Why DON'T you feed your Yorkie raw?

[Symph2001]

I do both. I make Millie meals (I do cook the meat but use steamed vegtables and rice) ) and mix in a bit of kibble so that I make sure all her nutrition is met as well make sure whe's eating something she actually likes. She hates plain kibble.

[BarbiesBabyJada]

Also I know this say a cow when they go slaughter it the man that own that cow usually will give up the sick or ones with lumps on them (cancer) and have them slaughtered they keep there good cows and whatever is in the meat is in the blood
If I eat meat it has to be will done

[Izzy Princess]

Well two reasons why Izzy is not on RAW or freeze-dried RAW (The Honest Kitchen which she was on until she was diagnosed with pancreatitis).

1) being a therapy dog the hospital will NOT let anyone with a dog on RAW be in the program. This is the Cleveland Clinic rules - their infectious dept. really checks into this and I had to sign a waiver stating that she was not on any type of RAW.

2) her pancreatitis...too high fat and protein.

My vet (and all the vets in this clinic we go to) are not fans of Raw for many reasons but to each his own and if it works for you and your doggie then go for it.

I say whatever keeps your dog healthy and alive works in my book.

[Bianca]

I just feel it's not for us , but I also feel it's a personal choice.
To each his own

[bjh]

I think this is an interesting article about dog diets:
DOG DIETS: IT MUST BE SAID

I wish I really knew what was best. There is so much controversy in what kind of diet is best for our fur babies just like there is controversy in what kind of diet is best for us humans. I think we all just have to feed what we are comfortable with and just like us humans, what works for one might not work for another.

[Britster]

My main reasons ... 1) I'm uneducated about it. I haven't read enough about feeding raw to know exactly what it does. 2) I'm too lazy for that! LOL. I prefer to just pour a bag of kibble into a bowl. However, I've done lots of research on dog food and am still learning. 3) gross.

[Nancy1999]

I'm don't think raw is the best choice for yorkies for several reasons. Wolfs, in the wild would be eating appropriate sized prey, in other words, animals they can kill. So the bones they were eating would be in some type of proportion to their size. Also, in the wild, feathers and hair would pad the bones, and intestinal problems for the dog from eating bones would less likely occur. Smaller breed dogs have smaller intestines, so a bone fragment that wouldn't bother a larger breed dog, could hurt a smaller breed dog. In the wild, they would eat the whole animal, diseased parts and all, and who knows what benefits there may be to that?

The meat we buy from the grocery store, even organic meat has been exposed to thousands of chemicals, and cooking breaks them down. So these meats aren't the same, as those a wolf eats after making a fresh kill. I also don't believe that all dogs should have the same diets, I think there is great variation in the breeds, just as human athletes need a different diet than a sedimentary person. I think a wolf and highly active dogs would need a different diet than a less active breed. Studies have shown that fats and cholesterol are used differently in athletes than the average couch potato, meaning they are not as bad for the athlete.

I remember reading a study about breast milk, and formula companies trying to reproduce a formula that would exactly match breast milks properties. The formula that was closest to breast milk was found to be the worse. It's not easy to replicate something from nature. We don't always understand all the ingredients that make the natural product suitable and the artificial product unsuitable. I also believe that just because something is natural, you can't assume that it's the best. Nature works through an evolutionary process, and as long as the organism continued to survive and reproduce, the diet was "suitable." This doesn't necessarily mean it was the best. I personally am uncomfortable with the cross condemnation of the bacteria from raw, while it may not hurt a healthy dog, it could cause illness in humans.


Studies, I've seen on hybrids and wolfs suggest that the hybrid interact with humans much differently, especially regarding eye contact and what I guess you might call that "begging" look. Dogs have perfected the begging look, and have been around humans for at least 15,000 years, and if you consider the fact that a dog can produce at the age of one, verses a human of reproducing at the age of 12, this would be more like 150,000 evolutionary years, which is no drop in the bucket. I believe dogs have been living off of rodents, insects, and human scraps for these years. Even though the wolf intestines and the dogs intestines are the same, this doesn't necessary mean that they need the same food. Evolutionary changes are made because an organism born with some attribute has a clear advantage over the competition so this trait, is passed on. If there is no advantage, this trait it isn't passed on. In other words, the intestines would not change over time, unless there was a need for it. I think the research shows that most organisms are extremely adaptable to a wide variety of diets, and overeating cause more health risks, than any other element.


There does seem to be some advantages with raw, I'm particularly interested in the benefits for the teeth, and exactly why raw is good for the teeth. Overall, I think it's a personal choice, and there will probably be some advantages and disadvantages to it, like most foods. We have barely scratched the surface in our knowledge of nutrition, and I don’t think anyone knows the absolute best foods yet. Yorkietalk members, whose dogs have allergies, have been very happy with the success they have had with raw.

