How to Talk to Your Veterianarian About Your Pet's Raw Food Diet
11/4/24
Authored By: Dr. Tori
Raw feeding of dogs and cats is on the rise – a new study confirms that 40% of [VG1] dog owners and 33% of cat owners feed raw animal products. But if feeding raw foods is becoming so common why do many pet parents receive pushback from veterinary professionals? Here are some tips and tricks to starting the conversation with your veterinarian.
Open the conversation
Discussing your pet’s diet and nutrition is an important part of your pet’s regular check-up with your veterinarian. At Darwin’s we hope that you make the choice to feed raw diets to your dog or cat based on your pet’s individual health needs and clinical research of the benefits of feeding raw diets like – improved digestion, weight normalization, healthier coat, strengthened immune system, etc. It is important that you come prepared and educated to discuss your feeding choices as many veterinarians are discouraged to feed raw or have limited knowledge of the feeding practice.
Addressing veterinary concerns:
Balanced diet
A main veterinary concern is that raw diets are not complete and balanced diets that will lead to nutrient deficiencies over time causing disease. Some veterinarians think of raw diets as just a slab of raw meat purchased from the grocery store and fed to pets – this would be an incomplete and unbalanced diet. However, commercially available raw food diets like Darwin’s differ from meat purchased at the grocery store, there are added vegetables and vitamins added to create a balanced diet. Any pet food sold in the USA must contain an AAFCO statement which proves nutritional adequacy. Here is Darwin’s statement[VG2] : “Darwin’s meals are formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO dog (or cat) food nutrient profiles for all life stages.” All the raw food diets sold by Darwin’s are formulated by a PhD in Animal [VG3] nutrition and contain nutrients to support development of all stages – meaning puppies, adults and seniors.
Bacterial Contamination
Your veterinarian’s goal is to keep your pet as healthy as possible and limit their exposure to harmful bugs. A main concern is that raw diets will expose your pet to pathogens like salmonella, e-coli and listeria which can damage your pet’s health. There are many precautions taken by raw pet food manufacturers to keep these pathogens out of your pet’s bowls.
1. Quality ingredients[VG4] : Darwin’s sources all their ingredients from farms that meet or exceed USDA guidelines for human consumption. Our ingredients are never sourced from “feed ingredients” which are food in typical pet food. Feed ingredients include: 4D meats, meaning animals that area Dead, Dying, Diseased or Disabled and non-nutritious leftovers from human food-processing.
2. Safety and Site Sanitation: All products undergo pathogen testing before they are sold to the public and the facility is tested throughout the day to detect pathogenic organisms. This ensures we can swiftly respond to any sanitation concerns.
3. Darwin’s applies an organic acid [VG5] wash to the surface of raw meals where pathogenic bacteria tend to be located. This does not change or cook any of the ingredients leaving it as minimally processed as possible.
4. Raw pet food is manufactured under USDA standards with regular inspections by the Washington department of Agriculture and the FDA.
Food Safety
A veterinarian’s job is to protect not only animals but also their human companions. A main veterinary concern is that raw pet food could negatively impact human health through handling raw products. Raw pet food [VG6] should be handled with the same caution and safety measures as preparing raw meat for human consumption. It is important to wash hands, surfaces and bowls often. Avoid using plastic and porcelain bowls when feeding raw food as they are porous and can trap bacteria over time. Ensure that your refrigerator is set 40 degrees [VG7] Fahrenheit or below to protect the food and prevent bacterial growth.
Raw feeding and immunocompromised humans and animals
For those populations considered immunocompromised, young children, elderly or with certain medical conditions should use caution when feeding raw foods. In rare cases pets that have eaten contaminated raw food can shed pathogenic organisms that could affect those with compromised immune systems.
Animals with compromised immune systems like puppies, kittens and animals undergoing cancer or immunosuppressive treatments should use caution when eating raw foods. Darwin’s recommends that you start off feeding a gently cooked meal until 4 months of age[VG8] . We believe the best method is to sauté Darwin’s raw meals in a pan (with a little water to prevent sticking) over medium to medium-high heat for 8-12 minutes. Cook until there is a little color on the outside of the meat, but the centers are still pink.
What about recalls?
At Darwin’s and with most pet food companies their absolute top priority is the health and safety of the pets they serve. The pet food industry is highly regulated by the USDA and FDA which helps maintain safe manufacturing measures but also catches many potentially harmful products. Between 2020 and 2023 [VG9] almost 8 million pounds of dry food was recalled for bacteria making up 98% of bacteria pet food recalls. Raw food only accounted for 0.3% of all bacterial recalls likely due to the combination of safety measures discussed above. Unfortunately, pet food recalls occur with dry dog food or raw dog food. At Darwin’s we strive to keep our meals as safe as possible and exceed USDA standards to maintain pet safety.
Partnering with your veterinarian
It is encouraged to always be honest with your veterinarian about the food you choose to provide to your beloved pet. This honesty allows veterinarians to provide the best possible care to your pet. If you are unable to discuss your choice openly it may be best to search for a holistic veterinary practitioner who is more open to alternative diets. The best resource to search for a holistic practitioner is through the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association Website[VG10] .
By fostering open, honest communication with your veterinarian and staying well-informed about raw feeding, you can make the best decisions for your pet's health and nutrition while building a strong, collaborative relationship with your veterinary care team.
[VG1]https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28265510/
[VG2]https://www.darwinspet.com/blog/complete-and-balanced.html?srsltid=AfmBOoo2nGtsv1uDLAOZfCudYqH2DfRg_zXLChoGOn-3xrX4AAkAOFzu
[VG4]https://www.darwinspet.com/quality-and-safety-priority.html
[VG5]https://www.darwinspet.com/ask-darwins-menu/ask-darwins-faqs/
[VG6]https://www.darwinspet.com/blog/raw-pet-food-safety-tips.html?srsltid=AfmBOopxprJiD6nTeO4AdjKs4qJRo_2WPa75CW-kO_nxN14c3y0fEn5s
[VG7]https://www.fsis.usda.gov/#2
[VG8]https://www.darwinspet.com/why-raw/puppies-and-kittens/raw-for-puppies-kittens.html?srsltid=AfmBOop-DKQRp8_nvx8IpVpllmDFSzvMaXePno1kuvoiEEPx1S2HBV1U
[VG9]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0362028X23068837
[VG10]https://www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/#!directory/map/ord=lnm