The Truth About Feeding Raw Food

I know this is a hot topic, but let me share with you my point of view and the science that backs it up. I have learned through my years of working in veterinary hospitals (general medicine, emergency medicine, and internal medicine) and my years as a nutrition consultant for JustFoodForDogs that raw food is not all that it’s hyped up to be. In this post I’ll explain the short term benefits of raw food versus the long term risks and the evolutionary difference between your dog and a wolf.

Before you read on, check out the disclaimer at the bottom of the page

Raw Food Benefits vs Risks

Is a raw diet right for your dog?

First let’s define what a raw food diet is. Most raw diets are referred to as BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones And Raw Food) and they are made up of primarily raw meats and bones. Some diets include dairy, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, but many people who make the food at home don’t believe a dog should eat vegetables, fruits, or grains because of the misconception that dogs “should be fed like a wolf”. I will review the difference between wolves and domesticated dogs in the next section, so stay tuned. Most people who start feeding raw food swear by it because they see an initial improvement in their pet’s skin and coat when changing from kibble or canned food. This initial improvement is usually a result of eliminating the over-processed ingredients in canned and kibble diets or because the raw ingredients have yet to be over processed as they are in canned and kibble diets. But don’t be fooled!. Both raw diets and canned/kibble diets still use Feed-Grade ingredients.

Compare the difference between raw, kibble, and cooked whole food diets

What are Feed-Grade Ingredients? I’m glad you asked. Feed-Grade Ingredients are deemed unsuitable for human consumption. They typically come from dead and diseased animals. So I ask you, if you can not consume it, why would you give it to your spoiled rescue?

A common misconception is that commercially made raw diets are safe because they meet the AAFCO(Association of American Feed Control Officials) guidelines for a balanced diet. The truth is commercially available raw diets tend to be imbalanced. Most have too much protein and fat which often results in your rescue getting pancreatitis. Other raw diets can have either too little or an over abundance of vitamins and minerals. Yeah, sure, they may meet the minimum standards set for by AAFCO, but they are not properly balanced. Long-term consumption of these poorly balanced diets causes many pets to have kidney stones, urinary bladder stones, and gall bladder stones. But these health risks are not the most concerning part of feeding a raw diet.

Raw diets also have a higher risk of containing pathogens like E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria. Cooking the food kills these pathogens. Dog immune systems may have the ability to fight against these pathogens initially, however, long term exposure to raw food diets can have detrimental health effects. Not to mention the risk of having your spoiled rescues pass those pathogens onto you and your family when they lick/kiss you. For many people, finding out that there may be health risks to their family is usually enough to deter them from feeding a raw diet to their pets.

Difference Between Domesticated Dogs and Wolves

A Grey Wolf (left) vs domesticated shepherd mix dog (right)

Many advocates of raw diets initially chose to feed raw ingredients because they wanted their dogs to eat like their wolf ancestors. It sounds like a reasonable idea and that’s why a certain commercial dog food company created an ad campaign geared towards that notion. But it is a HUGE MISCONCEPTION. There are many reasons why you don’t want to feed your dog like a wolf and I’ll cover some key points below.

1) Wolves and domesticated dogs are different species.

A domesticated dog’s and a wolf’s DNA are 99.9% the same. The same can be said when comparing humans and chimpanzees. But you don’t see too many people saying “I eat like a chimpanzee”. The small percentage difference in their genomes makes a huge difference and why they are different species.

2) Wolves are better at digesting raw meats and fighting off pathogens.

Wolf digestive and immune systems are different from domesticated dogs. They are better able to tolerate pathogens commonly contracted from eating raw meat. They are also able to go longer periods between meals than their domesticated counterparts according to an article on petmd.com.

3) Wolves don’t eat grains.

A common misconception is that wolves are strict carnivores. The truth is that they do have the ability to eat carbohydrates, such as grains. The evidence is in their teeth. Wolves have incisors, canines, and molars, just like humans. Their canines and incisors are designed for shredding meat, but their molars are designed for grinding carbohydrates like grass and grains. We all know wolves live in packs and that there is a hierarchy within the pack. The leaders of the packs, Alphas and Betas, get the best parts of their kill, usually the muscle meat. But the bottom of the pack, the Omegas, are usually left with the less desirable parts of the kill, the stomach and intestines. Since most prey hunted by wolves are deer, rabbit, and other herbivores, the contents of the stomach and intestines contain grains and other carbohydrates. The omega pack members uses their molars to grind the grasses and grains which helps them break down the carbohydrates so they can be used as an energy source.

Wolves and domesticated dogs have similar teeth (flat molars for grinding) proving that they can both eat grains. Cats, on the other hand, have all pointed teeth meant for shredding meat. They do not have flat molars designed for grinding. In the next blog, I will discuss more about cats and why they are considered true carnivores.

You may also be interested in reading this article from WholePetFood.co.uk which touches on a lot of these topics.

To summarize, I do not advocate feeding raw diets. There are too many risks that outweigh any short term benefits. The best diet for your spoiled rescue is a balanced, human-grade, cooked, whole-food diet like what JustFoodForDogs offers. It is the same food you eat, cooked so all the pathogens are killed, and balanced for your spoiled rescue’s nutritional needs. I do not recommend giving your spoiled rescue food from your plate. We add too many spices and fats to make it palatable to our tastes and if we feed it to our spoiled rescues, they could get sick. It’s best to consult your veterinarian or a nutritionist to ensure your spoiled rescue is eating a balanced diet if you are cooking it at home for them.

Cooking for your pets at home may be more time consuming and cost slightly more, but your pet’s long term health and increased lifespan are worth it.

Before I sign off, it’s disclaimer time. Disclaimer: I need to inform your that I use affiliate links on my website and blog to promote businesses that support rescuing animals and improving your rescue’s quality of life. I may receive a commission on any purchases you make after clicking the affiliate links.

Check out JustFoodForDogs!

JustFoodForDogs has a variety of balanced, whole-food diets that will suit your dog or cat’s needs.