Raw feeding

Raw feeding is the practice of feeding domestic dogs and cats a diet primarily of uncooked meat, edible bones, and organs.

Supporters of raw feeding believe that the natural diet an animal in the wild has evolved to consume is what it is most adapted to. [ [http://www.drianbillinghurst.com/barf_philosophy.html The BARF philosphy] Ian Billinghurst] They try to mimic a similar diet for their domestic companion with the belief that a balanced raw diet has the benefits of giving the animal a healthier coat, cleaner teeth and breath, reduced stool volume and odor, and better overall health. They are commonly opposed to commercial pet foods, which they believe are detrimental to an animal's health. Opponents believe that the risk of nutritional imbalance, intestinal perforations and foodborne illnesses posed by the handling and feeding of raw meat and bones would outweigh the purported benefits. The assertion by raw feeders that what is natural is better has also been criticized. [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_6_67/ai_n13788104 How safe is a raw diet? Not very] : Ann N. Martin. June, 2005. Better Nutrition Magazine]

While the scientific community contend that no studies have been done to support the numerous beneficial claims of a raw diet, raw feeders feel that the burden of proof to show that commercial diets are superior and safer than raw diets rest on pet food manufacturers and veterinarians.

Rationale

Natural diet

Objection to commercial pet food

The intense heat used to process commercial pet food destroys and reduces nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and enzymes. [cite journal|last=Morris|first=Audrey|coauthors=Audia Barnett, Olive-Jean Burrows|title=Effect of Processing on Nutrient Content of Foods|journal=CAJANUS|volume=37|issue=3|pages=pp. 160–164|date=2004|url=http://www.paho.org/English/CFNI/cfni-caj37No304-art-3.pdf|accessdate=2006-10-26|format=PDF] Studies with rats showed that the digestibility of amino acids in cat food is changed significantly by heat processing. [cite journal|last=Hendriks|first=W.H.|coauthors=M.M.A. Emmens, B. Trass, J.R. Pluske|title=Heat Processing Changes the Protein Quality of Canned Cat Foods as Measured with a Rat Bioassay|journal=J. Anim. Sci.|volume=77|issue=|pages=669–676|date=1999|url=http://jas.fass.org/cgi/reprint/77/3/669.pdf|accessdate=2007-07-26|format=PDF] Pet food manufacturers must supplement the food after heat processing to replace those nutrients. Some raw feeders believe that supplements have reduced nutritional value compared to the same nutrients in raw food and that possible nutrients not yet recognized as essential by nutritional science cannot be replaced. The same rationale is used by some to reject supplemented home cooked pet food. Some raw feeders, however, also include supplements such as fish oil, and various vitamins or multivitamins mix. fix
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Commercial pet foods, dry foods in particular, often contain a large amount of grains, which proponents of grain-free food feel are inappropriate for dogs and cats. Because cats are obligate carnivores, it is believed that a switch to a predominantly meat based raw diet would be especially beneficial (as compared to a raw diet for dogs) due to cats' relative inability to digest grains. Studies comparing the source of protein in dry cat food concluded that the digestibility of meat-based protein is superior to corn-based protein. [cite journal|last=Funaba|first=Masayuki|coauthors=Yuko Oka, Shinji Kobayashi, Masahiro Kaneko, Hiromi Yamamoto, Kazuhiko Namikawa, Tsunenori Iriki, Yoshikazu Hatano, Matanobu Abe|title=Evaluation of meat meal, chicken meal, and corn gluten meal as dietary sources of protein in dry cat food|journal=Can. J. Vet. Res.|volume=69|issue=4|pages=299–304|date=2004|url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/picrender.fcgi?artid=1250243&blobtype=pdf|accessdate=2007-07-26|format=PDF]

