Statement of Purpose
This report will focus on the raw food diet for dogs. The raw food diet is a controversial subject in some circles. This makes it a valuable study to learn what the raw food diet is. I will also look at what some of the reasons for switching to a raw food diet are and try to answer the question of whether this is a healthy alternative to conventional dog foods.
Background
The raw food diet was first proposed in 1993 by Dr. Ian Billinghust. He coined the acronym BARF. This stands for the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet (Lee, 2012). Commercial raw dog foods can be bought such as the BARF dog food line (BARF dog food, 2015) or Darwin’s Natural Selections food (Darwin’s natural selections, 2016). There are many sources …show more content…
They look at the diet these animals have evolved to consume or consumed in ancient times like the Paleolithic period (Dr. Billinghurst’s BARF diet, n.d.). Proponents of the raw diet point out that wild, feral and ancient dogs caught their prey and ate the animal fresh. They would eat all of the organs and even the bones of their prey (Bastin, Ashton & Nixon, 2002). Because this is what dogs naturally gravitate towards, this is what will provide them with the best nutrition and keep dogs in the best health throughout their lives. The meat must be kept raw because essential nutrients and enzymes that are in raw meat are considered to be destroyed by the cooking process (Bastin, Ashton & Nixon, 2002).While raw food advocates claim that there are many health benefits to the raw food diet for dogs, there is actually no scientific evidence to back this up (Joffe , 2016). There is just many testimonials from owners who have adopted this diet to proclaim the improved health of their …show more content…
One of these is the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). This association suggest the raw food diet may not be nutritionally balanced and could put animals at risk (Raw food diets for pets, 2012). Malnutrition is a risk factor for both commercially prepared diets as well as homemade diets (Case, Hayek, Daristotle, Raasch, 2011). The Association of American Feed Control Officials has provided nutrient profiles which inform people of the main nutritional needs of several animals (Case, Hayek, Daristotle, Raasch, 2011). In a study reviewed by Case, Hayek, Daristotle, Raasch, (2011) several commercial diets were shown to be deficient. One of these was shown to have a dangerously low calcium to phosphorus ratio. This study also looked at 3 homemade diets which all were lacking
This report will focus on the raw food diet for dogs. The raw food diet is a controversial subject in some circles. This makes it a valuable study to learn what the raw food diet is. I will also look at what some of the reasons for switching to a raw food diet are and try to answer the question of whether this is a healthy alternative to conventional dog foods.
Background
The raw food diet was first proposed in 1993 by Dr. Ian Billinghust. He coined the acronym BARF. This stands for the Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet (Lee, 2012). Commercial raw dog foods can be bought such as the BARF dog food line (BARF dog food, 2015) or Darwin’s Natural Selections food (Darwin’s natural selections, 2016). There are many sources …show more content…
They look at the diet these animals have evolved to consume or consumed in ancient times like the Paleolithic period (Dr. Billinghurst’s BARF diet, n.d.). Proponents of the raw diet point out that wild, feral and ancient dogs caught their prey and ate the animal fresh. They would eat all of the organs and even the bones of their prey (Bastin, Ashton & Nixon, 2002). Because this is what dogs naturally gravitate towards, this is what will provide them with the best nutrition and keep dogs in the best health throughout their lives. The meat must be kept raw because essential nutrients and enzymes that are in raw meat are considered to be destroyed by the cooking process (Bastin, Ashton & Nixon, 2002).While raw food advocates claim that there are many health benefits to the raw food diet for dogs, there is actually no scientific evidence to back this up (Joffe , 2016). There is just many testimonials from owners who have adopted this diet to proclaim the improved health of their …show more content…
One of these is the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA). This association suggest the raw food diet may not be nutritionally balanced and could put animals at risk (Raw food diets for pets, 2012). Malnutrition is a risk factor for both commercially prepared diets as well as homemade diets (Case, Hayek, Daristotle, Raasch, 2011). The Association of American Feed Control Officials has provided nutrient profiles which inform people of the main nutritional needs of several animals (Case, Hayek, Daristotle, Raasch, 2011). In a study reviewed by Case, Hayek, Daristotle, Raasch, (2011) several commercial diets were shown to be deficient. One of these was shown to have a dangerously low calcium to phosphorus ratio. This study also looked at 3 homemade diets which all were lacking