Seattle Press on Line - The Raw Truth About Your Dog's Food

The Raw Truth About Your Dog's Food

By Susan Moss

Nov 17, 1999 -- Each day, thousands, perhaps millions of dog owners are doing something they've been warned against for years. Foregoing conventional wisdom about the twin dangers of bacterial contamination and the possibility of splinters, these owners are feeding their dogs raw meat and bones, such as chicken wings, turkey necks and beef marrow bones. It's part of a cutting-edge natural health movement for dogs circling the globe via the internet from one dog enthusiast to another, and embraced by trainers, breeders and visionary veterinarians on several continents. This movement advocates a canine diet similar to the one their wolf ancestors evolved on--raw meat, raw bones, and crushed vegetable matter akin to that found in the stomach of a prey animal.

The impetus behind this trend is the great improvement in health and well-being resulting from the change in diet. Many common ailments like skin problems, allergies and bad breath improve dramatically. Positive behavior changes have been reported as well.

"Nature never intended dogs to live on little brown pellets," says Deb Levin, a local owner of two golden retrievers. "When my dogs were eating the cooked and processed grocery store foods, they were itchy all the time, they had an unpleasant body odor, and their teeth needed frequent cleaning at the vet's. After five months on fresh foods, they're glowing with health and they don't smell anymore. Their teeth are sparkling white and they're calmer, especially with all the bone chewing they do."

One booster of the "evolutionary diet" is Dr. Ian Billinghurst, an Australian veterinarian whose book, Give Your Dog A Bone, has been a runaway bestseller, sold through dog clubs and professional organizations. He reminds us that dogs evolved primarily as scavengers, finishing up another animal's kill. A dog's strong digestive juices will neutralize any harmful organisms present, while the good bacteria take up residence in the gut to aid in digestion. Because our food supply is more nutrient-depleted than in ancient times, Billinghurst suggests adding a few supplements to make up the difference--kelp for trace minerals, fish oils for fatty acids, a pinch of enzyme powder for easier absorption, and probiotic cultures as a source of good bacteria.

Newcomers to raw feeding can find pre-made frozen raw diets containing all human-quality ingredients at pet health food stores if they don't have the inclination to make their dog's food from scratch. There's even a lightweight freeze-dried version for traveling and camping. On the internet, recipes and books on the subject can be found at www.all-the-best.com/homeprepared.htm and many other sites.

Susan Moss has been writing about dog and cat health issues for 14 years, and is the owner of All The Best Pet Care in Seattle. Her Akita, Cosa, is expecting puppies in November.

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donna Machinist	Jul 06, 2005	Camp Hill, PA.	teachers assistant
I'd like to connect with people who feed their golden retrievers a raw diet and how are they doing on it.