Veterinary surgeon and raw feeding proponent Tom Lonsdale states that food from dry or canned commercial kibble sticks to teeth and enables bacteria to proliferate, causing "sore gums, bad breath and bacterial poisons that affect the rest of the body". Lonsdale further states that dogs lack the necessary enzymes to digest grains and plant material and claims that grains cooked at high temperature can cause starch, proteins and fats to become "denatured or toxic in variable degrees." The poorly digested grains is said to support toxin-producing bacteria in the lower bowel which may eventually lead to "poisons pass [iing] through the bowel wall into blood circulation" creating "further problems" in other organs.Lonsdale (2005) p. 66]

Raw diet types

There are various differences in opinion within the raw feeding community. Issues includes the question of whether dogs are omnivores or carnivores and if they need plant material in their diet, and if so, the proportion of such material. The safety of whole bones is also a frequent topic of discussion

Prey model

The "Prey model" diet attempts to simulate the proportions of an actual prey animal in a pet's diet, as dogs are actually carnivores. This includes organ meat, heads, skin, muscle, bone, blood and even small amounts of fur, feathers or scales, mimicking the amounts that would be consumed when eating small prey. Generally, the diet recommends 80% meat (including some 'meaty' organs such as heart), 10% bone and 10% organs (of which half is liver). The supporters of the prey model also focus on feeding meats from a wide variety of animals.

Supplements are generally not used in a prey model diet although some followers do add fish oil to the diet to compensate for the reduced amount of omega-3 fatty acid in commercially raised grain-fed livestock. [ [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A17258-2004Mar23.html Understanding Omega-3s] Katherine Tallmadge, March 24, 2004. The Washington Post]

Barf

The "BARF" diet, an acronym for "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food" or "Bones And Raw Food" was created by Australian veterinary surgeon Dr Ian Billinghurst. A typical BARF diet is made up of 60-80% of raw meaty bones(RMB), that is bones with about 50% meat, [ [http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/natural/homemade-dog-food.html A Homemade Dog Food Diet] Mary Straus, Whole Dog Journal] (e.g. chicken neck, back and wings) and 20-40% of fruits and vegetables, offal, meat, eggs, or dairy foods.

The concept has been implemented worldwide. In Denmark, the BARF concept was introduced and refined by Mr. Lars Madsen from Dansk Barf Center.Fact|date=August 2008 In Denmark it is not advisable to use chicken in a BARF diet due to the excessive use of pharmaceuticals in the chicken industry.Fact|date=August 2008

Nutritional balance

As raw diets can range from meticulously prepared and tested to diets composed of a variety of meats and butchers' scraps, the nutritional balance of a raw diet can vary greatly depending on the recipe. However, supporters of raw feeding believe that not every meal needs to be "complete and balanced", and that nutritional balance can be achieved over time by feeding a wide variety of meats, fats, bones and organs from several sources, such as chicken, turkey, lamb, cattle, pigs, fish, rabbits, etc, and even wild game. The general belief among the supporters of raw diets is that pets have no more complex nutritional requirements than humans, and that a variety of ingredients over time will provide the pets with a sufficiently balanced diet.

Many who oppose raw diets believe that the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) standards that commercial pet food has to meet gives an assurance of quality that homemade food cannot give. One study that analyzed the nutritional content of three homemade diets (included the BARF diet) and two commercial raw food diets and compared it to the AAFCO standards, showed that nutritional imbalances occurred in multiple areas.cite journal|title=Evaluation of raw food diets for dogs|first=Lisa|last=Freeman|coauthors=Kathryn E. Michel|date=2001-03-01|pages=pp. 705–709|journal=JAVMA|volume=218|issue=5|url=http://www.oaklandvet.com/rawdiet.html|accessdate=2006-10-25] Three of the diets had abnormal calcium-to-phosphorus ratios which can lead to hyperparathyroidism and fibrous osteodystrophy in puppies. [cite journal|url=http://ahl.uoguelph.ca/News6-2/ANwsl6-2.pdf|title=Nutritional osteodystrophy in puppies fed a BARF diet|accessdate=2006-10-25|first=Josepha|last=DeLay|coauthors=Jenny Laing|date=2002|pages=page 23|month=June|format=PDF|journal=AHL Newsletter]

