Any Evidence Raw Feeding Is Beneficial?
I have been doing a little research on the raw food or “prey” and b.a.r.f. diets to determine if they would be right for my dog, Largely the idea seems very reasonable and I have heard good things but somethings I have been reading have me concerned, surprisingly there things I have been reading on pro raw food diet websites.
They seem largely to fall in with a lot of pseudo science and new agey crap for one thing I found a bunch that were babbling conspiracy theories about vaccination and they were stringently ant-vaccination both for pets and humans and they made lots of ridicules unsupported claims lot’s of which involved and depended on “toxins” which is predominantly just new age babble. Furthermore I found a couple that suggested homeopathy as an alternative to vet care, which is a huge red flag to me as homeopathy is complete and utter garbage, for those unfamiliar read up http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeopathy. Basically homeopathy says anything that causes symptoms of a particular disease cures that disease if strongly diluted and the more it’s diluted the stronger it becomes. Furthermore every single homeopathic medicine is diluted so much it’s indistinguishable from tap water. It’s complete nonsense the only effect it has in people is the placebo effect and that won’t work on dogs so the idea that raw food supporters also advocate this useless baseless treatment as an alternative to proper vet care is very disturbing to me.
So I was wondering is there any raw food supporters who still vaccinate and take there dogs to real vets or is the whole raw food thing just, as one pro-raw food website described it “an extension of the holistic lifestyle for our pets” and just based on the same pseudo science and half baked ideas and conspiracy theory’s of most “holistic” medicines and treatments or is it genuinely supported and beneficial? Is there any actual evidence for or against the diet if you have some can you please provide the source or the links to it?
this is not an attack I’m genuinely trying to look out for the best interest of my dog and the raw food diet on it’s face seemed very reasonable and it made sense to me that it could possibly be beneficial but seeing some of the other things that are clearly nonsense these people advocate has me concerned that this may be as well. So again if you have any sources for or against could you please provide a link or site where you obtained the information. Thanks to whoever took the time to read this and a big thanks to everyone who takes the time to respond, pro or con. 
Similar Posts:
- What is the Best Food for My Dog?
- Holistic Cat Food For The Healthiest Cat
- Premium Dog or Cat Food Best for Pet’s Health
- 3 Things You Should Never Feed Your Dog
- Raw Feeding A Dog With A Baby In The House?
I’ve been feeding my dogs and cats a raw diet for the last couple years. I started it because two of my dogs had food allergies, another one had frequent bladder issues and I had one cat with allergies and another with urinary tract disease that flared up on a regular basis. It was pretty much to the point of feeding each of them a different prescription food. So, long story short, I tried the raw diet. They are literally all completely recovered. I haven’t had to rush to the emergency vet since I switched them all over. Easily, I saved over $2000 in vet bills last year not to mention the savings over prescription foods and the medications they still needed in addition to that.
I do still use modern veterinary medicine whenever it is necessary. However, I do research anything before I have it done to my pets. My vet used to vaccinate my pets every year. Those pets all died of cancer before the age of 10. However, I’ve worked in a kill shelter and have seen the remarkable different between animal shelters that vaccinate on intake and those that do not. Vaccinations, when used properly, do prevent disease. Does your strictly indoor house cat need to be vaccinated for 7 different diseases every single year? Uh, no. The recommendation from the American Association of Feline Practitioners is to vaccinate every three years for pet cats that aren’t part of a show/exhibition program. Yet, most vets still want to vaccinate your cat for 7 diseases every single year even though the recommendation is every three years.
My opinion, and that’s all it is, is that you have to look at both sides of the story and you’ll probably find the truth somewhere in the middle.
The unfortunate thing is that many humans are greedy. The pet food companies that want to sell you junk for more then it costs to buy meat meant for human consumption are making decisions based on how much profit they can rake in. Also, veterinarians in many cases are nervous that if they recommend a 3 year vaccination protocol that people won’t bring their pets in annually. People want to feel like they’re getting a service for their money and vaccinations are a big part of what justifies the cost of an annual veterinary visit.
