Raw diets for pets: it is something that we are constantly seeing headlines about, so we wanted to look into it and find out what it’s all about.
A raw food diet is “a diet centering on raw meat, bones, fruits and vegetables.1”
It turns out that there is a lot of debate around whether raw food diets are a good option for our pets or not, so we took our questions to the vets on the Kali’s Wish Panel of Experts.
Arguing the pro-side of the debate is Dr. Wanda Vockeroth:
As a small animal veterinarian in Calgary, I have observed and encouraged my clients to feed non-processed diets for 30 years. I have seen many articles presenting all the arguments against feeding raw diets that are presented in the article by Mr. Lumontod.1 My response is that overall, when people feed their pets good quality, balanced, non-processed diets, they almost invariably are healthier, happier, and live longer than pets fed commercial diets.
Not all pets do better on raw diets; some do better when their foods are cooked, and occasionally pets do better on a commercial diet. I work with patients on an individual basis to tailor their raw diets, since pets with medical problems do need their diets to have protein levels and other nutrients adjusted. As with almost any topic, after a person has chosen an opinion, there are always arguments to justify it. However, over the years I have seen so many of my patients improve after switching from commercial diets to appropriate raw diets, that I have absolutely no doubt that there is great merit in feeding raw or non-processed diets to the majority of dogs and cats.
Dr. Al Townshend took the con side of the debate:
Consumer trends in nutrition for pets seems to be mimicking human trends towards a more natural and organic diet. For many, the ultimate pet recipe is perceived to be a complete and balanced, organic, raw food diet.
I am not convinced there is significant advantage to justify the cost and time involved in developing and feeding an exclusive raw food diet daily. I have no issues with supplementing a quality, balanced, meat based dry diet with raw foods as long as it comprises no more than 10% of the total daily diet so as to assure the diet is still balanced. There is certainly no harm in feeding a raw food diet but it must be done properly and that is much harder and involved than feeding a commercial dry diet. If not done properly the following issues could come up: Bacterial contamination, as well as other pathogens; Unbalanced Recipes, and; Overuse of bones (which have little nutrient value).
So – to raw food diet or to not raw food diet? It’s a choice you have to make with your eyes open by doing your research and consulting your vet. One thing’s for sure, you have to really understand your pet to know if it’s right for them.
If you have your pet on a raw food diet and want to share your experience, reach out to us today on email, twitter, or facebook!
Do you have any questions about caring for your pet? Click here to submit them to our Panel of Experts today!
Sources:
- 7 Reasons NOT to Feed Your Dog Raw Dog Food (Based on Facts), TopDogTips.com
This page has been reviewed by our Panel of Experts for accuracy. Our Panel of Experts is comprised of practitioners with varying specialties and perspectives. As such, the views expressed here may not be shared by all members of our Panel.
The content on this website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional veterinary medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.