A 12-month study undertaken for the Winn Feline Foundation by researchers from the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine sought to compare the effects of a whole ground rabbit diet with a high quality commercial diet on 22 kittens and adolescent cats. The ground whole rabbit diet(including fur and organs) was frozen in small batches and thawed prior to feeding. The researchers noted the superior palatability of the raw rabbit diet. Significant stool quality improvements were seen in the raw rabbit diet group after one week. After one month, the raw diet group had firm, non-odorous and well formed stools while the commercial diet group had soft formed to liquid stools. The raw diet group also appear to have better coat quality. There were no differences between the groups in terms of growth rate, degree of inflammation in the intestinal tract and the numbers of bacteria in the upper small intestine, although a slightly higher number of cats in the raw diet group were shedding pathogenic organisms (Giardia and Cryptosporidia) in their stools. Ten months into the study, one cat in the raw diet group died suddenly from dilated cardiomyopathy due to a severe taurine deficiency. 70% of the group had heart muscle change compatible with taurine deficiency. The researcher ascertained that the raw rabbit diet contained the minimal requirement of taurine but speculated that bacteria in the rabbit carcasses might have broken down some of the taurine. The processing and grinding of the rabbit might have also caused some of the taurine to be destroyed due to the low level of vitamin E in the diet. The authors conclude that "a natural diet may not always be as healthy as imagined, and that even measuring nutrient values may not predict how a diet will perform after being fed for many months." [ [http://www.cfa.org/articles/health/role-of-diet.html Role of Diet in the Health of the Feline Intestinal Tract and in Inflammatory Bowel Disease] Winn Feline Foundation]

When feeding a raw diet, even some proponents of raw diets recommend frequent analysis by a veterinarian or animal nutritionist to verify that proper nutrients are being ingested.Fact|date=February 2008 Other proponents sometimes dismiss the importance of AAFCO standards, claiming that AAFCO certification is not indicative of the quality of a diet. An AAFCO panel expert has stated that "although the AAFCO profiles are better than nothing, they provide false securities." [ [http://www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00001.htm Alternative Feeding Practices] 26th World Small Animal Veterinary Association Congress, Susan Wynn (2001)] ManyWho|date=April 2008 cite that the oldest dog ever recorded, a 29-year-old Australian cattle dog named Bluey, died in 1939, several years before commercial pet food was invented, and that, of the two oldest dogs in recent years, one was fed primarily on kangaroo and emu meat. [Citation|title =Oldest' Dog Heads for 27th Birthday| newspaper = Guardian Unlimited|year =2004| url =http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/7-11-2004-56493.asp ]

Dental health

Some proponents of raw diet claim noticeable benefit to the dental hygiene of pets who eat raw bones, while others believe that ground bone should be used instead, to prevent the possibility for intestinal puncturing and dental fractures. The abrasion between bone and teeth when chewing is believed to scrape off dental plaque. Cartilage, ligaments, and tendons are thought to act as a natural dental floss. [ [http://www.westonaprice.org/healthissues/feeding_pets.html Trends in Home-Prepared Diets for Pets] C. J. Puotinen, Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, 2001] The chewing and tearing action is also believed to strengthen the jaw, neck and shoulder muscles, keep the digestive juice flowing and boost the neurological and immune system. [cite book |title= [http://www.ukrmb.co.uk/images/ww.pdf Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones] |last=Lonsdale |first=Tom |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2005 |publisher=Dogwise Publishing |location= |isbn=978-0975717400 |pages=13 ] Proponents of ground bones believe that the chewing of muscle meat may also assist in keeping teeth clean.

