The Science Behind Raw Diets for Dogs

The Science Behind a Raw Diet for Dogs
By Leah Morse

This is a part of a series of blogs that I want to share my experience with learning to feed raw diet to my dogs. It is a controversial way of providing nutrition for your dogs. I am not suggesting that anyone follow these guidelines that I have chosen to do for my own dogs. I am just simply sharing the information that I have found and where I found it. I am simply sharing my experiences. I am not a veterinarian; I am also not a health care professional. This theory of feeding raw species appropriate diet can have serious health risks associated with incorrect handling, preparing and feeding. NEVER EVER FEED COOKED BONES! Cooking bones changes the molecular structure, they become brittle and may splinter which would injure or kill your dog! Do not feed bones that are frozen either, as they can and will ruin your pet’s teeth. All bones must be thoroughly thawed before feeding as frozen bones can severely damage teeth. Mixing raw meat with cooked meat can cause digestive problems. If feeding raw diet is your goal read as many books and literature as possible. Find people who are already feeding and have experience to have as mentors. Use your own good judgment, when in doubt, don’t do it. The ideas and opinions in this blog are my own and come from feeding my dogs this way since 2008, unless otherwise credited. I am by no means an expert, just sharing my own acquisition of information and observations from my own dogs. Take any ideas that I present here at your own risk and discretion. I, for one, have found it worth it.

So why should I feed raw diet? I want to dig a little deeper and look past the fact that my dogs look like they were dipped in clear coat, they aren’t getting sick, my puppy has really never gotten diarrhea, it costs less for the nutrition it provides and my dogs truly enjoy eating it. I want to know about the science of why this is working. I have read several books, watched a DVD and have spent hours upon hours on the internet. Here are some interesting things that I have found.

The enzymes that exist in the raw food are a huge part of why this has been so good for my dogs. In “Living Enzymes, The World’s Best Kept Pet Food Secret” by Robert Mueller, BSc, Pharm. It is explained that the enzymes are the key to everything. Robert Mueller has had plenty of experience with feeding raw food as he worked with racing greyhounds that were fed raw diet to enhance their performance. He also was involved with providing correct raw food for exotic animals. Robert Mueller states “Enzymes are the life forces that activate and then participate in all the body’s digestive and metabolic processes. “
There are enzymes that are produced inside a dog’s body by various organs but when supplemented by naturally occurring enzymes from raw food, it takes away the strain of production on the body. According to Robert Mueller a pets enzyme reserve is exhausted in several years of feeding foods that do not supply enzymes. All enzymes are completely cooked out of kibble by the high temperatures, as well as all the nutrients that are later added back in.

In Whole Health for Happy Dogs, by Jill Elliot D.V.M and Kim Bloomer, they state that meat that has been cooked beyond 180 degrees F, no longer contains the beneficial fats and enzymes which are the most valuable ingredients that your dog needs for optimal health. You can bet that dog food has been cooked beyond this. Another interesting fact that this book points out is that there are storage mites that are in the grains used in dog food. These mites apparently secrete deadly mycotoxins (mycotoxins are chemical secreted by toxic mold) and when the grain is processed these toxins end up in the kibble. The food and Drug Administration allows certain levels of mycotoxins in the food so pet food manufacturers get around this my mixing grains with higher levels of mycotoxins with grains of lesser levels; hopefully to reduce the higher levels. (page 100-107)

In Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats (Dr. Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD) goes to great lengths to discuss the good of raw diet and the bad and ugly of processed kibble. He breaks the ingredients down to preservatives and color. Dr. Pitcairn meticulously breaks down the additives such as fillers and color and flavors.

I highly recommend this book as a complete guide to anyone just starting to feed raw diet. I am currently following his recommendation for feeding a pregnant dog as we have followed through with a planned breeding. He even provides exact recipes of supplementation and meals that you can make. It has been an awesome resource for me with having both a growing boxer puppy and a pregnant boxer in my house.

For more information on our upcoming litters please visit: My Watch Boxers

In conclusion, all of my sources of information all agree on the fact that the nutrition and enzymes provided by the raw food is invaluable. They all agree that a dog’s digestive system is designed to handle raw food. They all agree that raw food is digested so much quicker than cooked and therefore prevents bacteria to thrive.

It is my hope that sharing my experiences of converting to and feeding raw diet is beneficial. I will never go back to kibble.
We would love to hear your comments and concerns about feeding a raw diet to dogs. You can reach us by email at live@dogdoctoradio.com

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Leah Morse is a certified canine trainer and the owner of Rocky Mountain Classic Canine in Colorado. Leah writes a weekly blog for Denver Dog Works. Leah can be reached through our website at http://www.denverdogworks.com