Understanding the Raw Food Diet
Often called B.A.R.F. (Bones And Raw Food or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), the raw food diet is a species appropriate diet that mimics what our cats and dogs would have eaten in the wild. Cats are carnivores and dogs are omnivores, they are both true hunters and their systems are designed to eat the meat, bones and innards as well as any predigested matter such as fruits, grasses, etc. of their prey. They would have eaten these foods raw because as we like to say here at Pawtrero™ “cats and dogs would not have had a barbeque in the wild”. Heat destroys vitamins, trace elements and amino acids. Proteins and enzymes are deformed by heat and the molecular structure of fat is changed. So what does this say about the nutritional benefits of commercially processed pet foods that have to be heated to extreme temperatures? Nutrients are more bioavailable in fresh food and our companion animals are able to assimilate and digest the vitamins, minerals and enzymes in raw food much easier than any kibble or canned food diet.
Dogs and cats stomachs are designed to digest raw meat and soft bones (chicken necks and backs) utilizing the very strong concentration of HCI (hydrochloric acid) as well as the short length of their gastrointestinal tract. Any bacteria are taken care of with this acid and food passes through their system in hours rather than days.
The Benefits of Feeding a Raw Diet
When switching your pet to a raw food diet there are many differences you will notice within a few weeks including improved breath and whiter teeth, better digestion resulting in much smaller and firmer stools, less itching, scratching and allergies, increased energy, healthy skin and a shinier coat. Your pet will also benefit from a boosted immune system with stronger disease and parasite resistance. You may think that feeding raw food is more expensive, but in the end you will spend a lot less money on vet bills and your pet will live a long and most importantly a healthy life.
One of the most highly regarded studies on raw food and a great resource for further information is Dr. Pottenger’s experiment with cats and raw food. You can locate it online at http://www.ppnf.org/catalog/ppnf/Articles/PottsCats.htm.
Safety of a Raw Diet
One of the most important things to keep in mind when feeding raw is to always make sure that your pets diet is balanced with the correct proportions of protein, calcium, organ meat, vegetables, vitamins and minerals. You must also maintain a balance of phosphorous and calcium; meat without the bone has a lot of phosphorous and no calcium (just as an egg without the shell provides phosphorous without calcium), nature provides the correct balance. There are many different options available to make this way of feeding your pet convenient and uncomplicated, including pre-made raw diets as well as dehydrated pre-mix bases that just need the addition of a raw meat mix to complete the meal. There are also many different supplements available to aid in balancing any raw diet. Variety is the key to building your pets’ immune system, we always recommend switching between brands and types of raw foods to keep your pets health at optimum levels and to prevent them from developing allergies later in life.
As discussed earlier, your pets’ bodies are set up to process raw food using the acid in their stomachs and their short digestive tract to prevent any bacteria contamination. The handling of raw meat for your pets is no different than for you and your family. Common sense must be used when handling all raw meat products to eliminate any risk of illness, which includes washing all work surfaces, utensils, hands and food bowls with hot, soapy water after handling the raw meat. Raw meat should be kept frozen until almost ready to use and after defrosting it should be immediately refrigerated and used within 3-5 days for freshness. The raw meats should be kept separate from other foods. We recommend using a stainless steel or non-porous bowl for feeding raw food to prevent bacteria contamination. We would also like to point out that a properly handled raw food diet has much less bacteria than many commercial dry foods and won’t have the possibility of dangerous mold toxins from grain that can occur in a commercial dry food.
Most cats and dogs do exceptionally well on a raw diet, but if your pet has a poor immune system you may want to add cooked meat until they improve and then slowly transition into raw food. Cats definitely do better without grain, but some dogs may need some grain in their diet. It is usually best to avoid soy, wheat and corn in your pets’ diet, as these are the top three ingredients that may cause allergies. It is usually helpful to add a digestive enzyme and probiotic supplement to their food to aid with the transition and help digestion, although no matter what your pet is eating we find that these supplements are beneficial.
Raw Food for Puppies & Kittens
One of the most important reasons to start a healthy puppy or kitten on a raw food diet is that it provides proper nutrition and helps them maintain an adequate growth rate therefore the quick growth spurts are avoided (especially for large breed dogs). It is not chemically processed and trying to imitate real food, it is real food using whole food ingredients. Puppies and kittens will remain lean as they should be and won’t develop the food allergies that commercially fed pets tend to contract. Providing a proper diet is especially important in the growing months and will help them maintain good health throughout their lives.
Making the Transition to a Raw Food Diet
Every animal is different and there are many different ways to transition your pet to a raw diet. It is usually best to start by offering small amounts of raw food separate from their regular meal while decreasing the amount of kibble or canned food. It is best not to feed raw food and kibble at the same time as this can upset their digestive system. They digest the raw food more efficiently and at a faster rate than dry kibble because it is not processed. For finicky eaters it may be easier to fast your pet for a day and then move right into feeding the raw food when they are hungry, but don’t starve them as this could cause other problems. Most dogs make the transition quickly and even the pickiest eaters tend to prefer the raw food over canned or kibble diets.
Cats are sometimes more difficult to transition and might need their food brought to room temperature or warmed by placing it in a bag within a bowl of warm water before feeding. You can also try adding something stinky to the food to help the smell, raw food tends to have a very faint odor compared to commercial canned or kibble diets and they may not recognize it as food. Although cats may take more time to transition, the benefits to their health are astounding! Their systems were designed to consume food with moisture, many feline health problems are attributed to dry kibble diets, such as urinary tract problems, feline diabetes and inflammatory bowel disease. So, while it may take a little more patience and perseverance to transition your cat it is well worth it in the end. Kittens on the other hand tend to transition easily as they instinctively know what their bodies need and have not yet become accustomed to the commercial diets.
When initially feeding raw chicken necks and backs it is helpful to chop them into smaller pieces until your pet gets used to chewing rather than gobbling them down in whole pieces.
Options on Feeding a Raw Food Diet
As discussed earlier, there are many different options to consider when feeding a raw diet. We have people come into our stores and say, “I don’t even cook for myself” or “I don’t have enough time”, for convenience there are complete pre-made raw diets available. They come in tubs, nuggets and patties and we carry a wide variety of these at Pawtrero™; including Primal Pet Foods, Nature’s Variety, Rad Cat and Small Batch. All that is required for feeding is to defrost the food and place it in your dog or cat’s bowl.
For people that want to keep the cost down or don’t mind taking more time for preparation there are freeze dried pre-mixes, such as The Honest Kitchen, Dr. Harveys and Sojourner Farms Europa, that are combined with raw meat mixes to complete the meal. The raw meat mixes have a combination of ground meat and bone; some also contain organ meat and/or vegetables. Raw meat mixes carried at Pawtrero™ include Oma’s Pride, Small Batch and Primal Pet Foods and a wide variety of protein sources are available including buffalo, rabbit, beef, lamb, turkey, duck, chicken and tripe.
In addition, adding raw chicken necks and backs to your pets’ diet will provide the perfect ratio of meat to bone while also providing a foolproof proportion of minerals needed for your pet. NEVER feed your pet cooked bones as they are prone to splintering and can be dangerous, the raw chicken bones are soft and flexible and easily digested. We like to also think of the raw meaty chicken bones as nature’s toothbrush, helping to remove plaque and tartar from your dogs and cats teeth!
