Raw Pet Foods: A Natural Choice
. . . . by Dr. Moira Drosdovech

The need to educate pet owners about nutrition has become increasingly clear to me over the last few years. It seems that more pets than ever are being presented to the veterinarian with obesity, skin disorders, dental disease and other chronic problems. It is my strong belief that many of these can be attributed to the processed diets we feed our pets on a daily basis and that most of these health problems could be significantly improved by switching to the somewhat controversial BARF diets.

What is BARF??!

BARF is about feeding dogs and cats as nature intended. The aim of BARF is to maximize the health and  longevity of pets and, by so doing, minimize the need for veterinary intervention. How does BARF do this? Because you are feeding a diet that the species evolved to eat, otherwise known as a Biologically Appropriate Raw Food diet.

Nutrition is THE cornerstone to good health. This is no less true for pets than it is for people. Why do we feed ourselves (or we should be!) a varied diet with a lot of fresh ingredients and turn around and expect our dogs and cats to thrive on the dry processed foods day in and day out?

Dr. Tom Lonsdale from Australia, a graduate of the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London and author of Raw Meaty Bones, claims pet food diets based on processed meat and cereal are making animals sick by causing dental disease, which can lead to a range of debilitating and often fatal conditions, such as kidney failure and cancer. Check out his web site at www.rawmeatybones.com.

According to Dr. Ian Billinghurst, another Australian veterinarian as well as author and lecturer, modern dogs of any breed are not only capable of eating the food of their wild ancestors, but actually require it for maximum health. This is because their basic physiology has changed very little with domestication despite obvious and dramatic changes in their current physical appearance and mindset. His web site is http://www.drianbillinghurst.com.

The current controversies with this method of feeding dogs and cats surround the “balancing’ of the diet as well as the potential bacterial contamination in raw meats. Well over half of my clients feed this way and I have yet to see any come in with serious bowel troubles, lodged bones, poor health, and the like. On the contrary, what I do see are fit animals full of energy, a sparkle in their eyes and bright white teeth with no bad breath! Compared to what some dogs will consume on a routine walk in the park, these diets are very safe for them to eat.

If there are people in the house that are immuno-compromised, they should be extra careful with raw meat, but the general rule of thumb is to treat the meat for the pets the same as for yourself. These diets simply require common sense. We use common sense when we choose foods to raise our children; the same is true for our pets. Once the principles are understood, anybody can do this. No great education is required.

A raw diet can be fed regardless of what life stage your pet is at. It is usually better to purchase a diet at first that is “balanced’ before you plunge into making your own and it is mandatory to do some research on your own first. Always introduce a raw wholesome diet slowly to your pet, especially if they are not well to begin with. If your pet has certain chronic problems or if they are advanced in age, the diet is modified accordingly and you must follow guidelines. Have your pet checked up a minimum of once per year and talk to your vet about supplements, even when staying with a commercial diet.

Re-printed with permission. For more articles by this author you may wish to visit her website at: www.pawsitivevet.com