As pet owners we are always looking for ways to improve our pets' health, and one of the best ways to take good care of our furry friends is through a good diet. With the variety out there on the shelves, choosing a good diet can be a difficult decision and some pet owners decide to go for a natural diet made up from raw ingredients. Whilst there are many advantages to this, there are also a lot of disadvantages of a raw food diet in cats and dogs.
Nutritional Content
It doesn't matter whether the diet is raw or cooked, if you are going to create your own menu for your cat or dog you must make sure that the nutritional content of the meal is correct. It is highly important that certain nutrients are available.
Cats are unable to create their own taurine. Without this organic acid cats are likely to suffer from diseases such as dilated cardiomyopathy (a form of heart disease) and central retinal degeneration (a disease affecting the eyes). Taurine deficiency causes blindness, hair loss and tooth decay before eventually becoming fatal.
Bacterial Infection
One of the biggest concerns with a raw food diet is bacterial infection. E. coli, salmonella, campylobacter are the most common infections on meat, but there are numerous other bacteria that can cause symptoms such as:
*Sickness
*Diarrhea
*Dehydration
*Lethargy
*Death
Not only do these bacteria make dogs and cats ill, but they can also be transferred to humans, especially those who are cleaning up after their pets.
The only way of reducing the number of bacteria on meat, and therefore limiting the risk of infection is making sure that the meat is thoroughly cooked.
Parasitic Infection
Raw meat, especially pork, can also contain worm eggs. One of the most common ways of picking up worms is by eating raw meat. This is why dogs and cats that scavenge or hunt should be treated for parasites on a more regular basis than those who don't.
If a piece of raw meat infected with roundworm is eaten, there is a high risk of your pet getting trichinosis. Trichinosis is a disease that damages bodily tissues and can cause haemorrhaging and death if not treated.
Tapeworm eggs are often found in raw meat, especially cuts that are given to animals as they deemed unsuitable for human consumption. Tapeworms attach to the lining of the intestines and can grow over 2 meters long. If not treated, tapeworms can cause severe anemia and malnutrition.
Pesticide Poisoning
Whilst cats are obligatory carnivores, meaning they only need to eat meat in order to gain their required nutrients, a dog does need a certain amount of vegetables added to their diet and some owners do prefer their dogs to be vegetarian. Whilst this is not recommended, it is possible.
A raw food diet does not have to contain meat to risk illness. If treated with pesticides, unwashed vegetables can cause the blood in animals to become toxic. This is less likely to happen where the vegetables and plant matter make up only a small part of the diet, but it does pose a real risk to pets fed on an entirely vegetarian menu.
Digestive Disorders
It is a myth that domesticated animals have a more sensitive gut than those that live in the wild, but this does not mean that a raw food diet will not cause digestive problems. Conditions that can affect the digestive tract, caused by an improper diet include:
*Vomiting and diarrhea
*Lactose intolerance
*Food allergies and sensitivities
These digestive disorders are all treatable by feeding a proper diet with the right ratio of nutrients, minerals and vitamins. For pets with food allergies and sensitivities certain products will need to be excluded from the diet. This alone can make providing a raw food diet difficult, and vets will often suggest a meal that has been created specifically for that type of allergy or intolerance. These diets are invariably cooked and processed.
Diseases and Conditions
There are certain diseases and conditions that are treated and maintained using diet. By allowing a pet to eat a raw food diet you could be putting them at risk of worsening these conditions. These conditions include:
*Diabetes
*Kidney disease
*Dental problems
*Obesity
*Hypothyroidism
*Hyperthyroidism
If you pet suffers from any of these, then a raw food, homemade diet, is certainly not recommended. As with pets with allergies or sensitivities, the chances are that your vet will suggest a diet that is specifically formulated to control the nutrients and minerals that can cause these conditions to progress.
Intestinal Blockages
Another problem with feeding a raw food diet is intestinal blockages. The BARF diet is based on feeding bones and raw food as the main source of the menu. Whilst they do make a point that cooked bones are likely to splinter, it is also important to point out that raw bones are just as likely to cause an intestinal blockage. Bones can be crunched up and are good to clean teeth, but once they are in the intestines they compact and can cause constipation. Intestinal blockages can cause a dog or cat to become seriously ill and it can be costly to correct the situation, often involving laxatives or surgery.
Some people may claim that dogs and cats that live in the wild seem to survive on a diet of raw food, but the sad truth is that these wild animals have shorter life spans than the domesticated dogs and cats we have in our homes. If you do decide to choose a raw food diet for your cat or dog, make sure that you buy the meat from a regulated retailer. Before you make your final decision, it is advisable to speak to your vet surgery. Most clinics will have a technician or nurse who is qualified in pet nutrition and they will be able to guide you when it comes to making one of the most important decisions regarding your pet's welfare.