Raw feeding

Raw feeding is the practice of feeding domestic dogs and cats a diet primarily of uncooked meat, skin, bones, and organs.

Supporters of raw feeding believe that the natural diet an animal in the wild has evolved to consume is what it is most adapted to. They try to mimic a similar diet for their domestic companion with the belief that a balanced raw diet has the benefits of giving the animal a healthier coat, cleaner teeth and breath, reduced stool volume and odor, and better overall health. They are commonly opposed to commercial pet foods, which they believe are detrimental to an animal's health. Opponents believe that the risk of nutritional imbalance, intestinal perforations and foodborne illnesses posed by the handling and feeding of raw meat and bones would outweigh the purported benefits. While the scientific community contend that no studies have been done to support the numerous beneficial claims of a raw diet, raw feeders feel that the burden of proof to show that commercial diets are superior and safer than raw diets rest on pet food manufacturers and veterinarians.

Raw diet types

There are various differences in opinion within the raw feeding community. Issues includes the question of whether dogs are omnivores or carnivores and if they need plant material in their diet, and if so, the proportion of such material. The safety of whole bones is also a frequent topic of discussion

Barf

The "BARF" diet, an acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones And Raw Food was created by Australian veterinary surgeon Dr Ian Billinghurst. A typical BARF diet is made up of 60-80% of raw meaty bones(RMB), that is bones with appropriate meat-to-bone ratio,(e.g. chicken neck, back and wings) and 20-40% of fruits and vegetables, offal, meat, eggs, grains or dairy foods.

Prey model

The "Prey model" diet attempts to simulate the proportions of an actual prey animal in a pet's diet. This includes organ meat, heads, skin, muscle, bone, blood and even fur, feathers or scales when available. Supplements are generally not used in a prey model diet although some followers do add fish oil to the diet as commercially raised livestock have a disproportionately low amount of omega-3 fatty acid.

Health and nutrition

The intense heat used to process commercial pet food destroys and reduces nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. Studies with rats showed that the digestibility of amino acids in cat food is changed significantly by heat processing. Pet food manufacturers must supplement the food after heat processing to replace those nutrients. Some raw feeders believe that supplements have reduced nutritional value compared to the same nutrients in raw food and that possible nutrients not yet recognized as essential by nutritional science cannot be replaced. The same rationale is used to reject supplemented home cooked pet food. Some raw diets, however, also include supplements such as fish oil, and various vitamins or multivitamins mix.

Meat and bone meal is frequently used as a cheap protein source for low cost pet food, particularly in the USA. Opponents of meat and bone meals in pet foods believe that this practice harbors the risk of spreading diseases; for example meat and bone meal is thought to have been responsible for the spread of BSE (mad cow disease) in Britain. Frequently, unhealthy tissues such as tumors or parasite-infested organs are included in meat and bone meal production.

Commercial pet foods, especially dry foods, often contain a large amount of grains, which proponents of grain-free food feel are inappropriate for dogs and cats. Studies comparing the source of protein in dry cat food concluded that the digestibility of meat-based protein is superior to corn-based protein.

Some low cost commercial pet foods contain chemical preservatives (BHA/BHT and ethoxyquin) which opponents of these substances feel may be harmful. BHA and ethoxyquin were found to act carcinogenic in rats, but more recent studies point to a potential anticarcinogenic activity of the BHA/BHT amounts used to preserve food.

Cats are thought to more clearly benefit from a raw diet. The degree of assumed benefit varies based on the form of commercial cat food the animal was previously on. As with dry dog food, dry cat foods contain a significant amount of carbohydrates. Because cats are obligate carnivores, little grain is generally found in their natural diet. Proponents of raw diets believe that a raw diet more closely matching the diet of cats in the wild will yield many improved health benefits, including a noticeable reduction in the incidence of many late-life feline health issues. I like beer.

Nutritional balance

As raw diets can range from meticulously prepared and tested to diets composed of a variety of meats and butchers' scraps, the nutritional balance of a raw diet can vary greatly depending on the recipe.

