Download WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAW FOOD DIET Feeding raw

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT RAW FOOD DIET
Feeding raw meat in dogs was popularized by Dr. Ian Billinghurst after the publication of his
two books; Give Your Dog a Bone (1993) and The BARF Diet (2001). The latter book
introduced the term "BARF", "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food' or "Bone And Raw Food".
These books, which lack any scientific evidence, are based on the author's belief that
commercial pet food is contributing to serious health problems in pets.1
Supporters of raw food diets proclaim many health benefits associated with this feeding
regime, including to name a few, “Dogs and cats are carnivores and as such they evolved
eating raw food”1, “'Dogs fed cooked and processed food and no bones will always develop a
weakened immune system and poor dental health”2, “Raw diets are useful for the prevention
or control of a wide range of conditions2,
However, there have been no studies to date to support that this feeding approach has any
long-term health benefits compared to feeding other types of pet food. But there has been
research looking at the nutritional performance as well as the possible risks of bones and raw
food diets.2
Nutritional adequacy
Nutritional adequacy should be one of the first concerns of every practitioner regarding their
patient's feeding program and this also applies to commercial raw diets as well.2 Veterinarians
like physicians are scientists and their recommendations must rely on thorough and relevant
scientific evidence. Several studies have shown that many commercial or home-made diets had
essential nutrients that were analyzed to be below (Association of American Feed Control
Officials) AAFCO minimum recommendations. 2 A recent survey of dog owners in Germany
that were feeding home-prepared bone and raw food diets found that 76% of the 77 rations
analyzed had at least one nutritional imbalance.
One of the many claims made by those who support a raw meat and bone feeding method is
that feeding raw meat and bone is beneficial to the oral and dental health of the animal.
However, current research does support that thinking. One study in African wild dogs found
that 41% of the skulls examined had evidence of periodontal disease.
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Animal and Public health
The veterinarian’s job is not only to care for the health and well-being of their patients but also
those who are the guardians of these pets as well. So the last concern in regards to raw meat
feeding is the zoonotic and infectious potential, which proponents tend to dismiss. Raw diets
can be contaminated by several causing disease agents with zoonotic potential (transmission
from animal to humans) including salmonella bacteria. These non-pasteurized products are
frozen then served raw. It represents a potential source of infection for the animals as well as
the family, especially young children, elderly and immunocompromised.
The infected animals can be carriers
without showing any symptoms or can
develop
more
or
less
severe
gastrointestinal, sometimes fatal. Certain
formulas of these diets include bones as
well as meat. Ingestion of bones can cause
digestive disorders, such as perforation,
obstruction, regurgitation (figure 1)
gastroenteritis and dental fractures. A dog
fed a raw diet can excrete the pathogenic
agents through their feces which could be
a source of contamination in the
environment and to the people who pick
up after their pets. 3, 4.
Fig.1 Radiograph of the thorax and stomach of a 6 months old puppy fed
with a commercial raw diet. The puppy was presented for regurgitation
several times per day, and with delayed growth rate. The black circle
shows the stomach which contains an enormous amount of bones (white
opacities). Bones are difficult to digest. In the stomach, they tend to form
cement which prevents normal food transit to move towards the
intestines. Delayed growth rate was due to the decrease of food
absorption. The problem was resolved after the raw food diet was
changed to a commercial gastrointestinal diet. Source : CVVaudreuil
Conclusion
The owners that choose this type of diet should be well informed as these diets are without
certain risks. For those who decide to continue or to begin a diet based on raw meat should
visit the following link in order to review the recommendations of using a raw diet:
http://collections.banq.qc.ca/ark:/52327/bs19250
Référence:
1. Burns K.M. MS, Med, LVT, VTS (Nutrition). 2012. Alternative and Raw Food Diets. What Do We Know? Western
Veterinary Conference 2011. VIN Library Proceedings.
2. Fascetti A.J. VMD, PhD, DACVIM (Small Animal Internal Medicine), DACV. 2011. Raw Food Diets: A Research
Review. ACVIM Conference 2011. VIN Library Proceedings.
3. Fifle L. DMV, Dip. ACVIM. 2011. Focus DMV. Démystifier les diètes à base de viandes crues. Focus 024. Centre
Vétérinaire DMV, Lachine.
4. Picard I., Hébert N, & T. Rémillard I. DMV. 2008. RAIZO : Avertissement vétérinaire. Réseau d’Alerte et
d’information Zoosanitaire. Nu. 45, janvier 2008. CQIASA
By C. Senay, Août 2013
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