The use of whole bone creates a risk of dental fractures, [cite paper|author=Tangsiri, Laleh and Emami, Emma|title=Periodontal disease and the treatments in dogs|url=http://www.ki.se/odont/cariologi_endodonti/98b/LalehTangsiri,EmmaEmami.pdf|format=PDF|accessdate=2006-10-26] intestinal obstruction, gastroenteritis, and intestinal perforations. [cite web|url=http://www.littlebigcat.com/index.php?action=library&act=show&item=thedangersofarawdiet|title=The "Dangers" of a Raw Diet|accessdate=2006-04-06|first=Jean|last=Hofve|publisher=littlebigcat.com] Wolf care managers questioned on the topic of feeding bones identified the presence of animal hide with hair as offering some protection from intestinal perforation in the wild. [cite web|title=Wolves and Bones|date=1999|url=http://www.thepetcenter.com/imtop/wolfexrep.html] An analysis of the skulls of African wild dogs showed that the natural diet of wild carnivores does not prevent them from suffering the same oral disease as their domestic counterpart, although other studies have had results that claim otherwise. [ [http://rawfed.com/myths/scrlinks.html ORAL AND DENTAL CONDITIONS IN ADULT AFRICAN WILD DOG SKULLS: A PRELIMINARY REPORT] - G Steenkamp,CGorrel J Vet Dent 16(2); 65-68,1999.] Raw diet proponents note that the same risks of obstruction, puncturing, and dental fractures are present in dog chews, with little evidence indicating that this is a serious problem particular to raw diets with bones.Fact|date=April 2008 Some veterinarians state that chewing raw bone is an inadequate substitute for regular dental cleaning and tooth brushing.Fact|date=April 2008

Bacteria, viruses and parasites

While the intense heat used in manufacturing pet food destroys any potential bacteria, raw meats may contain bacteria that are unsafe for both dogs and cats.cite web|last=O'Rourke|first=Kate|title=Raw Meat Diet Sparks Concern|publisher=Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association|url=http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/jan05/050115ww.asp|accessdate = 2006-04-06] The US Government reported that in 2006, 16.3% of all chickens were contaminated with salmonella. [ [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/08/dining/08well.html More Salmonella Is Reported in Chickens] Marian Burros, The New York Times] A study on 25 commercial raw diets for dogs and cats detected Salmonella in 20% and Escherichia coli in 64% of the diets. However, the E. coli strain that can cause severe illness was not tested for. [ [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1140397 Bacteriological evaluation of commercial canine and feline raw diets] J. Scott Weese, Joyce Rousseau, and L. Arroyo. Can Vet J. 2005 June; 46(6): 513–516.] An example of the severity of E. coli H157:O7 infections can be seen in affected greyhound racing dogs fed raw meat as part of their diet. Known in greyhounds as "Alabama rot", the disease causes severe vasculitis, cutaneous necrosis, renal failure and death. It should be noted that racing greyhounds are typically fed raw meat classified as "not for human consumption", which may contain higher than normal levels of bacteria. [cite journal|title=The Nutritional Requirements of Exercising Dogs|url=http://jn.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/128/12/2686S|last=Hill|first=Richard C.|date=1998|month=December|pages=pp. 2686S–2690S|journal=The Journal of Nutrition|volume=128|issue=12|accessdate=2006-10-25|pmid=9868242]

Raw feeders consider the risk overblown and claim that the stomach enzymes and short intestinal tracts of dogs and cats allow them to handle harmful bacteria. [ [http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nyc-pets-rawfeeding,0,4223482.column It's Rah-Rah-Rah for Raw] Denise Flaim. May 30, 2000. Newsday] [ [http://books.google.com/books?id=4lJ_3WXhVfgC&pg=PA70&dq=raw+pet+food+bacteria+digestive+system&lr=&ei=u4MWSLXpDI_0sQOPwoSUCA&client=firefox-a&sig=L650HMT4N5YiMGnamOSuyvzFDgQ#PPA71,M1 The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care] C. J. Puotinen, 2000. P.71. McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 0658009966] For example, an outbreak of Salmonella caused by tainted commercial dry dog food led to 62 cases of human infection but no reports of the disease affecting animals fed the tainted food. [cite web|title=Salmonella Schwarzengrund Outbreak Investigation|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|url=http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/schwarzengrund.html|accessdate = 2007-10-11] On the other hand, there has been a reported case where two cats fed a raw diet developed salmonellosis and died as a result. A veterinarian from the National Animal Poison Control Center suggests that the diarrhea in animals that raw feeders attribute to detoxing could be caused by pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli, clostridium and campylobacter. The purchase of good quality meat from reputable sources and proper food safety practices such as defrosting meat in the refrigerator and not leaving food out for too long can reduce the proliferation of bacteria present in the meat.

