Quote:
Originally Posted by Rgeurts
I'm sure alot of dogs do well, but some will not, and some it can kill. I have a very good friend here who as done a lot of research as well as our specialist. She doesn't push kibble or vet brands and is actually very pro-homemade, just not raw for our guy. While most dogs may be able to fight off bacteria, not all can. And a lot of dogs still die from the ill effects of bone (even raw). One thing they cannot fight off is parasites. I'm not talking about worms, I'm talking about Neosopra, Toxo etc. And there is proof that these parasites do come from raw meat. Neospora is mainly beef. As I said, I'm not anti-raw, but it's not for everyone, or every dog/cat.
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I have never heard of raw meat being the
sole cause of a dog dying
I'd be interested to read any articles/research you have on this.
You need to be very careful when feeding
any type of bone or treat to a dog. The potential is always there for a serious accident.
You should never, ever feed COOKED bones. Raw bones pose no more threat than any other treat, but generally speaking you should be careful with larger,
weight-bearing bones as the potential is there to injure a dog's tooth. As with any treat or toy, feeding raw bones should be supervised. Generally speaking, softer
less weight-bearing bones such as those found in poultry, are usually easily digested with no problems whatsoever. But again, all bones should be supervised, cooked ones NEVER given, and common sense used. Many, many dogs successfully gnaw on and digest raw bones and enjoy the benefits of beautiful, sparkling white teeth and overall oral health.
I agree that not all dogs or cats will THRIVE on one diet, but many can (and do!) very, very well on a raw diet that is
properly planned out with some common sense used.
It can be tricky, but it certainly can be done. Some people like to feed half kibble/half raw (like I do), eitheir for the conveinance or to save some cash.
Best bet is to do your research and read
all sides of the argument and talk to people with real life experience to learn what they do/don't like about the diet and why they would or wouldn't recommend it. I wouldn't trust my vet or anyone else with a biast opinion on this topic. My dogs have never done so well since switching to a raw diet, but every dog is different. This has just been my experience.
Based on what I learned on nutrition, I think RAW makes the most sense, but again this is just my experience. Biggest challenge that vets, nutrionists, etc. struggled with when I was in University was that they were concerned about the health effects of preparing raw meat on the humans in the household - it's simple, follow the basic prep and wash methods around all raw meat, and it shouldn't be a problem. I am very anal about this - making sure to use stainless steel dishes, wash all dishes/utensils/countertops etc after preperation and feeding.
Some people are just uncomfortable feeding a raw diet and that's perfectly okay. I think a high-quality grain free diet is an excellent substitute!