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Originally Posted by FlDebra  Ellie May -- I thought your post was very well-thought out and presented a fair opinion. You made sure to say that the things on your list are not in all raw and some are in kibble as well. You were very fair -- saying bones can and do cause choking and intestinal damage, even raw. Of course we know it is not always going to happen, but the fact is is is a possibility. To say you need to present documentation is over the top. We all know of incidences where a dog has choked on a bone. Even the sites that are pro-raw diets agree it is a possibility although not nearly as common as with cooked bones.
I am another who has decided to forgo the raw diet. I (like others suggested in your post) am not as knowledgeable about diets to be able to ensure myself I was providing all that my dog would need to balance their diet. I believe many do this well and for them the choice is a good one. I am not against others using a raw diet, but feel it is not for me and mine. All of my dogs are small and one is tiny -- this too increases the danger of bones. I could grind the bones, but this seems to take away a good portion of the potential benefits derived from the raw diet. So for me and my dogs, sticking with a premium kibble seems to be best. I will occasionally remove a large bone before cooking like a T-bone or the round bone in a round roast and let mine chew on it. But before they start crunching and splintering bone, I take it away and throw it out.
But I don't have anything against those who have researched and found raw bones are the best choice for their dogs and would NOT insult them for their decision. Many of them know more about canine dietary needs than I do. I think we all just have to read up and make decisions based on our own minds and heart. I will also admit that part of my decision is just the fear of them choking even though I know it is a rare possibility. There is no reason for any to insult or berate another for the choices they make when they have researched the subject. I think there is plenty to show a raw diet is safe enough that no one needs to feel bad for going that route. I also think there is plenty to show those of us feeding premium kibble are doing right by our dogs needs as well. We are all doing what we think is best and none of it is really bad for our dogs. Now if someone says they only feed table scraps or they only feed toast and jelly or something equally preposterous, then maybe we would have a case for saying it is wrong. But as long as we are all sticking with a premium diet (raw or commercially-prepared) there is no harm/no foul. We should all remain courteous and respectful, regardless of what is being fed. |
Fantastic post.
I totally agree.
I have the same feelings about raw (well, PMR raw, not pre-made as I do feed that occasion). I feel safer with pre-made raw for some reason because I feel like it's properly balanced and has all the proper nutrients and well... I don't know, for some reason, I just feel better about feeding pre-made than buying meat myself and just... throwing it too him essentially.
I think raw can be GREAT. I totally get that it is the natural diet of the wolf and I do believe it is. I mean, heck, what do you think dogs ate before processed kibble? Kibble is a fairly new invention so I'm aware the natural diet of a canine *would* be raw meat or whatever they could find. It's just not something I'm comfortable with. For one, I don't even hardly cook for myself
so I'm really too lazy to be finding meat and preparing it and making sure the ratios are correct and all that. To be honest, going to the store, buying a $10 bag of kibble, scooping it in a bowl and mixing with a dab of wet food is super easy. And I feel he's getting a good and proper nutrition and that I have done enough research to know he is getting what he needs and what is best for him.
I wish there were some kind of statistics about the longevity of a dogs life in, say, the 1800's compared to now. I will have to look into that.