I got most of my rawfeeding info right off the yahoo rawfeeding group back when I was researching it. It just makes sense to replicate the natural diet of an animal. I would say it has definitely made a big difference in the health of my pets from their skin conditions, bladder issues to even their teeth which are perfect without cleanings. I largely disregard the ‘holistic-only’ crowd. I volunteered in rescue for a time with a woman who was like that. She would literally rather let an animal die of a treatable condition then use modern veterinary medicine. I have no issue with using antibiotics when they are needed and vaccinations every three years. My pets have had medications and surgeries galore back before we switched off the cheap food we were feeding years ago.
http://www.dogster.com/forums/Raw_Food_D…
follow that link.
Many other links in there.
Also check this out…http://manteega.com/packlunch/articles/r…
It’s GREAT. My dog is 100% healthier!!!!!!
Go to Google.com and type in “raw feeding benefits”
You’ll get bunches of results. I hope pyou decide on doing raw!
Studies may be hard to find, as most would likely originate from veterinary universities. The nutrition courses taught, and studies that are funded, are most often funded by leading pet food companies such as Hills, Iams, etc. They are not likely to give money to fund a study that may indicate a raw diet is superior to their own products.
As far as the vaccines, AAHA has changed it’s recommendations in recent years in support of 3 yr vaccines for rabies & distemper as opposed to 1 year. Also vaccines are classified as “core” or “non-core” so as to assess each pets individual risk of contracting disease vs. suffering a vaccine reaction or to be vaccinated against a disease they may never be exposed to. There are ongoing studies now that may push those recommended vaccines to a 5 or 7 year schedule. Over-vaccination is a legitimate concern.
Unfortunately, people confuse naturopathy and homeopathy. one is herbs and healthy foods that are assimilated and used by the body. The other is the idea of “like cures like” – sounds like building an immunity to me.
I get your point. And, raw veggies and fruits are great if your animal can tolerate them (my dogs love carrots, broccoli and even brussel sprouts).
However, raw meat would be no good – and I’ll tell you why with one vile word.. “worms” yup, that’s pretty much all you’ll do for your dog. Other than the meat, sure – my resource is my experience. I have three dogs.
one Pug, one Golden and a mix of Dachshund and Jack Russel terrier, who, by the way loves all veggies and fruits – he actually will eat them before he will eat chicken (fully cooked). I don’t give my dogs much wet dog food (it makes two of them vomit) – I do, however, provide a quality dry dog food always (good for their teeth). They have sites where you can find recipes (really) for dog food that you make at home, yourself. (kind of like a simple stew). Good luck!
Raw food diets are the best diets you can feed your dog. Your dog is getting all the nutrients from the things it’s body was meant to actually eat: bones, organs, and meat. No veggies or scientifically engineered ingredients used to give nutrition.
Why feed your dog a veggie that supplies it with nutrients, if you can just feed it meat for that same nutrition? Dogs are carnivores, and nothing is truer to their nature then a raw diet.
The fact that new age hippie freaks get involved takes nothing away from the actual diet. Ignore that. It’s obvious your dog needs vaccines, and it’s also the law. I ignore the hippies (and my dog actually hates them, lol. Freaks out whenever he sees one). The diet is the best, and I would feed it myself if I had a cheap meat supplier near me. As it is, I feed a premium dry kibble.
Actually, I really feel kind of bad for people who choose not to at least take holistic methods into consideration. A lot of people, and pets, suffer and/or destroy their bodies needlessly to avoid suffering – when, it really isn’t necessary. To turn your back on possibilities is really nothing but close-minded.
“Scientific” proof really isn’t the name of the game with most raw feeders (or perhaps I should only speak for myself). ANYBODY with half a brain can physically look at a dog and have absolutely no doubt it made a difference. THIS is why I really don’t have any interest in the opinions of people against raw feeding who have not actually tried it. You simply cannot deny it once you’ve seen it. I’ve proven this time and time again with many people.
