Common myths and misconceptions about feeding a raw meat diet:
“Won’t my dog/cat get E.Coli or something awful?” –
A dog’s immune function is beautifully designed to handle bacteria such as E.Coli, Salmonella, Campylobacter jejuni, etc. In fact, feeding only sterilized food deprives their body of developing an immune response to these and other bacteria. In addition, their intestinal tract is very short, so toxins don’t linger long before being expelled. Their stomach acid is very strong to digest meat and bone. All of these add up to a naturally inhospitable environment where bacteria cannot survive. Raw meat will spoil if left unrefrigerated for extended periods, so simply refrigerate leftovers and save for another meal, or discard if need be. The same common sense practices you already use when handling raw meat for humans are all that’s needed.
“What about worms?” –
Worms proliferate in a highly mucous environment. Dogs on a raw diet have very little mucus in their system. A healthy animal can have a few parasites, internal and external. An independent study conducted of those raw feeding showed an extremely low incidence of worms and other parasites.
“My Vet says pets die eating raw!” –
Sadly, yes, a rare few have. Many die choking on dry kibble, though. Think about this: countless more pets die from dis-ease due to being fed commercial pet food. Of the deaths attributed to raw feeding, most are because the pet owner lacked education about the diet. Get educated!
“But, won’t my dog turn into a bloodthirsty killer or become aggressive?” –
Most decidedly, no! This is a completely unwarranted concern, unless you allow your dog to kill the animal itself. Like us, many dog owners living in rural areas their dogs previously dispatched, small animals with head, fur coat ‘jackets’ and all without ever losing so much as one such animal to doggie murder. Food aggression is a different story and can happen no matter what the dog is fed. This is a behavioral issue that needs training help.
“A raw meat diet is too high in protein, my dog will get fat!” –
Actually, the water content in raw meat means this would more accurately be considered a high water diet. Surprisingly, a raw meat diet contains between 15% – 20% protein, far less than the average kibble. Too much of even a good thing can put on excess weight. Too often, dogs lead an inactive life. The best way to maintain a healthy weight on any dog is through a raw meat diet, monitoring, and proper exercise.