Raw Food Diet For Dogs Benefits And Disadvantages
A lot of pet owners these days have started to experiment on raw food diet for dogs. You can't really blame them because there has been a lot of buzz going around this new fad. It was initially promoted by an Australian veterinarian named Ian Billinghurst who proposed that the same diet done by wild dogs can be applied to domesticated dogs too.
The biggest part of the meal consists of feeding dogs with raw bones and meat. However, it should be noted that the meat items as well as the bones given are only within a limited number of options such as lamb, beef, chicken, as well as fish. This ensures that the dogs would get proper nutrition without danger to their health.
But aside from these, other important nutrients are also being included in the meals. Among them are vegetables and fruits as well as small portions of organs like liver, kidney, and even a portion of the heart. The organs should also come from the same animals listed as the acceptable raw meats to feed to dogs.
Pet owners who have switched into this new regimen do swear by the positive effects it brings. They say that their dogs finally exhibit shinier coats and also have better looking skin. They also say that even their teeth become noticeably cleaner from eating all these natural food items.
Despite of all these, there is still some debate surrounding this new phenomenon. Some experts are not keen to accept that this raw food diet for dogs really is as effective as some people vouch for that it is.
Some experts say that making dogs feed on raw food might do them more harm than good. Their argument is that this type of feeding only increases the possibility of cultivating bacteria. Salmonella can be passed on from the raw meat into the pets and even humans who handle the raw meat can get it as well, they say.
Aside from this, feeding raw bones have also been a concern from some experts. They say that this practice might still be dangerous for dogs because they could end up eating splinters of bones and also puncturing their internal organs in the process. They also say that this might lead to breaking the pets' teeth as well.
Considering all these pros and cons presented about the raw food diet for dogs, it really becomes important to consult a vet first. Before you try it out for your dog, make sure you can get clearance from the vet first.
Jamie is a canine health professional who specializes in feeding dogs raw food.