Raw meats may also contain harmful parasites. As with bacteria, these parasites are destroyed during the heat processing of manufactured pet foods. Some raw diet recipes call for freezing of the final product, which greatly reduces (but does not necessarily eliminate) the potential for parasites. According to European Union regulations, [ [http://eur-lex.europa.eu/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!CELEXnumdoc&lg=EN&numdoc=31991L0493&model=guichett Council Directive 91/493/EEC] ) from Europa - The European Union On-Line] freezing fish at -20°C (-4°F) for 24 hours kills parasites. The FDA recommends freezing at -35°C (-31°F) for 15 hours, or at -20°C (-4°F) for 7 days. [ [http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/haccp4e.html FISH AND FISHERIES PRODUCTS HAZARDS AND CONTROLS GUIDANCE: CHAPTER 5 Parasites (A Biological Hazard)] from U.S. FDA website] The most common parasites in fish are roundworms from the family Anisakidae and fish tapeworm. [ [http://seafood.ucdavis.edu/Pubs/parasite.htm Parasites in Marine Fishes] ] While freezing pork at -15°C (5°F) for 20 days will kill any trichinella spiralis worm, [ [http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichinosis/factsht_trichinosis.htm Trichinellosis fact sheet] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] trichinosis is rare in countries with well established meat inspection programs, [ [http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/trichinae/docs/fact_sheet.htm Trichinellosis fact sheet] USDA] with cases of trichinosis in humans in the United States mostly coming from consumption of raw or undercooked wild game. Trichinella species in wildlife are resistant to freezing. In dogs and cats symptoms of trichinellosis would include mild gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea) and in rare cases, muscle pain and muscle stiffness. [*cite book |title=The 5-Minute Veterinary Consult Clinical Companion: Canine and Feline Infectious Diseases and Parasitology|last=Barr |first=Stephen C.|authorlink= |coauthors=Bowman, Dwight D.|year=2006 |publisher=Blackwell Publishing |location= |isbn=078174766X |pages=520|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=hlZtzClvYqwC&pg=PR11&lpg=PP1&sig=_fKHitJ4izWtiYOmDUwcg12J-0I#PPA520,M1 ]

Zoonotic risk

A possible risk of raw feeding is that of human infection caused by direct or indirect exposure to bacterial pathogens in raw meat and animal stools. For example the British Veterinary Association warns that humans "risk exposing themselves to bacteria like salmonella". A small study on the levels of salmonella in the stool of 10 dogs that ate a raw diet found that 80% of the raw diet tested positive for Salmonella spp. and while 30 percent of the stool samples from dogs fed a raw food diet contained salmonella, none of the control dogs (commercial fed) contained salmonella. The authors of the study concluded that dogs on a raw food diet may therefore be a source of environmental contamination, although they caution about the statistical significance of their results due to the small number of dogs studied. [cite journal|title=Preliminary assessment of the risk of Salmonella infection in dogs fed raw chicken diets|url=http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=339295|first=Daniel J.|last=Joffe|coauthors=Daniel P. Schlesinger|date=2002|month=June|pages=pp. 441–442|journal=The Canadian Veterinary Journal|volume=43|issue=6|accessdate=2006-10-25|pmid=12058569]

