Cautions When Feeding Your Pet a Raw Food Diet

I know from experience feeding my pets a raw food diet has made them healthier. You can find plenty of information advocating feeding pets a raw food diet and the benefits associated with it, however, there are cautions to keep in mind if you want to feed them this type of diet. There are certain foods cats and dogs shouldn't eat because these foods can compromise their health.

Dogs are scavengers, omnivores, and will eat anything and everything they run across if they are hungry and that includes dirt and grass. Cats are true carnivores, meat eaters. I started feeding my cats raw ground turkey 2 years ago when my veterinarian recommended it for them. My dogs get raw lean meat 3 times a week. They have increased energy and healthy coats that shed less. But when feeding your pet a raw food diet, keep an eye open for symptoms of bacteria or food poisoning agents that could be present in raw ingredients. Regular worming will also be necessary.

A raw food diet has an advantage over a bag of dry food because you know exactly what they are eating and can eliminate ingredients that cause allergic reactions in some pets. You are giving them food that's natural for them to eat. Their short, efficient digestive tracts are made for processing raw meat. But there are cautions to keep in mind when feeding your pet a raw food diet.

Chicken and fish is listed as safe for pets to eat, but both carry salmonella and your pet could be at risk for salmonella poisoning. It's true cats and dogs can process salmonella better than humans, but it's important to know where your raw meat comes from to make sure it hasn't been contaminated. It should look like healthy meat. A good rule of thumb is if you wouldn't eat it, don't feed it to your pets.

Pets can and do get salmonella poisoning and E. coli and it can kill them. If you feed your pet a raw food diet that includes poultry, raw eggs or fish, be aware of the symptoms of salmonella.

Salmonella:

Vomiting or diarrhea that may have blood in it

Dehydration

Loss of appetite

A refusal to drink water

Fever

A gurgling in their stomach

No energy-Lethargy

A pet with E. coli may not show any symptoms. Anytime your pet seems lethargy, has no appetite, is vomiting, has diarrhea and is not drinking water, take them to the vet right away.

There's no cure for salmonella and all you can do is wait it out. Most pets will recover on their own in about a week. Severe cases may last longer and require supportive care from your vet who will give them IV fluids and supplements to treat dehydration and low blood sugar. Salmonella and E. coli are two of the few illness that can be transmitted between pet to human or human to pet even with no signs of infection.

Caution: Raw chicken, fish and eggs can also cause neurological problems by destroying an essential vitamin, B1 (thiamine).

Do not give your cats raw tuna. They are tuna junkies and do become addicted to it. Cats can develop a condition called yellow fat disease which is a painful inflammatory disease that destroys vitamin E which acts as an antioxidant. Without this vitamin, a cat's body fat is damaged.

Fatty meat and fat trimmings, raw or cooked, should never be used because your pet can develop pancreatitis which is a painful infection that can be life threatening. Certain cuts of pork can be too fatty for most pets. Middle age dogs, Yorkshire terriers and Schnauzers have a greater risk of developing this disease and Siamese cats appear to be more prone to developing pancreatitis.

Never give your pets cooked bones because they can splinter. If you add raw bones to their diet, make sure they don't choke on one that's been mixed in with their food. Round bones can and do get stuck on their teeth and rib bones can become lodged on the roof of their mouth. Always monitor meals when bones are included. Anytime you see your pet pawing at their mouth, that's an indication they have something caught in their mouth. Removing a stuck bone may require a vet's assistance.

Check with your vet before beginning a raw food diet for pets with underlying medical conditions such as auto immune disease, diabetes, previous bouts with pancreatitis or any other disease or condition you have questions about. It's always best to go into a new feeding program with your eyes wide open to the benefits as well as cautions associated with it.

Feeding your pet a raw food diet is not a silver bullet to solve all health problems. Make sure to do your homework and understand there are risks associated with a raw food diet. By understanding a few cautions, you know what to expect and can ward off potential problems before they become life threatening for your pet.

Mia Carter, What Are the Symptoms of Salmonella in Dogs and Cats, PetHealth

Norma Bennett Woolf, BARF: Bones and Raw Food, Dog Owner's Guide

Steatitis (Yellow Fat Disease) in Cats-Causes, Symptoms & Treatments, Cat World