Many who oppose raw diets believe that the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards that commercial pet food has to meet gives an assurance of quality that homemade food cannot give. One study that analyzed the nutritional content of 3 homemade diets (included the BARF diet) and 2 commercial raw food diets and compared it to the AAFCO standards, showed that nutritional imbalances occurred in one or more of the fellowing areas: calcium, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, vitamin D, and vitamin E.

A 12 month study undertaken for the Winn Feline Foundation by researchers from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine sought to compare the effects of a whole ground rabbit diet with a high quality commercial diet on 22 kittens and adolescent cats. The ground whole rabbit diet(including fur and organs) was frozen in small batches and thawed prior to feeding. The researchers noted the superior palatability of the raw rabbit diet. Significant stool quality improvements were seen in the raw rabbit diet group after one week. After one month, the raw diet group had firm, non-odorous and well formed stools while the commercial diet group had soft formed to liquid stools. The raw diet group also appear to have better coat quality. There were no differences between the groups in terms of growth rate, degree of inflammation in the intestinal tract and the numbers of bacteria in the upper small intestine, although a slightly higher number of cats in the raw diet group were shedding pathogenic organism(Giardia and Cryptosporidia) in their stools.

10 months into the study, one cat in the raw diet group died suddenly from dilated cardiomyopathy due to a severe taurine deficiency. 70% of the group had heart muscle change compatible with taurine deficiency. The researcher ascertained that the raw rabbit diet contained the minimal requirement of taurine but speculated that bacteria in the rabbit carcasses might have broke down some of the taurine. The processing and grinding of the rabbit might have also caused some of the taurine to be destroyed due to the low level of vitamin E in the diet. The authors conclude that "a natural diet may not always be as healthy as imagined, and that even measuring nutrient values may not predict how a diet will perform after being fed for many months."

When feeding a raw diet, even some proponents of raw diets recommend frequent analysis by a veterinarian or animal nutritionist to verify that proper nutrients are being ingested. Other proponents sometimes dismiss the importance of AAFCO standards, claiming that AAFCO certification is not indicative of the quality of a diet. An AAFCO panel expert has stated that "although the AAFCO profiles are better than nothing, they provide false securities." Many cite that the oldest dog ever recorded, a 29-year-old Australian cattle dog named Bluey, died in 1939, several years before commercial pet food was invented, and that, of the two oldest dogs in recent years, one was fed primarily on kangaroo and emu meat.

Further information: Pet_food § Labeling_and_regulation

Raw food diets can be low in calcium and phosphorus and have abnormal calcium-to-phosphorus ratios. This can lead to hyperparathyroidism and fibrous osteodystrophy in puppies.

The quality of intensively farmed meat is also a concern. This applies to all birds that are selectively bred and reared to reach slaughter weight within a short period (usually 39 days). The bone within these poultry carcasses is of very low density, due to the high growth rates and inadequate mineral content of poultry feeds. So the calcium content of raw chicken wings is unnaturally low. The fat content of intensively farmed poultry meat is much higher than for extensively reared, slow growing poultry. These, and a number of other factors related to intensive animal rearing, mean that the composition of farmed poultry meat does not reflect that of wild prey, which undermines a central tenet of BARF and other diets, i.e. that the ingredients of the animal's diet are natural and balanced.

Dental health

Some proponents of raw diet claim noticeable benefit to the dental hygiene of pets who eat raw bones, while others believe that ground bone should be used instead, to prevent the possibility for intestinal puncturing and dental fractures. The abrasion between bone and teeth when chewing is believed to scrape off dental plaque. Cartilage, ligaments, and tendons are thought to act as a natural dental floss. The chewing and tearing action is also believed to strengthen the jaw, neck and shoulder muscles. Proponents of ground bones believe that the chewing of muscle meat may also assist in keeping teeth clean.

Wolf care managers questioned on the topic of feeding bones identified the presence of animal hide with hair as offering some protection from intestinal perforation in the wild. An analysis of the skulls of African wild dogs showed that the natural diet of wild carnivores does not prevent them from suffering the same oral disease as their domestic counterpart, although other studies have had results that claim otherwise.

