There was a chat going in a yahoo group I belong to, that started to head down the path of veterinary opinions on pet food. This is a big subject for me as I feed a raw diet to my felines. While I am a huge advocate of raw after seven years of doing this myself, I can honestly say that I am still leery on giving outright food advice for pets. Part of that is because the nature of raw feeding is one of many variances, each animal takes to it differently, and the ability to be flexible is key to the diet especially in cats. Its also not for everyone just based on the level of commitment required.
The other angle though, is the sheer fact that there is an air of blame that runs through our world. If something goes wrong, everyone immediately turns to the one next to them and points their paw. Even though every piece of advice I give is always my flat out honest researched attempt to help an animal, that does not always weigh into decisions when it comes to determining what went wrong.
I personally try to take any action, every day, with the understanding I have made the decision completely on my own. If I read an article on some aspect of raw feeding, I consider it thoroughly, maybe do additional research, but in the end I draw my own opinion on the subject or idea. The direction I eventually head is my decision, and if anything should go wrong, I try and practice not shifting to an excuse. Learn from it, fix it, move on.
One discussion within the conversation of raw diets, is that the veterinary community is either openly and aggressively against it, or silent. I do believe that many have actually become curious to the topic, or may see it in a positive light, but the unfortunate fact remains they really cannot openly admit that in today’s environment. The threat of suits or legal issues because they have no large research projects to fall back on is omnipresent, and I think may be hindering a lot of progress down this path.
There are other factors involved with the evolution of pet food opinions in the vet world. From food companies and how profits influence direction, to the number of subjects veterinarians must be experts on, the list goes on. So I am definitely not saying legal issues are the exclusive cause of slowing progress, but I do believe it plays a strong role.
Its a shame that this will hold back the ability find out what is the unbiased best answer for our pets. I do love my crew on raw food, it really fits for them, but I always strive to find out more. Not only so I can improve on what I do now, but so that I can pass it on.
Just a short soapbox moment today, the discussion got me to thinking, which is always dangerous……
Here was an article from a vet blogger I saw the other day, which I think is a nice progression as things go.
Pawcurious – What should I feed my dog
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We read your post with great interest! Since we have only been eating raw food for less than a year, we are enthusiastic supporters. We are lucky to go to a holistic vet who strongly endorses raw feeding. Our prior vet had me on Hill’s C/D and said I would probably have to eat it for life because of my history of bladder stones. We just got the book “Not Fit for a Dog” by Dr. Michael Fox and it really opened our eyes as to why vets recommend certain foods, what is really in most pet foods, and how the pet food recall happened.
We eat the Nature’s Variety medallions (the frozen raw patties). My Mommeh would love to eventually switch us to a homemade raw diet. Harley sometimes eats raw chicken wing tips or raw chicken gizzards but I’m not big on chewing chunks of meat yet.
Our Mommy has been switching us to a healthier diet over the summer, since Bugsy’s bladder problems started. Not enough of us like the raw medallions that Daisy mentions to do raw completely, but we’re now all eating a variety/rotation of healthier dry kibble supplemented by healthier canned food that most of us (all but Callie) eat.
It’s early days yet to see how it works for us, and no one but Bugsy had any specific health problems, but The Mommy is pleased that she at least found healthier dry kibble that everyone — including the pickiest eater Callie — would eat so that she feels she’s doing something good for us.
Purrs and hugs,
The Kitty Krew
I am new to reading your blog and am interested in learning more about the raw diet. My Mom’s sister had a beloved Abbysinian who was fed only raw chicken. After many years she developed inflammatory bowel disease and finally had to be put to sleep because it was so severe. The vet indicated it was probably caused by the raw chicken protein, if I remember correctly. Have you read or heard anything regarding IBD and raw diets?
Simba’s mum…..well, I do know that feeding a single protein source for years can sometimes cause allergy issues to arise, and it may have either caused or contributed to IBS. I do know though a lot of cats with IBD actually do better on raw, but sometimes you have to play with the protein sources to get the best fit.
I am working on some articles with links and groups to research more about raw feeding, in the meantime, you might check Yahoogroups, ‘rawcat’, they are a great group of folks with a lot of expertise for specific questions or general introductions.
Thanks for visiting!!!!
Re: Simba, I would be more inclined to investigate the history of vaccinations as a root cause of the IBD, as opposed to the diet of raw chicken. That having been said, without a more comprehensive understanding of exactly what part(s) of the chicken were being fed raw, nutritional deficiencies/excesses cannot be ruled out completely.