Choosing the Right Dog Food

Written by Dr. Sherry Weaver

There are many websites pro and con on raw diets. The pro websites say you can relieve your dog of allergy agents known to be in commercial kibble, such as corn, wheat, and soy. The con websites warn against salmonella poisoning and bacterial infections. Can you give insight on this subject, particularly in relation to feeding chicken, beef, and lamb? Is there an increased risk of Neospora or other health-related issues with feeding dogs raw diets?

Thank You,

Cheryl

Dear Cheryl,

The decision on what to feed our canine children is a complex one. There are pet food companies shouting at you that, if you don't feed their food, you don't love your dog, and well-meaning others who want to convince you that anything commercial is taking the lazy way out. There are foods that are “all-natural” and foods with tasty bits to convince your finicky dog to eat. Just like feeding ourselves, it is very hard to sort out the truth from the marketing.

We all can agree that choosing the right food for life can be one of the biggest factors in longevity and quality of life. We also have to realize that just like human food, the best-tasting food is often not the most nutritious. Usually foods with "tasty bits" are sold to satisfy the human's emotional needs more than the dog's nutritional needs and are often the cause of obesity (a common killer of dogs).

What "all-natural" really means is often anyone's guess. To really choose the best food takes some research or requires finding someone knowledgeable who you really trust to advise what is right for your individual dog. This is not the salesman at the pet store who has only been informed by representatives from the food companies, and it shouldn't be just some website that made sense to you. Typically, your veterinarian or a trained nutritionist (who can often be found and contacted on vet school websites) is the best resources to make decisions for your dog as an individual.

One type of food espoused by some well-meaning pet lovers is biologically available raw food (BARF). The idea of this approach is that raw food is closer to what a dog would eat in the wild. Unfortunately, dogs in the wild do not live very long, which, to me, is a flaw in their logic, but I try to consider all viewpoints on issues this important. From research as it stands now, there is no real evidence that there are any health benefits to eating raw meat. If, however, you do want to try it, make sure you do your research and do it the right way. With extreme choices such as raw food, there is no such thing as “I do mostly raw food”. Even proponents of the diet will tell you that there are risks if you don’t do it exactly right. In addition to finding organic food sources, you must balance the food with vegetables and other sources of micronutrients to meet all of your dog’s nutritional needs. Changing an adult dog to BARF too quickly can cause pancreatitis, so follow the instructions of people who have successfully made the transition.

Since most of us don’t have time to look for and properly prepare organic chicken, it is more sensible to find a high-quality commercial dog food that is preserved with vitamin E or other natural preservatives (eliminating chemicals and using high-quality meat instead of meat byproducts). These foods are formulated by trained nutritionist to be the best and help your dog live the longest, healthiest life possible; something that most of us are not trained to do.

Commonly, BARF is recommended for dogs with certain medical problems such as skin conditions or immune problems. Sometimes it helps, not because of any magic of raw food, but because the key ingredients to which the pet is sensitive are eliminated. This same thing can be accomplished with carefully chosen commercial foods, getting all the nutritional advantages of teams of nutritionists while avoiding the risks of parasitism and food poisoning.

A good example is a dog with a skin problem. Food allergy is a very common component of itchy skin in dogs. Chicken, beef, lamb, corn, soy, wheat, egg, and dairy products are common ingredients which induce these allergies, but, whether they are raw or cooked, the immune system looks at them the same. The key to choosing a food for skin problems is to pick one that does not include any of these ingredients, is preserved with vitamins, and preferably is supplemented with fatty acids (fish oils). Most large food companies now have their own versions of these foods. They are usually sold as prescription foods but are not significantly more expensive than over-the-counter foods of equivalent quality.

With the wealth of foods that are available to help many different conditions, the lack of evidence that raw food provides any advantages, and the potential risks of raw food, I can’t recommend that it is a good choice at this time. As research is done, we may one day find that there are advantages, but, for now, high-quality commercial food is the better choice.

Dr. Weaver

About Dr. Sherry Weaver
Dr. Weaver graduated with honors from the University of Georgia's School of Veterinary Medicine. She founded a state-of-the-art animal hospital, teaches pet care to children, and donates time and resources to rescue organizations. For her full biography, click here.

