Arguments Against Raw Dog Food

Figuring out what diet is best for your dog can be confusing. Dogs need just as much vitamins, fiber, protein and fat as their owners. Some dog owners swear by dry commercial foods while others are advocates of raw-food diets. According to Healing Hope, feeding a dog raw food means giving it mostly raw meats and bones, some vegetables and rarely some fruits and grains. However, dry commercial dog food proponents feel there are too many arguments against raw dog food to merit a switch.

  1. Nutrients

    • Dry dog food companies spend a lot of time testing their products on animals. From there, they can adjust their formulas to find the best overall recipe for dogs. These companies can also infuse these formulas with vitamins and minerals essential to a healthy canine diet. Unless raw diets are meticulously prepared, they are often vitamin and mineral deficient. Some dogs can develop bone abnormalities and other issues from these deficiencies.

    Choking

    • Because dogs eat a variety of food with diverse textures including some with bone, there's a risk of choking. If a dog swallows a bone, it could lodge in the throat, splinter or cut tissue in the digestive system. Dogs may also fracture a tooth if they crunch too enthusiastically into their food and find a bone.

    Health Hazards

    • Raw food diets can be harmful for animals and humans who handle the food. E. coli, salmonella and various parasites can find their way into both the human and the dog if the food isn't handled properly. The natural bacterial in raw meat is dangerous in general, and too much meat can cause diarrhea and other illnesses.

    Allergies

    • Feeding your dog raw food increases risk of adverse reactions to certain foods. Just like humans, dogs have food allergies and intolerances. On a raw-food diet, it may be difficult to pinpoint exactly what foods your dog can and cannot handle. According to dogpeople.org, beef, dairy, lamb, chicken, egg, soy and wheat make up 93 percent of all adverse food reactions for dogs. These are frequently found in raw-food diets.