Because of the potential animal and human health risks, veterinarian organizations and public health agencies believe that the risks inherent in raw feeding outweigh the purported benefits. [http://canadianveterinarians.net/ShowText.aspx?ResourceID=554 Raw Food Diets for Pets - Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and Public Health Agency of Canada Joint Position Statement] November 2006] Despite such concerns, there is no known incidence of humans being infected with salmonella by cats and dogs fed a raw diet. [ [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16447116?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVAbstractPlusDrugs1 Human health implications of Salmonella-contaminated natural pet treats and raw pet food.] Finley R, Reid-Smith R, Weese JS. Clin Infect Dis. 2006 Mar 1;42(5):686-91. Epub 2006 Jan 20.] Again, proper food safety precautions such as wiping down preparation surfaces and careful disposal of stools can reduce the risk of infection.

Commercial preparation

After the 2007 pet food recall, interest in raw and cooked homemade pet food grew tremendously. [ [http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-32880174_ITM The homemade diet: in light of the major pet food recall, is it safest to make your cat's meals yourself? Experts discuss the pros and cons. | Cat Watch (May, 2007) ] ] As a result of that, more pet food manufacturers now offer frozen raw diet products for pet owners. Some consumers believe that many of the same issues they find with commercial pet foods exist with packaged raw diets, others use it due to its convenience and for products with AAFCO certification, its assurance of a nutritionally balanced product.

Veterinary position

Veterinary associations such as the American Veterinary Medical Association, British Veterinary Association and Canadian Veterinary Medical Association have warned of the animal and public health risk that could arise from feeding raw meat to pets and have stated that there is no scientific evidence to support the claimed benefits of raw feeding.cite web|url=http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/01/19/raw/index.html|title=The Beef Over Pet Food|accessdate=2006-03-07|first=Katharine|last=Mieszkowski|publisher=Salon.com] .

More recently in 2007, The Sydney Morning Herald (paraphrasing RSPCA Australia President Dr Hugh Wirth) reported that ""the 'compromise attitude' of veterinary associations in Britain and Australia is that raw meaty bones should be fed to pets a minimum of three times a week for dental health." [ [http://www.smh.com.au/cgi-bin/common/popupPrintArticle.pl?path=/articles/2007/10/13/1192300660144.html Rethinking pet food] The Sydney Morning Herald. October 14, 2007]

Controversy

It is believed by many raw feeders that veterinarians are influenced by academic departments and professional associations that rely upon funding from pet food companies. [ [Natural Remedies For Dogs And Cats] p.18-19. C. J. Puotinen, 1999. McGraw-Hill Professional. ISBN 0879838272] For example, Hill's Pet Nutrition, makers of Science Diet and a range of prescription only food is a major sponsor of the American Veterinary Medical Association. [ [http://www.avma.org/onlnews/javma/apr04/040401i.asp Convention sponsors:partners in practice] Susan C. Kahler, JAVMA online, April 1, 2004] Another common belief is that veterinarians lack adequate knowledge on raw diets or nutrition in general. Frequently, veterinary schools receive nutrition training that is provided to students or sponsored by pet food manufacturers. [ [http://www.hillspet.com/hillspet/ourCompany/ourCompany.hjsp Who We Are] Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. Company Overview] The Wall Street Journal reports that Hill's "spends hundreds of thousands of dollars a year funding university research and nutrition courses at every one of the 27 U.S. veterinary colleges" and that vets profit as much as 40% from sales of Science Diet and other foods sold from their offices. [ [http://www.simplyschnauzer.net/hills.html Why Vets Recommend 'Designer' Chow] Tara Parker-Pope, The Wall Street Journal, November 3, 1997] Raw feeders are often skeptical of the motives that some veterinarians have in recommending the commercial foods they sell, pointing out the conflict of interest in them doing so.