Note: The opinions and views expressed in the Ask the Vet articles are the result of Dr. Sherry Weaver's formal education and over 14 years in clinical experiences. Your veterinarian is the best source of information for your pet’s specific needs.

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Mon, 07/12/2010 - 6:32am — cassie-jersey

Why I made the decision to go RAW :)

Hey, I received the most wonderful present last week for my 21st birthday. . . Jersey! My 8 week old female lab\pitbull mix. The first few days I gave her some kibble (purina- i know, i know) and she refused to eat it. She wasnt active at all, and seemed dull, and without spark. Me being the "google queen" I went sraight to my laptop looking for tips to encourage jersey to eat. I came across my first websight about the B.A.R.F diet. I was a little skeptical at first since I grew up with friends and family that have dogs and feed their dogs kibble. Jersey is my first puppy, and since she is so young I want to start her life off in the right track, so I kept an open mind and decided to do more research on the B.A.R.F diet. Im no expert, but 1 thing I know, and have a passion for is animals. No matter what articles I read against feeding raw, nothing scared me more than reading articles about kibble and the commercial dog food companys that make it. They are legaly allowed to label their food 100% meat as long as 3& of the package contains that specific animal. It may say 100& chicken, but what part of the chicken? the beak, the feet maybe? howcome before I brought my puppy home, I was feeding my two cats kibble? because these billion dollar corporations told me too, using effective media advertisments. With all their money and "nutrition specialist" surley they know dogs are carnivors, and should never - ever be fed cooked food, and that dogs shouldnt be fed grains that cause allergys. Of course they do! they dont care, and then you have the vets that got basic training in nutrition, that was sponsered by a commercial company. Not to mention when are little friends get sick from kibble they make money... its a scratch my back i'll scratch yours. Its disgusting. Even though I only had Jersey for a week we have an instant bond. Of course if anything was wrong with her I would do anything for her health, pay a vet all my saving to make sure my pup gets all the care she needs. And vets know this. They will tell you not to feed ur dog raw, because if you do you will have a healthier dog who doesnt need to see a vet after. Even my own mom said raw is bad, and it will make my pup bloodthirsty. I did the research not her. but I cant blaim her for her views because she doesnt know better. Knowlege is power. dont take my word, investigate yourself. Anyways on a more posetive note its only been 3 days on the raw diet, and theres nothing that pleases me more is giving Jersey her chicken back and watching her do what she does best- be a dog! Shes a member of my pack and i would never after knowing what I know now give her something that I wouldnt eat for myself. Right after her feeding shes very active and overall in a calm state of mind. (for a puppy anyways)
potty trainings so much easy since raw bone is 100& digestible meaning less quantity and size in her stool. Anyways thanks for reading my opinion... I will keep updating how Jersey is doing. ;)

P3AC3 N LUV~ Cassie

Thu, 04/29/2010 - 3:39pm — Leasa

Dr. Weaver is right!!!!

She has said the exact same thing my vet said about raw food. My vet said the 'natural' life is short for wild canine and that raw is a perfect way for disease to spread from one animal to another. Look at mad cow! I make a home made diet that is balanced and COOKED. Plus the 'raw diet' as one of my friends used to use consisted of ground up WHOLE chickens feathers and all. I am a country girl and I've never seen a while animal...wolves...cyotes...fox...eat feathers. Raw is not good.

Mon, 08/30/2010 - 1:47pm — For Pets Sake

For Pets Sake, Educate Yourself

I am in no way suggesting that your homemade balanced diet is wrong, what I am suggesting is you should educate yourself on raw feeding before you make such a ridiculous statment. A cooked diet containing quality meats, veggies and appropriate supplements can provide a nutritious diet for your dog. However there have been a number of studies that have demonstrated that raw foods are better.

Dr. Kollath of Karolinska Hospital in Stolkholm performed a study in which he fed some animals a cooked, processed food diet and fed the others a raw food diet. The animals fed the cooked diet initially appeared to be as healthy as the animals on the raw food, but as the animals reached adulthood, those on the cooked food began to age more quickly. They also developed chronic degenerative diseases at an early age, resembling diseases common in the Western industrial world. The animals raised on raw foods did not suffer from these problems. The good new is that these health issues could be reversed by giving them raw foods, which allows their body to come back to a normal state of health.
Dr. Francis Pottenger had similar findings with his 10 year study using 900 cats, that were fed cooked and raw meat.

