“Handling raw meat can get people sick.” Veterinarians also discourage homemade raw dog food because making raw dog food comes with another risk: cross-contamination [7]. This is when something that touches raw meat does not get properly sterilized, then spreads bacteria to another item or surface.
“Homemade food is a great option for many pets, but we recommend that owners avoid general recipes from books and the Internet and instead consult with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist,” Larsen said.
Bacteria found on the surface of raw meats can infect pets and people. Infections caused by bacteria found on raw meat can cause diarrhoea, hospitalisation, and death in both people and pets.
Indeed, the statistical study showed that dogs fed with industrially processed food live an average of 10.4 years, while dogs fed with home-made food can reach an average age of 13.1 years. Increased lifespan is just one advantage of feeding your dog a raw food diet.
While there are no scientifically-supported benefits to homemade diets, whole ingredient-based diets are better in the long term. Commercial foods are made to be complete and balanced, adds Dr. Bartges, albeit not the most exciting of meals.
When compared to the fresh processed brand, feeding the real whole food resulted in 1.5 to 1.7 times (up to 41%) less feces. This latest research demonstrates that by feeding pets fresh ingredients, less waste goes in and less waste goes out.
Is One Type of Food Better Than the Other? As long as your pet's nutritional needs are met, it doesn't really matter if he or she eats store-bought or homemade food. Unfortunately, too often, homemade food lacks key nutrients.
While popular, vets generally don't recommend making your own raw dog food because of the risk of bacterial contamination or possible public health risks. If your dog has any medical issues, consult with a vet or veterinary nutritionist to make sure the homemade diet works for your pet.
Just because 'chicken and rice' is common, doesn't mean it's the best for your pet! Just feeding 'chicken and rice' is simply not a complete and balanced diet as it is lacking in certain nutrients, vitamins, amino acids and minerals that are important for your pet's health.
They don't want to risk telling you to do something that may cause future harm if you don't do it correctly in your animal, so it's easier to push that.
Animals can eat raw meat because they have have stronger stomach acid that helps digest their food. From an evolutionary standpoint, the acid has needed to be much stronger to kill parasites and different bacteria.
The American Veterinary Medical Association opposes the unregulated feeding of raw foods and discourages “the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens, because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs, as well as humans.”
Home-cooked meals absolutely can be nutritionally balanced and complete. While it's true that dogs require a balance of protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins and minerals, this can all easily be included at home. And despite the common belief, changing a dog's diet does not have to be hazardous.
It Can Cause Digestive Problems
A dog's digestive system is different from a human's. Typical human food is much too rich and fatty for a dog to properly digest; eating it can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and even more severe conditions like pancreatitis.
It is entirely acceptable to feed your dog a pure kibble diet. Or you can mix their diet up with some cooked or raw meat, fish, vegetables and rice. Many owners like to feed a raw meat diet to their dogs, and while this can suit some dogs very well, there are some important considerations you need to be aware of.
Is Meat Required? Dogs can thrive without meat, but only if they are fed a properly balanced vegetarian diet. As is true with people who prefer vegetarian diets, protein or vitamin deficiency can occur in dogs who eat strictly vegetarian diets if they are not properly supplemented.
A balanced, home-cooked diet for a 30-pound dog would cost $3.52 per day; $5.58 if you go organic. That's two to four times the price of commercial dry dog foods of similar qualities, he says, but up to half the cost of commercial wet foods.
In any event, in an attempt to set the record straight, let's dive in and count down these Top 5 Myths About Veterinarians: #5. Veterinarians are on the dole from certain pet food manufacturers and get kickbacks for selling their products. This is simply not true.
The general rule of thumb for a home-made diet for a healthy canine patient is 75% meat/15%vegetables/10% carbohydrate. Variety is the key to a healthy diet so be sure to vary your meat, carbohydrate and vegetable sources from time to time.
Generally speaking, wet food is better for dogs than dry food. Wet food has fewer carbohydrates, which are difficult for dogs to digest, and more water, which keeps dogs hydrated. As we've said time and again when discussing training techniques, breed standards and best dog parent practices, every pup is an individual.