The majority of
dogs are fed on a commercial processed food, but there is a growing
interest in feeding dogs BARF or a completely raw diet of meat and
bones.
I feed my own dogs
(Labradors and cocker spaniels) an entirely raw food diet but it was
not a decision I made lightly. In fact it took me over a year
to take the plunge, after doing my research and being fairly
confident it was the right decision.
Commercial
processed dog food
There is a huge
range of quality ‘all-in-one’ commercial foods to choose from, in
an equally large range of prices. Most of these foods are
manufactured in a pelleted form known as kibble. There may possibly
be some long-term disadvantages to feeding kibble.
Kibble feeding has
only been commonplace for perhaps the last fifteen to twenty years
and it is becoming apparent that certain conditions may be associated
with it. One of these is dental caries.
Tooth and gum
infections resulting from a build up of plaque on the teeth of kibble
fed dogs are considered by some vets and experienced dog owners to be
a problem related to diet. Removal of plaque build up in some kibble
fed dogs may be necessary on a regular basis from quite a young age.
This usually involves subjecting the dog (and your wallet) to a
general anaesthetic, not just once but possibly on an annual basis
for the rest of his or her life. There are ‘dental cleaning’
chews etc on sale in many pet shops but I have not found them to be
very effective.
Another condition
that has been linked to some types of kibble (those high in fat) in
some studies is bloat. An extremely painful and frequently fatal
condition, ‘bloat’ is distension and (usually) twisting of the
stomach. A number of websites claim that bloat it is the second
biggest killer of dogs after cancer, but I haven’t seen the
evidence for this claim. You can read more about bloat on this
vet’s website.
It is usually found
in the larger deep-chested dogs such as Weimaraners and is less
common in little dogs.
Raw food
Considerable
numbers of experienced dog owners have changed over to raw feeding in
the last few years. They are still in a minority, but the
minority is growing. Initially, most vets were not in
favour of raw feeding for a number of reasons which we shall look at
below, but that situation is gradually changing.
The two most
popular types of raw feeding are the BARF diet (biologically
appropriate raw food) and the RMB (raw meaty bones) diet.
The main difference
between them is that the BARF diet contains vegetables, as followers
believe these are essential to replace the stomach/gut contents a
wild dog would get from access to the prey animal. ‘Barfers’
grind or puree these vegetables, as dogs are not able to digest
certain vegetable constituents in their natural form.
Those feeding RMB
diet believe that vegetables are both unnatural and unnecessary and
ensure that the dog has access to carcasses in the kind of natural
proportions that would occur in the wild, including a certain amount
of ‘green tripe’ (stomach that has not been completely cleaned of
its contents). I feed my own dogs the RMB diet and do not feed any
vegetables whatsoever.
Possible problems
with raw food
There have
been a number of concerns expressed about raw feeding. Perhaps the
most worrying for the ‘would be raw feeder’ is that of intestinal
perforation. This was my chief concern about switching to raw food.
It is claimed by opponents of raw feeding that sharp pieces of
ingested bone may penetrate the dog’s digestive tract during or
after ingestion, causing serious injury and even death.
Another claimed
risk is that of gastrointestinal infection from the bacteria, which
we know are commonly found on raw meat. Parasitic infections are
another concern, as are nutritional deficiencies caused by dietary
imbalance. Intestinal impaction – blockage of the gut – by
semi-digested bone is another possibility.
All this
sounds quite horrific, and many vets are against raw feeding for
these reasons. There are a number of sources, which state that the
evidence to support the claims made against raw food is poorly
collated and exaggerated. It is also claimed by some, that vets have
a vested interest in kibble, which they often sell, and that some of
the information provided on veterinary courses is biased as it is
supplied by the multi-million pound pet food industry.
There are claims
and counter claims largely unsubstantiated, and passionate views, on
both sides of the debate.
Facts
When faced with
possible death and disease on both sides of the feeding debate –
which way is a dog owner to turn? Thankfully, the facts are less
scary than the ‘possibilities’
The facts are
these: Most dogs thrive and are well on both systems of feeding. Many
thousands of dogs live full, long, and healthy lives on kibble alone.
Thousands of dogs are now fed on raw meat and bones without ill
effects. My own five dogs have now been eating raw meat and bones for
over six years which amounts to some eleven thousand meals between
them. During that time only one has needed veterinary
treatment and that was for an eye injury sustained whilst hunting.
The risk of
gastro-intestinal perforation may be smaller than previously thought.
Impaction or intestinal blockage is unlikely if the animal is
fed meat and bone in the correct proportions as part of a meal –
recreational bones (ie bones fed separately from a meal) are more
likely to be the culprit. I have read on a number of websites
that ‘modern dogs cannot digest bone’ and I can tell you
categorically that this is not true. I have watched the bone
going in, and seen what comes out (see below).
