Dogs should be fed raw meat or packed food?

This is a fundamental concern of every dog owner. One of the biggest challenges in deciding whether to feed a raw diet is the overwhelming amount of conflicting information, and the fact that much of this information is anecdotal in nature. There are numerous websites and message boards extolling the virtues of a raw diet and there are others condemning raw diets as unsafe and unhealthy. When choosing how and what to feed your dog, you need balanced information—information that outlines both the good and bad so that an educated choice can be made.

A good diet can contribute to a long and healthy life and even psychological well-being for our pets. The question is, what is the best food to feed domesticated dogs? While the majority of people feed a commercial kibble or canned food, many owners today are looking for other options.

A raw food-based diet is one approach that has grown in popularity over  the last decade, but  along with this growing popularity has come growing controversy regarding the benefits of feeding a raw diet.

Why raw diet?

1.       One of the reasons people cite for feeding a raw diet is that it is a more “natural” diet for dogs.

2.       The theory is that wild canids would eat a diet mainly consisting of raw meat and bones, so people should try and mimic this diet when feeding their pets.

The Benefits of a Raw Diet: Feeding a raw dog food diet has many notable benefits…

1.       Firmer stools

2.       Improved digestion

3.       Healthier skin and coat

4.       Reduced allergy symptoms

5.       Better weight management

6.       There have been many reports of improved health when chronically ill pets were switched from a commercial product to a raw dog food.

The Downside of a Raw Dog Food Diet

Why packed food?

1.       The pet dogs that live in our homes do not resemble their wild cousins.

2.       We have bred dogs to have a range in size from the small Pamelion to the massive Neapolitan Mastiff, and a variety of builds from the light-framed Whippet to the bulky Bulldog.

3.       In addition, there are breeds like the Bedlington Terrier that are prone to specific nutrient deficiencies. With all of these physiological differences between our pets and wild canids, can we be certain that what a wild canid eats is indeed an ideal diet for Rover?

4.       A raw dog food diet can’t touch the convenience of a packed food. Just measure and pour. It just doesn’t get any easier.

5.       Yet besides the lack of convenience, there’s another critical issue. Bacterial contamination. Salmonella and E. coli germs can always be a potential problem with raw meats. Yet the risk of food-borne disease is actually quite low.

6.       That is, low risk for dogs. But not for humans. That’s because a dog’s digestive system is shorter and more acidic. Which makes canine infections like these fairly rare. The real risk of food-borne disease is actually greater for a dog’s human caretakers — not the dog. Yet with proper care and handling, this risk can be dramatically reduced.

Please feel free to share your recommendations @rohitsingh.vet@gmail.com