Am I slowly killing my dogs???

This is the correct web address to read the anti-raw feeding article
www.secondchanceranch/training/raw_meat/index.html

OOPS!
http://www.secondchanceranch/training/raw_meat/index.html

I'm hoping to hear that he's full of *!#*

Well,for what it's worth,i think he's full of s**#! Second hand ranch is a well known site recognised for scaremongering and without giving ALL of the facts! I dont go over there anymore as my blood pressure cant take it![:@]

Listen to people who have fed raw for years and years,and seek information that is unbiased and from sites who have nothing to gain.The latter are hard to find [&:]

Thanks
He does seem to bring in a lot of 'Scientific research' to back his claims.
 
BTW, it's Second Chance Ranch...I keep calling it Second Hand Ranch too.
 
I also keep posting the WRONG web address! It's [linkhttp://www.secondchanceranch.org/training/raw_meat/index.html]http://www.secondchanceranch.org/training/raw_meat/index.html[/link]
 

The only problem I've come across with feeding raw is that it is high in pesticides and junk they give to the cows.  Thats why we (and resturants) have to cook the meat we eat at even higher temps then in the past.  Bigger cows means more chemicals pumped into them and thoes are the chemical that cause kidney faler and such problem, not the meat itself.  Anouther reson to why there is a push on organic meat.  You just have to be careful on where you get your meat from, usally a bucher will have the best kind of meat and others on this forum have mentioned getting theirs from a co-op.

I didn't read the whole artical but as for the scientifc background I really didn't see the actual proof or in better words proper docomentation, just a bunch of references to real Dr.s but does a poor job on refering to their work.  Really if you know what your doing and where the meat comes from then there really isn't any alarm to feed raw.

I will not feed raw mainly because i can't eat meat unless it is totally well done.  Also, I have my doubts about how safe it is.  But I do cook for my dogs.---they had chicken hearts and some boneless breast boiled with frozen and peas and carrots (was out of squash and potatoes).
 
One thing I have found is that for every study/report you read about something, you can find a study/report that says just the opposite. It is just a matter of deciding which you believe.

I don't feed raw because I have my doubts also.
AND since my dog is having problems since feeding her a big piece of meat raw a few weeks ago,,,,any doubts that I do have about raw,, are coming to the surface.  
To me its not worth the worry. When I get her better,,,I won't do it again.

I've seen that site before. Scare tactics. I haven't even batted an eye at it. The proof is in the pudding my friend: how is your dog doing?? It goes on my list of not worthy of the time spent reading it.

My dogs that are kibble fed (along with other additions) can't really handle MUCH in the way of RMB's on a sporadic basis - upsets their tummy. However, for my dog that only gets raw she never even blinked. I have done raw with two of my other dogs before - and as long as I was committed and went all the way they never had any problems.

I have seen way too many frisky teenaged raw-fed dogs bouncing around to worry about a few scaremongers. 

  This is the website where the information from Dr.Mike came from;  [linkhttp://www.vetinfo.com/purpose.html]http://www.vetinfo.com/purpose.html[/link]    It is a great website to learn about many health conditions such as autoimmune diseases and their symptoms, ways to treat allergies, etc.; he is not a crusader against raw diets. Many dogs do great on raw diets and live long healthy lives but it is not 100% risk free; some dogs have gotten ill from the bacteria in raw meat and there is a small risk of parasitic infection. For example; if you know anyone who's been pregnant and owned a cat, the doctor advised them not to clean the litterbox because of the small but serious risk of transmitting toxoplasmosis to the fetus. Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite and is present in 8% of beef, and 20% of pork and lamb;
       [linkhttp://www.crvetcenter.com/images/Newsletters/crvcnewsletterDec02p1.pdf]http://www.crvetcenter.com/images/Newsletters/crvcnewsletterDec02p1.pdf[/link]

In order to kill the cyst meat needs to be frozen at 0 degrees faranheit.
                  