Pottenger's cats

One study used by many people feeding pets a raw diet to back up their claims of raw food being superior to cooked food is Francis M. Pottenger, Jr.'s study of 900 cats over a period of 10 years from 1932 to 1942. [http://www.precaution.org/lib/06/raw_meat_for_dogs.030317.htm CALL OF THE WILD] Amy Graves, The Boston GlobeMarch 16, 2003 ] Although his results showed that cats that were fed raw foods were disease free and healthy while those fed the same food cooked developed degenerative diseases and reproductive difficulties, with new generations plagued with health problems, the study was done before the importance of taurine in a cat's diet was known and it is likely that the group of Pottenger's cats on cooked food simply suffered from taurine deficiency as heating or cooking food causes a reduction in taurine content. [cite web|last=Tu|first=Jean-Louis|title=Lesson of the Pottenger's Cats experiment: cats are not humans|url=http://www.beyondveg.com/tu-j-l/raw-cooked/raw-cooked-1h.shtml|accessdate = 2006-10-25|publisher=beyondveg.com] In a study on feline maternal taurine deficiency, the group of taurine-deficient cats exhibited symptoms similar to the Pottenger's cats on a cooked diet. [cite journal|journal=The Journal of Nutrition|author=Sturman, Gargano, Messing and Imaki|date=1986|title=Feline maternal taurine deficiency: effect on mother and offspring|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=3754276&dopt=Abstract]

ee also

*Raw foodism
*Paleolithic diet - A human diet based on a similar evolutionary rationale.

References

Further reading

*cite book |title=Give Your Dog a Bone: The Practical Commonsense Way to Feed Dogs for a Healthy Life |last=Billinghurst |first=Ian |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=1993 |publisher= |location= |isbn=978-0646160283 |pages=320
*cite book |title=Raw Meaty Bones Promote Health |last=Lonsdale |first=Tom |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2001 |publisher= Dogwise Publishing |location= |isbn=978-0646396248 |pages=389
*cite book |title=The BARF Diet: Raw Feeding for Dogs and Cats Using Evolutionary Principles |last=Billinghurst |first=Ian |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2001 |publisher= |location= |isbn=978-0958592512 |pages=
*cite book |title= [http://www.ukrmb.co.uk/images/ww.pdf Work Wonders: Feed Your Dog Raw Meaty Bones] |last=Lonsdale |first=Tom |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2005 |publisher=Dogwise Publishing |location= |isbn=978-0975717400 |pages=118

External links

Articles

* [http://specialneedspets.org/animals/index.php/recipes/ Dog Food and Cat Food Recipes] Recipes for homemade food for your pet including recipes for diet supplements.
* [http://www.salon.com/news/feature/2006/01/19/raw/index.html The beef over pet food] Salon.com, January 2006
* [http://www.ukrmb.co.uk/images/DogsToday.pdf Bones of contention] Dogs Today Magazine, September 2006
* [http://www.canismajor.com/dog/barf.html BARF: Bones And Raw Food] Overview of the BARF diet and issues.
* [http://www.workingdogs.com/vcbarf.htm Should Your Dog Eat BARF?] VetCentric.com
* [http://www.newcastleboxers.com/rawvsbarf.shtml Raw vs. BARF: Waging an Imaginary War] On the perceived differences between BARF and raw feeding
* [http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2003/09/29/urbananimal.DTL Her Great Danes Eat It Raw] San Francisco Chronicle SFGate.com, September 2003
* [http://www.price-pottenger.org/Articles/PottsCats.html Overview of Pottenger's Cat study] Price-Pottenger Nutrition Foundation

Advocacy

* [http://www.rawlearning.com/ rawlearning.com] Jane Anderson's website on raw feeding.
* [http://rawfed.com/myths/index.html rawfed.com] The many myths of raw feeding
* [http://catinfo.org CatInfo.org] Veterinarian Dr. Lisa Pierson's site on feline nutrition, health, and care

Critical

* [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FKA/is_6_67/ai_n13788104 How safe is a raw diet? Not very] A Better Nutrition Magazine article on raw feeding.
* [http://www.secondchanceranch.org/rawindex.htm Raw Meat: A Dangerous Fad] From Second Chance Ranch
* [http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=340159 "An ethicist's commentary on the “Raw Diet”"] Canadian Veterinary Journal article