Stuart Animal Hospital / Raw Food Diets

RAW FOOD DIETS

This is designed for our clients who have already met with Dr. Katz or one of our staff members and discussed the appropriateness of raw diets for their pets. Because our office visits are usually long, Dr. Katz has ample time to get to know you, your pets, and your family. If we recommend feeding raw foods to your pets, it is because we have determined that the benefits to your pets are great, and the risks involved in feeding this diet are minimal to non-existent.
The emergence of raw diets has created a bit of controversy. Because raw diets are still considered “alternative” and not mainstream, and because like anything else in this world, risks are involved, we are forced to state the following disclaimer:
Stuart Animal Hospital, its owner, assigns, heirs, and employees shall not have liability or responsibility to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused, or alleged to have been caused, directly or indirectly, by the information contained in this packet. Now relax and read on!

For thousands of millenniums, our feline and canine companions have subsisted on diets of raw meats and human dinner scraps. The Purina Corporation developed dry kibble pet food in the year 1957. Since then, pet foods have grown in popularity, supplanting the more natural diets of our dogs and cats. In the past 10 years, however, we have seen a rise in raw food diet feeding strategies, often called “BARF” or biologically appropriate raw foods. Feeding these diets is relatively simple. Most pet owners typically notice the following improvements in the overall health and the quality of life in their companions: glossy hair coat, cleaner ears, cleaner teeth and breath, reduction in dental disease, decreased itching, reduction in allergy symptoms, normalized energy levels, better body muscle to fat ratios, improved urinary tract health, increased resistance to infections, greater mobility with a decrease in arthritis pain, and little to no hairballs in cats.

CONCERNS

Many clients have concerns when feeding raw meats to their pets. The biggest concern is food-borne illnesses such as Salmonella and E. coli, and spread of these zoonotic pathogens to humans. (Zoonotic means a disease that can be transmitted from animals to people.) Some other concerns include choking on bones and perforations of the stomach or intestines from bones. Feeding raw foods to sick or debilitated pets is another concern.

In our experience when feeding these diets to our patients, illness in dogs and cats resulting from ingesting raw meats potentially tainted with Salmonella and E. coli is not a concern. Dr. Katz has never seen a case of Salmonella in raw diet patients in 21 years of medical practice. The gastrointestinal tracts of our patients are designed for handling and digesting raw meats. When raw meat is ingested, the stomach ph goes to a highly acidic pH of 1, making it very difficult for these organisms to survive. Furthermore, the short digestive tract of a carnivore enables the food to be digested, packaged, and ready to go ( as feces) within 6 hours. It is not until hour six that E. coli begins to multiply significantly. The stomach emptying time is 15-18 hours, so food is essentially sterilized.

The second concern is the public health issue and the spread of Salmonella and E. coli to humans. These are real concerns which make the feeding of raw foods an undertaking that should be handled prudently and only when the people in contact with the dog (and some cats) are in good health. The main method of transmission of these pathogens is fecal-oral. In dogs and cats, this would occur through the removal of feces followed by inadvertent contact of the hands to the mouth. Since feces can carry many other harmful organisms, including worm eggs, larva, toxoplasma oocysts, and giardia, humans should always wash their hands thoroughly after cleaning litter boxes and picking up outside after their dogs.

Another concern is for the transmission of pathogens from the animal’s saliva to the humans in contact with them. No one has thoroughly studied the survival time of zoonotic pathogens in the animals’ mouths. Some speculate that factors like washout by saliva (dilution and swallowing) might serve to remove the pathogens within minutes. In any case, it is prudent to minimize your pet’s licking of humans, especially within the first hour after feeding raw food. We do not recommend feeding raw food in households with small children and with immunocompromised ( for example AIDs, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunosuppressive drugs, and general poor health.)