    

I'm not new to this forum, but I haven't been here in a long while. It's good to be back and do some reading =)
I am familiar with that article, you can find lots of debate and alarmist information about feeding raw..even just feeding your dog period. I've been feeding my four dogs and two cats raw for about 6 years and the benefits are readily visible.
I think there are risks to most everything, my daughters Aussie mix nearly choked to death inhaling kibble when we first got her..scared me to death! I started her on kibble because I wanted to be safe and ease her into a raw diet..LOL..didn't work out so well.
Your dog can choke on a toy, drink water from a puddle or stream in the woods and get sick, eat horse poop and get sick...lots of things can happen doing the normal things in life, there are always risks.
You have to ask yourself what you feel comfortable with and what works for your dog and follow that path..educate yourself along the way and do the best you can.
 
As for the bacteria in meat...I could get sick handling meat for my own family..not just the meat for my dog. When I was pregnant, my doctor did mention having my husband clean the litter box..but he never asked me what I fed my cat or if my cat was an indoor only cat. I think you just have to use your head. I could have safely cleaned my cats litter box...but I used my head and decided to let my husband do it =)
 
 

ORIGINAL: maisey

I'm not new to this forum, but I haven't been here in a long while. It's good to be back and do some reading =)
I am familiar with that article, you can find lots of debate and alarmist information about feeding raw..even just feeding your dog period. I've been feeding my four dogs and two cats raw for about 6 years and the benefits are readily visible.
I think there are risks to most everything, my daughters Aussie mix nearly choked to death inhaling kibble when we first got her..scared me to death! I started her on kibble because I wanted to be safe and ease her into a raw diet..LOL..didn't work out so well.
Your dog can choke on a toy, drink water from a puddle or stream in the woods and get sick, eat horse poop and get sick...lots of things can happen doing the normal things in life, there are always risks.
You have to ask yourself what you feel comfortable with and what works for your dog and follow that path..educate yourself along the way and do the best you can.

All very good points. The thing is though, the risk of bacteria from raw is something twice a day everyday. The other things you mentioned can be managed. I live in an apartment with my Shih Tzu, so he's obviously not getting into any horse poo. [] When we're walking, I go around the puddles; I don't let him sniff dead animals, etc. Choking on kibbles IS always a possibility, so I always feed him when I'm at home in case I needed to do the heimlich. He doesn't get other "high risk" things like greenies or rawhides either.

It's obvious that a lot of dogs do GREAT on a raw diet, it's those few stories of dogs getting a bacterial infection in their brain that is enough to make me not feel totally comfortable with it. I'd personally rather feed a holistic kibble/canned diet with added enzymes, probiotics and fish oil. But it really is a personal decision that everyone has to weigh for themselves. Obviously, there are pros and cons to everything. []
 
edited for clarification.

Obviously, there are pros and cons to everything.

Agreed!! Point in case - the Diamond Aflatoxin recall. That is certainly something that makes me look carefully at kibble. Even though it happened b/c of corn, ANY grain can be suspect really. So, you just have to decide which risks you're willing to take, and if you think the benefits outweigh them - and then be willing to stand behind those choices.

My decision at the moment is raw for one dog, kibble, canned, fish, supplements, etc for the other three. There is risk associated with anything you decide for your dogs... what toys to give, what to feed, what vet to go to, whether to spay/neuter or not, vaccination schedules...

ORIGINAL: dogslyfe

Obviously, there are pros and cons to everything.

Point in case - the Diamond Aflatoxin recall. That is certainly something that makes me look carefully at kibble. Even though it happened b/c of corn, ANY grain can be suspect really.

You're right - we each have to weigh our options and stand by our decisions. My decision at the moment is raw for one dog, kibble, canned, fish, supplements, etc for the other three. There is risk associated with anything you decide for your dogs... what toys to give, what to feed, what vet to go to, whether to spay/neuter or not, vaccination schedules...

 
Yup, I totally 100% agree with all of that!