Ask the Vet: Is a Raw Meat Diet a Good Idea?

Guest post by Dr. Scott Sanderson

Q. Do you think that feeding raw is the best way to feed our pets? Thanks. - Brit

A.  What a great question! The answer is not so simple. I feed my pets raw meat only, and I have done so for years. Many of my clients also feed their pets raw food. I believe animals are healthiest when they eat the ancestral wolf diet as fresh and moist as possible. Many people think there are inherent health risks in handling and feeding raw meaty bones, but I have not found this to be true.

That being said, not all dogs can eat a raw diet! This is where it gets complicated. For a great internet resource, go to the Yahoo group for of RawPaws. 

Here are a few tips:

• You must properly balance Phosphorous (P) and Calcium (Ca) when feeding raw. P comes from proteins and Ca comes from bones.
• NEVER feed your pet cooked bones. Never.
• Transition your pet from a dry/canned food diet to a raw diet. It may take the use of supplements and time.
• Do your research first.
• Grassfed meat is far healthier than grain fed meat.
• If you cant feed raw and want to cook for you pet, I have a great recipe for that too!
• You are what you eat, and your dog is what you feed it!

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Got a pet-related health question? Use this form to Ask the Vet. Scott Sanderson DVM runs the Animal Wellness Center in Columbia, MD and is a sponsor of Columbia Dogs on the Go. He is a certified Veterinary Acupuncturist and has completed training in the Nambudripad Allergy Elimination Technique (NAET). Dr. Sanderson is a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncturists, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Animal Hospital Association. He is a local resident of Howard County, and a past president of the Howard County Veterinary Medical Association.