Raw dog food has become very popular lately. Here are the pros and cons of feeding a raw diet so you can decide what’s best for your dog.
There are many advocates of raw dog food, and they are quite passionate about their opinions. All it takes is a quick search on Google to find stories about the miracles of feeding a raw diet. However, I like to form my own opinion based on scientific research and personal experience, and I urge you to do the same. One of the most frequently asked questions that shows up in my email is, “Should I be feeding my dog a raw diet?” So, I decided to dig deeply into the subject and report my findings on The Fuzzy Butts Blog for everyone’s benefit. Here are the pros and cons of feeding a raw diet so that you can decide what’s best for you and your dog.
An Overview of the Raw Diet for Dogs
Raw dog food is made from raw meat, raw meaty bones, organ meats. Fruits and vegetables may also be added. The idea behind a raw diet for dogs is that it is intended to mimic what dogs would eat in the wild before they were domesticated.
The Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet, or BARF, is the original raw dog food diet. There are several variations of the original BARF formula. One is the prey version, which doesn’t include many if any, fruit or vegetables. One of the biggest debates around raw dog food is whether or not fruits and vegetables are good for dogs.
I tend to be quite skeptical about grand claims about diets, especially ones that are touted as being the best for everyone. The claim that the raw diet turns back the evolutionary clock doesn’t ring true with me, mainly because canines have evolved significantly over thousands of years. Not only that, but the truth is, dogs are domesticated now. Humans have bred them to bring out different traits, abilities, and characteristics, and they’re systems are not the same as their ancestors from thousands of years ago.
That being said, I do my best to be open-minded when it comes to providing holistic health care for myself and my animals. Most kibble is highly processed, and there are a lot of very low-quality commercial pet foods on the market. Many dry dog foods contain too many carbs and grains that are known to cause allergy symptoms and inflammation for many dogs. So, feeding certain commercial kibbles may not be ideal either.
The Basics of Feeding a Raw Diet
Feeding your dog a raw diet can be accomplished in a few different ways.
- Homemade Raw Dog Food: The first option is to make your own homemade raw dog food. This is probably the most affordable way to go, but it’s also the most work. Many veterinarians and animal nutritionists have legitimate concerns about homemade diets because it can be hard to provide the proper balance of nutrients. It also requires the pet owner to handle raw meat and bones, which can be unpleasant and poses a serious risk of contaminants like salmonella.
- Frozen or Fresh Commercial Raw Dog Food: Frozen or fresh raw dog foods are convenient because they are ready to feed. However, they are immensely cost-prohibitive, with most of them costing eight times more than most commercial kibble. These diets also have a high number of recalls due to contamination from salmonella and other nasties. On the plus side, if you’re going to feed raw, these diets are an excellent way to ensure that you are providing the correct balance of nutrients.
- Freeze Dried and Dehydrated Raw Dog Food: Minimally processed freeze-dried and dehydrated raw dog foods are extremely convenient, but they’re also very expensive. Most of these diets have high-quality, whole-food ingredients. They’re just as convenient as feeding dry kibble and easy to order online and have delivered right to your door.
I couldn’t write this article without mentioning that there are a lot of miracle stories surrounding the raw diet for dogs. Many people claim that their dog’s health conditions have improved or gone away almost overnight by merely switching to raw dog food. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find any actual scientific evidence to back up these stories, but with so many of them out there, they’re worth considering.
If you decide to feed a raw diet exclusively, please consult with your veterinarian first and educate yourself about the risks of handling raw meat and feeding raw meat to your dog. Dogs with certain health conditions should not be fed low-carbohydrate diets, so consulting with a vet who knows your dog’s health history is absolutely mandatory.
What Makes Kibble So Controversial?
There are so many dry kibble dog foods out there that are really terrible. They are made mostly of cheap fillers like corn, instead of meat. Some people believe that the process of turning food into kibble robs it of essential nutrients. Dog foods that contain wheat, corn, and soy often cause allergy symptoms and inflammation.
On the other hand, many dogs eat kibble their whole lives and thrive on it. There are some commercial kibble diets that are low in carbs and free of grains and other allergens. If you choose a high-quality kibble that contains mostly animal protein with some fruits and vegetables, there’s no reason to believe that your dog won’t do just as well on it as he or she would on a raw diet.
Latest Trends in Commercial Dog Food Kibble
Pet owners are obsessive about doing what’s best for their fur babies, and some pet food manufacturers are finally taking notice. Thankfully, there’s been a massive trend toward natural, holistic health and wellness for both people and animals that can’t be ignored. Some companies are making a real effort to provide healthier, high-quality kibble.
Many companies are switching over to formulas that are grain-free, allergen-free, and low in carbohydrates. They’re using processing methods that retain more nutrients, such as slow baking or dehydrating. While these new formulas are on the pricier side when compared to lower quality pet foods, they are usually considerably more affordable than commercial raw diets.
