This is a question veterinarians are getting more often than ever due to the explosion of information (or misinformation) online and because of the recent scares regarding pet food contamination. Most veterinarians are caught between trying to balance the desires of their clients and minimizing the known risks to their patients and clients that come from feeding raw meat.
Where does the idea of feeding a raw based diet to dogs and cats come from? For some, it is a way to simplify a pet’s diet. They feel it get’s” back to basics”, utilizing whole foods without preservatives, additives or other unpronounceable ingredients on a pet food label. It’s a way of eating that many find beneficial for themselves and suspect it may help their pets as well. Others chose this diet because a source like a breeder, trainer or pet food salesperson told them this was the best diet and it sounded like credible advice. The decision to feed a raw diet could be a response to the concerns generated by the threat of pet food contamination or because some feel that if raw meat is good for wild animals, then it must be good for their domesticated animals. Still, others believe that cooking foods (at home or through a manufacturing process) destroy necessary enzymes, vitamins and amino acids needed for healthy digestion and overall nutrition. People are very passionate about their pets and their beliefs. It is this passion that guides them to make specific dietary feeding choices. No matter the originating cause for exploring raw based diets, it is a good thing to have an open, knowledgeable discussion about diet and nutrition. The goal for most vets is to determine what the pet owners goals are when it comes to feeding their furry friends and how to do this with minimal risk to both humans and the animals.
In this country, 1-3% of owners use commercially available raw food diets and 10-15% of owners may give their pets human based foods (raw or cooked). With those kinds of statistics, it is important for veterinarians and pet owners to have discussions about what they feed their pet. As mentioned before, the most important question is, “What is your goal in feeding a particular diet?” Supporters of raw diets believe it will result in a better hair coat, fewer allergy issues, healthier teeth, better functioning gastrointestinal tract and ultimately, a longer lifespan. Advocates against raw diets will argue that there are no published studies that support any of the claims made by raw food supporters. Conversely, no studies have disproved these claims either. Studies in this area of pet nutrition are sorely needed so intelligent recommendations one way or another can be made. Concrete evidence does exist that there has been an increase in the number of cases of pet food contamination. There is also plenty of evidence that raw foods are often found to be contaminated with bacteria (E.coli and Salmonella) and associated with mild to life-threatening illnesses due to consumption. This same bacteria also poses a great risk to pet owners through their exposure from handling the meat or exposure to their pet’s stool. Cases have been reported to the FDA of adults and children who have contracted Salmonella or E. coli and the cause was connected to their pet’s consumption of raw meat. For some, it seems like a “damned if you do or damned if you don’t” situation. What is a pet owner to do? Rather than wander through pet food aisles or search through the millions of internet pages about pet food, the first step a pet owner should take is talking to their veterinarian.
Yes, most veterinarians will likely dissuade you from using raw foods. The primary reason being that there is too much risk of bacterial contamination, which can expose the pet or its owners to serious illness. Still, other risks are present. In many recipes, raw bones are used. The bones, if not prepared properly (grounded or crushed) have led to injuries to the digestive tract resulting in surgery to correct or even death because of the damage. These diets also often have imbalanced nutritional content. Many recipes were not founded in science but rather just found on the internet or came from a friend who got it from another friend. This is not to say that pet owners can’t use homemade diets for their pets. There is nothing wrong with homemade diets as long as it is a diet formulated by a veterinary nutritionist, who can help to make sure the micro- and macronutrients meet the needs of the pet who is consuming the food. Just as it is recommended for us humans, all foods that pose a risk for bacterial contamination should be thoroughly cooked. Nothing is lost in the cooking process of meat. Meat does not have vitamins or enzymes that can be cooked out. All digestive enzymes and even some vitamins are made by the body itself. The vitamins not made by the body can be supplemented into the diet. Homemade diets can help some allergy patients by reducing the number of ingredients in their food and therefore their exposure to allergenic substances. The “rawness” of a diet has nothing to do with it being less allergenic. Many pets with food allergies get better on raw diets simply because owners got away from the ingredient in the original diet that was a source of allergies. Determining and helping pets with food allergies can be more safely evaluated under the supervision of a veterinarian with a properly prepared homemade or commercial hypoallergenic diet. Making a homemade diet is labor intensive and should be evaluated by a veterinary nutritionist. This can be done online. One of the many websites produced by veterinary nutritionists who can formulate a recipe for your pet is . If this seems like too daunting of a task, then a good, reputable, commercially prepared diet is needed. What should pet food be used? That is a question we are asked all of the time. With the explosion of new pet food manufacturers, brands, flavors, etc., it can be hard to choose a specific brand. We can give you these guidelines, however. Pets should be fed foods certified by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). This certification tells the consumer that the product being fed to their pet has met the nutritional standards, making it balanced and complete. The same diet should NOT be found on websites like www.petfoodrecall.us. Diets on this website have been recalled due to contamination or manufacturing issues. Avoid commercial foods that are not American made (not that there haven’t been issues with American made pet foods, but there is at least greater regulation for U.S. companies than those abroad.) Once a reputable commercial food is selected, feeding the proper amount and avoiding excess calories due to overfeeding or adding “people food” is necessary to avoid obesity in your pet (that’s another blog and half issue by itself!). The suggested feeding amounts are just a place for you to start. Your pet’s specific metabolism and body may call for an adjustment to that amount. Your veterinarian or veterinary technician can help you determine that.
In summary, veterinarians love the great passion pet parents have about their pet’s nutrition. Currently, feeding a high quality, commercially prepared, safe diet is still the way to go. Homemade diets can be explored as long as some science goes into the recipe and you know that it is nutritionally sound. Because of the high threat potential to pets and their humans by pathogens in raw foods; raw food diets are not recommended – a position supported by the American Veterinary Medical Association and Pet Partners(formerly Delta Society). More research on both sides of the issue is needed to better define the level of support veterinarians and pet owners should give to raw food based diets.