This is a question that is asked by millions of dog owners out there, and a lot of myths exist regarding this topic. Many people believe feeding a dog raw meat will make it become carnivorous and start eating people.
This is but one of the many myths out there, but how true are they, and what about all the other myths? We will take a closer look at this question, as well as the myths to find the truth about what to feed your dog.
Health Risks
When you feed your dog raw meat, you might expose them to the many types of bacteria that may be in the meat. If you cook the meat, the bacteria will be killed, and it will not harm your dog.
The bacteria that are present in raw meat might also be harmful to you, not just to your dog. It is much safer and healthier to feed your dog cooked food and specially cooked meat than raw meat for starters.
Myths
Here are some of the myths that are connected to the question of whether you should feed your dog raw meat.
Myth 1
This is the myth that small dog breeds cannot eat raw meat at all, but that is not true. The only reason why small dogs should not eat raw meat is because of the danger of bones they might choke on.
It is also true that smaller dogs choke much more easily on the bones that might splinter while they are eating. If you want to put a small dog on a raw food diet, you need to remove all bones from the meat to be safe.
Myth 2
It is believed that bones can harm your dogs, and this might be true when it comes to cooked brittle bones. Not all dogs are made to eat bones, and for some, it might be dangerous when the bones splinter and hurt them.
As mentioned before, bone splinters might be a problem, but that is mostly for smaller breeds of dogs.
Myth 3
Some people believe that a raw meat diet will make your dog aggressive, and they might even attack your children. This myth is not true, and your dog might actually enjoy a piece of raw meat on occasion without becoming aggressive.
It is also true that dogs are very protective of their food and might get aggressive while eating their store-bought food, as well.
Myth 4
Another myth is that it will be far more expensive to put your dog on a raw meat diet than on the store-bought dog food. However, that is not true, because the cheaper cuts of meat and other organs might work out much cheaper than good dog food.
There is also the fact that pet mince, for instance, is much cheaper than normal mince because it is made from off-cuts.
Myth 5
Many people believe that it will take up a lot of your time, and it is complicated to put the dog on a raw meat diet. If you do some research, you will find that it is easy to put your dog on a raw meat diet.
You can easily prepare the dog food in advance and freeze the food to be given to the dog at a later stage.
Myth 6
Some professionals believe that feeding your dog raw meat might expose them to all kinds of diseases. This is also not true, because the digestive system of the dog is able to digest all those types of things.
Because of the harm it might bring to people if the raw meat is not prepared well and in a clean environment, this has become a problem. When the dog owner handles meat that has bacteria in it, it might spread to the animal and other people.
The whole thing surrounding the raw meat diet for your dog is made safer with cooked meat rather than raw meat.
Myth 7
They say that a raw meat diet is not balanced enough to provide the needed nutrients for your dog. This might be true if you do not follow the rules and protocols that are involved with this type of diet for your dog.
When you decide to feed your dog raw meat, you should keep in mind that the dog needs more than just meat. That is why, when a dog eats in nature, they eat everything including the intestines for a healthy balanced diet.
Summary
There is no final rule when it comes to feeding your dog raw meat, so it should simply be investigated by the dog owner. It is mostly because of the health risks that are connected to raw meat that this is considered unsafe.
The responsibility lies with the owner to make sure the dog is given a well-balanced diet and that no one will be at risk. If you want to feed your dog raw meat, make sure you know the risks, as well as the way to handle and store raw meat.
