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Article Why feed raw? Dogs have been fed kibbled foods for the past fifty or so years with what seems to be great results. Dogs are not dying outright from starvation or malnutrition, and seem to be happy and fairly healthy. You certainly can get dogs with glossy coats and healthy bodies (healthy being used loosely) that live well into their teens while being fed kibbled foods. Yet the veterinary community has been seeing increases in things like cancer, obesity, diabetes, unilateral hip dysphasia, dermatitis's, food allergies, kidney problems, pancreas problems, and liver problems (and their medical techniques and methods have evolved tremendously to deal with these; many veterinarians are very capable people who mean well and can be quite good at treating illness and disease). Just about every system in the dog has been affected in some way, shape, or form by some disease or problem that did not 'exist' prior to the advent of kibbled foods or was not recognized as a big issue. Part of this increase is due to the fact that more people own dogs today and that illnesses are more quickly diagnosed nowadays, but many of these diseases have been shown to have strong links to diet—particularly in human research (like adult onset diabetes and obesity and cancer, for example). Many of our pets' body processes parallel our own, so who is to say that processed food will not affect them similarly? But on the whole, most people are happy to feed their dogs kibbled food and coexist with smelly dog turds and stinky dog breath. Dogs are dogs; they are supposed to smell, right? Within the past 10-15 years or so it has finally been recognized that stinky breath is a problem for dogs because it underlies a bigger problem: periodontal disease. The pet industry has played off of this tremendously, bringing about an era of pet chews, dental bones, toothbrushes, toothpastes, plaque-scraping foods and chewies and toys, etc. More things to spend your money on because your dog needs them to be healthy, right? The problem of big smelly dog turds has everyone up in arms, as these turds pollute our parks, sidewalks, streets, and communities. It is the responsible owners who have to suffer, as the turd problem has resulted in stricter leash laws, dog ownership laws, and in some communities an outright 'dogs are not welcome' attitude, plus a plethora of 'quick fixes' to help manage the problem: pooper scoopers, waste digesters, special scooping baggies to carry with you on walks, extra enzymes to add to the dog's food so it will digest more of it. Has anyone ever questioned why they do not treat these problems at their source instead of just dealing with the symptoms as they surface? Yes, people have questioned this as well as the whole idea of pet food; hence, raw feeding has been 'resurfacing', so to speak. People call it a 'fad' without realizing that raw feeding has been around a heck of a lot longer than kibbled foods: one million years of raw to only 100 years—at the most—of kibble. Pelleted, processed food is the fad that has somehow managed to integrate itself into every single aspect of our pets' lives: medical care, training, leisure, nutrition, showing, breeding, you name it. This is, by and large, the way people feed their pets. It is easy, convenient, relatively cheap, and provides a much-needed outlet for all the waste products we as a society create (yep, waste products. That is exactly what goes into kibble.). Some entrepreneurial person—James Spratt—got the idea of feeding "biscuits" to our dogs as a meal, and the very first dog kibble was born (click here to read more about it). These biscuits then evolved into foods that contained all the meats and by-products that were no longer fit for human consumption (particularly after the 1906 Pure Food and Drug Act and the 1906 Meat Inspection Act, which created the "meat dichotomy" of 'fit for human consumption' and 'unfit for human consumption'. Something had to be done with all that 'unfit' meat...), and thus modern commercial foods were created. Kibbled pet food is simply a by-product of our industrial era that ushered in modernity and the desire to do things cheap, easy, and fast. It is no wonder that many of the big-name brands of dog food are made by companies that create a lot of other food products—Nestle, Mars, Colgate-Palmolive, etc. They have easy access to cheap ingredients made by their own factories. But kibbled foods have come a long way since their early prototypes. They have improved much, and there are a number of smaller companies that produce holistic, organic, or premium kibbles from human grade ingredients that are of great quality as far as commercial foods go. The majority of pet owners are happy to just feed brand-name, pre-made foods to their pets because it is convenient, easy, and their animals eat the food and appear to do well on it. They are part of the consumer society that swallows slick advertisements hook, line, and sinker. And if there is one thing pet food companies have down, it is advertising. They advertise all over the place: on TV, on the web, in hundreds of magazines, in schools, at dog shows (think of the Eukanuba Tournament of Champions; free bags of the sponsor's kibble are given to the winners at many dog shows.), at zoos, on billboards, and (most importantly) in your veterinarian's office (think of all those shelves filled with Purina foods, Hill's Science Diet, etc.). Raw feeding, however, has no such advertising capabilities, because people are supporting their local butchers, ranchers, farmers, etc., and are encouraging sustainable living practices rather than paying big bucks to make people buy some commercially-produced product. Raw feeding's advertising is through word-of-mouth and through the healthy dogs and cats that are fed such a diet. One can rightfully ask: why raw and not kibble? People are asking that every day, and some are coming to the realization that while their dogs may be doing well, they could be doing better. This is one of the reasons people switch their pets if their pets do not have some major health problem. They switch because they believe their dogs or cats can have better quality lives if they are fed a raw diet. Sure, the dog's coat may be shiny and it may have a fit body while eating kibble, but they believe raw feeding can make it better and healthier. Here are some of the benefits people have seen in their dogs when feeding a raw diet:
A kibble-fed dog, while exhibiting a soft, shiny coat and a seemingly healthy body will often still exhibit the following:
Article 2 The many health advantages of feeding a raw-prey, model diet. In Nature, cats eat their
prey whole.
