Is there any risk in feeding raw food to my dog?

Some say the dog might attack children if we put it on a regular raw flesh diet.Is there any risk in feeding raw food to my dog?
Heard of mad cow disease?



This disease occurred because farmers put in raw beef from cows that had died. The raw food contained salmonella and the unknown virus of mad cow disease and these cows attacked each other.



Dogs cats and any other mammal eating raw food can have the same effect. They will get these disease like salmonella and the dog may attack more or be more aggressive.Is there any risk in feeding raw food to my dog?
All of this is a crock of sh*t. Dogs can eat raw even rotting food The likelyhood of your dog getting salmonella poisoning isnt high as their stomachs are different to ours, their stomach acid is stronger to help digest bone, and yes they can eat raw bones. Raw meat isnt going to make your dog turn into a viscious killer who just wants blood. There is a diet for dogs B.A.R.F, bones and raw foods. Google it and find out. If you keep the raw meat in the same conditions you keep your own meat, properly sealed from fresh, only keep it in the fridge for 2-3 days before you throw it out, otherwise freeze it and defrost as needed, and the risk of parasites is definately lessened. The only thing that will make your dog attack children is, rabies or mistreating it. Raw food is actually great for dogs as they get the maximun nutrients from it as cooking will destroy some of the good stuff. Just dont feed too much raw pork as there is an enzyme in the meat that dogs find hard to digest and might give them the runs. Too much beef can overload them on the iron in it. The best meats to feed dogs raw is lamb, chicken and turkey. No fish. Add raw grated vegetables such as carrot, broccoli stem, apple, beans, chopped parsley(for their breath) and just a little minced garlic. Honestly do you really think your dog will turn into a blood thirsty beast just because you feed it raw meat, use your brain.
No there is no risk to feeding your dog a raw diet. It is a very natural healthy way to feed a dog (if you research it properly and do it correctly). A dog will NOT turn aggressive, attack people/children or any other such nonsense nor will it get worms. Dogs do NOT get worms from eating raw meat thati ncludes pork.



The AVMA article is 2 years old and is now outdated. A lot of vets are now suggesting raw diets to clients.



Dogs do NOT get tapeworms from raw meat.



Dogs are NOT omnivores they are CARNIVORES...people really need to learn more about dogs and the scientific classifications, anatomy and digestive systems.



It always amazes me at all of the false info that is posted.Is there any risk in feeding raw food to my dog?
some people dont deserve pets or kids
We feed our dog with raw food since he was two months old. He's almost 1.5 yrs and is very healthy. He love it specially with green, red or yellow peppers, you can also mix other vegetables, but never use onions or grapes. He eat beef, chicken, pork, fish and turkey but hate lamb :)

We did a lot of research, spoke with our Holistic vet and decide to use it and we're really happy with our decision.Is there any risk in feeding raw food to my dog?
No, this is a myth. Raw meat diets are actually really good for dogs, if you have the proper knowledge to know what to feed them. I'd do some research on it and see if it's right for you, then go for it!
only that he may like it too much...
here i will give you the correct answer the answer is once your dog has experienced the taste of blood it can sometimes be an instint to want more and more... so obviously i believe attacking children is possible. but it is possible with any dog (i have a pitbull) and i refuse to feed her the "raw diet" most vets don't recommend this at all. you can find just as much and most likely less messier meals in your local store under dog food. .... most naturals are on shelves too if your worried about nutrients. i don't think feeding a raw diet to your dog will make it any healthier than mine on dog food.
raw food diet is bad.

here is what the american veterinary medical association has to say;

http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jan05/鈥?/a>
I would just worry more about salmonella poisoning.
I have often heard that it can cause worms.
Since Menu Foods has had there recall and it had come to light the FDA does not regulate pet food, I did some research myself. I found the BARF diet. It's an all raw meat diet for dogs. It's cheaper and I know for sure what I'm giving my dog. Go to the web site the pasted. It will tell you all you need to know.

Hoping I helped,

Charipop
Feeding dogs the Raw Diet (also known as the Barf Diet) is not good for dogs. Dogs are omnivores not carnivores. Also dogs can get salmonella just like people. Some raw diets also contain bones in it that could be potentially hazardous to the dog for choking reasons. They can also get parasites from the raw meat. But no it wont make your dog attack children or adults. I like my steak medium rare and I have never decided to bite any people or cows. lol. Good luck!
I have never heard that before! I did a lot of research on the raw diet, and tried the Healthy Kitchen dehydrated dog food mixed with a ground-beef looking blend of raw meat. My dog has lots of allergies, and she did actually throw that up (although i was told it was rare). The raw diet is actually supposed to be the best.