Regular worming
should prevent a build up of parasites, and gastro-intestinal
infections are a risk a dog runs whenever it eats anything rotting or
disgusting found lying on the ground. The fact is, most dogs eat foul
rubbish including the faeces of other animals on a regular basis
without any ill effects at all. Should you choose to do so, the food
you give your dog as part of a RMB diet will hopefully be fresh
reducing the risk even further.
As for nutritional
imbalance, well this is the poorest argument against raw feeding. We
don’t feed our children on the same identical kibble for every
meal, and most of us seem to make a reasonable job of feeding them a
balanced diet.
Whether or not you
feel raw food is too risky is a very personal decision. Many claims
for improved coat, vigour, and health, over and above that of dogs
fed on kibble, are made by those that feed raw food. These claims are
usually anecdotal and often very subjective. Most dogs fed on kibble
are in fine condition too. In fact the almost fanatical fervour of
some supporters of raw food, and their extreme claims towards kibble
and kibble manufacturers may actually put others off joining them.
The following advantages to raw feeding are however well documented.
Advantages of raw
feeding
Dogs fed on a
proper raw diet produce a greatly reduced quantity of low odour
faeces. This is a particular advantage to those who have to pick it
up! Raw fed dog faeces are firm and within a few hours of being
passed, if broken open, will crumble into a pale dry powder. This is
simply because almost all the food is tailor made to suit the dog and
fully digested. What is passed is mostly powdered bone.
Kibble fed dogs
produce large quantities of foul smelling soft faeces, which do not
always have an effective emptying action on the dog’s anal glands.
Raw fed dogs are less likely to need their anal glands emptying
artificially by hand (usually your vet’s hand).
The process of
crushing and grinding bones has an abrasive action on your dog’s
teeth. Raw fed dogs do not usually suffer from dental caries. This
means freedom from dental surgery and the risks of repeated general
anaesthetics.
Raw fed dogs take a
lot longer to eat their food, and gain a great deal of pleasure from
their meals, the powerful chewing action required to break up bones
is beneficial to the dog’s mouth generally and chewing alleviates
boredom.
Advantages of
kibble feeding
There are some
immediate advantages to feeding kibble. It is very convenient to open
a packet and just pour some food into a bowl. You know that your
puppy is getting all the vitamins and minerals he needs which is
reassuring, especially for a new owner, and you don’t need to get
involved in any kind of messy food preparation. In addition, kibble
feeding is currently widely recommended and supported by the
veterinary profession, so that you are unlikely to come into conflict
with your vet for feeding your puppy this way.
Making a decision
I did a lot of
research before I changed to raw feeding and initially was
particularly concerned about the risks of intestinal perforation. As
the weeks of raw feeding turned to months, and the months to years I
began to relax. I have now been feeding the RMB diet to my dogs for
about six years and am very happy with the results, my dogs have
sparkly white teeth and are never troubled with anal gland problems.
The RMB system is a
straightforward one for me because I have almost unlimited access to
whole rabbit carcasses. Not everyone is in this situation
Your decision on
how to feed your dog will be a personal one based on your
circumstances. If you decide to feed raw, make sure you have plenty
of freezer space to store your dog food, and most importantly, read
up on the different methods taking care to introduce the diet
gradually one meat at a time, and to feed meat and bone in the
correct proportions.
Getting it right
Whilst I am very
happy with the RMB diet for my dogs, I have some concerns about the
way some dog owners may be going about feeding their dogs on a raw
diet.
I have recently met
and spoken to, some dog owners who believe that they are feeding
their dogs on a proper raw diet, when in fact they are simply feeding
uncooked food. They are certainly feeding raw meat, plenty of it, but
they are not feeding bone. They are feeding the sort of raw meat that
you or I might happily make into a casserole. Chunks of stewing steak
and chicken breasts. This is not a suitable diet for a dog.
It is really
important to appreciate the role of bone, as a crucial and
significant part of a raw diet.
But bones are so
sharp!
Understandably
people are worried that their dogs might get splintered bone in their
mouths or digestive tract. Watching my dogs take a carcass apart and
break up the bones, I am in awe. Even as a scientist I cannot state
specifically how it is, that dogs are able to swallow terrifyingly
sharp crushed and cracked raw bone splinters without any harm to
themselves whatsoever. Not just once, but day after day, and year
after year.
How is it that my
dogs are still alive and well? Dogs certainly produce a lot of mucus
and slime in their digestive tract which probably helps, and once it
is in their stomach, the powerful acids dissolve bone fairly quickly,
but even so, how it all passes down without damage is quite
astonishing. All that I can tell you is that I watch my dogs do it
every day. Whole rabbits crushed and mangled in minutes, chicken
carcasses, venison backbones, whole fish and so on. All raw of
course. Everything is chomped and swallowed with relish. And what is
more, there are no visible bones in their faeces, just fine powdered
bone.
Bones are essential
However scary it
may be, if you want to feed your dogs an RMB or BARF diet, you must
give them sufficient bone and it must be raw, and meaty. The
proportion of bone in this diet is likely to be far higher than you
might imagine, and this bone must be fed as a part of a meal. In
other words, wrapped up in muscle and connective tissue “on the
hoof”.
