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Home » Raw dog food: Benefits and risks
Raw dog food: benefits and risks
Raw dog food: benefits and risks

Raw dog food: Benefits and risks

Dr. Shruti BhattacharyaBy Dr. Shruti BhattacharyaJanuary 29, 2020Updated:April 18, 202256 Comments9 Mins Read Diet and Supplements
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Is raw dog food the right way to go?

We as dog parents/lovers always want the best for our pooch. In this context, food or the diet holds the top priority. Dogs are the descendants of wolves. Because of this, a lot of argument has been going on about feeding dog the raw dog food. Many sources claim that raw dog food is better than all other types of dog diets available. But does it hold correct for the domesticated dogs?

In this post, I have uncovered the pros and cons of the different raw dog food. Read all the way till the end to find out which dietary option is better for your pooch.
 
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Topics covered in this blog post

  • The types of raw dog food:
    • The BARF raw dog diet:
      •  
      • Benefits of the B.A.R.F. raw dog food:
      • Advantages of the B.A.R.F. raw dog diet (as proven by research):
      • Disadvantages of the B.A.R.F. raw dog food:
    • The prey model raw (PMR) diet:
      • There are two types of PMR raw diet for dogs:
      • Advantages of the PMR raw dog food:
      • Disadvantages of the PMR raw dog food:
  • How to start on the raw meat diet for dogs?
  • How much raw dog food to feed your dog?
  • Conclusion
  • Frequently asked questions

The types of raw dog food:

The BARF raw dog diet:

The Australian veterinarian, Ian Bellinghurst proposed to extend the administration of raw diet from the wild dogs to domestic dogs too. He referred to this as the B.A.R.F. diet.The word B.A.R.F. stands for ‘Biologically Appropriate Raw Food’ and ‘Bones and Raw food’. Nutritionist and veterinarian, Dr. Ian Billinghurst found this diet plan. This diet feeds dogs what they were evolved to eat – a raw diet which consists of fresh, uncooked and wild meat and greens.

This diet works well for most dogs as dogs have a shorter intestinal tract and strong stomach acids. The raw diet has a minimum amount of carbohydrates, is moderate in its fat quantities and high in protein.

The raw dog diet primarily consists of:

  • Vegetables and fruits
  • Raw meaty bones
  • Muscle meat
  • Organ meat
  • Supplements
 

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Benefits of the B.A.R.F. raw dog food:

Feeding raw food to your dog can have many health benefits such as:

  • Improvement in the skin, coat texture and shine.
  • More muscular, leaner build. In today’s world, 60% of dogs are obese or overweight which can lead to many health issues.
  • Less body and stool odor.
  • Calmer pooch.
  • Fresher breath and cleaner teeth.
  • A raw diet is utilized more by dog’s body resulting in improved digestion and smaller stools.
  • More energy.

Advantages of the B.A.R.F. raw dog diet (as proven by research):

  • Higher fecal microflora was observed in dogs who were fed raw food as compared to ones who were fed a commercially available diet.
  • Raw food fed dogs also exhibited better stool quality.
 
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Disadvantages of the B.A.R.F. raw dog food:

A study published in the journal of small animal practice in 2019 by Davies et al., has reviewed raw diets for dogs in reference to microbiological colonization of the gut. Their survey found increased malnutrition and infection affecting dogs as well as household members.

Raw food has also exhibited the risk of introducing antimicrobial resistant bacteria in dog’s intestine. Such bacteria can encode resistance towards antibiotics like cephalosporins.

Other infectious organisms which may get transmitted via raw diet include bacteria (like Listeria, E. coli, Compylobacter, Yersinia etc.), parasites (Toxoplasma gondii) and zoonotic agents (Brucella suis). Such infectious agents can colonize and cause disease in both dogs as well as their caregivers.

Raw dog diet has also shown to cause nutritional deficiencies (calcium/phosphorus imbalances, vitamin deficiencies). This mainly results from the caregiver’s need to simplify the recipe or certain ingredients might be unavailable.

The genetic makeup of dogs, contrary to what is commonly believed, is not similar to its wild ancestor, the gray wolves. The domestic dog has higher capacity to digest starch due to different gene expression patterns.