Cats are naturally equipped with very sharp teeth that are made for ripping and
tearing meat, and crunching through the pliable raw bones of small animals. They
also have very strong stomach acids, as well as very short digestive tracts,
that are made to efficiently process raw meat and bone. If you have ever known
of, or seen a cat consuming a mouse it has caught, this will make perfect sense
to you. For cats, eating the way Nature designed them to, fosters a myriad of physical, mental and psychological health benefits that an unnatural diet of cooked, canned, kibbled or even ground raw food, simply does not. The form of the foods we feed our cats is key. The closer the food we feed is to its whole, unprocessed, natural state, the better it is for our cats. Cats fed a prey model diet are compelled to use their jaws and teeth for the purpose they were designed. This slicing and tearing action of ripping apart whole, raw foods provides a scrubbing and flossing action that helps to keep gums healthy, teeth clean and white, and jaws strong. And a healthy mouth is vital to the overall health of any animal. So many cats have been feed a steady diet of canned or kibbled pet “food” for so long, that today an unprecedented number of them are developing tooth and gum disease. And because a cat with poor oral health harbors a mouthful of unhealthy bacteria, this is a major contributing factor to a myriad of other, more serious health issues and diseases. So called chronic stinky ‘kitty breath’ is not just unpleasant, it’s a signal that a cat is not being fed properly. Feeding a prey model diet, which is based on whole, raw meaty bones and carcasses, often reduces or even eliminates this problem. Feeding whole raw meaty
bones, which require gnawing and jawing to consume, means that cats must do some
work to process those foods with their teeth and jaws before it’s swallowed.
This working of the food not only allows ample time for the cat’s naturally
acidic gastric juices to be adequately excreted, but in fact actually stimulates
the excretion of these juices, giving the cat’s system the best chance of
properly digesting her meal. By contrast, commercial, and even pre-ground raw foods, require no such time or effort to consume on the part of the cat, and so are generally gulped down, eliminating the necessary time it takes for the stomach to properly prepare to receive the food. This gulping of food can result in an improperly digested meal that may end up as an unpleasant revisitation of that meal on a carpet or sofa, or perhaps even an abnormal stool. Another benefit of feeding whole raw foods to cats, as opposed to feeding commercial canned or kibbled “foods”, is that many naturally occurring essential nutrients and enzymes in raw meat are destroyed when cooked. Commercial pet foods contain a whole host of added vitamins and minerals for this very reason – because without them, that commercial dreck is virtually devoid of any viable nutrition. On the other hand, whole, raw, unprocessed foods in their natural state have a much greater bioavailability of nutrients. For cats, eating things that are overly processed and cooked, is essentially like eating foods that are devoid of any vitality. But when cats are fed foods that are closer to their whole, natural state, it can be as if eating these foods trigger some deep, inner instinct within them to come alive. A cat that is being fed a wholesome diet of whole, bone-in meats and organs, is one that often glows with vitality. And instead of casually grazing on a bowl of boring old dried crunchies all day, a raw fed cat will often dive into her meals with great gusto and a real sense of purpose. Some raw fed cats actually seem to have fun with their food! No doubt few can say that about their kibble fed cats. And finally, eating whole foods often requires some strategy on the part of the cat. Cats generally need to develop certain skills when it comes to eating RMB’s (raw meaty bones). At times they may need to use their paws, or even physically reposition themselves in order to approach their food differently so as to get a better grip on it. The challenges offered by feeding whole foods provide the kind of mental and emotional stimulation that no commercial or pre-ground food ever can. The mental, psychological and physical stimulation of tackling large, intact RMB's provides such a variety of invaluable, intangible benefits - not only in terms of good health, but also with regards to the general, all around well being of our furry friends - that they can hardly even begin to be described. One can only really begin to appreciate such subtle, beneficial effects on our feline companions when we start feeding them the way Nature designed them to be fed - and has in fact been feeding our pet cats’ forebears, as well as their wild cousins, for eons uncounted. In summary, the benefits of feeding your cat a raw, prey model diet include:
