Raw feeding is a very controversial topic as it’s popularity has risen with discussions between dog owners arising all over the internet; however the raw food diet is by no means a modern topic. Working dogs such as Alaskan Sled Dogs and Racing Greyhounds have been fed a raw diet for years, and the concept of feeding domestic pet dogs a raw diet was proposed in 1993 by veterinarian Ian Billinghurst. He coined this diet choice ‘BARF’ standing for Bones and Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.
Many modern veterinarians and nutritionists disagree with Billinghurst, as does the FDA (Food & Drug Administration), because research has unearthed some real concerns with the average pet owner feeding a 100% raw diet.
What IS a Raw Diet?
The main concept of raw feeding is to provide your dog with the most natural, non-processed diet possible removing grains, fillers and preservatives from their meals.
A raw diet may consist of:
Viscera (kidneys/liver)
Some fruits and vegetables
Muscle meat
Raw eggs
Bones (whole or ground)
Some dairy products (yoghurt)
Pros and Cons
Considering how controversial the raw diet is, there are many benefits as well as risks involved in choosing to feed raw food to your dog. It is vital that, as an owner, you consider all the pros and cons alongside your dog's age, condition and breed before you switch to feeding a raw food diet.
Benefits (According to Nature’s Menu, a leading raw food supplier):
Better digestion - easier to digest, less added sugar, bulkers and derivatives
Smaller, firmer stool - 100% natural with no added fillers meaning there is less waste which is more manageable
Shinier coat and healthier skin
Stronger, cleaner teeth meaning fresher smelling breath
A more stable energy level with less hyperactivity
Highly palatable for the fussiest dogs
Low fat options to help encourage weight loss
Increased vitality
Reduced allergies/intolerances
Less flatulence
Reduced inflammatory issues such as skin conditions or joint inflammation
Risks:
Potentially unbalanced diet which may cause damage to the dog’s health over an extended period
Whole bones may cause the dog to choke, cause internal punctures or break teeth
Threat of bacteria in raw meat which can be passed into the feces causing potential harm to the owner and other members of the household
Although it seems like the positives outweigh the negatives, many commercial pet foods can offer the same benefits as a raw diet without the same amount of risks. It is up to the individual owner to decide what they feel is best for their dog, however you should always consult your veterinarian before dramatically changing your dog’s diet.
What Does the Research Say?
An evaluation of raw dog food, headed by Lisa M Freeman, DVM, PhD, was published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association in 2001. Freeman cautions owners against feeding raw diets as many choose to do so because of online myths and scaremongering regarding commercial pet food. Many of the benefits attributed to a raw diet, such as shiner coat, is simply due to the high fat composition, when there is high-fat commercial food available producing the same effects on the dog with less risk of an unbalanced diet. Supplements are also an option which can be added to commercial dog food as advised by a vet to increase certain elements of the composition of your dog’s diet.
Imbalanced Diet
The evaluation Freeman conducted included 3 homemade and 2 commercial raw food diets, which were all found to contain nutritional deficiencies or excesses causing serious damage to the dog’s health in the long term. This has been presented by poor coat condition, bad skin condition and weak bones. This is due to a diet too low in fat causing poor coat and a diet too high in fat and lacking protein causing mild anemia. Alongside this, a lack of calcium and phosphorus, or a major imbalance in the calcium to phosphorus ratio, is known to cause bone weakness, making dog’s more likely to suffer bone fractures and dental issues.
Bacteria
A major concern when feeding a raw food diet is the prevalence of bacteria in uncooked meats and eggs. A 2006 study of 20 commercial raw food diets found that 7.1% contained some form of Salmonella and a massive 59.6% contained E. Coli bacteria.
Another two-year study conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration which ran from 2010-2012 discovered that raw pet food is more likely than any other kind of pet food to carry bacteria, including both Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes which can cause nasty food borne disease. There is a chance that your dog could get food poisoning from eating infected raw meat, however a dog’s stomach acid is likely to neutralise infectious bacteria before it is able to make the dog sick. It is much more likely that your dog will become a carrier of the bacteria, and there is a major risk of your dog passing the bacteria onto other dogs or people, mainly through their feces. This is especially important if your dog lives in a household among high risk people such as those who are pregnant, very young or old who are at a much bigger risk of infection.
Can Any Dog Have a Raw Food Diet?
A 100% raw food diet is not an option for any dog, as different health conditions and ages may make your dog an unsuitable candidate for a raw diet. If you want to make the switch and are unsure, simply ask your vet for advice before making any drastic changes to their diet.
The high level of protein in a raw diet is unsuitable for dogs with late-stage kidney failure or severe liver failure, and dogs suffering from cancer, undergoing chemotherapy or with any kind of immunosuppressive disease should not be fed a 100% raw diet. Usually when your pet is diagnosed with a condition such as kidney failure, your vet will either recommend or prescribe a specific diet.
Feeding puppies is one of the most controversial sub-topics under raw feeding, as it is such an important stage in their life regarding growth. It is generally not recommended that puppies are fed a 100% raw food diet as the imbalanced calcium to phosphorus ratio may cause bone deformities and growth issues. It is also important that if you decide to feed your puppy raw food, you do not provide them with any dense bones as puppies generally have more delicate teeth and are at an increased risk of breaking them.
References
Anon. (Unknown). Raw Feeding for Puppies. Available: https://www.naturesmenu.co.uk/raw-feeding-for-puppies. Last accessed 1st Sept 2020.
Freeman, Lisa & Michel, Kathryn. (2001). Evaluation of raw food diets for dogs. Available: https://avmajournals.avma.org/doi/10.2460/javma.2001.218.705. Last accessed 1st Sept 2020.
Lee, Elizabeth. (Unknown). Raw Dog Food: Dietary Concerns, Benefits and Risks. Available: https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/raw-dog-food-dietary-concerns-benefits-and-risks. Last accessed 1st Sept 2020.
pdsa. (Unknown). Feeding your pet a raw diet. Available: https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/looking-after-your-pet/all-pets/raw-diets. Last accessed 1st Sept 2020.
Anon. (Unknown). The principles of a raw dog food diet. Available: https://www.bellaandduke.com/guide/raw-dog-food/. Last accessed 1st Sept 2020.
Chandler, Marge. (Unknown). The pros and cons of a raw food diet for dogs. Available: https://www.petplan.co.uk/pet-information/blog/the-pros-and-cons-of-raw-food-diets-for-dogs/. Last accessed 1st Sept 2020.
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