The first commercial pet food was made in 1860 by James Spratt, a businessman who saw an opportunity to start a booming business. Just like that, more and more pet food companies evolved.
Myth 1: Raw Dog Food Is Nutritionally Deficient
As a well-meaning pet parent, you might as well say: “oh, I need to stuff my dog with a high carb diet.” Wrong! In fact, pet food with a high carb is unhealthy for your dog.
According to Dr. Karen Becker, an integrative wellness veterinarian, she emphasizes that:
“Research shows that the best way to reduce metabolic stress and chronic inflammation is through lifestyle, specifically diet. The classic anti-inflammatory diet that most vets recommend for a pet is a low-carb high protein diet, and fresh food has these nutritional requirements”.
But where is glucose derived from raw dog food?
As observed by rawfed.com in the Waltham book of Cat and dog 2nd edition 1998, by A.T.B Edney, they quote the author:
“It is possible for dogs and cats to be maintained without carbohydrates if the diet supplies enough fat or protein from which the metabolic requirement for glucose is derived”.
So, you see, a raw meat diet is nutritionally ideal for your dog to stay healthy. That is so unlike what you are told, right?
However, have you ever wondered why despite the talk-down on the nutritional deficiency of raw food, your friend’s dog on a raw diet is healthy?
That is because the raw food diet provides the dog with its basic nutritional needs.
Dr. Karen explains that the optimal nutrition for a pet carnivore is; “quality protein, fats and small amounts of veggies and foods… natural sources of minerals, vitamins and fatty acids…unadulterated fresh whole food that are moisture dense”.
So today, when you are feeding your dog, you must add these nutritional requirements instead of feeding your pet the same old kibble.
Moreover, manufacturers of commercially available raw food ensure that the nutrients are balanced. Better still, add fresh vegetables like broccoli, carrots, celery, and spinach to the diet to provide antioxidants your dog needs.
Myth 2. Raw Meat Harbors Bacteria
Bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E Coli are popularly known to be harmful to humans and sometimes their pets.
What these fibsters did not mention is; all kinds of pet food can harbor microbes, especially when there is non-compliance with appropriate sanitary measures.
The Truth About Pet Food.com also enlists other news published by the FDA proclaiming its harm to both human and pet lives. But those articles have been removed from the FDA site. Maybe they have a change of heart (or maybe not).
The point is: this news causes fear in the hearts of pet owners, especially when 2018 to 2020 experienced a massive recall of raw pet food products.
As a pet owner when you see such news, you begin to panic. You might wonder: can I feed my pet raw food? Is raw food safe? Yes, commercially available raw food is safe.
Even though the FDA dog food guidelines for raw meat manufacturing apparently prove their double standard, these companies try their best to meet the standards.
For this reason, Dr. Karen Becker sheds some light on the matter. She explains that raw pet food manufacturers have taken safety measures. To eliminate risks of E Coli, Listeria, and Salmonella contamination, high-pressure processing, batch testing, and herd health are practiced.
She explains that high pressure inactivates microbes in fresh foods. By batch testing, pet food manufacturers use only USDA inspected meat, and these pet products are in fact inspected twice. Lastly, she explains that grooming healthy livestock reduces the chances of a bacterial infection.
It all boils down to this:
It is totally OK to feed your pooch raw meat. What you have to do is to buy from reliable sources that sell USDA inspected meat. And after handling raw meat, wash your hands thoroughly.
Myth 3. Raw Meat Makes A Mastiff Dog Sick
You may encounter a few mishaps after switching from a kibble diet to a raw diet. For example, your dog may experience gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea or vomiting.
Ignorantly, you and your vet will agree on one thing— that the bacteria in the pet food is responsible for your dog’s sickness. We have all been in this position, but your fear made you make the wrong deduction.
But what’s wrong with your dog?
Listen: your dog did not get sick because of the bacteria in the raw meat. The sudden change of diet and the speed of feeding your dog uncooked raw food is responsible for the GI problems.
What do we mean by this?
Picture this: You have been feeding your dog processed food and suddenly realize how unhealthy they are. Then, you start a raw diet. Do you really think they won’t react after having years of unhealthy food?
Now get this:
Your dog’s GI tract failed to adjust quickly to the diet because it is not used to it. That is why your pet has a bloated stomach or diarrhea.
But don’t panic! There is a solution.
Dr. Karen recommends the introduction of raw food in small portions until your pet gets used to the diet. However, she explains that some pets have a sensitive stomach or internal disturbances and may need gastrointestinal support during this process.
As a pet parent, since you are concerned about the well-being of your canine pet, stopping the raw diet is not the best option. Now that you know your pet did not get sick because of the bacteria in the raw meat, you should start the diet all over again.
Introduce small bits of raw food as a treat and watch its reaction. If your dog is healthy, keep increasing the portion of food until it is apparent that your pet can handle the digestion of the raw food.
Myth 4. Feeding Your Mastiff Raw Food Will Make It Wild
Perhaps you have heard before that uncooked meat with traces of blood makes a dog wild and aggressive. That is absolutely false.
The aggression of carnivores is not associated with their diet— raw or homecooked. Aggressive traits depend on various factors; the breed and sex are some of them. Also, unsocialized dogs tend to be more aggressive than socialized dogs.
There is nothing that connects raw meat to aggression in dogs. Yes you read that right.
But wait, there is one more myth.
Myth 5. Spoilt Meat Is Not Poisonous to Tibetan Mastiffs
As an attempt to prevent wastage, some people encourage pet owners to feed their pets spoilt food.
The justification for this is that dogs have short GI tracts that pass food out quickly and are resilient to bacteria.
Warning: Never serve your dog spoilt meat! Throw all leftover meat in the thrash.
Why do we so?
Spoilt meat contains endotoxins that are poisonous to dogs when ingested. If they to your dog, it will become the dead meat. If there is any sign your dog ate spoilt meat, contact your vet immediately.
Raw Meat Diet For Mastiffs Is Healthy?
But it is good to balance a raw meat diet with fruits and vegetables. A complete diet like that provides fiber and antioxidants. That helps your dog have healthier skin, improved digestibility, and strong bones.
Contrary to what you may find on google, a raw meat diet is good for dogs. It is a specie-appropriate diet for dogs as carnivores. Also, raw provides essential nutrients for your pet like; protein, vitamins, enzymes, and fats.
Is Raw Dog Foor Really Better?
Well, if healthier means better, then raw dog food is better than processed dog food. Kibble, cooked, and canned foods are processed in heat and pressure before they are packaged. That is why raw meat is more nutritious than commercial pet food. It’s fresh and organic.
More importantly, practice high hygiene when handling commercially available raw food. Simply wash your hands thoroughly after feeding your pet.
So, What Does All This Mean?
It is okay to feed your Tibetan Mastiff raw food. Just because you started a raw dog food diet and your pet has GI problems doesn’t mean the food has bacteria. Likewise, uncooked meat won’t make your dog wild. And not all raw foods are contaminated with bacteria.
Have you decided to become a raw feeder? The choice is yours.
But think about its benefit for your Tibetan Dog.
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