Not a recommendable diet for homes with young kids or immuno-compromised individuals. Raw food do present a risk of bacterial contamination.

 
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The prey model raw (PMR) diet:

This is the second type of raw dog diet. The PMR diet involves removal of all fruits, vegetables and grains from your dog’s diet and feeding him/her only food which closely resembles what their canine ancestors eat in the wild.

There are two types of PMR raw diet for dogs:

Whole prey model raw feeding:

This type of diet includes feeding your dog the complete animal, from feathers to tail, leaving no part behind. Wild prey is considered ideal for this type of diet. However, domesticated prey animals can also be used as food. The most commonly used animals in this type of diet include rabbit, duck and quail.Franken prey feeding:
This type of feeding is used for raw feeders who follow the guidelines of the PMR ratio:

  • 75-80% of muscle meat
  • 10% of raw edible bone
  • 5% of liver
  • 5% other organs
  • 0-5% of animal based fiber
Under the PMR model, the whole prey animal is not fed. They prefer to use a variety of ingredients to achieve the PMR ratio guidelines.

Advantages of the PMR raw dog food:

  • Higher energy levels
  • Shinier coat and healthy shin
  • Improvement in digestion
  • Cleaner, whiter teeth
  • Better weight control
  • Reduction in allergy
  • Better stool
 
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Disadvantages of the PMR raw dog food:

  • The threat to humans from the bacteria in the raw bone and meat is much greater than it is towards dogs. Thus, appropriate hygiene practices need to be in place.
  • Colonization of your dog’s intestine with antibiotic resistant bacteria.
  • You must pay attention to your dog and make sure that he/she does not choke on the raw bone. Especially when transitioning from a different diet type towards PMR diet, keep an eye out for bilious vomiting and impacted intestines.

How to start on the raw meat diet for dogs?

Let’s say that you decide to start your pup on the raw dog diet. How do you know how much is the right quantity to feed your pup? Raw diets don’t really come packaged with instructions of how much to feed depending on the body weight of your pup.

First advice, no sudden changes. If your pup is on a different diet and you want to switch him/her to the raw dog diet, then wean them off their current diet and introduce the raw diet very slowly. This is done so that their bodies can smoothly adjust to the new type of diet.

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How much raw dog food to feed your dog?

For puppies, the recommended BARF feed quantity is 10% of their respective body weight divided into 3 to 4 feedings in one day. However, if you are feeding your pup the PMR diet, then you should start with a feed quantity which is 10% of the body weight when your pup is 8 weeks old and bring it down to 3% by the time your pup is 60 weeks old.For adult dogs, the recommended feed quantity as per the BARF diet is 2 to 3% of their body weight. As per the PMR diet, the feed quantity should be 2.5% of the dog’s body weight.

However, for both puppies and adult dogs the feeding quantity should be carefully monitored depending on the exercise level and age.

I also found Raw feeding calculators by which you can find out exactly how much BARF or PMR raw dog food to give your pup.

A few simple rules to keep in mind when feeding your pooch, the raw dog diet: 

  • The diet must be enriched in calcium (i.e. 1/3rd of the diet should preferably contain meaty bones).
  • Organs are the best source of multi-vitamins.
  • Muscle meat supports the production of essential hormones and enzymes in your dog’s body.
  • Fat is good for your pup when provided in the right quantities. If your pooch’s diet has too much fat, then it would reduce his vitamin and mineral intake.
  • Keep starch (grains, potatoes, peas) away from your dog’s diet.
  • Make sure to keep changing the types of meat in your dog’s diet, so that he/she does not get bored of eating the same food every day.
 
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Personal Experience
Since Delta (my son) was the runt of the litter. He has a sensitive stomach. Raw diet does not suit his stomach and he poops funny. Thus, Delta eats homemade dog food, and he is doing amazingly well.

Conclusion

First, I would like to congratulate all of you for taking such good care of your babies. It is a hard job, as they cannot tell us what they need or want. But you should take a moment and give yourself a pat on the back for being a wonderful parent. So now, that you have all the scientific evidences for and against the raw dog diet, it’s time for you to decide whether you want your dog to stay on his/her current diet or whether switching to a different diet is a better option. Let me know what are your thoughts about whether raw dog food is best for your pup..!