I do vaccinate my pets, but not as much as most vets would recommend. I have recently switched to a vet who practices more holistic styles of medicine and I personally find that she cares a lot more about my whole pet rather than just treating specific illness with this drug or that one. She’s the first vet who actually looked at me like I had a brain when I asked her about pain relief alternatives for my aging dog that would be SAFE for his liver…most other vets just want to prescribe pain meds that are PROVEN to cause harm to the liver – because that’s all they know.
You have some good points. I fed raw for a time when one of my dogs had recurring bouts of pancreatitis and two others had skin problems. The raw diet made a big difference in their skin, coat and general health. For dogs with sensitive skin, digestive system or history of illnesses, this diet can be great if balanced properly and adjusted to fit the needs of the individual dogs. For instance, since two of my dogs are hogs that gulp down raw meaty bones and then would get sick and throw them up a lot, I had to start grinding their rmb’s. That ended the vomiting.
I’ve seen where people put whole animals in for their dogs to eat, like rabbits or chickens and that means hair, feathers, beaks, feet, etc. Those same people were convinced that by products (feathers, beaks, feet, waste products like skin and hair, guts ) in dog foods were toxic. Then they go and feed their animals all that in a “prey model diet”. I don’t think that is healthy. Dogs have been domesticated for too long.
I can say this, after attempting to go with a lower quality food than the dog food my dogs are currently on which they all three tolerated and don’t react negatively to, I did see my Golden mix and the Aussie mix start to scratch, bite themselves and break out in rashes and the Golden started getting ear infections again.
Seems there is a common sense approach that is healthy. Like natural ingredients vs. dyes, corn, wheat glutens, rice protein concentrate and such are often from very poor quality poorly controlled vendors. Why was so much dog food recalled in recent years? Because the same crap ingredients were put in all the foods at common factories, especially one mega factory.Most of the dog food companies have different bags, names and formulas, but some of the bulk junk from third world countries was put in all those foods via that mega factory. When you feed raw, you know the quality and content of the food the dog is getting. If it’s not a balanced or adjusted-to-needs raw diet, then you can make a dog sick.
So I am pro a well balanced raw diet, grinding rmb’s if needed. I’d prefer a balanced-for-canine home cooked diet, but it is just too much work and more expensive than ever.
Some dogs seem to tolerate any number of foods, cheap or expensive and do just fine, but I guess it’s like smoking cigarettes and eating at McDonalds for most meals. If a person does that, over the years they start to get sick but a few hardy souls live to a ripe old age and it doesn’t seem to bother them. Do I want to take those chances with my kids or animals that depend on me for what they eat and how they grow. Do I want a fat pig diabetic kid? Do I believe a bad diet can cause that? absolutely. We can’t all be Willie Nelsons and eat, drink (whatever we want to and however much we want to) and be merry and still stay thin, healthy or live long and prosper. ; )
As far as vaccinations go, there are some risks of side effects that can be serious when a child or a dog is vaccinated but they are less likely than getting the diseases and serious side effects from them if they aren’t given. So I am definitely pro-vaccination for pets and kids. As far as dogs go, I don’t believe in yearly vaccinations. Vets now offer three year rabies shots and many recommend that after dogs get their first booster after initial shots are finished, giving the dogs their shots every two years vs. yearly.
I have talked to professionals on both sides & there is no definite studies which say one is better than the other. It is more of a matter of personal choice on what you feel comfortable with feeding your dog. This lady has excellent info on her site regarding raw feeding if you want to read it. There are numerous links some which you probably have read before in researching.http://www.rawlearning.com/
Both sides have studies to prove or say their way is better. The dog food companies do spend a lot of time & money in trying to make the best product & depending on their motivation for the good of dogs or for the bottom line. Of course raw is the oldest diet & plenty of studies to back their claims too.
I know the majority of raw feeders (I personally know) take their dogs to the vet for shots & health care but feel raw food is best for their dog for whatever reason.