Article 3 Feed your Pet Raw Food And see your Vet bills drop! by Shirley Lipschutz-Robinson "We are seeing disease conditions in animals that we did not see years ago. Many of these may be traced to nutrition as the source..." Don E. Lundholm, DVM Dr. Kollath, of the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, headed a study done on animals. When young animals were fed cooked and processed foods they initially appeared to be healthy. However, as the animals reached adulthood, they began to age more quickly than normal and also developed chronic degenerative disease symptoms. A control group of animals raised on raw foods aged less quickly and were free of degenerative disease. In nature, we see another example of wild animals eating entirely enzyme rich raw foods being free of the degenerative diseases that afflict humans. If you spend a little time observing the physical condition of animals in the wild, you will find that so-called degenerative or old age diseases are relatively unknown to them. Except for the danger from natural predators, wild animals generally live quite long and healthy lives. Now, what happens when we domesticate animals and make them into house pets? Are you aware that they quickly develop the same diseases as their human "owners"? We must be making the same mistake with them that we're making with ourselves. Some years ago, Dr. Francis Pottenger tried an experiment on several hundred cats. He divided them into two groups and fed one group their natural diet of raw meat and the other group a man-made diet of cooked pet food. He carried on this experiment through three generations. The cats that were fed their normal uncooked diet thrived. The cats that were fed a cooked diet developed the same diseases, and required the same medical treatment, as we humans. (excerpt from an article at the NewVeg site) Dr. Donald Ogden D.V.M. writes that commercial pet food (even the best known and most expensive brands) have had their nutrients altered, adulterated, devitalized and destroyed by heat, processing, coloring, preservatives and other chemicals. Feeding your animal such food on a regular basis causes waste-toxins to accumulate in the blood, lymphs and tissue which contributes to a weak immune system and renders our pet susceptible to chronic diseases. Jesse Dallas writes that Processed foods and drugs have seriously depleted the natural vitality and immune systems of many pets. Dogs and cats are anatomically very different to humans. Their intestinal tract, for example is only about half as long as a human's, and food is therefore processed and assimilated very differently. Whereas large amounts of red meat can cause cancer in humans, a lack of raw red meat in an animal's diet can lead to serious health problems. Animals, like humans, require the enzymes, amino acids and other nutrients in the raw meat in order to stay healthy. Many skin and coat problems are a direct result of a lack of raw animal fat in the diet - fat which humans often believe is bad for their pet. Animals need at least 30% raw fat, and their systems are not designed to handle cooked meat or cooked fat. In the wild, a panther or jackal does not barbecue, grill or smoke its prey. It definitely does not walk to the local supermarket to buy dry food either. Yet most pet owners recoil at the thought of feeding raw meat to their dog or cat, concerned about bacteria or parasites. However, dogs and cats don't get salmonella poisoning because their digestive system is so acidic (or at least it should be) that it kills everything. This is why a dog can bury a bone and dig it up two weeks later and eat the rotting meat. For a return to health, pets require a diet which strengthens the immune system and most closely resembles that which they would get in the wild. It's really easy to do. Essentially, you feed your pet a combination of certain raw meats and select from a host of raw vegetables Article 4 Should We Feed Our Canine Raw Dog Food - The Pros and Cons Dog owners often discuss the benefits of feeding their pet raw dog food as opposed to cooked or processed food. In the wild, raw food is what dogs had access to and this is what nature intended for them. Some argue that raw food can make dogs ill even poisoning them in extreme cases and although this can be true, the benefits of raw dog food against manufactured pet food that is later recalled is paramount. Pet food can easily contain contaminants that cause harm to animals and organic diets are often the safer option. Raw dog food diets are more expensive but advocates claim that it saves a fortune on vet’s bills as it is basically a detox from their normal diets but if the food is not prepared hygienically, the result could be tarred with salmonella or e.coli. The good may outweigh the bad, however, as raw food has more nutritional value and uses ingredients that are of a suitable quality for humans. When food is cooked, a lot of essential nutrients beneficial to a dog are lost making raw food the perfect solution for dogs. Many of the pet foods on the market are processed and contain small amounts of meat and no real nutritional value. Raw dog food can be a wise solution. Health Benefits of Raw Dog Food Commercial foods contain artificial ingredients that our animal’s bodies cannot handle leaving toxins to accumulate in their blood as their internal organs cannot cope with the control of