Up until about WWII, there was not really such thing as "dog food". Most dogs were simply given the scraps and carcasses of whatever the family was cooking that day- in other words, meat, bones, and organs, served raw, and whatever other pickings they wanted out of the leftovers before it was given over to the pigs. Doesn't sound very nice does it?
But wait... that's what dogs are supposed to eat.
I doubt you've ever seen a wolf, coyote, or fox raiding a corn field or munching on some tasty grass. Why? Dogs are carnivores.
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Carnivora |
| Family: | Canidae |
| Genus: | Canis |
| Species: | C. lupus |
| Subspecies: | C. l. familiaris[1] |
This is the taxonomic classification for the pet dog. Order? Carnivora. You'll sometimes hear claims that dogs are omnivores (this is circulated by pet food companies to insure you'll buy their grain-loaded products), but according to scientists, who generally know what they're talking about, dogs are in fact, carnivores.
So what happened?
Well, family life in first world countries changed. People no longer butcher chickens for dinner. There isn't usually a large amount of raw carcass scraps available on a daily basis. So to answer this need, companies jumped in to produce commercial pet foods. Unfortunately, they got it all wrong.
Well, family life in first world countries changed. People no longer butcher chickens for dinner. There isn't usually a large amount of raw carcass scraps available on a daily basis. So to answer this need, companies jumped in to produce commercial pet foods. Unfortunately, they got it all wrong.
In an effort to keep it cheap, most pet foods are based on grains, particularly corn, which provide zero nutrition and a huge number of allergens and irritants to dogs. Then they add cheap vegetable and fruit scraps to bulk it up even more- with still no nutritional value. Finally, they dumped in some meat scraps and a powdered vitamin supplement and called it a balanced diet. The result? Pet dogs lifespans began to shorten, health problems increased, and people blamed everything and everyone except the main cause: pet food.
Why Is Commercial Pet Food So Bad?
So this is what's in your average bag of pet food, by correct proportions. Looks more like you're baking cornbread or feeding a cow, then making dog food.
Commercial dog foods are made primarily from cheap filler ingredients like the corn and flours.
The "meat" based ingredients are slaughterhouse scraps that are unfit for any other use. Feathers, beaks, feet, and other things that even a dog wouldn't normally consume, are all ground up together with very little actual good meat and bone product. There are no regulations for this product, so often the scraps are rancid before they're even processed.
What else could be in there? Well, in the real cheap brands you'll find listings for "meat meal" or "meat by-products". The reason they don't specify the protein source? If they only call it meat, they can then use things like euthanized pet animals as a a food source. And roadkill. And items discarded from grocery stores and restaurants as unfit for human consumption.
And they do.
The bottom line is, there is very little nutrition in these foods, and because they are so unregulated, they are frequently contaminated with antibiotics and other veterinary drugs, foreign substances, even toxins. Thousands of pets have died in recent years from contaminated pet foods.
Food Recalls From the FDA:
http://www.fda.gov/animalVeterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/default.htm
If you want to read something truly scary, read the recent health reports that humans coming in contact with dog food ingredients in factories, have actually been falling ill from exposure to dangerous toxins. Which they then put into dog food and serve to your dog.
Toxic Exposure in Pet Food Workers:
http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/if-it-is-this-bad-for-employees-what-is-it-doing-to-pets
Food Recalls From the FDA:
http://www.fda.gov/animalVeterinary/safetyhealth/recallswithdrawals/default.htm
If you want to read something truly scary, read the recent health reports that humans coming in contact with dog food ingredients in factories, have actually been falling ill from exposure to dangerous toxins. Which they then put into dog food and serve to your dog.
Toxic Exposure in Pet Food Workers:
http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/if-it-is-this-bad-for-employees-what-is-it-doing-to-pets
So What's the Answer?
There are a few options available.
Some people have trouble letting go of the "balanced diet" idea and cook homemade meals of meat, veggies, rice, or pasta for their dogs. While not biologically relevant, fresh veggie and carb sources are a lot less detrimental than the crap they put in dog food.
There are also freeze-dried foods made from similar ingredients that are considered safe and healthy.
The best choice, however, is simply going back to the way we fed dogs for thousands of years before this money-grubbing industry was invented: meat and bones.
