From
how you train your dog to how you feed them, almost every facet of dog
ownership has a debate surrounding it.
One
of the most heated controversies is pet nutrition. Should you feed your dog a
raw food diet or kibble?
Raw
diets consist of organ & muscle meats, bones, and other animal parts. Dogs
on a raw diet can also eat raw eggs, some dairy (like yogurt), and dog-safe
fruits, vegetables and grains.
Kibble
is generally made with grains, protein sources, starches, and fruits &
vegetables. It is supplemented with vitamins and minerals to meet your pet’s
nutritional needs. Higher-quality kibble contains more protein than starches,
and many brands are even grain-free.
There
are pros and cons to each diet. But this debate begins with the question: do
dogs even need to eat plants?
Are Dogs Carnivores or Omnivores?
Like
many meat-eating animals, dogs have sharp teeth meant to tear and slice meat.
And they are taxonomically classified as carnivores under the order
Carnivora.
So,
does that settle the debate? Nope.
Being
classified as a carnivore does not always mean the animal eats a carnivore
diet. Cats, raccoons and bears are all under the order Carnivora, but they each
have quite different eating habits.
Raccoons
are not exactly known to be picky eaters. They eat almost anything, from
insects to berries – and the contents of your trash bins. Invertebrates make up
the biggest part of a raccoon’s diet, followed by plants, then animals. They
are essentially omnivores.
Bears
in North America will often forage for berries or acorns to supplement their
diet of meat and fish. And the giant panda is an herbivore – but by choice, not
design.
Giant
pandas eat almost only bamboo even though their digestive system is set up for
meat. This is not ideal. Bamboo is not very nutritious, so they need to
eat constantly while also limiting physical activity. However, bamboo is what
works for their habitat.
All
this to say: an animal’s environment plays more of an influence in their diet
than their taxonomical classification. Just because their body is designed to
eat only meat does not mean they will.
Now,
cats are obligate carnivores. Cats need taurine, an amino acid found in meat,
to survive. Dogs, on the other hand, can produce taurine on their own. This could mean dogs do
not need a strict carnivore diet as cats do.
Dogs Descended from Wolves – Should
They Eat Like Wolves?
Wolves
are not equipped to digest grains. They should not live off a diet of dry
kibble.
But
dogs are not wolves. Domestic dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of
years. And while dogs do not need starch in their diets, they have genes that
let them process and use grains and cereals. Dogs have adapted to be resilient,
eating what they can forage to not go hungry.
So
domestic dogs can and will eat as omnivores. However, there is a big difference
between surviving and thriving. Just because dogs can survive on plants, does
not mean that they will be at their healthiest in doing so. There is no
evidence that sufficiently proves dogs will thrive on plant-based diets to
date,
Many
people believe dogs are facultative carnivores, meaning their primary
nutritional source is meat, but they can survive without. So, are dogs better
suited to eat only meat? What does that mean for your pet? Should you feed them
a raw diet, or is kibble the way to go?
Raw Diets Can Have Health Benefits
Raw
food enthusiasts claim the diet has given their pets more energy, and healthier
skin and fur. The bones in a raw food diet can be good for your dog’s dental
health. And meat is more nutrient-dense, leading to smaller poops.
But
making complete raw diets from scratch takes a lot of work. And if done wrong,
they can be dangerous to you and your pet.
The Dangers of a Raw Food Diet
It’s
hard to fulfill your pet’s nutritional needs with a raw diet. You can’t only
provide Fido with tasty (to you) muscle meat.
There
are a lot of conflicting opinions on the ideal makeup of a raw diet. Raw
Fed Dogs recommends a diet of 80% meat/sinew/ligaments and fat, 10%
bone, 5% liver and 5% other organs. Meanwhile, the Biologically Appropriate Raw
Food Diet recommends a much higher percentage of bone.
Whichever
portion makeup you choose, homemade diets can still be tricky. A study from the UC Davis School of Veterinary
Medicine found that even when using recipe books written by veterinarians,
homemade meals are rarely nutritionally complete. It’s very difficult to feed
your pet a balanced diet on your own.
Outside
of nutritional deficiencies, raw meat can contain dangerous bacteria. Studies quoted by the AMVA (American Veterinary
Medical Association) have found listeria and clostridium in raw food
diets. These dangerous bacteria can cause your dog to become ill.
Other
bacteria in raw meat, like salmonella, are often tolerable to your dog but can
be incredibly harmful if spread to humans.
In
general, handling raw meat requires precaution to prevent transmitting infectious
diseases – especially around children, the elderly, and the immune-compromised
individuals.
As
for avoiding harmful bacteria from raw meat, the AMVA recommends cooking all
food before feeding it to your dog. Others recommend freezing meats to cut the
risk of parasites. On top of this, you will also have to disinfect your dog’s
food bowl as soon as they’ve finished eating to prevent bacteria from growing.
Every time.