Some experts believe that the use of whole bone creates a risk of dental fractures, intestinal obstruction, gastroenteritis, and intestinal perforations. Raw diet proponents note that the same risks of obstruction, puncturing, and dental fractures are present in dog chews, with little evidence indicating that this is a serious problem particular to raw diets with bones. Most veterinarians state that chewing raw bone is an inadequate substitute for regular dental cleaning and tooth brushing.

Bacteria and parasites

Raw meats may contain bacteria that are unsafe for both dogs and cats. An example of this danger can be seen in a disease that afflicts greyhound racing dogs, called "Alabama rot." The disease is caused by E. coli H157:O7 in the raw meat that was given as part of their diet. However, an outbreak in August, 2007 of Salmonella in dry dog food in Pennsylvania, reported by the CDC, seems to indicate that the potential for bacterial infection is not just restricted to raw food diets.

A study on 25 commercial raw diets for dogs and cats detected Salmonella in 20% and Escherichia coli in 64% of the diets. However, the E. coli strain that can cause severe illness H157:O7 was not tested for. Because of the high incidence of bacteria, some experts and enthusiasts believe that the risks inherent in raw feeding outweigh the benefits when compared to a manufactured pet food with high quality ingredients. The US Government reported that in 2006, 16.3 percent of all chickens were contaminated with salmonella. Manufactured pet food generally is processed with intense heat, which destroys any potential bacteria. A veterinarian from the National Animal Poison Control Center suggests that the diarrhea in animals that raw feeders attribute to detoxing could be caused by pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli, clostridium and campylobacter.

Raw feeders believe that the risk of bacterial infection can be greatly reduced with safe handling and trusted meat sources.

Raw meats may contain harmful parasites. As with bacteria, these parasites are destroyed during the heat processing of manufactured pet foods. Some raw diet recipes call for freezing of the final product, which greatly reduces (but does not necessarily eliminate) the potential for parasites. Careful handling and dosing of raw meats further reduces this possibility. According to European Union regulations, freezing fish at -20°C (-4°F) for 24 hours kills parasites. The FDA recommends freezing at -35°C (-31°F) for 15 hours, or at -20°C (-4°F) for 7 days. Freezing pork at -15°C (5°F) for 20 days will kill any trichinella spiralis worm. Trichinosis is rare in countries with well established meat inspection programs, with cases of trichinosis in humans in the United States mostly coming from consumption of raw or undercooked wild game. Trichinella species in wildlife are resistant to freezing. In dogs and cats symptoms of trichinellosis would include mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea) and in rare cases, muscle pain and muscle stiffness.

Zoonosis

See also: Zoonosis

Landing Animal Clinic in Alberta performed a small study on the levels of salmonella in the stool of 10 dogs that ate a raw diet. 80% of the raw diet tested positive for Salmonella spp. 30 percent of the stool samples from dogs fed a raw food diet contained salmonella, while none of the control dogs (commercial fed) contained salmonella. The authors of the study concluded that dogs on a raw food diet may therefore be a source of environmental contamination, although they caution about the statistical significance of their results due to the small number of dogs studied. There is no known incidence of humans being infected with salmonella by cats and dogs fed a raw diet.

Commercial preparation

Further information: Pet food, Cat food, and Dog food

After the 2007 pet food recall, interest in raw and cooked homemade pet food grew tremendously. As a result of that, more pet food manufacturers now offer frozen raw diet products for pet owners. Some consumers believe that many of the same issues they find with commercial pet foods exist with packaged raw diets, others use it due to its convenience and for products with AAFCO certification, its assurance of a nutritionally balanced product.

Veterinary controversy

"Neither the American Veterinary Association nor the British Veterinary Association endorses the health benefits of raw food. Both organizations caution that animals fed raw meat run the risk of contracting food-borne illnesses. The British veterinary group declares that "there is no scientific evidence base to support the feeding of raw meat and bones," and warns humans they risk exposing themselves to bacteria like salmonella."