[Princes mom]

Originally Posted by marcerella02

This is a misconception- dry kibble does very little for dogs teeth- although commericals will let you think they do. Small dogs still need their teeth cleaned often and even if you do clean your dogs teeth often- some dogs are just more prone to teeth problem.

Raw food is not mush- like wet food- it contains both dense and soft meat, bone fragments- however even raw fed dogs should have their teeth cleaned.

I tried to feed raw but Layla had no interest in it- and we travel a lot- and raw is hard to bring with you. Also, I dont' like to give food that is made somewhere else- so i home cook for that, and many other reasons.

I'm neither for or against raw- just somewhere in the middle- however i'm not very educated in it since i don't feed it- i'm sure if i knew more i'd hve more of an opinion.

Are you saying, in your second paragraph, that raw food has "bone fragments"?in it??!!! That is so dangerous!
I don't feel that what I stated is a misconception...Prince is proof of that. My vet, (former and current) and several articles that I have read state the same thing regarding teeth and anal glands. Raw, without bone fragments, may be ok once in a while, but not long term or often.
I guess to each his own. The key is to get as much knowledge about it as you can, so an educated decision can be made regarding your dog.
Prince eats only dry kibble (and homemade chicken or beef jerky for treats, once in awhile) and he has his teeth brushed every night = no teeth decay nor anal glands problems.

[Princes mom]

Here's an interesting site about the different types of food:

Yorkshire Terriers: How to Feed Your Yorkshire Terrier | Quamut: the go to how to

[Wylie's Mom]

I feed raw and love it. Dogs are carnivores and their digestive systems are very different from our systems. I think the key is to educate yourself about the available diets, avoid making sweeping generalizations about any diet, and make a decision that feels comfortable.

For those concerned with samonella, I wonder if you know that salmonella is present in almost all bags of kibble?

[Ellie May]

Originally Posted by Wylie's Mom

I feed raw and love it. Dogs are carnivores and their digestive systems are very different from our systems. I think the key is to educate yourself about the available diets, avoid making sweeping generalizations about any diet, and make a decision that feels comfortable.

For those concerned with samonella, I wonder if you know that salmonella is present in almost all bags of kibble?

Yup, sure is prevalent in kibble.
Even the CDC says so.
One good reason not to feed it if avoidable.

[allisongaines]

if youre thinking of raw feeding, give a digestive enzyme with probiotics for at least 2 weeks prior to starting a raw food diet. This will help friendly bacteria colonize in the intestines of your pet and help build a stronger immune system before embarking on a raw food diet. its to help with the diahhrea that may occur at first.
like someone posted before, dogs cannot get salmonella, e.coli, toxoplasmosis, campylobacter, creutzfelt jakob, listeria... and all the other pathogenic microbes we are susceptible to.. but dogs will pass these bacterias through their digestive tract and thats when the trouble comes for us humans. even if they poop outside.... they could be licking it or whatever, i mean, i know my dog likes the taste of poop haha and then we hug them and they lick us.. then we're getting sick

[rayray08]

I don't feed raw because frankly I can't stand to touch raw meat. I also can't imagine what the aftermath would be. Meat and bacteria on her coat, paws... she hates baths enough and even being wiped down the a wipe.

We also go to other peoples houses a lot and I don't think I'd be comfortable feeding her something raw there.

It's also convenience of the kibble.

[allisongaines]

let me correct that.. dogs CAN get cruetzfelt jakob (mad cow) but its called canine cognitive disorder in dogs.
is something that prominent in the UK but its working its way into the US. cats are also affected (FSE)

oh.. talking about mad cow..
if you like wine - esp relly nice wines from france, if youve ever see "bovine" on the bottle dont drink it. the french take cow blood and use to it filter the wine.. as you know europe has a high rating for mad cow. china has already stopped the import of french wine.

speaking of wine lol
i get so off topic.... but this is funny
In a number of carefully controlled trials, scientists have demonstrated that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of Escherichia coli, (E. Coli) - Bacteria found in feces. In other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop.

However, we do NOT run that risk when drinking wine & beer (or tequila, rum, whiskey or other liquor) because alcohol has to go through a purification process of boiling, filtering and/or fermenting.

Remember: Water = Poop, Wine = Health

Therefore, it's better to drink wine and talk stupid, than to drink water and be full of...... poop

[marcerella02]

Originally Posted by Princes mom

Are you saying, in your second paragraph, that raw food has "bone fragments"?in it??!!! That is so dangerous!
I don't feel that what I stated is a misconception...Prince is proof of that. My vet, (former and current) and several articles that I have read state the same thing regarding teeth and anal glands. Raw, without bone fragments, may be ok once in a while, but not long term or often.
I guess to each his own. The key is to get as much knowledge about it as you can, so an educated decision can be made regarding your dog.
Prince eats only dry kibble (and homemade chicken or beef jerky for treats, once in awhile) and he has his teeth brushed every night = no teeth decay nor anal glands problems.

yup, bone fragments... that's part of the raw diet.