Dog Community

Proof that raw is good

Pam

Posted : 12/4/2006 10:30:17 AM

I just went thru an epidemic of kennel cough with my 3 dogs and here is what happened.

I have 2 rescues (ages 5 and 7) and 8 month puppy. The 5 yo raw fed (1 1/2 years) rescue who was severely neglected/emaciated when I got him 2 years ago was only mildly sick 1 1/2 days with KC. He had no current bordatella shot

The 7 yo who was up-to-date with the vaccine - was very sick for 7 days. and of course the puppy is/was very sick inspite of her vaccine. These 2 dogs are kibble/canned/some cooked meat..

The raw -fed boy only coughed 3 times (that I heard) compared to 100's the other boy coughed.

I was so pleasantly surprised when the raw-fed boy was fine the next day. It jsut made me realize he has recovered and his immune system is strong.

Now maybe this is no accurate comparision becuase the sick boy and pup are bulldogs and the raw boy is a Golden mix . But I think its a good thing and the puppy will be raw fed soon too. (if she ever smells raw, she is a nutcase- she gets it once in a while and races to the Goldens bowl to lick the leftovers).

The supplements all dogs got were fish oil, Vit E daily. The Golden got Seameal and Canine One sporadicly. The old bulldog got Nupro at the foster moms for a year. The puppy had been on Echanacia, Colestrum, Vit A, E, C for mange last month (her immune system is so compromised it was a given for her to get KC).

Bobsk8

Posted : 12/4/2006 10:35:47 AM

Not any kind of proof I am afraid. You would have to have data from many, many thousands of . dogs before you could have any "proof"

ILoveChi

Posted : 12/4/2006 10:41:30 AM

That's Great

I started my dog on raw a month ago and you wouldn't beleive the compliments I've been getting about him about his coat, eyes, etc. from people who have seen him all his life.. And he was on great kibble before. I am definatly sticking with raw.

M.W.Lewis

Posted : 12/4/2006 10:58:04 AM

Anything that helps to maintain a healthy immune system certainly is beneficial and for many dogs thats a raw diet. I don't feed raw ( I did for a short while) but my friend does to her own dogs as well as all of her fosters. A few years ago she had a litter of fosters come in who had just been vaccinated with the bordetella vaccine at the shelter. Once she got them home, all four developed kennel cough. They took a good week to 10 days to get over it. Whereas all of her own dogs and fosters already there and not vaccinated for kennel cough were fine. One developed a mild cough for two or three days that's it. Bravo for healthy immune systems and healthy diets, whatever they may be.

mudpuppy

Posted : 12/4/2006 1:43:41 PM

you realize there are many strains of kennel cough? an equally plausible answer is the raw-fed dog was exposed to this particular strain in the past and is now partially immune, but the other two dogs had no prior exposure, and the vaccine they received didn't protect against this strain.
I'm in favor of raw, but these stories are not proof of anything.

Cally01

Posted : 12/4/2006 4:21:11 PM

Hollysmom, that is great. I too noticed a huge difference in the immunity with my dogs as well. My dogs are not total raw fed...but, I try to feed at least their evening meal as raw.

Our dogs have not had the kennel cough vaccine and are the only ones not to come down with kennel cough. At a show last summer all the show dogs that my friends own all came down with kennel cough...all our dogs were exposed (3 of them were at the same show) and none of our dogs came down with it.

I don't need any research to prove to me that a dog fed a better quality diet has a better immune system. I to eat very healthy and never come down with any colds or flu's etc even tho I am exposed to them. It's common sense[

] & Hollysmom I really do marvel at the healthy impact the right foods have on a dogs body.

Just to add, Cassie our 11 year old Newf comes from short lived lines...none of the dogs in her line lived past 8. They all died of immune system disorders or shutdown. When the breeder had Cassie, she fed Eukanuba, Cassie always seemed to be sickly and came down with illness easiely. She also suffered allergies. For myself seeing the improvement in her health and immune system is a huge eye opener.

Stacita

Posted : 12/4/2006 5:20:33 PM

As some people said, there may be other reasons, but it is reason for optimism.

I feed half raw and half cooked--the spoiled brats don't really like plain raw. However, for my dogs this works better than kibble/cooked/canned. Two of the three had blood work after four months and both had significantly improved readings.

Boxermom4

Posted : 12/4/2006 9:06:10 PM

I think that's wonderful!!! What better than happy healthy dogs[

] It's apparent we all love our "babies" very much, I personally couldn't do raw, but I think it's wonderful your guys do so well on it.

Edie

Posted : 12/4/2006 9:14:04 PM

I personally couldn't do raw,

Ahh but i bet you're dogs could and would [

]

jenns

Posted : 12/4/2006 10:20:17 PM

I recently started feeding the Nature's Variety premade medallions a few nights a week just to add some fresh food to Zoe's diet- they are sooo easy, just defrost and plop them in a bowl. I hope I start seeing some positive changes as well!

Boxermom4

Posted : 12/5/2006 6:32:33 PM

Ohhhhhhhh, I know you are soooooo right[sm=dance.gif] Momma's got a weak meat stomach!!!