Raw Dog Food: Dietary Concerns, Benefits and Risks - Page 4

 Weeeeellllllll, from knowing farmers, I know that dog food does actually get the yuckier version of what humans eat, such as cows with cancer-eye, innards that have been in the freezer too long, veggies that are moldy.....it's all the same stuff, but it's the stuff that would probably have been dumped if it were intended for people. And let's face it, organic foods have LESS crap in them than commercial foods, even if both are tainted to some extent. Also, there's all that evidence of dead pets being rendered and sprayed onto kibble, meaning that dogs are getting flea collars, PTS chemicals, thyroid meds, cancer, whatever. I really don't think it's very comparable to human grade foods. It CoULD be, SHoULD be, but all the somewhat yucky food goes somewhere, and it ain't the dumpster. They feed it to dogs and pigs. (YES, they feed pigs meat, no matter what the rules are.)

Sitasmom, I don't know why you call raw feeders intolerant. I don't give a rats patoot WHAT you feed your dogs.

"TessJ10........??????? why would Gi upset with kibble be something wrong with the dogs?? sorry, don't get it...."

Because they're not thriving, because they have skin issues and GI upset issues.  Did it ever occur to you that's not normal?  Contrary to what the super-rabid raw diet feeders proclaim, MILLIONS of dogs thrive and live to long, healthy, ripe old ages on commercial brand kibble. 

There seems to be a lot of posts on msg. boards, etc. about an awful lot of GSD that have "sensitive stomachs" and are prone to get easily upset in the GI tract.  That's a fault of the genetics of the animal; that's a breeding issue.

As Prager said, dogs can eat old, nasty roadkill and not have any problems.  Canines are scavengers, and a modern-day Shepherd has to have a super-special diet in order to thrive?  That needs improvement.

I do agree that some of the comments (specifically those about fears of harm from bacteria to humans and dogs from feeding a raw diet) quoted in the OP in this thread are BS.

 

Tess, I know this is going to cause a massive commotion about my lack of tolerance, but saying that a GSD who can't survive on kibble is somehow deficient seems to me to be very similar to being shocked when a kid does poorly on a McDonalds diet. I feel that if a dog isn't doing well on kibble, then he must have a very natural system that needs a more natural diet--meaning that he is NORMAL.

I don't care what anyone feeds. The "proof is in the puddling" as far as how the dog looks, stamina level, health etc. So again, if someone wishes to feed a BALANCED raw diet, based on as much knowledge and experience as is out there, great. If someone chooses to feed kibble which must also meet certain standards (albeit not completely defined as to what a canine diet requires) that too is fine.

What is said above about what goes into dog food is not quite correct, and is the stuff of old, old days long past. There are stringent rules on what can and cannot go in any food, including animal foods. The legislation is being considered that will make it even more restrictive as to what can go into animal food. So everyone can prepare for further price increases because better ingredients mean more expensive ingredients.

And finally, if we took into account the amount of good food wasted in this country we would all be ashamed to know how many people are starving in some parts of the world as we discuss this issue. The reasons for waste are often simply cosmetic. But, it is a real threat if one misses food that is spoiled and eats it. Knowing how to discern the difference is the key. There are people in some parts of Africa, and other parts of the world, who are killing each other because of lack of food and water. The coming years will see an increase in conflict around the world because of a lack of resources, all the while we discuss whether one should or should not feed raw or kibble.

Hodie I like you, but it seems that I am permanently  on collision course with you.
1. the government has been telling us all the time that every thing is under control but s...t also happens all the time. So more regulations and control and  oversights and fees and taxes and rules and paperwork and spending and bigger government and unelected zars..... are just going to increase the price of everything and that is all. Chinese or someone from Timbucktwo or Rwanda Burundi or Spitoon are going to still put some new crap in our food and that is all. And then more regulations on that.

2.There is no lack of resources. Who told you that? Some environmentalist waco? There is plenty of resources, but government is trying to control that with man made global warming hoax and so on and by scaring us with stories about peak oil and so on..
I PRAY TO GOT TO STOP GOVERNMENT from HELP ME.
 Prager Hans

I feel that if a dog isn't doing well on kibble, then he must have a very natural system that needs a more natural diet-

LOL, don't worry, I'm not going to pounce.  You and I can respectfully disagree - I have no problem with that, and I do agree that a raw diet can be a great thing, I just don't agree with the fanatics who scream about death-kibble, simply because the objective evidence shows that the vast majority of dogs thrive to very old ages on "death kibble" and it's the MINORITY that are unable to.

And to say that a dog who is not thriving must therefore be a more "natural" dog - that makes no sense.  Before kibble, dogs were still scavengers - they ate the scrapings of the family plates, which was mainly potatoes and veg - not too much meat has been leftover for the dogs, and it sure wasn't raw.   Dogs are tens of thousands of years evolved away from the "raw prey model" diet.  Raw fanatics always overlook that part.  I'm not saying you're a raw fanatic - not including you in that at all - I do think raw diets are great for a lot of dogs, but it cannot be denied that there are a lot of fabulous dogs out there on kibble. That's all I'm saying.  Sure, feed raw; I'm just pointing out that there is simply no evidence to support those who insist that commercial kibble is a death sentence.  That's all I'm saying.

 Oh yes, I agree with you on a lot of that. However, it's only been in the last 60 years that dogs have eaten kibble, and in many countries only the last 20. Would love to see some longevity reports. The only ones I've seen have related to dogs eating human table scraps vs kibble, not raw vs. kibble. Well, as more and more people work up the nerve to tell their vets what they are feeding, maybe some details will emerge.

 Hans,

I like you too :-). But I stand by what I said about resources. I have a personal friend who works in Kenya, in the Samburu district. A long standing drought has been going on there and the people are starving. Their livestock, on which they depend, is dead because of no water, the people have no water, and there is almost no food. There are few agencies helping and many people, and I am speaking many here, have resorted to violence for food and water, and killed many people. This same friend has been in other parts of the world and seen a lack of resources as well.

So, my take is this. I don't consider myself on any course with you. If you disagree, that is fine. But in some cases, your information is not correct.

As far as governmental regulations, yes, there are regulations everywhere, in this country, in your former country, and all over the world. I think some people would like "natural law" to prevail. I am sorry, but I personally believe humans have all too often shown themselves incapable of governing themselves and so I personally have to settle for more restrictions in government than perhaps I would like. But it is better than chaos. That is just my opinion.

As I have said before, the world WILL be a very different place in even 25 years. I probably won't live to see it, and in 50 years, our children will also not recognize the world they live in, all around the globe. There is a song, do you know it? One of the phases is "the times, they are a changin'".

And by the way, in general, you and I do agree about dogs, the value or lack thereof of titles etc. I just did not want to get into it.

Got to go to work now. Merry Christmas Hans.

luvvvvvvvvvvv it