A dog's digestive system has not changed since we domesticated them. They are still wolves and foxes and coyotes when it comes to how they process food. And wild carnivores thrive on high protein, high fat diets.
You can buy raw foods, which are typically meat and bone ground and frozen for convenience. You can also just buy meats from your local butcher and feed them whole. Bones? Yes please! Bones are safe and healthy as long as basic rules are followed: Hard bones (like beef and venison) should be too big to swallow whole. Chicken and poultry bones soften quickly in stomach acid, but it never hurts to make sure they have to chew it a couple times before it can go down. Raw bones do not splinter and leave sharp edges, the stories you hear of dogs choking or impacting on bones are always cooked. Organ meat is also important for trace minerals, livers, tripe, hearts, gizzards, etc. are all healthy and appreciated!
That Sounds Like a Lot of Work... What's the Benefit?
In a word: Everything.
Raw feeding has been proven to produce the following results:
-Healthier skin and coat. Less dandruff, thick, fuller fur.
-Reduction or elimination of allergies, hot spots, etc.
-Healthier teeth, fresher breath.
-Smaller feces, no diarrhea.
-Decreased risk of bloat in bloat-prone breeds
-Better weight management
-Lower risk of diabetes, organ dysfunctions, other systemic issues
-Reduction of health issues such as seizures, arthritis
-Higher energy level, less stress/anxiety behaviors
-Lower risk of cancers
-Healthier immune system
-Longer lifespan
Wait, What About Salmonella?
Food-borne illness has always been a stumbling block for potential raw feeders. The surprising fact is however, dogs won't catch salmonella from raw meat sources. Why? They have a very short, very acidic digestive tract fully intended to deal with these bacteria. Where WILL they catch salmonella from? Commercial dog foods. Pets and humans can both get sick from salmonella-tainted commercial foods, because in that case, the concentrations of salmonella are far higher than what you would find naturally in the meat itself, and neither our systems nor theirs can overcome the bacteria load.
Salmonella Contamination in Commercial Pet Foods:
http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2013/12/pet-food-safety-when-pet-food-makes-pets-and-humans-sick/#.Ut6ivBAo6Uk
Personal Notes
I've fed my dogs raw for the past 6 years, and all the promises this feeding method makes, have been proven to me each and every day. My dogs are healthy, lean, have never fallen ill, have fantastic teeth, and are energetic and playful. My going-on 7 year old Papillon still acts like a young puppy and has never had a health issue. My 3 year old German Shepherd is a high-energy working dog, and has never suffered from the poor digestion, hot spots and skin issue that German Shepherds are notoriously plagued with. And in that time, I have not had a single instance of food-borne illness or other food-related concern.
As a groomer, I see a wide range of health issues in my clients every day, allergies, hot spots, skin problems, obesity, bad teeth, chronic ear infections, and more. And whenever I ask about diet, they are invariably fed commercial dog foods, and the worse the health issues are, always coincides with the poor quality of the brand of food being given. I've been grooming for 10 years, and I have always inquired about a dog's diet when asked about health concerns. I have never, ever seen a raw-fed or naturally fed dog display any major health problem. It is always the commercial kibble eaters who suffer. Anecdotal evidence? Yes. But it's 10 years of anecdotal evidence, so I feel like that counts for quite a bit.
As a groomer, I see a wide range of health issues in my clients every day, allergies, hot spots, skin problems, obesity, bad teeth, chronic ear infections, and more. And whenever I ask about diet, they are invariably fed commercial dog foods, and the worse the health issues are, always coincides with the poor quality of the brand of food being given. I've been grooming for 10 years, and I have always inquired about a dog's diet when asked about health concerns. I have never, ever seen a raw-fed or naturally fed dog display any major health problem. It is always the commercial kibble eaters who suffer. Anecdotal evidence? Yes. But it's 10 years of anecdotal evidence, so I feel like that counts for quite a bit.
Family Dogs- All Fed Raw
Lupa- 4 Years Old
Pippin- 12 Years, Hamlet- 8 Years, Shakespeare- 6 Years
(In Order)
Ruff- 3 Years Old
Karma- 6 Years Old
I've provided some links below for further information on commercial foods and raw diets. As always, I'm happy to provide personal feedback, just email me at gentletouchllc@gmail.com.
Raw Feeding Guide
Benefits of Raw Food
Truth About Pet Foods
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