There have been a lot of posts, sales, and advertisements about raw feeding for dogs over social media platforms.
But it really boils down to one question: Does it make sense for ME to do it?
Predators, which are carnivores, hunt other animals to feast on their prey’s meat. Meat is their primary diet.
Dogs are carnivores. That fact is undeniable.
With that, raw meat plays a huge role in their nourishment.
But having them as our pets to whom we regard as a member of the family, shouldn’t we be more concerned at bacterial infections brought about by Salmonella or E.Coli?
Should I feed my dog raw meat?- Yes or No?
1. Yes, bacteria shouldn’t be a big deal
Dogs usually have a strong concentration of hydrochloric acid in their stomach, which can digest meat and bones.
Canine stomach acid is ten times stronger than what humans have. With this, it can kill any bacteria that would enter their system.
Also, compared to the human digestive tract, dogs have shorter guts, and the transit time is faster.
This means food will not stay in their gut for a long time. There would not be enough time to let bacteria such as Salmonella and E.Coli thrive.
The bottom line? Bacteria is not a barrier to pet raw feeding.
2. Yes, if you like to save time
With raw feeding, the dog has to eat the meal immediately. Your dog will need a regular mealtime so their exposure to raw meat won’t drag on.
If not properly taken care of, meat will go rancid.
If your pet has some leftovers, throw it all away and clean your dog’s bowl.
Saving leftovers at room temperature will leave you with a nasty smelly piece of rotting meat.
Besides, you would not want to wait all day for them to finish if they are already full.
3. Yes, if you think hygiene is important to your pet’s life and comfort
Considering that this is a raw diet, it could pose risks to several diseases that involve bacteria.
If you have people in the household who are immune-compromised, this shouldn’t worry the.
They have to stay away from the raw meat.
And for those handling the feeding, it does not exempt them. They must practice proper hygiene by using antibacterial soap and hot water as aftercare.
Apart from meticulous aftercare, the feeding area of the pets should be an easy-to-clean and easy-to-manage area of the home.
You would not want to be cleaning an hour just to end up feeding your pet for 5 minutes.
The utensils used for the pets’ meals should only be used exclusively to feed them.
Grab soap and save some warm water for these materials after every meal.
Store it separately away from your utensils.
4. Yes, if you have a freezer and intend to keep it busy
.
Since it is raw and fresh, it should be stored in a freezer and kept frozen until before mealtime, to prevent it from spoiling.
It is important to estimate the part to be consumed for each meal so as not to thaw the stocks repeatedly.
Take note; you should only thaw meats once or twice.
5. No, if you are not able to commit to #2 to #4 above
If you are not careful with the proper handling, timekeeping, and aftercare for each feeding, then a raw diet is not your thing.
Putting your dog on this kind of diet is a lot messier than kibbles.
If you live in a commercial space like apartments or condominiums which have a lot of limitations, and proper hygiene during feeding cannot be dwelt on, then this is not an option.
What are the benefits of raw feeding
Dog develop better oral hygiene, enjoy better digestion, and control their weight, get a healthier coat, have more energy and stamina, and develop overall better health.
Raw feeding is a smart choice for your pets’ diet, but it should come along with extra effort, time, and attention.
Remember, having a pet is a great responsibility that you should be aware of. It is another life that you should nourish and cherish.
Every living organism should be well-tended and cared for. The best factors to successfully breed them are time, effort, decent subsistence, and proper handling.
Can We Feed Our Food to Our Pets?
That is the question pet owners ask about themselves and their pets.
Before commercial pet food was invented, many of our pets, mainly dogs and cats lived on table scraps for sustenance.
It became popular again in 200 after hundreds of cats and dogs died from eating manufactured food from China that contained melamine.
Currently, many pet owners are home-cooking the food that their pets eat. This way, they will know what exactly goes into their stomachs.
It is an acceptable way to provide nourishment to your pets, but the reality is some human food isn’t great for palates as well as their stomachs.
Some of the food we eat is toxic to our pets.
Before scrounging for leftovers from the plates of our family members, we should know our pets’ dietary requirements so that we would know which of our food is good or bad for them.
Here are our foods that we can feed to our pets, mainly cats and dogs:
· Peanut butter
· Yogurt
· Broccoli
· Green beans
· Turkey
· Chicken
· Spinach
· Eggs
· Bread
· Salmon
· Cottage cheese
· Carrots
· Cantaloupe
· Oatmeal
· Peas
· Bananas
· Cheese (hard cheeses like Swiss, Cheddar, and Gouda)
· Pumpkin
· Blueberries
· Apples
Here are human food that we should NOT feed to our cats and dogs:
· Onions
· Garlic
· Yeast dough
· Bacon and other high sodium foods
· Chocolate
· Coffee
· Soft drinks
· Avocados
· Food containing Xylitol
· Chewing gum
· Macadamia nuts
· Grapes and raisins
We can still feed our cats and dogs food from our pantry and refrigerator. Here are ways we can do it (consult the veterinarian first if it is still nutritionally-balanced).
*Make changes gradually and slowly.
When changing from commercial food to human food, we will not do it suddenly. Our cats and dogs have sensitive digestive systems.
Start with something bland like unseasoned veggies, meat, and chicken along with their commercial food.
Add more of the human food each day and less of the pet food.
*Broaden their taste buds and diet.
Don’t only feed them chicken and meat. Like us, our pets like to mix it up.
Add vegetables and grains (like rice) into their new diets so that they will enjoy the benefits of a delicious yet nutritious, well-balanced diet.
*Watch out for the fat intake.
Our pets, like us, need fats in the system. And like us, not too much.
Too much fat in their diets can cause upset stomachs.
Do not give them food with high-fat content like chicken skin, fatty meats, butter, and other fat-rich foods. They will be healthier for it.
*If we as humans don’t eat it, then don’t give it to your pets.
If we have food leftover in our plates that we don’t like eating like skin, gristle, and fat, then don’t give it to them. If it is not okay for us, then it is also not good for them.
Appropriate Meats for our Pets
As concerned pet owners, we want to know the different meats in the market that we can feed to our pets.
Also, these concerns should be addressed:
· Nutritional factors
· Price
· Sustainability
· Availability
· Price
· Farming practices
· Processing
*Beef
It is the most common and widely available source of pet food. Chicken is second.
The beef that is used for processed pet food comes from non-usable parts like bones with meat scraps left on, offal, etc.
*Chicken
It is also a common source used for commercial pet food and the most widely farmed of all the domesticated species of animals.
Organic chickens, along with their eggs, are best for your pets. They provide a good source of protein.
*Mutton and Lamb
It is a popular meat source for pet food, which has a unique source of protein for our pets.
Mutton is preferable due to a cheaper cost.
Lamb shanks are a favorite for pet dogs.
*Kangaroo
It is the preferred choice of meat for our pets. In Australia, fresh kangaroo meat is widely used as pet meat.
Kangaroo meat is nutritionally superior to other meats because it is low in fat and high in protein, vitamins, and minerals.
*Turkey
It has become a popular choice of meat for our pets.
It has 70% white meat and 30% dark meat, high in protein and low in fat.
It has a good source of phosphorus, iron, zinc, and potassium.
*Rabbit
It is the best and most appropriate meat source for dogs and cats.
It is similar to kangaroo meat, which has high protein and low in fat.
*Fish
It is a good source of protein, high in vitamins and minerals, and low in fat.
Buying it fresh and lightly cooking it would be great for your pets.
Some cats can react allergically to some deep water fish like tuna.
