Dog Fancy March 2008 FEATURES 26 FOOD FOR THOUGHT: THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO YOUR DOG’S DIET
There’s much more to canine nutrition than just kibble and canned food. Our experts explore it all to give you a well-rounded perspective. BY MARCIA KING
The Raw Food Diet
Question for the Experts: Does raw food, being closer to the natural diets of wild animals, offer better nutrition for dogs?
NO “There is no scientific evidence base that shows benefits for feeding raw food,” Becvarova says. “Conversely, multiple studies document that raw meats may contain harmful bacteria and parasites that may cause illness of pets.”
YES “Benefits include overall health improvements, including relief from allergies and anal sac problems, better oral hygiene, and improved skin and hair coat,” says veterinarian Carol Osborne. “My seven years of research, backed by double-blind clinical trials, showed that pets respond very well to a balanced, wholesome, natural diet. Whether a pet responds best to a raw food or a cooked homemade diet depends on the specific pet.”
Meet The Experts
Carol Osborne, DVM, is a veterinarian in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, and the creator of PAAWS: Pet Anti-Aging Wellness System. She has a special interest in longevity research and is the author of Dr. Carol’s Naturally Healthy Dogs.
Iveta Becvarova, DVM, is a board-certified veterinary nutritionist who treats patients at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine in Blacksburg, Va.
Duane Ekedahl is the president of the Pet Food Institute, which represents the manufacturersof 98 percent of all dog and cat food produced in the United States and supports advancements in the quality of pet food and in pet nutrition
I have an older dog and I recently switched to Dr. Harveys premix which i mix with cooked meat chicken or beef and my dog seems to have more pep and his coat is a nicer shine to it. He seems anxious to eat now where before he was not that interested. So I think cooking for you dog with organic ingredients like Dr. Harveys is good for my dog.
Hi Jaye,
Yes home cooking for pets is well worth the extra effort and I am glad you can see the results for yourself.
Keep up the good work !
Thank you,
Dr. Carol