Vet said feeding raw is the worst thing ever for dog - Page 4

In my experience raw, has many benefits and I personally have seen remarkable transformations in dogs switched to raw after being fed a very high quality kibble, from improved coat to resolving health issues, such as allergies and digestive problems. I do think it must be done under the guidance of a knowledgeable person though. My dogs get raw muscle meat, organ meat bones, some ground veggies (minimal amount), salmon oil and some herbs, which I rotate. I also add a probiotic and digestive enzymes because my rescue girl had severe allergies when I got her and I am afraid to stop them. My son merely switched his dog to raw, adding nothing and the transformation was amazing. I could tell you many more stories. Again, these are dogs and cats that were being fed very high quality kibble. That said a raw diet in NOT a cure all and we have to remember that our dogs, for at least a few generations back, have been slammed with uneccesary vaccines (I do vaccine, but not annually)  and a lot of toxins through flea protection and heartworm preventative and just everydaty life, so that carries over to the offspring. PLus, there are the genetic health issues to consider, which possilby can be helped with a raw diet (EPI), but not "cured" by it.   Again, I am not the expert, but this is information is coming from a highly respected and well thought of holisitic vet, an animal nutritionist and even my dog's rehab vet agrees. This could probably be debated forever, so I guess we have to agree to disagree.

Never had a dog with Coat or skin problems and 60 years of keeping Dogs healthy is a long time,
I firmly believe that living outdoors from a 8 to 9 week old Pup until they go to the great divde does much for the Skin and Coat, Leastways mine have been perfect never had any ear problems in Dogs of any kind, never trimmed the nails of any dog in my life, never had to, so i guess we will all carry on with what we think best
Steve1

second steve - all of my kibble-fed dogs have excellent skin/coat, no issues with itchies or hot spots, clean/white teeth even in later years, and are perfectly healthy into old age.  I have dogs boarding with me regularly who are large-breed dogs, 14-18 years old with no problems with their diets of Ol Roy and Beneful dog food.  Can't live much longer than that, and they are on "crap" food.

Raw is not "better" and it's not a miracle life-extender or cure for illness - it's just another choice we humans can make in what we choose to feed our pets.

molly

Some vets are great, some not so. They don't all get A's in school, same as any other student who graduates with a degree. I am fortunately to have quick 24/7 access to two very good clinics, vets I've known for 25 years who are fastidious about staying current on treatments and procedures, and yes, nutrition, and are forever upgrading equipment and instruments. Sometimes you have to shop around.

Starrchar, you didn't answer my question--what is the name of the animal nutritionist?  What are his credentials? 

OK...get mad if you want but this is the truth.  I fed Canidae and BLue. Along with some meat, at the time (about 15 years ago) I used the canned meat.  My dogs looked really nice.  They started to eat less and less of what I was feeding...but my God their coats were so nice and their breath so fresh...I thought I was really onto something.  Come to find out...My dogs were killing and eating free range chickens on a regualr basis.  Turning up their noses at the kibble unless they were really hungry.  I also found that kibble and meat together made their stool a bit runny.  When I saw how they ate the chicken I was amazed.  Heads and Feet being the last thing they ate...if they ate it...and a perfect ring of feathers plucked off and left behind.  Peerfect stools, beautiful plush coats, nice teeth and no health problems.  Now I wasn't feeding raw chicken...that was my dogs idea and their preferred diet.  AND they looked so much better.  I have a quality kibble on hand that I give them once in a while just in case there is no other choice.  I buy chicken wings and necks in bulk.  I also feed Yogart (instead of the powder packets) and the dogs eat FRESH raw chicken as often as they can catch it....which here lately seems to be daily.  Chickens are really dumb.  I also have lots of meaty bones I keep from our own beef.  The dogs in my opinion look better, smell better, have denser smaller stools...and can work for hours with tons of energy.  They showed me the way....I didn't show them.  I think it is best to feed what works best for your own dog and what breed they are and what they actually do for a living.  Everyone seems to know their own dog (most of the time).  I saw it with my own eyes.  The difference I have to say...was remarkable.  As for filler if I am going to use it...its a balanced kibble that I LIKe, and have some expierence with.  HELL with what the VET says...hes not feeding my dog.  By the way he is a raw feeder himself.   I also use the following, as needed...Brown rice, cottage cheese, goats milk.  My dogs are not obease, they look great, I have never had problems with bones as I don't cook them..Thank the Gods no Torsion or bloat.  I think in my case the raw food kinda lept out there and spoke for itself.  I have never looked back.  Do what is best for your dog...that may take a little time figuring it out...but well worth looking into.  Dogs are individuals as we are...so your dogs diet might vary some from "the perfect raw diet".  With time and some adjusting...You will find the right diet for your dog.  My thought on it is...it will probably be mostly raw.  jmo  Good Luck to you. 

The MULTI billion dollar a year pet food companies are wrong, The Canine nutritionist that GGTURNER pointed to is wrong, The vets are wrong. All the people in the world that have been feeding thier dogs plain old dog food for generations are wrong. 
Comon sence people. If you think RAW is better, cool but back it up with FACTS not just, "my cousins uncles brothers dad once ate a goat"  If it works for you thats fine. That doesn't mean it's better.

If you show the facts instead of skipping over the questions of people that ask you for them maybe you will get more supporters!

The MULTI billion dollar a year pet food companies are wrong


Yea, there the ones I trust.  LOL
 

Yeah there the ones I trust


So I'm supposed to trust YOU? Please tell me why? They have shown & backed up what they claim. RAW feeders in this topic haven't.
I'm not saying either is right or wrong, I'm saying they have research & experts to substatiate what they claim, you don't. If you can please show me the data that raw is better I will jump on board & start feeding it. Thanks.

Remione--the animal nutritionist I talked about, Dr. Lauten, does NOT promote raw feeding.  She has done research and thinks too many raw feeders are not providing balanced diets for their pets. I think you were maybe referring to the nutritionist that Starrchar was talking about?  However, Starcharr won't answer my questions about that so called expert's credentials.  Maybe the nutritionist Starrchar kept referring to doesn't even exist? 

I personally feed a good kibble and sometimes supplement with raw.  I have 5 dogs aged 7 months to 12 yrs and all of them are very healthy.  They only go to the vet for routine check ups.