Dogs and cats can end up choking on bones and injure the stomach and small intestines. While these events are rare, they are still possible. Most dogs and cats “know” what to do with chicken and other meats containing bones. However, some dogs and cats manage to eat raw bones and choke on them, usually by eating them too quickly. Let’s face it, some dogs are gluttons. They will attempt to swallow the bones whole, without chewing. To circumvent this problem, the owner may first elect to chop up the bones into small pieces. Likewise, numerous commercial, raw diets are now available that contain the bones in chopped up form. The basic rule of thumb is—feed a large turkey neck when introducing whole raw food to your dog. When cats are fed raw meat with bones, the food should always be chopped up into very small pieces, one-quarter inch or smaller. Never feed cats whole chicken necks. Never, ever cook the bones. Cooking bone changes the chemical composition and bones will then splinter and cut the stomach and intestines.

If your pet is sick or debilitated, we advise you to have Dr. Katz examine your pet before you embark on feeding it a raw diet. In actuality, feeding raw diets is one if the best ways to rebuild your pet’s health. Contrary to popular opinion, cats suffering from feline leukemia virus and feline immunodeficiency virus, and dogs with many conditions such as “food allergies” improve markedly while on raw food diets.

CONVERTING DOGS TO RAW DIETS

Most dogs need no transition period. Simply introduce the meal at hand and allow them to eat!

If the dog has a history of a sensitive stomach, then gradual conversion might be in order. Begin with a small portion of the diet. If feeding actual chicken with bones, chop up a small portion containing both meat and bones (50/50) and feed it.

If using a commercial diet, simply offer a small portion of the defrosted diet. Then, if your dog shows no reaction, (diarrhea, vomiting), continue to introduce a higher volume each day until you have reached the intended amount.

Some dogs will never be able to change in diet, even from one brand of commercial dog food to another.

Other dogs might show an initial aversion to raw foods. You might have to make them hungry first. Then, lightly braze the food in a frying pan (no or little oil, then heat) to stimulate their appetites by making the food smell a bit more like table foods. Always feed the raw meat meal separately from the dry or canned food meal.

CONVERTING CATS TO RAW DIETS

The easiest way to circumvent this problem is to introduce your cat to raw foods when it is a kitten. Most kittens will eat any food placed in front of them, as they still maintain their instinct for raw foods. This is the time to begin feeding chopped up chicken. Wings , chicken backs and thighs are both the cheapest and easiest to feed. Or, try feeding one of the commercial foods such as BARF OR OMAS.

For adult cats who have never been introduced to raw foods, hiding the raw meat in canned food often is the easiest option. Simply mix a tiny amount of turkey burger or hamburger in with the canned food and don’t tell your cat. Then, each day, gradually increase the amount of burger in the diet.

Some cats will constantly reject any attempts to add raw foods to their canned foods. In these cases, try feeding Innova EVO. Evo is the only dry kibble that is the closest thing to raw food. Try mixing a small amount of Evo into the canned food.

Another trick is to mush some raw chicken liver into the canned foods. It is safe to feed a small amount of raw liver every day to your cat. Often the cat will reject burger meat in its food but, will accept raw chicken liver in its food. Be careful, because raw liver is like cheesecake,(very rich) eat too much of it and it will make your cat nauseated.

RAW DIETS FOR DOGS

First of all, keep it simple. If you want to get complicated, surf the web!

There are many commercial diets out there now. We recommend Omas Pride or BARF. These are the brands we trust and are consistent in quality.

For larger breeds of dogs, these diets can be fed as one meal a day, or even just a few times a week. They are also available in uncommon meat sources, such as rabbit, venison, buffalo, emu, kangaroo, and others. Most companies use beef, turkey, and chicken and many use organic and/or grass-fed meat sources. These diets tend to contain ground bones, organ meats, and other ingredients like yogurt, beets, vegetables, and many other food items, in addition to the principle meat source(s).

If you are going to prepare raw food on your own, simply make sure you feed from four principle “food groups”:

Meat

Bones

Organ meats

Fruits and vegetables

It is easiest to feed chicken as the meat and bone source if you are preparing the meat fresh. As discussed in the “Concerns” section, you can chop up the chicken before feeding it to your dog. After purchasing the chicken, wrap each piece individually and freeze it. Defrost it overnight, and then chop it up in the morning. Defrosting the chicken for approximately 9 hours allows it to become slightly soft, but not rubbery, and therefore easiest to chop.