These are only 2 among many.

By the way, when your vet cut down raw feeding, what made you choose to feed your furry family member a cooked homemade diet rather than the kibble that I'm positive they tried to convince you to buy from them at their office. One where I'm sure the first ingredient is corn, only to be followed by a by-product meal of some sort. By-product, another term you should educate yourself on if you stand by your vet and the products they sell from there office. We all could survive on KD and pop everyday of our lives but would we look and feel our best.

Sun, 03/07/2010 - 4:33pm — Mahir

Raw diet vs. kibble

I think everybody who owns a pet and has ever tried raw food agrees that their pets look healthier, smell nicer, have more energy and their feces is much smaller and more firm looking. I believe however that a good balance is the key component to a good and healthy dog food. I've had large breed dogs all my life and often I've had skeleton issues in my puppies when I fed them raw food from a young age. It's undeniable that our four legged friends are descendants of the grey wolves, however we should not forget that we have bred and sometimes overbred them and domesticated them to such an extend that there is very little wild left in them. None of our pets go hunting for food several hours each day or go without food for several days a week. And here is where the balance comes into play. I found that if I feed my dogs (Vizslas) raw food 2 times a week and then high quality kibble ( orijen) for the rest of the week, their energy seems to be much more leveled. Also the raw food I give them is self prepared. Bones, animal fur, unwashed guts, fish eyes etc. Because we humans have created all these different breeds and with that a large number of genetic illness the rule of pure nature doesn't really apply in our domesticated pets. For instance ensuring that a large breed grows slowly but steadily while maintaining an almost perfect weight is almost impossible with raw diet. Wit raw diet the dog can sometimes grow too fast and that can create joint or hip issues. Also a dog really befits from raw diet when he/she gets chunks of meaty bones otherwise it is again processed raw food, not contributing to the chewing and crashing bones action that benefits the dogs teeth and gums (not to mention the pure pleasure the animal receives from tearing off the flesh of a chunky bone). It just shows that it is very difficult to find a golden middle when it comes to feeding our 4 legged friends. I believe the secret is to observe your pet while carefully trying out foods of all sorts. If you do that well, you'll soon find out what's best for him/her. Some tips: www.orijen.nl , avoid canned and cooked foods, when feeding raw meats try non processed meats and watch the quantities carefully, avoid kibble whereby the ingredients are not clearly stated on the packaging or the ingredients start with anything but raw proteins. Also with kibble generally feed your dog rather a little less than indicated on the packaging and increase depending on energy levels of your dog and age. Here in Europe the level of research into animal foods is very high and is kept extremely transparent. Vets usually are very well informed about quality foods and raw food. I believe the real contributing factor in animal food is the amount of time each individual has or wants to invest and the price of each product. There are many people who love their pets but unfortunately can only afford the so called supermarket kibble. That alone is a research in it self (although not academically executed), showing that dogs can live well enough and healthy enough on commercial kibble or canned foods. Also animal shelters feed animals commercial foods and there are dogs, which are not adopted for many years, reaching the age of 12 plus. I hope it helps a little reading an experience of someone who has exposure to both type of food.

Sat, 02/27/2010 - 12:50pm — A.J.B.

A Fallacy?

Dr. Weaver frames her opinion on raw food with the following statement:

This potentially mis-attributes the cause of dogs's short lives in the wild.

Perhaps dogs die young in the wild because they are more likely to get injured and separated from the pack.

Discrediting a raw food diet because is coincided with shorter life-spans may be a logical fallacy. Consider such an argument for humans. Should we discredit the diet of humans 10,000 years ago because they lived shorter lives?

Wed, 04/07/2010 - 8:11pm — quarfie

Unfair complaints

Several commenters are lambasting Dr. Weaver's preamble about the raw food diet.

She merely pointed out that 1) the following argument used by the raw supporters is fallacious:
"Dogs in the wild eat raw, therefore raw is better", and 2) that there is no research that shows benefits to raw meat

She was NOT arguing what some accuse her of arguing:
"Dogs in the wild eat raw and live shorter, therefore eating raw causes shorter lives"

And she has made no claim that raw food is or is not better than any other diet.