Raw
diets can be time-consuming, and extremely hard to get right if you are preparing
the raw meat yourself.
Commercially Prepared Raw Dog Food is
More Accessible
If
home cooking is not your style, there are more convenient ways to feed your dog
a raw diet.
Frozen
raw dog foods are sold in patties that you can portion out according to your
dog’s caloric requirements. They can come in a complete meal form, containing
the essential nutrients your dog needs.
Another
option that is easier to store is dehydrated and freeze-dried raw foods. These
are good for travelling and are much easier to prepare than frozen raw meals.
As a bonus, purchasing dehydrated raw foods bypasses the need to handle raw
meat.
Buying
commercially prepared complete raw food for dogs removes the need to balance
the food yourself. As well, most brands use meat tested for the bacteria.
Commercially prepared raw foods are a safer bet to make sure your dog gets the
nutrients they need, while also being safer to handle.
Putting
your dog on a raw food diet does not mean you have to feed them exclusively
meat. You can add extras to your dog’s raw diet in the form of edible bones
or dog-safe produce (link 7 people foods article still in basecamp).
However, bones come with their own controversy.
Not All Bones are Safe to Give Your Dog
Cooked
bones are not good for your dog. They can easily splinter or break, injuring
your pup’s mouth or digestive tract. Cooked bones are also a choking hazard
since small pieces can break off and block your pet’s windpipe.
However,
most raw bones are edible. Turkey and lamb bones are soft enough to chew and
digest. It’s best to supervise your dog while they’re chewing to make sure they
don’t choke, and the bone doesn’t splinter.
A
sure way to incorporate bones into your dog’s diet without the risk of injury
is to grind up the bones into a powder and sprinkle it over their food.
Kibble Has its Perks.
There
is a reason kibble has been dog owners’ go-to for decades. Kibble is
convenient. It is easy to store and easy to pour into your pet’s bowl, no
preparation required. And there is a far lower risk of spoilage.
Kibble
formulas are created to meet dogs’ nutritional needs. Check for labels that
state the food provides “complete and balanced nutrition for dogs based on
AAFCO feeding trials”.
When
feeding dogs kibble, it is best to realize that not all brands are equal.
Especially because there have been some downright sinister things going on in
the commercial kibble world.
The Dark Side of Kibble
In
the 1990s, trace amounts of phenobarbital, the drug used to euthanize dogs,
were discovered in some commercial pet foods. The FDA investigated but could not determine the
type of animal the tainted meat was coming from.
Other
investigations in different countries have suggested it’s very likely there
are dog and cat meat in pet food
There
is plenty of evidence to suggest that euthanized animals, roadkill and diseased livestock enter our pet’s food. This famous article (warning, graphic photo of
deceased pets) offers a close-up look at an American rendering plant and
explains how these animals can end up in our pets’ food.
Even
the former president of the AAFCO (the organization determining what should go
in pet food) admitted on camera that there is no way of
telling what animals are in commercial pet food. Vague ingredient names like
“meat” and “bone meal” could be a cover for dog meat making it into dog’s
kibble.
Does
this mean you should avoid all commercial kibble? No. But just because a
big-name brand is sold at a big-name store, that does not mean it’s always
trustworthy.
If
you feed your dog kibble, find a high-quality local brand that names every
ingredient on the label. Look for clear protein sources and avoid food with
common allergens like wheat and corn. High-quality kibble will also contain
fewer filler ingredients like rice. Fillers add calories without adding
nutritional value. Your dog can do without them.
Which Is Better? Kibble or a Raw
Diet?
Both diets have their
pros and cons. It all comes down to finding what’s right for you and your
dog.
If you are thinking
about switching your dog to a raw food diet, it’s important to consult with a
veterinary nutritionist first. Sudden diet changes can leave your pet with an
upset stomach!
If feeding your dog
kibble makes the most sense for you to ensure their nutritional needs are met,
that does not mean you can’t feed them other foods as occasional treats.
And if neither raw nor
kibble makes sense for you and your pet, there are still other food options out
there!
Alternatives to Raw Food or Kibble
Diets
Canned
food is an increasingly popular alternative to kibble. There is generally a
higher protein content in canned food versus dry kibble, and fewer carbs. Since
the food comes canned, there is less need to add artificial preservatives. The
high moisture content in canned food makes it easy to eat & digest and
helps promote weight loss.
Another
option rising in popularity is dehydrated dog food. Since the dehydration
process simply removes water from food, nutrients are not lost as they might be
during other types of food processing. Dehydrated food is easy to store and
will last for about a year. It is much easier to prepare than a raw diet and
has similar benefits.
Choose the Diet that is Best for You and
Your Dog
Whichever
diet you choose, make sure your pup is getting the nutrients they need to live
strong and healthy. If you have any doubts, it is always a good idea to consult
with your veterinarian.
The
best meal plan is whatever works best for you and your dog!
Credits:
Earthrated.com