Raw food diets: The good, the bad, and the ugly
Feeding dogs and cats raw meat based diets is trend that is rapidly growing in popularity. However, are raw food diets better? Are they safe? These are some questions to consider when deciding if a raw diet is best for your dog or cat. Overall, there is little evidence that raw food diets are superior to traditional diets. They are typically very easy to digest, but other reported benefits such as reduced body odors, improved immune system, etc. have not been investigated thoroughly. There are several classes of raw food diets available and I tend to think of them like a Clint Eastwood movie...
GOOD:
If a pet owner has a strong desire to feed their pet a raw food diet then a commericial raw diet that has undergone high pressure pasteurization is highly recommended. Companies like Nature’s Variety provide these diets in grocery stores and pet food stores. High pressure pasteurization occurs at a cold temperature so the meat is not cooked; pressure is increased above the point that bacteria can survive. This process is a great way to decrease the risk of bacterial contamination of raw food.
BAD:
Thousands of years ago, the ancestors of dogs and cats subsisted on raw food. However, the lifespan of dogs and cats then was certainly not what it is today, and the ancestors of dogs have little in common with many dog breeds today. Even feral cats of today may hunt raw prey, but that has little in common with raw diets that are made in our homes.
For one thing, prey that is caught by hunting is consumed immediately by predators. Harmful bacteria have little time to grow and cultivate in the flesh consumed. Despite that, it is common for dogs and cats that hunt and eat prey to become infected with parasites including protozoa (Isosopora, Neospora, Toxoplasma, and so on) that can cause health problems and may even infected humans too. This means that raw food even in its natural state can cause serious health risks.
Raw food diets that are made in the home carry a serious risk for bacterial contamination…not only of the food and the pet, but of the people and household. For example, Salmonella can be present in raw meats and may survive a wash through your dishwasher. Though some pets do not become sick when infected with Salmonella, they can shed it in their saliva and feces, which means that their entire body may be contaminated with bacteria. This bacteria can cause hemorrhagic diarrhea in people. All humans are at risk for Salmonella toxicosis, but it can be a fatal disease in young children, elderly, and immunosuppressed individuals.
Other bacteria that may be found in raw foods include Campylobacter, Clostridium, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphyloccocus aureus. These bacteria can cause diseases that range from diarrhea and vomiting to miscarriages and meningitis.
Commerically prepared raw diets may meet the nutritional requirements of your pet, but they can still result in the spread of harmful bacteria to humans and may make your pet sick.
UGLY:
Aside from the zoonotic risk (that is, risk of humans becoming infected), home-made raw food diets must be carefully formulated to meet your pet’s dietary needs. Out in the wild, dogs and cats consume the entire prey, including the organs where many nutrients are found. Raw food diets that are not formulated for sources of fat, calcium, and other required amino acids and vitamins cause pets to become at serious risk for malnutrition. Some diseases that can occur because of an improperly formulated diet are dilated cardiomyopathy, blindness, and irreparable fusion of the spine. Large and giant breed puppies are at high risk for developing bone abnormalities without careful calculation and control of their caloric, calcium, and phosphorous needs.
Other risks include pets choking on pieces of bone, which is a common occurrence with unformulated raw diets. Bones can get stuck in the esophagus of a dog or cat, and even if that bone is removed through surgery, the esophagus often constricts, which leads to other serious health consequences, including death.
In other words, raw pet food is no joke. The American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend feeding any raw or undercooked animal product to dogs or cats because of the health risks to pets and owners (https://www.avma.org/KB/Policies/Pages/Raw-or-Undercooked-Animal-Source-Protein-in-Cat-and-Dog-Diets.aspx). If raw food is given, pressure pasteurized products are the most reasonable option both because these diets are formulated to fill the nutritional requirements of pets and because pressure pasteurization decreases the risk of bacterial contamination.
It is up to you to decide what your animal companion can eat. Please do your pet a favor and consult with your veterinarian to make sure your pet is receiving the best possible diet, one that allows for a healthy lifestyle for both you and your dog or cat.