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Food Discussion & Information / Re: Raw Question
« on: April 06, 2007, 12:35:35 pm »
Well, I'll first give my background since I was asked to come post here 
I am a veterinarian, and I have been raw feeding for almost 6 years.
I currently raw feed 2 dobermans and 3 cats (with other raw fed animals in the house) - I have rawfed 6 dogs total, and fed nothing but raw exclusively for 5.5 years to my own dogs.
Where to start -
Protein levels in growing dogs -
Dietary protein levels have no effect on the development of skeletal problems in the growing dog when caloric intake is controlled. (from Nap R. Effects of dietary protein levels on skeletal development in large breed dogs, in Proceedings. Large Breed Health Care Symposium, Venice, Italy; 2001).
Studies have shown it is the CALORIES consumed as well as the CALCIUM supplementatio n in the food that results in the developmental problems. The only problem seen is LOW protein levels, which stunt growth.
Protein levels in kidney disease - "healthy" dogs and cats can easily handle the level of protein found in raw food, EVO, etc . In fact, studies have shown that even with kidney disease, only at END stage renal failure do we need to be concerned about the protein levels - it is the phosphorus levels to be most concerned about. Providing the body with higher protein levels won't hurt - what were dogs and cats designed to eat? Protein! THe kidneys when healthy, deal just fine with any amount given to them. The older studies have been proven wrong, and not applicable to carnivores (they were done in omnivores and worse yet, herbivores!)
Now lets move into what to feed -
NOT feeding bone is a problem - the balance comes from feeding as close to a natural diet as possible, which for me is betwen 10-25% bone. I solve the "balance" problem by feeding as whole as possible - whole turkeys, chickens, rabbit, large sides of beef, etc.
As to cost and ease - it is not as hard as people make it out to be - once you adjust to the diet (And of course depending on what you choose to feed, and how), meal preps don't take long, and it doesn't take much thinking. My dog is fed prey model - he eats pretty much meat, bones, and organ meat (with tripe and heart) - the only grains or veggies he gets are from what he begs from people. Today it was pizza crust from a tech at work!
And cost depends on a lot of things - the best and most cost effective way is to buy in bulk. Between the dogs and cats, I go through about 10-12 lbs of meat a day, depending on what it is (one dobe alone is eating 4-5 lbs a day!). Doing the math, yes that adds up to at least 300 lbs of meat a month. Two other dogs in the house are eating kibble or mostly kibble (one is not mine, one is a foster), and between the two of them, they are going through a 33 lb bag of Innova/EVO every 12-14 days! If my active young male was eating that, it would easily be a bag a week, if not more. Is it the most cost effective feeding? Nope - that's something like Ol' Roy - but for me, the cost is not that bad when looking at the health benefits my dog receives, as well as the comfort I get from feeding a natural diet my animals were biologically designed to eat!
Trying not to ramble...
I am a veterinarian, and I have been raw feeding for almost 6 years.
I currently raw feed 2 dobermans and 3 cats (with other raw fed animals in the house) - I have rawfed 6 dogs total, and fed nothing but raw exclusively for 5.5 years to my own dogs.
Where to start -
Protein levels in growing dogs -
Dietary protein levels have no effect on the development of skeletal problems in the growing dog when caloric intake is controlled. (from Nap R. Effects of dietary protein levels on skeletal development in large breed dogs, in Proceedings. Large Breed Health Care Symposium, Venice, Italy; 2001).
Studies have shown it is the CALORIES consumed as well as the CALCIUM supplementatio n in the food that results in the developmental problems. The only problem seen is LOW protein levels, which stunt growth.
Protein levels in kidney disease - "healthy" dogs and cats can easily handle the level of protein found in raw food, EVO, etc . In fact, studies have shown that even with kidney disease, only at END stage renal failure do we need to be concerned about the protein levels - it is the phosphorus levels to be most concerned about. Providing the body with higher protein levels won't hurt - what were dogs and cats designed to eat? Protein! THe kidneys when healthy, deal just fine with any amount given to them. The older studies have been proven wrong, and not applicable to carnivores (they were done in omnivores and worse yet, herbivores!)
Now lets move into what to feed -
NOT feeding bone is a problem - the balance comes from feeding as close to a natural diet as possible, which for me is betwen 10-25% bone. I solve the "balance" problem by feeding as whole as possible - whole turkeys, chickens, rabbit, large sides of beef, etc.
As to cost and ease - it is not as hard as people make it out to be - once you adjust to the diet (And of course depending on what you choose to feed, and how), meal preps don't take long, and it doesn't take much thinking. My dog is fed prey model - he eats pretty much meat, bones, and organ meat (with tripe and heart) - the only grains or veggies he gets are from what he begs from people. Today it was pizza crust from a tech at work!
And cost depends on a lot of things - the best and most cost effective way is to buy in bulk. Between the dogs and cats, I go through about 10-12 lbs of meat a day, depending on what it is (one dobe alone is eating 4-5 lbs a day!). Doing the math, yes that adds up to at least 300 lbs of meat a month. Two other dogs in the house are eating kibble or mostly kibble (one is not mine, one is a foster), and between the two of them, they are going through a 33 lb bag of Innova/EVO every 12-14 days! If my active young male was eating that, it would easily be a bag a week, if not more. Is it the most cost effective feeding? Nope - that's something like Ol' Roy - but for me, the cost is not that bad when looking at the health benefits my dog receives, as well as the comfort I get from feeding a natural diet my animals were biologically designed to eat!
Trying not to ramble...