I am feeding her Innova Evo which is a raw kibble, and it's been working great. she loves it and the vet said she looks wonderful.
ctyslkr2003: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, or "mad cow disease" has never been documented in dogs. It mostly affects cows, and sometimes humans. It is caused by a specific protein that has been misfolded, and the only known way to contract the disease is by eating infected meat.



Salmonella has nothing to do with BSE. It is possible for dogs to get salmenellosis, but I would be more concerned about the fact that dogs are potential carriers for salmonella--meaning it's possible they can infect you (either from contact with saliva or fecal matter). Feeding them raw meats greatly increases the possibility that their fecal matter will be contaminated, as the bacteria can pass through the digestive system.
it depends what kind of food are you thinking of???
There are issues with feeding raw food diets, but aggression is not one of them. Your dog will be at increased risk of parasites and food borne illness, and the humans in the house can also catch salmonella from handling the dog's dishes or stool if the dog eats contaminated food. You also need to be mindful of supplements when feeding raw, with commercially prepared diets the vitamins are already figured out for you. Feeding raw is more complicated. I am not a fan of the practice, especially when you can buy cooked prepared "all meat" diets that are complete and balanced right out of the package (check out Wellness brand).



Dogs are not "true carnivores" they are scavengers. There is a place for carbs in a dog's diet. Veggies are good.



If you are considering the switch because of the food recall, please be aware that ALL the foods and treats on the list are traceable back to a single shipment of wheat gluten from China. So read the labels and don't feed anything with wheat gluten in it until this is all over.



http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/p鈥?/a>
...I have 2 German shepherds and a 6 month old Alaskan husky, I have for 5 years fed my dogs BARF or biologically appropriate raw food ...I take the same care as I would whenever I prepare my families barbeque's or help in preparing family dinner, whenever I prepare their food which is done 1 batch every week in advance. My dogs have less problems and less vet bills. they are all healthier and happy. people who usually frown on BARF dont even know what they are missing for their pets. With all the poison in the artificial pet food now a day . maybe all these folks should really find out what is in their pets food , I mean really find out. I have no problems with raw food and my dogs are the most energetic, best looking and happiest.

I feed my dogs chicken heads , necks, wings, gizzards and lotsa other stuff from beef and pork. there are a lot of more informative sites with more detailed info about BARF. I would just say...if you love your pet and thing he or she deserves the best then just check it out and find out more about BARF, I guarantee you wont look back after. Good luck.
I don't think the risks are what your friends told you. I do know when I grew up that we had dogs that ate dead pigs and my mother told me that once they tasted blood, they could kill pigs to eat them and they had to shoot our dogs so they wouldn't kill the landlords pigs to eat them. I do not believe that they would attack children if you fed them raw meat.



Here is a website with FAQ about feeding your dog raw meet: http://www.justamere.com/newsletter/rawf鈥?/a> I copied and pasted part of it and you can go to the website to read more about it:



Why should I feed raw food to my dog?

Dogs are carnivores that evolved eating raw foods. Commercial foods are generally heat processed which alters or destroys nutrients and essential enzymes, so dog food companies try to add back what they destroyed, but they don鈥檛 always know what鈥檚 missing and what proportion is best. For example, cats were developing problems and dying when fed commercial food until it was discovered that taurine was needed. Although it鈥檚 abundant in raw meat, they didn鈥檛 know until recently to add it to commercial food. It鈥檚 only in the last 50 years or so that people started feeding dogs commercial foods. And it鈥檚 quite a coincidence that during this time dogs have developed more cancer, heart disease, and allergies 鈥?just like people who also eat processed foods.



Won鈥檛 raw food make my dog sick?

Dogs have a short digestive system that is designed to eat raw food. Cooked, commercial dog food takes longer for dogs to digest and often ferments before it is digested.



What about bacteria?

Bacteria is present almost everywhere. It only causes problems when the immune system is stressed. If you鈥檙e still worried, consider Salmonella: infection is usually acquired by ingestion of food contaminated by Salmonella-laden feces. Which is more likely to be contaminated by feces, bags of kibble stored in a warehouse or chicken parts wrapped in plastic for display at your local grocery?



Dogs, and their wild ancestors, have survived eons by eating raw meat. Because they have survived by eating raw meat (sometimes rotting, dead things) it clearly shows that nature has adapted dogs to deal with the bacteria found on their food. People, however, may be at some risk when handling raw meat. Just like you would do when preparing food for yourself, be sure to thoroughly clean your hands, counters, and any utensils that come in contact with raw meat.