So relax, people!

Raw supporters are just being a little over-sensitive. They need to be a little more honest about their belief in raw. They believe their personal experience supports the efficacy of raw, yet they have no proof, and that's ok! There is nothing wrong with believing something works while lacking absolute proof, but to be so hostile to anyone who even slightly doubts your beliefs... it's just irrational.

Tue, 08/31/2010 - 11:49pm — margsrobin

Unfair compalints

Excellent to see someone who has actually read the article. Belief vs. evidence (or lack of) needs more discussion. I would also like to throw in that the nutritional needs of dogs are MORE crucial than what is fed them....unless however the agricultural product has been drenched in chemicals and the dead animal product have been intensively farmed, thus tortured and pumped full of harmful chemicals...so sourcing organic is a must for BARF.

Sat, 05/29/2010 - 10:09pm — snuzzle

"Fallacious argument"

The fact is though, if you think about why the argument is being said, you understand that it's not actually fallacious. It's not simply "This is what they eat in the wild, therefore it's better."

It's more "This is what they eat in the wild, therefore this is what they were designed to eat. This is what they evolved to eat over millions of years. Therefore, it's better." I think that's what annoyed the previous poster so much. That the article dismissed the argument out of hand without applying critical thinking to why it's being stated.

I don't believe a logical person can deny that feeding an animal what they were biologically evolved to eat is better than humans deciding what they ought to eat.

In the 1980s, thousands of cats became sick, blind, or even died because their commercial food was missing an essential ingredient-- taurine. Just a decade ago, cats were becoming anemic because their food contained propylene glycol, which was used as a preservative but is toxic to cats.

And now, we're seeing cats becoming diabetic, dogs with severe allergies, animals requiring special prescription diets and supplements to solve all these problems. If these problems go away, as was stated in the article, when certain ingredients are eliminated, then it really makes one think that perhaps they ought not to be eating these ingredients to begin with.

To say that humans know better than what these animals were evolved to eat is arrogant at best. Raw proponents may not have proof, but they do have logic on their side.

Fri, 02/26/2010 - 4:25pm — Karen Campbell

Why vets loose credability

I am really saddened to see the ridiculous article written by Sherry Weaver. I have to start by addressing her comment, "Unfortunately, dogs in the wild do not live very long, which, to me, is a flaw in their logic (raw feeding proponents)." Silly comment! I'm assuming she is referring to wolves living in a natural environment. The number one killer of wolves is people (that can be applied to dogs fed kibble too), loss of habitat/habitat destruction, injury, territorial fights, starvation etc. I have yet to read the food wolves evolved eating is now killing them. Since she is continually dismissing raw as having a lack of research, I ask where is the research supporting her claim that kibble fed wolves would live longer? Who has ever heard of an animal evolving so successfully eating a food that is sending it to an early grave! Who ever heard of a food that is loaded with carcinogenic chemicals and rotten grains being the best for a carnivore? Why is there no research on raw dog food? The answer is because raw food is what dogs evolved eating before they were polluted with kibble in the 1950's. Do you need research to tell you grass is good for livestock? Do you need research to know that fresh, whole foods are better than processed?
Vets that are holding on to this archaic notion of kibble as the ultimate food while pet owners see their dogs suffering from degenerative illnesses and premature deaths. Enough dog owners are now switching to raw and seeing the profound positive changes in their pets that it is causing the status quo concern. I can see a day when vets can no longer profit off the revenue generated from kibble sales and the sickness it produces.

Thu, 02/25/2010 - 12:15pm — RawFdr

raw

I have been feeding raw for almost a year now. It was a last resort after multitudes of vets could not find the cause of my dogs diarrhea, and only wanted to treat the symptoms, or put him on Hills i/d. He is a mastiff, and Hills diet actually made him stop growing. After getting particularly ill after his 1 year shots, I switched to raw and have never looked back. He has never been healthier. I have also raised my mastiff pup on raw.