such a huge number of harmful waste substances in the body. This can affect their immune systems and leaves them susceptible to illness. Animals need the amino acids, enzymes and nutrients present in raw meat and even their coats are negatively affected by a lack of raw animal fat in the diet. Raw dog foods are natural ingredients that do not cause any undue stress on the system and allow animals to live long and healthy lives. By feeding your pets as nature intended, they are able to fully utilize the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and amino acids found only in raw meat and vegetables. The result will be stronger immune systems, less allergies, beautiful coats and healthy skin. Stronger bones, cleaner teeth and fewer orthopedic problems. Longer, healthier lives and lower vet bills. http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html Here are some books where you will find more information (and divergent ideas) about feeding raw diets. It is by no
means a complete list, just a place to start. Article 5 The Benefits of Feeding Your Dog Raw Green Tripe When you adopt a dog, it becomes part of the family. He will depend on you just as your children do for proper nutrition. It’s pretty easy to just buy a bag of dog food; however is it the best thing for him to eat? Dog food manufacturers claim that their food will guarantee a long and happy life. However when you consider all the facts, you will likely stay clear of the packaged foods on the market today. Feeding your dog a healthy diet will enable him to live a long and happy life; everyone agrees on that. However, there are a lot of commercial dog foods on the market today that claim their food is the best thing to feed your dog. In reality it is not. Commercial dog foods contain grains and fillers that can actually shorten your dog’s life. Dogs were around a lot longer then commercial dog food manufacturers, what do you suppose they ate? Feeding your dog raw dog food is the healthiest type of food you can feed him. One of the best types of raw dog food is raw green tripe. It is the number one raw dog food choice used by owners of show dogs and breeders. WHAT IS GREEN TRIPE? As many people know, tripe is the stomach lining of animals such as cows, sheep, goats and deer, basically anything that has four hooves, four chambers in their stomach and eats grass. Feeding your dog raw green tripe, while not appealing to humans, will have your dog jumping for joy when it is time to eat. While raw green tripe may be one of your dogs favorite foods, finding it can be difficult. The tripe that is sold in grocery stores is processed using bleach and may be scalded before preparing for human consumption. You do not want to feed this type of tripe to your dog because it has no nutritional value and may cause him to become sick. Fresh raw green tripe is the most natural raw dog food you can feed him. Green tripe is not called that because it is green in color. It refers to the fact that it is untouched. It is not cleaned or bleached. The color is usually brown and can have a green tint to it from the grass the animal has eaten. The nutritional value of green tripe for dogs is incredible; because of the enzymes from the animals it comes from is still in the raw green tripe, it helps in your dog’s digestion when he eats it. There are also bacteria in the enzymes that kill the bad bacteria in the digestive track of your dog making digestion much easier. Raw green tripe for dogs is also great for keeping their teeth clean, and it helps to strengthen their jaws and the muscles in their neck. Your dog depends on you to make the right decisions for feeding him. Choosing raw green tripe will give him the nutrition he needs to live a long and healthy life. Neil Wasserman is a Labrador Retriever breeder. He has written articles about nutrition and raw food diets for dogs. Article 6 The Benefits of Feeding Your Dog a Raw Food Diet Dogs are more then just pets, they quickly become part of your family; they play and eat and get into mischief and to some people, they are like their children; and like children, nutrition is very important. Dogs need proper nutrition in order to stay healthy. The foods they eat contain the vitamins that they need to ward off diseases, to keep a healthy coat, and allow their bones to remain strong. It is not widely known that a dog should never eat cooked food. The cooking process destroys most of the nutritional value of the food. Commercial dog food goes through a cooking process and it can actually do more harm then good to your beloved dog. A raw dog food diet simply means that the food your dog eats does not contain the grains and other fillers that commercial dog food manufacturers add to their products. A dog’s system is very sensitive and the grains and filler can cause serious allergies. This could potentially cost thousands of dollars in vet bills and medication over the course of your dog’s life. By switching to a raw dog food diet, you can eliminate cause of the allergies all together. Raw dog food is in its original form, and more and more vets are recommending raw dog food because of the benefits it offers.