It is believed by many raw feeders that veterinarians are influenced by academic departments and professional associations that rely upon funding from pet food companies. For example, Hill's Pet Nutrition, makers of Science Diet and a range of prescription only food is a major sponsor of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Some veterinary practices also act as retailers of commercial pet foods. Others may receive funding directly from pet food manufacturers. For these reasons, raw feeders are often skeptical of the motives that some veterinarians have in recommending the commercial foods they sell, pointing out the conflict of interest in them doing so.

Another common belief is that veterinarians lack adequate information on raw diets or diets in general. Frequently, veterinary schools receive nutrition training that is provided to students or sponsored by pet food manufacturers. It is sometimes no more detailed than that provided to human medical practitioners, who are themselves not entitled to prescribe or proscribe diets. In human medicine, this is the province of nutritionists, who are independent scientists obliged to declare any association with any human food manufacturer.

Unfortunately, for the raw feeding controversy, pet feed manufacturers are the source and controllers of most major animal nutrition studies . It is therefore not yet possible to find credible large independent animal feeding studies on which to base diet advice and choice for pet owners.

Pottenger's cats

See also: Francis M. Pottenger, Jr.

One of the few studies is Francis M. Pottenger, Jr.'s study of 900 cats over a period of 10 years from 1932 to 1942. His results showed that cats that were fed raw foods were disease free and healthy. Those cats who were fed the same food cooked developed degenerative diseases. After a few generations, many cats lost their reproductive capabilities while some were born blind and weak and had much shorter lifespans . This study is used by many people feeding pets a raw diet to back up their claims of raw food being superior to cooked. It is also frequently used to justify a raw food diet for humans. However, the study was done before the importance of taurine in a cat's diet was known. In a study on feline maternal taurine deficiency, the group of taurine-deficient cats exhibited symptoms similar to the Pottenger's cats on a cooked diet. It is likely that the group of Pottenger's cats on cooked food simply suffered from taurine deficiency as heating or cooking food causes a reduction in taurine content.

See also

• Raw foodism
• Paleolithic-style diet
• Evolutionary nutrition
• Evolutionary physiology
• Appeal to nature

Further reading

• Billinghurst, Ian (1993). Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life. p. 320. ISBN 978-0646160283. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Lonsdale, Tom (2001). Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health. Dogwise Publishing. p. 389. ISBN 978-0646396248. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Billinghurst, Ian (2001). The BARF Diet: Raw Feeding for Dogs and Cats Using Evolutionary Principles. ISBN 978-0958592512. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Lonsdale, Tom (2005). Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones. Dogwise Publishing. p. 118. ISBN 978-0975717400. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
• Pitcairn, Richard (2005). Dr. Pitcairn's New Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats. Rodale Books. p. 464. ISBN 157954973X. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)

External links

Articles

• The beef over pet food Salon.com, January 2006
• Bones of contention Dogs Today Magazine, September 2006
• BARF: Bones And Raw Food Overview of the BARF diet and issues.
• Raw vs. BARF: Waging an Imaginary War On the perceived differences between BARF and raw feeding

Studies

• Overview of Pottenger's Cat study Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation
• Role of Diet in the Health of the Feline Intestinal Tract and in Inflammatory Bowel Disease A study comparing a whole ground rabbit diet with a high quality commercial diet.

Advocacy

• rawlearning.com Jane Anderson's website on raw feeding.
• rawfed.com The many myths of raw feeding
• CatInfo.org Veterinarian Dr. Lisa Pierson's site on felie nutrition, health, and care

• Barfworld and Barf Australia - Ian Billinghurst's sites on the BARF diet
• Raw Meaty Bones Tom Lonsdale's site on a Raw Meaty Bones Diet
• The Volhard Diet Wendy Volhard's site on the Volhard diet and recipes.
• drpitcairn.com Thoughts On Feeding Raw Meat Diets by Richard Pitcairn

Critical

• How safe is a raw diet? Not very A Better Nutrition Magazine article on raw feeding.
• "An ethicist's commentary on the “Raw Diet”" Canadian Veterinary Journal article
• "Why A Raw Food Diet IS NOT The Answer" Dog food and nutrition site's page critical of raw feeding.
• "Cautions Against Raw Food Diets" Description of a study observing poorer health in dogs fed a raw food diet (note: this company sells the commercial food used in the study).