The difference between wolves and dogs is pretty clear, and I find it a dumb comparison to make when it comes to one living longer. Wolves are not vaccinated, they are not protected from the elements, given heartworm meds, or protected from all the bad that mankind has brought to their environment. So OF COURSE they are going to live less long. They don't die from poor nutrition, they die from the elements! Common sense folks!
However, just for the record, quoting from the research of a person on Dogster.com, I would like to post this information:
1. Grey Wolf:

Lifespan average of up to 15 years in captivity. Several other sources even read up to 20 years in captivity (see external links in first linked website.)
Source: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cani s_lupus.html
Source: http://www.greater-yellowstone.com/animals/Wolf.html
Source: http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Wildlife-Library/Mammals/Gray-Wolf.aspx

2. Mexican Wolf:

Lifespan average of up to 15 years in captivity.
Source: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/mexican_wolf. php#
Source: http://www.cincinnatizoo.org/animals/mammals/MexicanWolf.html

3. Red Wolf:
Lifespan average of up to 15 years in captivity.
Source: http://www.fws.gov/redwolf/
Source: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/red_wolf.php
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/134.shtml

--Also some species that are not as closely related to domestic dogs but continue to prove the stereotype.--

4. African Wild Dog:

Lifespan average of up to 13-15 years in captivity.
Source: http://www.nashvillezoo.org/animals_detail.asp?animalID=13
Source: http://www.zoo.org/animal-facts/wilddog
Source: http://www.lazoo.org/animals/mammals/africanwilddog/index.html

5. Dhole:

Lifespan average of up to 16 years in captivity.
Source: http://www.sandiegozoo.org/animalbytes/t-dhole.html
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/wildfacts/factfiles/152.shtml
Source: http://www.wildinfo.net/facts/Dhole.asp

6. Dingo:

Lifespan average of up to 13-14 years in captivity.
Source: http://www.earthsendangered.com/article.asp?ID=34
Source: http://www.switcheroozoo.com/profiles/dingo.htm

I would also like to add that right now in Australia, there is a 15 year old mastiff bitch who *surprise* is raw fed and has NEVER been to a vet.

So no health benefits? Gosh, I'd think living longer would be QUITE a health benefit!!

Dogs have a naturally short digestive system which, when working efficiently (ie, not being forced to try and break down carbs, which can take up to 8 hours) will digest and move food (meat, bone, and organ) through in a period of 3-4 hours. All dogs release salmonella and e-coli in their feces, but it is this quick digestion that prevents the dogs from being sick. Dogs also produce hydrochloric acid in their gut which kills these pathogenic bacteria and allows for proper digestion of raw meat and bones. And in fact, in dogs, a raw diet has 95% digestibility, which is why raw fed dogs poop less. Less garbage=less poop. Dogs do not have a cecum, nor do they produce amalayse, which is one of the enzymes necessary for digesting starch. Their unsacculated colon as well as their short intestinal tracts make them unsuitable candidates for digesting grains and carbs.

I might also add, that the grey wolf is classified as canis lupis. The domestic dog, from the smallest chi all the way up to my 200lb mastiff, was recently classified as canis lupis familiaris. Even science agrees that dogs are simply domesticated, albeit funny-looking, grey wolves! And yet time after time vets suggest corn filled, wheat filled, POISON-filled foods like Hills and Purina and Pedigree and Iams.

So tell me this, why is it that blood tests reveal that my dogs are having all of their nutritional needs met and are completely healthy, but kibble companies have to supplement their foods with a variety of vitamins and minerals in order to simply meat AAFCO standards? Seems a little strange if you ask me.

Oh, and I go through about 180lbs of meat per month and it's a whole lot cheaper for me to feed raw than it was to ever feed kibble. Not to mention the less vet bills because my dogs are healthy and not being poisoned. Makes it worthwhile to me.

Thu, 04/29/2010 - 3:48pm — Leasa

Your sites are not correct.

Look to other sites for the life span of wild canine. The vet is right, they do not naturally live that long. The Gray lives for 6-8 years.

Mon, 08/30/2010 - 2:06pm — For Pets Sake

For Pets Sake, Read before you comment

You need to read before you comment! Yes the vet is right, they do not on average live that long "NATURALLY" having said that which part of "living in captivity" did you not understand from the persons research you commented on. If they are in a zoo and still eating raw foods which they do; and no longer have to fight with the elements of survival, guess what they live longer.