Varying the meat source from time to time is a healthy, natural way to provide a variety if nutrients to your dog. Don’t forget fish is a great source of protein. The easiest way to do this is to purchase commercial raw diets and feed these from time to time. These generally cost about 2-3 times as much as your home-prepared chicken, but they contain the chopped up meats, bones, organs, vegetables, and other ingredients- in other words, you’re paying for someone else to do all the work!

Once a week, a meal of organ meats can be fed. Organ meats include chicken livers, beef hearts, kidneys, and chicken hearts and gizzards (usually packaged together). You can, of course, feed a small amount of organ meats daily; but, we are trying to keep this simple. Feeding chicken livers alone can cause the runs in some dogs, so consider offering a variety of organ meats at one time. Buy a few types of organs, and package a mix in freezer baggies.

10-20% of the diet can come from fruits and vegetables. These can be anything your dog will eat. Some dogs will eat raw carrots; others will only eat broccoli if it is steamed. Grating vegetables or putting them in a blender works for some dogs, but this is getting away from the simple concept. Frozen vegetables work. Avoid canned vegetables and fruits. Fruits should be very ripe- in the wild, the dog is most likely to eat the rotting apple that has fallen from the tree. Variety is also important for some fruits and vegetables. This is because certain fruits, like grapefruit, and certain vegetables, like spinach, can cause bladder stones in dogs that are predisposed to this problem. It is not harmful to feed these foods on small quantities from time to time. Avoid onions, grapes, and raisins, which have all been associated with toxicities in dogs and cats

Try feeding unusual cuts of meat such as chicken feet and tongue. Dogs love chicken feet and it is very rich in natural chondroitin for arthritis.

Some dogs will decide to eat from only certain food groups above. If this is the case, contact us so that we can determine what supplements your dog will need to make up for the deficiencies in diet.

RAW DIETS FOR CATS

In the wild, cats eat mice, moles, squirrels, rabbits, and baby birds. Feeding raw diets at home does not have to be more complicated.

If your cat will eat raw meats, the simplest food to feed is chopped up chicken, one chicken wing, chopped up, is one meal! You can feed this as one meal of the day, and Evo as the other meal of the day.

DETERMINING QUANTITY
OF FOOD TO FEED DOGS

There is no formula for this! As general guidelines, you can feed one pound of meat per 50 pounds of body weight. Rapidly growing dogs and active dogs tend to need more; older dogs tend to need less. If your dog gains weight on this amount then decrease it; if your dog loses weight on this amount, then increase it!

Meats that are lower in fat include: turkey, buffalo, ostrich, venison, and rabbit. Meats that are higher in fat and help put weight on include: beef, lamb, duck, and pork.

READ MORE

We highly recommend reading Raw Dog Food: Make it Easy for You and Your Dog by Carina Beth MacDonald. This short, concise book gives a humorous and thorough description of feeding raw foods to your dog. It answers every possible question. Also, Switching to Raw by Susan K. Johnson is another great source on feeding raw. Both books are available at Stuart Animal Hospital.

COOKING A STEW FOR YOUR DOG

For one reason or another, you may elect to cook for your dog, rather than offer raw food. The good news is that dogs are not very discerning restaurant patrons. In other words, they will eat just about anything you put in front of them! As long as you get the basic ingredients and approximate ratios, your dog will appreciate the finished product!

Here are suggested ingredients for a stew:

40-50% of any or all of these boneless meats: chicken, turkey, beef, pork, venison, lamb, fish, or rabbit

20% organ meats: chicken or beef hearts, chicken or beef/calf liver, gizzards

15-20% vegetables: anything except onions, and leeks. Safe bets are broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, carrots, squashes. Occasional spinach and other dark, green, leafy lettuces. Try to rotate veggies. Use fresh or frozen, never canned.

5-10% grain if your dog can’t hold its weight : oats, barley, quinoa

Parsley

Spring or filtered water

Cook in a stew pot or crock pot. Then place feeding portions in freezer bags or containers and freeze. Defrost portion in refrigerator overnight.

This is not a 100% nutritionally complete diet. You should add a good multi-vitamin or mineral supplement such as Vetri-Science Canine Plus or Thorn Canine Basic Nutrients and supplement with Innova Evo dry or canned.

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