Raw Feeding A Dog With A Baby In The House?
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Question & Answer on
Sep 25th, 2009 |
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I currently feed by boxer a raw diet. I am due in June with my first baby and I am getting concerned that I might have to stop feeding raw. Notwithstanding the amount of time and effort it takes to feed raw, I am worried about the baby touching the dogs toys and things other things that the dog has touched after he has eaten. I dont know if this is or should be a concern. Other people must feed raw with babies in the house. If you do, can you provide some insight or suggestions on how you mitigate the risk, if any, to your baby. Thanks!
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Well here’s my take on it (even though I don’t feed a raw food diet mostly because of the time/effort):
Ok I know you cook your food but that doesn’t kill everything.
Raw food diet for a dog is made (usually) from human grade ingredients. Dog food is made from non-human grade ingredients that are less strictly controlled and more likely to be contaminated.
So as long as you are feeding your dog things that you would eat I don’t see why you would be overly concerned. Afterall you eat the same foods and then kiss your kids
If you really wanted to be anal you could compromise and cook the food (or at least the meat part) for your dog. This would still be healthier than commercial food, though depending on what you read it would be less healthy than raw.
NEVER feed your dog, or any pet for that matter, a raw diet. Their bodies, from generation, have become accustomed to the commercial brands. You may not think they are the healthiest, but they are, as long as they are not supermarket brands (Safeway, Kirkland, etc.) I recommend Science Diet. Because dogs today do not hunt for their food, as they do in the wild, meat provide unnecessary acids & carbs, which can lead to obesity. Never ever feed your pet a raw diet, EVER. You are shortening his life span as well.
*To start a diet of commercial brand dry food, slowly add in dry food into his usual diet of raw meat. Over time, slowly increase the amount of dry food you mix in with the raw meat, as you slowly take away the raw meat at the same rate as you are adding dry food in. Keep doing this until the bowl is 100% dry food. This process should take around 2 weeks. Research it for more information.
Most definitely a question for an experienced veterinarian.
Do we have one in our forum, please?
It’s not a problem.The dogs will NOT confuse your child for food and parents should not leave their children alone with pets anyways despite what kid of food they eat.(dogs,cats,ferrets,etc.)and as far as germs,just use a natural/organic non toxic cleaner to wash toys and such.Go to the yahoo group called “truth about vaccinations” or a raw feeding yahoo group.They have alot of great advice.Good luck and thanks for being a good MOMMY to your babies.Human and Canine.:)
As long as you don’t bring home a pit bull,
the baby should be fine.
A bit of germ therapy is good for a baby.
It builds up their tolerance.
The raw diet has a lot health benefits for dogs, especially dogs like Boxers who are prone to allergies to wheat and corn and such…. Your baby probably won’t come in contact with any of the dog’s toys until its around 6 months, when they become mobile. So I’d continue it til at least then. If you’re still concerned, you could wipe the dog’s toys down with Lysol or Clorox wipes frequently, but honestly, I don’t think it will be a problem.
Anybody who thinks that a dog belongs outside after you have a baby, should never own a dog. I have two large breed Boxers. Boxers aren’t outside dogs. They’re extremely temperature sensitive. My dogs are my babies, just as much as my children are. They’re very, very gently with babies and children, and have been since my kids were born. I’ve had my oldest dog since before I had some of my children. As far as keeping the house clean, I’ve been in some houses without dogs that make my house look like an advertisement for Lysol or something. Boxers don’t shed as much as long haired Pomeranians or something. I vaccuum twice a day and most people don’t realize I even have dogs until I tell them. Dogs should never be penalized just because you have a baby.
G’day,
first I must congratulate you for feeding uncooked food to your pet. You may be one of the few but you are one of the wise as only humans destroy their food before eating and that’s why we are the sick animal of the world. I would at this point want to alert you to the most important book Ive ever read about health. Google Ross Horne…. fifth edition. and also Ross Horne ‘ improving on pritikin’
now to your question.
Your dogs toys must not be where your new child can reach them. NEVER.
and NEVER trust your dog around a child, always be in the same room as your child and your dog. If your dog is like most peoples pet canines and is TOP DOG in your home then it may very well take advantage of the bottom of the pack ( your newborn baby) Please… make these your most important rules.
ask the dog whisperer… or go to http://www.victoriastilwell.com/ and ask Victoria.
and the very best of health and happiness with your most precious gift to come. xx
barf “(biologically appropriate raw foods) is best for dogs.
if you are concerned about the baby playing with the dogs toys, set up a “dog room” now, with a low gate that the dog could get over, but the baby not, and establish that the dog’s food, water and toys remain in that space. once baby gets here, that will be his “safe space” and baby is NEVER allowed in that room.
there are lots of good books on feeding a BARF diet.
talk to your pediatrician, and your vet, and good luck with baby!
I think you’re crazy. I would be afraid the dog will eat your baby. Feed the d*** dog some dogfood!
why do you fed your dog a raw diet. dogs can suffer from intenstinal bugs as well you know- if you want a how cooked meal for your dog i would go with either chicken and rice (with some veggies like carrots or maybe even apples) or hamburger and rice. dogs can get diarrhea very easily and become dehydrated.
I see nothing wrong with your dogs diet. Some people eat thier meat raw too. But, I AM worried about your child. It is RAW MEAT.
Raw is never a choice for domestic animals. They need protection from disease as much as do you and your baby. We have all heard the dramatic news coverage about meat recalls, but did you know there is a three year old recovering from surgery to remove the last three feet of his large intestine and his rectum, purportedly from the E Coli in the meat he was fed? Would you wish that on your boxer? Do you think that, because he is a dog, some magical process will prevent him from dying of E Coli poisoning?
There are seven predominent strains of E Coli, and only one is regulated by the USDA, because it may be fatal. The remaining six strains may be in every piece of meat you buy, and that they only can make you sick will not protect your dog from severe illness.
Give the dog meat if you choose; he won’t complain one bit if you cook it, and may even feel better if it is the same food you are eating – kind of a bonding thing among a family of carnivores. My dogs always get something meaty from my table. We had crawdads from the local supermarket. We tried them and didn’t like them at all. The dog took a sniff of it and started to roll in it. We fell off of our chairs laughing.
I never heard of feeding anything raw to dogs. Anywho. For the sake of the baby every catching something I would SLOWLY switch the dogs diet for the health of your child. I dont think it would be a huge problem in the begining with the baby but when she starts crawling/walking I would be very scared that she/he would eat it and get some disease.
I’m no dog expert, but I wonder why anyone is not concerned about keeping a large dog inside with a little baby? Not only extremely unhygienic but risky for the baby’s life, no matter what kind of dog it is. If you have a baby then the dog really should be outside, so I’d get it used to that now! I wouldn’t want my baby touching any dog toys or getting dog hairs all over them – that is disgusting!!! How on earth can you keep your house clean? Dogs belong outdoors.
There is a risk for pregnant women handling raw meat – if you do so then you must wash your hands extremely well – if you cannot avoid handling it altogether. I used to do the same thing for our dog then read about the risks of contamination and stopped.