Also, let me know in the comment section if you want me to specifically write about a certain topic or make a video covering anything you need to know. I assure you, I will touch up on that as soon as possible.

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PS: If you found this post informative, please don’t forget to like, comment, share and subscribe 🙂

See you in my next blog post
Shruti

 

Frequently asked questions

Is raw dog food good for dogs?

Raw dog food is considered to be good for dogs. Raw dog diet has shown to exhibit better coat shine, smaller stools, increase in the energy levels and finally improvement in the dental health of dogs.

Why is raw dog diet bad for dogs?

Raw dog diet is bad for dogs since it contains bacteria which may colonize in your dog’s stomach. Furthermore, the diet must be balances to include the right quantity of proteins, vitamins and minerals. In case your dog receives unbalanced diet, it may cause health issues in future.

 
Do vets recommend raw dog food?

Vets would recommend raw diet if you can have a proper consultation with a dog nutritionist. Without the help of a nutritionist, their is a high chance that dog guardians may feed unbalanced raw diet to their dog which may cause diseases in future.

What are the types of raw dog food?

There are any two types of raw dog foods for dogs:
the PMR diet
the B.A.R.F. diet

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Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya

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56 Comments

  1. Running Disney Travel on January 29, 2020 12:44 pm

    Good advice! I will have to pass this along to my dog parent friends!

    Reply
  2. saurabh Sharma on January 29, 2020 3:55 pm

    Lovly

    Reply
  3. saurabh Sharma on January 29, 2020 3:57 pm

    I am proud of u God aapko duniya ki her khusi de

    Reply
  4. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on January 30, 2020 8:20 am

    Thank you so much for your wonderful wishes 🙂

    Reply
  5. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on January 30, 2020 8:20 am

    Thanks 🙂

    Reply
  6. Alfaaz on January 30, 2020 3:38 pm

    Very informative

    Reply
  7. Unknown on January 30, 2020 6:27 pm

    I don't have dogs, but I do have cats. We have been feeding them raw food since they were kittens and love their energy, smooth coats and their lean bodies. I believe highly in raw so I loved this article and hope it helps some dog lovers make this choice too.

    Reply
  8. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on January 31, 2020 1:51 pm

    thanks 🙂

    Reply
  9. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on January 31, 2020 1:51 pm

    Thank you so much for your appreciation 🙂

    Reply
  10. Harish joshi on February 5, 2020 6:20 pm

    Suprb shruti 👌👌

    Reply
  11. Why Girls Are Weird on February 18, 2020 5:54 pm

    I work in a veterinary clinic and my doctors recommend against the raw diet. Although I totally get the thoughts behind it, that dogs would eat raw if they were in the wild, they are not wild animals and have adapted through generations.

    Thank you for covering both sides of this topic!

    Reply
  12. Infinity Laser Spa on February 18, 2020 7:40 pm

    This is so interesting. I had actually never heard of this sort of dog diet. Not a dog person but i will be sure to pass this on to my friends who are

    Reply
  13. Mom Knows Best on February 18, 2020 8:36 pm

    That name Barf for the diet plan is strange. I think it is odd that they choose that.

    Reply
  14. Wander With Ola on February 19, 2020 9:12 am

    Wow, what an interesting article. We're planning to adopt a dog soon, so thank you for covering this topic!

    Reply
  15. Nyxie on February 19, 2020 9:56 am

    I've heard that it's great for cats. I wasn't so sure about dogs but you've cleared that up for me. Love the name BARF – it made me chuckle at 8am in morning which is a feat in itself.

    Reply
  16. Joanna on February 19, 2020 1:36 pm

    I have a pet and I feed him only high quality food, made from natural ingredients. I wouldn't give him raw meat… why do it when the premium pet food has the complete nutrition that a pet needs? That's just my opinion.

