Raw food diets have gained increasing popularity in recent years. They are not new though – the ‘BARF’ diet (bones and raw food) has been popular in Australia for over 20 years. It seems they have gained more traction in recent times, in parallel with human diets like the ‘Paleo diet’, and they share a common theory that the diet of our ancestors is more ‘natural’ and appropriate than the modern processed equivalent. Devotees of the raw diets claim dogs are healthier, have better coats and digestion, and cleaner teeth/fresher breath. Commercial raw diets are generally high in protein and fat and commonly contain either whole or ground bone.

There are some concerns though about whether they are all they are cracked up to be. Nutritionally the high fat content can cause issues for pets with digestive sensitivities and they can trigger pancreatitis in susceptible dogs. The high protein levels are not suitable for dogs with kidney or liver impairment and the nutritional content has also come under scrutiny with some diets having a poor balance of calcium and phosphorus. Too little calcium can lead to bone and dental weakness, but too much can result in developmental problems like hip dysplasia and cartilage defects.

Many pros and cons of a raw diet
Most worryingly are the high levels of bacteria in raw food diets. These are not typically a huge issue for dogs as their short and rapid digestive systems will tolerate much more bacterial contamination than ours. However, the implications to us as pet owners are more significant. A recent study found 10% of raw diets contained Salmonella and 20% Listeria. The handling and preparation of these foods for our pets poses a potential risk of human infection – pregnant women or those with immune suppression in particular should avoid handling these foods.

Raw bones are a mixed blessing. There is no doubt grinding on a raw bone is a great way for a dog to clean its teeth, but teeth fractures can result, some dogs become very protective or aggressive over bones and too much bone can cause constipation or blockages. Finally they can be an expensive way to feed a pet. Commercial raw diets are usually significantly more expensive than a good quality dry dog food diet.

The raw diet for dogs has an understandable appeal based on a perception that it is more natural and wholesome. However, years of selective breeding have changed dogs significantly from their wolf ancestor. The cooking of food reduces bacterial and parasite contamination. Good quality commercial dog foods have been carefully formulated to get the right balance of nutrients for the different life stages of dogs. Interestingly, many captive wolves are fed a diet that contains both elements of raw meat and bones and commercial dog food as it has been recognised that a diet that was limited to raw meat alone resulted in poorer health and nutrition!