| If you were to do a search right now on whether or not raw food is safe for our pets, you would find a lot of conflicting information. While not all raw food is created equal, feeding a high-quality raw diet with proper safety practices is absolutely safe for cats and dogs. Cats and dogs are carnivores, built to process raw meat as an ideal diet. Their guts are highly acidic, so harmful bacteria has trouble surviving in this environment. Dogs and cats have shorter GI tracts than humans and jaws designed to rip and tear meat. |
| The FDA has a zero tolerance policy for pathogenic bacteria in commercial raw food sold in the US. This means that raw food made for cats and dogs is actually cleaner than raw meat at your grocery store. The pet food most contaminated with pathogenic bacteria is actually kibble. |
Graph courtesy of TruthAboutPetFood.com
Many raw pet food brands use a step called HPP (high pressure processing). This process eliminates pathogenic bacteria.
When done properly, the food still retains most of it’s nutritional value.
Read more about HPP here.
Many veterinarians have concerns that the raw food you’re feeding isn’t balanced. Because many pet parents who try to make their own raw food miss essential nutrients. While not every meal needs to be balanced, dogs and cats need more than just muscle meat. They need organs, bones, omega-3’s and small amounts of fiber. They also need variety.
| When you buy commercially available raw food, it’s usually already balanced. You should still make sure you’re rotating proteins and even brands. Unless your dog or cat has sensitivities you’re trying to get under control. |
| Another concern is safe handling. Raw food for our pets should be handled the same as the raw meat you buy for your family. Wash your hands, cutting boards, bowls and utensils in hot, soapy water. |
Still not comfortable with raw food?
But you want to feed fresher?
There are other great alternatives to raw food. Gently cooked, freeze-dried and dehydrated foods are all great ways to feed fresher.
It’s never all or nothing.
All of these options can be fed as a topper, one meal a week or a couple of meals a month. Whatever works for you and your cat or dog.
Want to know more? Stop in and see us!
We understand that the idea of raw food may be new to you.
It was new to us once too!
If you have questions, we have answers.