Raw Diets: Are They Right for Your Cat or Dog?
Frozen Pet Food Diets are Becoming a Mainstay in the Industry
Apr 18, 2009
These days, people are treating their pet dog or cat like a member of the family. They want their four-legged family members to have the best life possible. As a result, pet nutrition has become more important than ever before, and more people are turning to raw diets to provide the best nutrition possible for their dog or cat.
As with any new trend, people are asking questions, such as: What are raw diets? Are they safe? Are they nutritional? Are they worth the money? Is a raw diet better than the traditional bag of pet food?
What are Raw Diets?
Raw diets focus on going back to what canines and felines eat in nature. This means giving them a diet that is uncooked, and processed as little as possible. Raw diets are ground-up animal meat, including organ meat and bones. Purchased from a freezer, a raw diet is de-thawed and then given directly to your pet, usually with an added supplement.
Are Raw Diets Safe?
Many people worry that raw diets will cause food poisoning, such as salmonella bacterial infections. The reality is that a raw pet food diet goes through the same health inspections as food meant for humans. Therefore, there is no greater risk of a bacterial infection handling a raw pet food diet as there is when handling raw meat intended for human consumption.
Cats and dogs have evolved eating raw meats. Their immune systems are much stronger than that of a human, and are more able to fight off any bacterias associated with raw meat. Pet owners may want to treat their animals like a member of the family, but should remember that the physiology and nutritional requirements between pets and people are much different.
Are Raw Diets Nutritionally Complete?
Nutritionally, a raw diet by itself may not be complete. Both cats and dogs, even in the wild, routinely consume vegetable matter. Vitamins and minerals found in fruits, vegetables, and fish oils are essential components to a healthy diet for your pet. Raw meat alone will not provide these other nutrients.
Some companies that sell raw diets incorporate fruit and vegetables into the meat. Others advise using a vitamin and mineral supplement power to provide the nutrients that the raw diet may be lacking.
Are Raw Diets Worth the Money?
Feeding your cat or dog a raw diet is not cheap. A raw diet can be twice as expensive as even the most expensive bag of dry pet food.
Many people who feed raw diets, though, feel that the price is worth it. Animals that have had sever food allergies, skin problems, and digestive upsets seem to improve when fed raw diets. Pet owners who feed raw diets also report that they see a renewed sense of health and vitality in their pets that they have not seen since the animals were puppies or kittens.
Are Raw Diets Better Than Traditional Dry Pet Foods?
So far, there have not been any studies which provide concrete proof that raw diets offer a more nutritional diet for dogs and cats than traditional bags of dry pet food. Dry pet foods have come a long way in the last few years, with super premium, natural, holistic, and organic pet foods that offer excellent nutrition to your pet.
What can is evident about raw diets is, that with proper supplementation, they will not harm your cat or dog, and are viable alternative feeding methods.
A wide variety of nutritional sources keeps canines and felines healthy. If you have the time, money, and patience to offer your pet a raw diet, even as an occasional supplement to their regular dry food, your four-legged family member will be happy and healthy for years to come.