Mon, 02/22/2010 - 6:48pm — crazy-dog-lady

right food

I have heard from several of my vet friends and also from some vet school drop outs that vets are not required to take many nutrition courses. One went so far is to say that ALL of the information she was given in school was taught to her by Science Diet and Eukanuba. I know you are a vet and you seem very knowledgeable, but that has not been my experience with most "pet vets." It took me years to find a vet that would even recommend good quality kibble. My 5 guys have been on raw for over a year now and the change is startling. kudos to the dane lady!! I would hate to see your monthly meat bill with all danes! Any way, I'm sure the other raw dieters out there would agree that even good kibble is hard to sell most vets. Corn and by-products are the back bone of most Science Diet, Eukanuba, and Iams formulas. And don't even get me started on Purina and Pedigree. And in reference to the "pet store employee" comment... Where do the techs and other hospital staff get there info on food and drugs?? Where does your physician get his info on the latest drugs available for his patients? From reps!!! and since most clinics that I have worked for have free feeding programs for employees, of course they are going to recommend their products!! I'm just saying that when asking a vet for advice make sure you take the Iams clip board and the Science diet pen into consideration.

Thu, 02/11/2010 - 2:31am — facinoricci678

Organic Products

Organic products are not just foods. Today even beauty products uses organic materials.john masters products uses only organic materials to make sure the safety and effectiveness of the product.

Wed, 04/07/2010 - 12:27pm — roxanad

rawhide toys

I recently read that rawhide toys can cause cancer if parts of them are swollen... So be careful with that too! I have pet insurance and I know whatever happens my dog will be covered but I don't want to see him suffer.

Tue, 01/26/2010 - 6:59am — Great Danes on raw

Right food?

Dear Dr. Weaver

From my name you can see I'm a believer in raw feeding. I have fed raw for over 10 years and seen incredible benefits in my large breed dogs. I rescue Great Danes and if I get them at age 1-4 they live until age 12-13 without any serious health issues.

Do you agree that dogs are carnivores?

I agree that there are no serious research on feeding raw. Do you know of any research showing the benefits of feeding commercial dog food? If you do please let me know since I have not found any.

Also why do I see these changes in all my friends dogs after switching to raw?

1. Almost no tarter buildup
2. Much less poop
3. Almost no "wet dog smell" when the dogs get wet
4. An increase in muscle mass
5. Thicker shinier fur
6. Older dogs getting much more mobile
7. No gas (my favorite!)

And a reversal of the above if they go back to commercial dog food. Some do since the convenience factor of feeding commercial dog food wins.

The overall improvement in raw fed dog's health is very noticeable.

Over the 10 plus years I have fed/handled raw chicken, meat, fish, organ meat...my dogs have never been sick from salmonella or other bacteria. With a stomach PH level of 1 or 2 this makes sense.

Recently I had to leave the country and my dogs for a period of 3 weeks. I put them in a kennel. They were not able to follow my raw feeding routine so I bought the "best commercial food available" for them to use.

When I came back I noticed the following.

I strong odor from their fur. Even after a bath I could notice this.
Tarter build up on their teeth. They never had this!
They first poop was HUGE, soft and smelly.
One of my Dane's anal glands were full and smelly. He licked himself there frequently. He never had this problem before.

I was amazed by the changes taken place over such a short time.

My old 12 year Dane was noticeable slower and stiffer when walking.

A week later after getting back on raw food all of the above was gone and my dogs were back to what they were before I left.

Tom

Sat, 02/20/2010 - 11:09am — McLaughlin

Right Food?

I intially became aware of the raw food diet by doing research on the internet about 4 years ago. At the time my cocker spaniel, Charlie was diagnosed with spleen cancer and I was looking for natural alternatives. I came across the raw food diet for dogs and did intensive research and spoke with a vet in Australia. Charlie had severe skin allergies and over the years he had been given steriods and allergy shots which never really worked. After researching I realized that if he had been on a raw diet he probably would have never had the allergies and suffered the consequences of the medications that he had been given over 10 years. I promised myself if I ever had another dog he/she would be fed a raw diet.

I would have to agree with Tom. There has been quite a bit of research done in Australia about raw food diets for dogs and I'm in touch with many people who have their dogs on raw food diets and don't have any problems.

