Pros and Cons of Feeding Your Pet a Raw Diet

We pet parents are currently living in the age of “the great raw debate.” Feeding pets a raw diet is increasing in popularity, although there are still plenty of folks who don’t agree with it. I personally don’t feed raw, but I have friends who swear by it. To help myself (and you) understand more about this tricky world, I did some research and general poking around.

One note--feeding a raw diet seems to be more common in the dog world, but cats can eat it as well. And, as always, consult your veterinarian or pet nutritionist before embarking on any diet change, but especially one as big as this.
What Is A Raw Diet?

A raw diet is a method of feeding based on the “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food” or “Bones And Raw Food” (BARF) diet developed by Dr. Ian Billinghurst. Typically, a raw meal diet is comprised of raw meat and raw meaty bones (RMBs), organ meat, eggs, dairy, fruits and vegetables.
What Are The Main Raw Feeding Options?

The three main options for feeding raw are homemade, frozen, and freeze-dried meals.
Homemade: you get total control over what goes into the food bowl, but it’s the most time-consuming option (not only in preparation, but in the research you need to do to make sure your meals are nutritionally sound).
Frozen and Freeze-dried: commercially available, and typically come in bricks, nuggets, or patties. All you have to do is divvy out the right portion and add water. An added bonus of freeze-dried raw food is that you don’t need to store it in the freezer!
Pros of Feeding Raw
Better for digestion
Healthier coats and skin
Increased energy levels
Improved disposition
Cleaner teeth and gums (if whole bones are part of the diet)
Good for weight management, due to having no fillers and low carbs
Good for allergy management
Closer to wild/natural diet
Pets tend to love it
Cons of Feeding Raw
Benefits aren’t scientifically proven yet; they’re still just anecdotal
Raw meat can contain harmful bacteria – including E. coli and salmonella
Can cause severe diarrhea
More expensive
Takes up freezer space
Pets have been domesticated for too long; a “wild diet” doesn’t make sense
High risk for contamination of your kitchen dishes
Not good for immune-compromised pets
If you make your own, it can easily be imbalanced. Some commercial brands have inconsistency and unregulated contents
Soft food (the frozen or freeze-dried without whole bones) is bad for teeth
Bones can cause airway and intestinal blockage and perforations
Time-intensive: between researching, preparing, safe handling, and monitoring, it can take more time than feeding non-raw

So let’s say you do want to try a raw diet for your pet. Here are a few tips (in addition to consulting with your vet):
Use stainless steel dishes. Stainless steel is the best material for preventing transmission of bacteria
Wash bowls right away. After your pet is done eating, don’t wait; take up the bowl immediately and wash it thoroughly. Otherwise, you may be looking at a cesspool of bacteria.
Find others in the “raw community.” Do some web research, and ask around at your vet’s office or local healthy pet food store. Finding others to trade info and tips with can be invaluable.
Experiment and find what’s right for your pet. There are options, so stay watchful to see if your pet is responding well to what you’re trying. If not, move on to something else--and realize that in the end, raw just may not agree with your pet.
If you don’t want to go completely raw, some nutritionists and vets suggest adding a spoonful of raw meat to your pet’s kibble. Some claim that small amount alone can have a positive impact on your pet’s health.

This little article only scratches the surface. There is so much more information out there, so if raw sounds like it might possibly be for your pet, do more research, talk to your vet, talk to friends who have done it and stopped, friends whose pets are on it now, and people who absolutely hate the idea. Generally, a lot of the research I did and articles I read said most people decide the risks outweigh the benefits, but I’ve also seen the raw diet work with my own eyes.

In the end, you have to make your own educated decision and do what’s right for your pet.

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