Feeding your dog a
huge chunk of meat (muscle) for his dinner, and then giving him a
huge bone to chew on three hours later, is not doing him any favours,
the key is Raw Meaty Bones in the equivalent proportions that you
would find in a small prey animal.
So what kinds of
quantity of bone should I feed?
A good guide to
bone quantity is to think about the proportions of bone, in the
carcass of the kind of animal a medium sized predator and scavenger
(like our dogs) might eat. A rabbit is an ideal example. If you gut a
rabbit and feed it to a dog (don’t feed rabbit guts, they contain
tapeworms), the proportion of bone is substantial. And this is
the kind of natural proportion of bone you should be aiming
for in a dog’s diet.
Think ‘meaty
bones’ rather the ‘meat and bones’. Obviously not everyone has
access to rabbits, but chickens are a similar size, and you can
purchase chicken backs from a number of sources. When we have chicken
portions for supper, we buy a whole chicken, cut off the legs and
breasts and give the rest to the dogs. It is a cheaper way to buy
chicken portions too. It may look fiddly, but once you have done it
two or three times, it takes less than two minutes to quarter a
chicken with a sharp knife.
In addition to
rabbits, we also give our dogs a lot of by products from deer (my
husband is a keen stalker) tripe, ribs, even heads, and a lot of
whole fish (keen sea fisherman too!) Not everyone is in a position to
feed their dogs on this ‘whole prey animal’ basis, and this is
where problems can arise.
Many people will be
feeding raw meat taken from much larger animals such as cattle. The
bones from these animals are for the most part too large for many
dogs to break down and effectively, and the temptation is to feed far
too much meat in proportion to bone. If you want to feed beef, then
meaty ribs is your best bet.
What about
small puppies
It is probably not
wise to consider rearing a litter of puppies on raw food until you
have researched the subject thoroughly and had plenty of
experience of feeding raw food to adult dogs. A three or four
week old puppy is growing very rapidly and has specific nutritional
needs that cannot be met with a few spoonfuls of minced meat.
Puppies need
sufficient calcium and vitamin D to ensure strong straight bones.
Sunlight is an important factor in vitamin D, and keeping puppies
indoors all the time is not a good idea. Fish is another good source.
Vitamin D supplements are not necessarily a good thing as too much
vitamin D can cause other problems.
Breeding a litter
of your own, and weaning your litter onto raw food is not an exact
science, but you do need a sound understanding of nutrition and the
dietary needs of a small puppy. And you do need to be unafraid to
feed these tiny puppies bone. Minced meat on its own is not
sufficient. Just the thought of tiny puppies devouring spiky bones is
enough to put most people off raising puppies on a raw diet, and the
vast majority of you will be happier feeding a pregnant bitch, and
raising puppies, on kibble.
If you do want to
keep your raw fed bitch on her raw diet throughout pregnancy, and
raise her puppies the same way, please do your research. You will
need a good supply of a wide variety of foods to ensure that the
puppies grow up strong and healthy. You will need raw eggs and fish,
lots of chicken wings, rabbits legs, chickens feet, green tripe and
so on.
It can be done and
many others have done it successfully, but you will need to arm
yourself with information well in advance of mating your bitch.
Conclusion
Of course I cannot
promise you that if you give your dog this kind of food, no harm will
come to him. Nor can I promise you that he will not get salmonella or
some other horrible disease. All I can do is suggest that you talk to
people that feed raw “appropriately” and make your own mind as to
the risks and potential benefits. It will help put your mind at rest,
as well as giving you the information you need to do the job
properly.
Raw feeding for
dogs, is not for everyone. If you want to do it, you will need plenty
of freezer space, and to be willing to gut and prepare carcasses, or
have a good source of the same. It helps to have a supportive vet who
won’t run for the kibble at the first tummy upset, though you may
find you see very little of him/her.
Dogs fed on wild
rabbit should be thoroughly wormed every six weeks or so. If you fail
to do this your dogs will get burdened with tapeworms.
Breeders are probably sensible to stick to kibble unless they are
experienced and knowledgeable raw feeders. Gundog owners might be
wise to remove fur from their dog’s dinners, to avoid any risk of
the dog being tempted to bite down on fur. Having said that, for our
older dogs, we often leave the fur on rabbit’s feet (yes, they eat
the claws and everything!) and have found absolutely no difference in
our dog’s handling of game during the retrieve.
The thing to
remember is that the whole raw food versus kibble is not a matter of
right versus wrong. Or of ‘safe versus unsafe’. There are pros
and cons to both ways of feeding. It is a question of what suits your
lifestyle and needs at this time. What is clear is that if you are
going to feed raw, you need to be informed and to do it properly.
Helpful sources of
information can be found below. You will be able to find lots more by
googling Barf, or Raw Food for Dogs. Remember that there are
extremists on all forums and newsgroups, so you will need to be
objective about what you read.
Enjoy your
research!