    Reply
  17. Passion Piece on February 19, 2020 4:35 pm

    I don't have a dog, but I'm thinking of getting one in the near future. That's why, it was really nice to get to know more about the PMR dog diet. I love it! 🙂

    Reply
  18. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on February 21, 2020 4:28 pm

    Thank you. Your appreciation means a lot😊

    Reply
  19. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on February 21, 2020 4:29 pm

    Your welcome. I hope u have subscribed..so you can get all the dog care tips to make your pups life smoother.

    Reply
  20. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on February 21, 2020 4:31 pm

    BARF actually is an abbreviation. It stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.

    Reply
  21. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on February 21, 2020 4:33 pm

    Well, premium food is good but it contains preservatives. Thats the only part I dont find favourable. However, if it's suiting your pup, well and good. My boy wouldn't go near kibbles 😂. He is on homemade food.

    Reply
  22. Marie at Complete Literature on March 2, 2020 10:34 pm

    I have always wondered about feeding raw food to pets. I have also never heard of the BARF diet before. I like how you broke it down. This is all very good information.

    Reply
  23. Jessica on March 6, 2020 7:02 pm

    I'm to lazy to do that raw food thing for my dog

    Reply
  24. Mom Knows Best on March 6, 2020 8:31 pm

    This is good info for dog owners. I dont eat meat so I would not have raw meat to feed a dog if i had one.

    Reply
  25. Britt K on March 7, 2020 2:13 pm

    There are definitely some great benefits to feeding your dog a raw diet. However, many people struggle with maintaining the proper nutritional balance. The good news is that there are companies that now offer a raw diet prepackaged and frozen for those who may want to go this route but are worried about that aspect. It will require more room in your freezer and locating a company with this availability that is capable of shipping frozen foods to your area.

    Personally, we are unable to go that route with our two. I have one dog that is allergic to all protein sources with the exception of fish and vegetable-based proteins. Therefore, it's unrealistic to try to meet her nutritional needs on a raw diet with those constraints. That being said, if she didn't suffer from her long list of allergies, I would definitely consider it!

    Reply
  26. Monica on March 7, 2020 10:12 pm

    Wow, this was interesting! I don't have a dog, but my daughter does. I'll have to share this with her.

    Reply
  27. Anonymous on March 7, 2020 10:22 pm

    Love the post & how detailed it is! I find it really useful information, didn’t know all the sides to the topic.
    Aleks

    Reply
  28. mary on March 7, 2020 10:25 pm

    You have just given me a very good insight into dogs dietary. For someone who is planning on getting a dog, I will surely keep this article handy. Thank you.

    Reply
  29. Prime Beauty on March 9, 2020 2:08 am

    My dog is only 12 lbs with digestive issues so I would be afraid to try raw food with her.

    Reply
  30. ohmummymia on March 9, 2020 6:45 pm

    I don't have dog but we want one when we will finish our house so it's really good to know what will be best for our future pet

    Reply
  31. Anonymous on April 22, 2020 11:02 pm

    Its really awesome, how perfect guide for the food .. Regards Corgi

    Reply
  32. Unknown on May 8, 2020 5:03 pm

    Maybe we can collaborate sometime…

    Reply
  33. Chelsea H. on November 24, 2021 5:15 pm

    Loved the article. I home cook for my 2 American Bulldogs and would like to see if there's a solution to the cons since its mainly bacteria. Does monthly rotation of wormer help limit this issue? Is there a home test for bacterial levels. Also a year ago I came across a pin on Pinterest that explained dog stool(color, texture, consistency and what it meant. I didn't save it and can't find it again! 😥 It would be amazing to read an article about how to detect when you need to make adjustments to the raw feeding. Ex. White chalky stool = too much bone

    Reply
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    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  35. Sarah on November 24, 2021 5:17 pm

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  36. Alex on November 24, 2021 5:17 pm

    This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    Reply
  37. Dr. Shruti Bhattacharya on November 24, 2021 5:25 pm

    It would depend on the kind of produce and meat available at your location. Deworming should be done once in 3-6 months in older dogs. Every month deworming can remove the good gut bacteria. If you want you can get in touch with me on social media about the article regarding the stool color. I have not written on it yet, but I know of links where you can get the detail.

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