I myself have a 2 year old Shih Tzu who was has been on a raw food diet since I got her at 12 weeks. The breeder also has all of her dogs on raw foods. I've not had one problem with her. She loves it. Actually I've tried to give her kibble from a raw food diet company and she won't eat it. As far as nutritional value, there are a number of raw food diet companies that produce raw mince meat that contains ground meat, organs, bones, vegetables, vitamins, and minerals. I use several suppliers and just supplement my dogs diet with raw chicken necks.

Just like Tom stated her stools are not as volumnious and lack the odor of a dog's stool on commercial dog food. She has never had problems with her anal glands and she is never sick.

I feel that many Traditional Vets will never embrace the raw food diet because it will put them out business. I truly believe that raw food diets keep dogs healthy and disease free!!! They are eating what nature intended for them to eat.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 2:39pm — 2royalk9s

Finding a Vet Confident in Raw Diet

I have had difficulty finding a vet to agree to a raw diet that I can confide in. I switched last month from dry kibble (Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover's Soul Adult Formula) raw from Primal. They have their formulas right on the website. And you have to do some research to figure out what your dog is needing, but soon you'll realize that they are getting the nutrition that they need. I gradually switched by changing their 1 cup in the morning and 1 in the evening to 3/4 cup in the a.m. and 3/4 in the p.m. with 1 cube of Primal frozen raw. Day 2 was the same and continued to gradually switch them to get 4 cubes each with 1/2 cup of Pinnacle (one the Chicken Soup ran out). I have had several dogs that bite at their feet. The vets I previously had said it was a vice. My male would eat his feet raw and his belly was all spotted. Since being on the Primal and Pinnacle for 30+ days... no more biting and red belly. I'm a believer. Do I think I could make it myself...yes, but I need much more research.

Mon, 07/05/2010 - 10:23am — chrisrab

Balanced Raw and Kibble Diet

Regardless of how much people wish to claim that somehow "domesticated" dogs are BIOLOGICALLY different than wolves, the claim doesn't hold water. The biology is still the same. Dogs eat roadkill and garbage, and food riddled with toxins that the human body would die from consuming. Why? Because the digestive system of dogs is NOT like the digestive systems of humans. STOP HUMANIZING DOGS. They can handle virtually anything they consume, as their digestive acids are much more powerful (even being able to break down BONES - something humans cannot do), not to mention that their digestive systems are very short in length.

I have never heard of a dog that didn't already have significant health problems contracting salmonella, for example, and most dogs who consume raw chicken DO have the salmonella toxin in their bodies, but they are not affected by it.

I believe in a balance of raw food *and* high quality dry foods (NOT purina). But too much of either is probably unhealthy in the long run since many people who feed strict raw diets do not supplement their dogs' diets with other nutrients dogs need; and since many people who feed strict kibble diets do not take into consideration what the food loses during "processing." Remember, as much as dogs are carnivores, they are also herbivores. A dog in the wild will eat berries off a bush as well as hunt live prey. So it's important to make sure they have critical nutrients in either diet.

I have found that a strictly processed diet is detrimental to long-term health, I don't care what the source. There is simply too much "junk" (chemicals, toxins, rice, and other "fillers" your dog does not need) in this food to be of benefit to a dog if you want your dog to have a long life. Additionally, most dry food is cooked at such high temperatures that the nutrients it had going into the oven are mostly gone by the time it comes out.

During a typical day, each of my two german shepherds are fed every six hours as such:

Morning: Cottage cheese (2 tablespoons), 1 pound of raw beef, half a can of mixed vegetables, 1 raw egg (every other day)
Afternoon: A whole raw chicken thigh (bones and all, about 1 pound), 1 whole carrot, 1/2 cup of dry kibble food
Evening: 1 pound of either raw beef or raw lamb, half a can of mixed vegetables, 1/2 cup of dry kibble food

During the day, they also get snacks such as raw beef bones, a couple of "dog biscuits" and another carrot. Sometimes I give them fruit as well, but I stay away from apples (which I've heard from many people cause problems, so I'd rather not risk it) and I do *not* feed them fruit cores or seeds (such as from peaches), as they are very harmful since some of them actually have cyanide in them. For example, I will give them a handful of blueberries or strawberries from time to time, which they love.

Both dogs eat about 5 pounds of food every day. Neither is overweight, and both are in excellent health and highly active.