and cats a raw diet due to the volume of misleading information that’s been shared over the years. In this column, we’ll debunk a few of the common myths about raw food for pets and look at why this dietary option is actually one of the most nutritionally beneficial choices you can make for your fur baby.
No. 1. Raw food is unsafe
There’s no getting around it – handling raw meat poses a risk. But chances are you handle it when cooking for your human family members, right? There’s really no difference when it comes to safe practices for handling raw pet food.
The key is to avoid using wooden cutting boards, dishes and utensils, and wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water after handling the meat. Many companies offer easy-to-open, pre-portioned packaging to make the process of being safe even simpler.
Worried about your pet getting a food-borne illness? Fear not. Cats’ and dogs’ digestive systems are much shorter and more acidic than ours, meaning they’re designed to take on any bacteria that may be present in their food.
No. 2. Raw feeding takes a lot of work
It’s true that feeding a raw diet to pets used to be quite complicated; it involved a lot of pre-planning, portioning and preparation. But nowadays, due to the steps companies are taking to pre-portion their raw meals and include the appropriate amounts of bone, organ and supplements, raw feeding has never been easier.
If you opt for a frozen raw option, food for up to four days can be defrosted at the same time (stored in the fridge), so you don’t have to take food out of the freezer every day.
No. 3. A raw food diet is unaffordable
As with any diet, the amount you spend will depend on the size of your pet. If you have a Chihuahua or a tabby cat, you’ll need to spend a lot less on pet food than someone who has three Great Danes. Pound for pound, raw is slightly more expensive than most kibbles or canned foods. But over the long term, opting for a higher-quality diet will end up saving you money.
I can tell you as a veterinary professional, I was hesitant to initiate raw feeding to my clients. But today I can attest to the increased health, vitality and wellness these pets have. For example, many skin problems resolve on raw diets.
No. 4. A raw food diet for dogs consists of just raw meat
If you’ve never fed raw before, it would be easy to assume that the diet consists of nothing but raw meat. The assumption is incorrect.
Proper raw diets for dogs and cats are made up of meat, bone, organ meats, vegetables and supplements. All of these elements are needed in proper proportions to ensure that your pet maintains their health.
This is the problem with providing “homemade diets.” The pet will often pick out what he/she likes versus what is good for them. Plus, you need to add vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and more to keep it balanced.
No. 5. You can’t feed both raw and kibble
It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. In fact, if you’re considering switching your pet to a raw diet, it’s best to make the transition slowly over a period of one to two weeks.
Tip: Supplementing your pet’s kibble-based diet with raw food is an affordable way to give his diet a boost. This is how many of my clients start. By the way, your pet will love you for this real food.