These are just a few of the benefits of raw dog food. A dog should be able to chew on a fresh raw bone, it cleans their teeth, strengthens the muscles in their jaws and neck. Feeding your dog a raw dog food diet will also help to maintain their weight. Most of the commercial dog foods contain preservatives and salt which make the food tastier and dogs are far more likely to over eat. Commercial dog foods are also very high in carbohydrates and just as in humans; a diet high in carbohydrates can cause very serious diseases such as diabetes and obesity. A raw dog food diet will keep the carbs down to a minimum making it easier to maintain your dog’s weight and keep their bodies healthy. Knowing how much to raw dog food to feed your dog is important although giving him a bone to chew on is great, you shouldn’t just fill his bowl whenever he’s hungry. The amount you feed him depends on his breed, energy level, and metabolism. There are guidelines to follow and every breed should be given a specific amount for a raw dog food diet. The most important thing is that by feeding your dog a raw dog food diet you are giving him the foundation to live a long, healthy and happy life. Adopting a dog and inviting it into your family is a big responsibility; they can bring you years of joy. It is important that you know how to care for them in every aspect, especially their diet in order to keep them healthy. A raw dog food diet is an important step in maximizing your dog’s health and well being. Ian Bandklayder is a dog enthusiast He has written articles about nutrition and raw food diets for dogs. Article7 How To Keep Your Dog Healthy Your dog can bring a lot of joy into your life. A cuddly puppy romping around the yard with your children will grow into a strong and vibrant dog. Keeping your dog healthy is a big responsibility and more and more people are choosing a raw dog food diet for their beloved pets. Raw dog food is healthier for your dog because it does not contain the chemicals and preservatives that commercial dog foods have in them. Commercial dog food manufacturers claim that their food is the best food your dog can eat however; many studies have proven this to be false. Studies have shown that a healthy raw dog food diet is better for your dog because it is food in its natural state. It does not contain the grains and fillers that commercial dog food contains. Commercial dog food manufacturers cook their food and the nutritional value is reduced to almost none. A dog food diet should be something a dog likes to eat, however it should also contain the vitamins and nutrition that will keep your dog healthy. Raw dog food is raw, fresh meat; usually bought from slaughterhouses, farms or local butchers. Feeding your dog the right amount of food is important whether it is raw dog food or commercial. However it is far more likely that your dog will overeat and develop health problems if he eats commercial dog food. Dogs are natural carnivores; their teeth are made for raw foods. Long before commercial dog food manufacturers were opened, dogs hunted and killed their food and ate the meat raw. Even a domesticated dog will choose raw dog food over a bowl of dry kibble. Raw dog food is a great way to keep your dog physically healthy; it is also an excellent way to keep his teeth healthy too. Raw bones are considered part of a raw dog food diet therefore when he chews the bones he is cleaning his teeth naturally. Dogs have an enzyme in their saliva that work with the dog’s jaws and teeth to pulverize the bones. The ripping and tearing action that his jaws perform when eating raw dog food also strengthen the neck and upper shoulder muscles. Many breeders have chosen to feed their dogs a raw dog food diet because of the benefits it offers; stronger bones, shinier coats, better development, decreased odor and overall better health. A dog that eats a raw dog food diet looks and performs better at dog shows. The health of your dog is important to a long and happy life. People who have switched their dogs to a raw dog food diet have found that their dogs have more energy, their weight is maintained better, and those dogs with bone disorders that have been switched to this incredible diet actually reduced or eliminated the disorder. Faith Bandklayder is a Labrador Retriever breeder. She has written articles about nutrition and raw food diets for dogs.
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