Shouldn't I cook the meat?

No, and there are several reasons. First, dogs evolved to eat raw meat. Second, cooking causes bones to become brittle and dangerous. NEVER feed cooked bones to your dog! Third, cooking will destroy enzymes and anti-oxidants essential to your dog鈥檚 health. Many years ago Francis Pottenger M.D. did an experiment with cats. He fed one group of cats a raw diet and a different group a cooked diet. Soon, the cats eating a cooked diet developed problems such as tooth loss, skeletal deformities, behavioral problems, paralysis, heart lesions, and arthritis. By the third generation, these cats could no longer reproduce. Fortunately when these cats were later feed raw food, many were restored to health.



What is the best type of raw food?

The best food for your dog may vary depending on his individual needs. The basic diet, however, should consist of mostly succulent, raw, meaty bones with the addition of some organ meat, plus a little muscle meat. Some people feel that vegetables can provide additional nutrition. However because of the design of the dog鈥檚 teeth and his digestive system he probably won鈥檛 be able to derive much nutrition from fruits and vegetables unless they are cut very fine, mashed or lightly cooked.



What are RMBs?

RMB stands for "raw, meaty bone" and includes any meaty bone that can be completely, or almost completely, consumed by a dog. The appropriate RMB will vary by individual dog; for example, a chicken wing may be an RMB for a Dachshund, but barely a gulp for a Rottweiler. RMBs are NOT the large, weight-bearing bones such as beef marrow bones and knuckle bones. These are generally too big and hard for a dog to consume. Sometimes these large bones can be given as a recreational bone and taken away when the meat has been stripped. However many people prefer not to give these types of bones because they can cause chipped and broken teeth.



How do I make sure my dog gets a complete and balanced diet?

By feeding a varied diet based on raw, meaty bones you will achieve a balance over time. Because chicken is widely available and fairly inexpensive, many people feed mostly chicken. However you should feed as wide a variety of foods as your dog will eat (and as your wallet can handle). For example, chicken backs, necks and quarters, rabbit parts, turkey, pork necks and feet, beef, goat, fish, eggs (whole, including the shell), deer, elk, buffalo, kangaroo, and the list goes on...



My vet says there have been no studies to determine whether raw feeding is better for dogs. How come?

And who would pay for these studies? Dog food companies? Most of the evidence that raw food is better will probably always be anecdotal. But what a body of evidence it is, considering dogs have been eating raw for thousands of years and only started eating commercial food within the last 50 years or so. By the way, ask your vet how many hours he or she spent studying nutrition in school. In all the years of veterinary school, most vets only receive about 4 hours instruction on nutrition. And those 4 hours are often presented by representatives of dog food companies!



Do you have any other advice?

Be sure to research all you can about feeding a raw diet. Give your dog the kind of food that you feel comfortable feeding. If you can't feed whole "prey" animals, feed parts bought from a store. If you can't feed whole bones, try feeding ground meat with bone included. If you can't feed raw, try cooked food. There are no guarantees, but feeding a fresh, wholesome diet (however you serve it) has got to be better for your dog than the chemicals and fillers found in most commercial dog foods.



The information given here is to help you learn more about your pet and not to replace your veterinarian's advice.
If a dog attacks a child, its because of its temperament. If the dog has been eating raw meats then he/she might attack a child because #1 diseases transmitted through the uncooked food might affect the brain of the dog. (similar to rabies) or # 2 the type of dog you have has close roots to other types of dogs in the wild and eating raw meat will untame it. Check the color of your dogs tongue to see what genetical make up it has. If its pink, you should be safe, if its black...then the dog has a hidden mean streak. Personally, for safety to the dog I wouldnt feed it uncooked human food.
Not true but it may be tough on his stomach. Remember boil it for 20 minutes like humans he can get parasites from meat. You want your dog to have a tapeworm? Also add some rice and veggies! This will do for now until this pet food situation is under control. You may also look into getting some vitamins for you dog. Raw food in no way activates a dogs need to hunt for prey, its like me saying if I put him in front of a cave will he get a club and build a fire!
I've never heard of that as a reason not to feed raw food. I would be careful of raw because of harmful bacteria and possible nutrient deficiencies.
ewe,what if the dog decides to eat you.Its not a lion....

cook the dog something special please
Yes raw meat makes the dog revert to it's primal instincts, this will make them meaner.