The dangers of the raw food diet Discussions
April 27th, 2009
Despite their growing popularity, raw food diets for your dog may actually pose a threat to your dog's health. According to a study published in the November/December 2003 issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, raw foods can be a source of the potentially deadly Salmonella...
 | I considered going raw if we couldn’t find the right kibble for my allergic dog, but luckily we did. Honestly, I think if your dog has problems or allergies, there is a natural food out there and you don’t have to resort to raw. Lots of companies make limited ingredient foods (we use Natural Balance Sweet Potato & Venison) and it took us some trial and error but we found one that really worked and benefits her overall health (and our wallets!) 3 months ago by SherryBerry2 |
| As someone who has 10 years experience as an RVT in an emergencyy/referral practice, I would like to put in my 2 cents. I have watched MANY beloved pets(both cats and dogs)die of Salmonella poisoning, and seen many cases of bone/organ disorders due to calcium/phosphorous imbalance. There are also many risks posed to human family members. I would never feed my dog raw chicken and feel comforatble having him near my 2 year old! (Both ends of him would then be contaminated). While I know many people don't want to feed processed kibble or canned food to their pets, that's totally fine! Just research what a balanced diet means for your canine or feline friend, and for the love of god, cook it and take the bones out! Please keep in mind that the two leading causes of death in wild canines are intestinal/esophageal obstruction (from bones)and malnutrition - for those who are trying to get "back to nature". We domesticated 'em, it's our responsibility to keep them healthy. 3 months ago by Cindy |
| I cannot believe the ignorance of people today! Please don't feed your dog raw!! God created dogs to eat cooked well balanced meals! Even wild dogs, coyotes and wolves eat cooked processed foods, in fact, I,ve seen many wild dogs, and coyotes pulling fresh carrots and picking peas for their young so they can have the same style food their domesticated counterparts have! Be a good responsible dog owner and place your bbq pit OUTSIDE your yard so that the wild dogs can cook their kill too after all...we wouldn't want wild dogs getting salmonella poisoning right??? 10 months ago by Tawakoni |
| I used to be a huge proponent of raw diet. I was so excited to get a 14 week old puppy and start her on raw. However, not long after I did, she began to show signs of illness - vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy. Scared I could be dealing with a serious illness (Parvo, anyone?) I took her to the vet who diagnosed her with upset stomach, likely due to food poisoning. She recommended I take her off raw immediately and switch to a balanced, holistic/natural commercial pet food like Innova, Orijen, or Wellness brand. She was prescribed an antibiotic and bland diet for transition, and is feeling much better... Unfortunately, this trip to the vet cost me a lot of money and not to mention a lot of worry - an expense that could have been easily avoided on all accounts had I not chosen to feed our dog raw. (It was fresh chicken leg quarter, it was fit for human consumption - I have done my research on the raw diet.) The vet herself does not recommend raw simply because of the number of incidents she sees like mine. So, while some may say it's so great, and while I'd like to believe that's true for all, it's certainly not - there are considerable risks involved. I almost lost my puppy. Please do not listen to the "research" that claims dogs cannot be affected by salmonella and other food-borne pathogens - they certainly can. Mine did! 11 months ago by Emily |
featured articles
May 30th, 2012
May 30th, 2012
May 29th, 2012
May 29th, 2012
May 29th, 2012
offers from our sponsors
April 2nd, 2012
October 13th, 2010