If you do your own research, it’s pretty easy to find a good kibble that’s convenient to feed, made from whole food ingredients, and is low in carbohydrates. There’s no doubt that switching to a higher quality diet will be good for your dog, but it doesn’t have to be a raw diet.
The Pros and Cons of Feeding a Raw Dog Food Diet
The Pros of Switching to a Raw Diet
- If your primary concern is knowing what goes into your dog’s food, then switching to a homemade raw diet is the way to do it. You can source your own ingredients, such as organic, grass-fed, or free-range meats and organic produce. If your dog has allergies or health issues that are worsened by specific ingredients, preparing the food yourself can be very reassuring.
- The main reason people switch to a raw diet is for the perceived health benefits. There are so many stories out there about raw diets curing cancer, healing skin conditions, improving eyesight, and even improving anxiety issues. Although there’s no scientific proof to back up these claims, there are so many of them that they are hard to ignore.
The Cons of Switching to a Raw Diet
- One of the main drawbacks of feeding a raw diet is that it is costly. Feeding a raw diet exclusively can cost a small fortune that might be better invested in supplements and providing quality medical care. Unless you have a source for high-quality, affordable meat, such as a local farm, hunter, or butcher, feeding a raw diet is very cost-prohibitive.
- There’s no getting around it. Raw meat contains parasites and bacteria that can be dangerous to people and pets, especially if they have compromised immune systems. If the thought of exposing yourself and your dog to salmonella, listeria, and E. Coli doesn’t concern you, it should. There are many scientific studies that show the dangers of feeding raw meat, so this con should be taken seriously.
- Don’t ignore the risks of nutritional imbalances with homemade dog foods. There’s no way to know if you’re meeting your dog’s nutritional needs without proper testing. Ensuring that your dog is getting the right amount of essential nutrients like phosphorus and calcium is one of the biggest challenges of feeding a raw diet. Most of the time, symptoms of nutrient deficiencies don’t become evident until they are very severe.
- There’s nothing convenient about feeding a raw dog food diet. Safely preparing raw meat and sourcing the ingredients if you make it yourself is extremely time-consuming. Even commercially prepared raw diets require more commitment. They generally aren’t as easy to get ahold of as high-quality kibble, and they take up a significant amount of space in your freezer and fridge. And, there’s also the risk of spoilage before the food is used up.
Should You Be Feeding Your Dog a Raw Diet?
For me, the cons of feeding raw dog food far outweigh the pros. If you believe the claims, it’s possible that feeding raw food may provide some health benefits, but there’s no scientific evidence that it’s any better than a high-quality, low-carbohydrate kibble. Although there are issues with many commercial kibbles, there are also many that are very high-quality and much more convenient and affordable than raw food.
If your primary concern is allergy symptoms or digestive issues, these can often be resolved by switching to a different kibble or changing the protein source. Many times, all dogs with digestive problems and allergies really need is a probiotic supplement, fewer carbs, and healthy fats like omega-3s. Instead of spending the money and time required to feed raw dog food, you are probably better off feeding high-quality kibble and supplementing as needed.
I also have to base my opinion on my own personal experiences. I have been working in the pet care industry my whole life. I’ve seen dogs on the raw diet come into the vet’s office with the same types of illnesses dogs who are fed kibble have. I’ve also seen dogs come into the animal hospital with life-threatening intestinal blockages from owners feeding bones as part of a raw diet. I am just not convinced that feeding a raw diet is a miracle cure for everything that ails your dog. For me, feeding a raw diet is not worth the risk.
Here’s How I Feed My Dogs
My dogs are fed low-carb, grain-free, high-protein kibbles from either KetoNaturals or Wysong as the bulk of their diet. I alternate between the two companies and switch up protein sources each time I order to avoid nutrient deficiencies, prevent the development of allergy symptoms, and provide variety. I supplement their food with probiotics each day to prevent digestive issues. I also offer a high-quality fish oil supplement for their skin, heart, and immune health.
I do like the idea of supplementing their diet with whole foods. I add a bit of cooked grass-fed beef, pasture-raised chicken, or wild-caught fatty fish like salmon, mackerel, or sardines to their food a few times a week, depending on what we have on hand. They also enjoy some fresh fruits and veggies, so I add them to their food now and then or offer them as treats. I pour bone broth over their kibble every day to provide moisture and improve their digestion and joint health.
While all of this does require a little more effort than throwing some kibble in a bowl, it’s nowhere near as expensive, time-consuming, or risky as feeding a raw diet exclusively. My little poodle is in excellent health at the age of 15. My larger dogs are in excellent health at nine years old. They’ve never had any health problems or weight issues. This is what works for my dogs, but every dog is different, so do your own research.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, you must do your own research and talk to your vet before making a decision about what’s best for you and your dog. Every dog, owner, and situation is different. If you feed your dog a raw diet or a high-quality kibble with supplements, please share your experience in the comments below so we can all learn from it.
