Anyone who has ever talked to a nutrition expert about their own eating habits has probably been told that raw vegetables beat cooked ones. A raw green bean, for instance, offers more nutritional value than one that has been steamed or boiled.
That’s simply because heat strips away a portion of a food’s vitamins and nutrients as it cooks. If you had no choice but to eat green beans, wouldn’t you prefer the version that gave you the greatest nutritional payoff?
In fact, cooking green beans strips out roughly 30 percent of their potassium, iron, and magnesium, along with about 20 percent of their vitamin C. That’s a meaningful loss of nutrients you’d rather not give up.
Which raises an obvious question: if a dog is truly our closest companion, shouldn’t we be giving that companion the best possible diet?
The straightforward answer is that a raw diet is the most nutritionally sound option for our dogs. Any worry about safety is offset by canine biology itself — dogs have far tougher digestive systems than we do, so the danger often attributed to raw feeding tends to be overstated.
Before getting into pet food specifically, it’s worth thinking about meat in general. People who eat meat prepare it at all sorts of doneness, from rare to well-done. Cooking has only a small impact on nutrient content, but meat cooked until it’s well-done builds up more heterocyclic amines (HCAs) — compounds with cancer-causing potential — than meat cooked more briefly.
HCAs form when meat is grilled, barbecued, broiled, or fried, as amino acids (protein’s building blocks) interact with creatine, a compound naturally present in muscle tissue, under intense heat. Laboratory studies have linked HCAs to colon tumors in animals, and in humans, high consumption of certain HCAs has been connected to a greater chance of developing colon polyps.
We’re not claiming kibble is a cancer risk, but we do think it may shorten a pet’s life by months or years. Keep in mind that a typical bag of kibble lists around 47 ingredients, while the average raw diet includes roughly 7. Which sounds like the more sensible, safer option? Here’s a closer look at what raw feeding offers dogs:
- It closely resembles what wolves and wild canines would naturally eat;
- Dogs are carnivorous animals built to eat raw meat and bone;
- Uncooked food retains more enzymes, vitamins, and minerals than cooked food (just like those green beans);
- Healthier skin and coat;
- Fewer ear infections;
- Fresher breath;
- Smaller, less smelly, more consistent stools;
- Higher energy;
- Fewer long-term illnesses;
- Stronger immunity and better overall wellness.
Some background helps explain why this isn’t common knowledge. Roughly eight veterinary programs are widely recognized across the U.S., and virtually all of them receive funding from — and often have nutrition courses taught by representatives of — the three biggest kibble manufacturers. So long before students become licensed veterinarians, they’re taught to view raw feeding with suspicion.
That suspicion, frankly, isn’t warranted. Pet food production is actually regulated more strictly than what applies to something like raw chicken meant for human consumption. We all know to wash our hands right after handling raw chicken, to avoid picking up bacteria like Salmonella.
The same precaution applies to raw pet food. Washing your hands afterward is simply good practice, and it takes care of the safety concern people tend to associate with raw feeding.
Keep in mind that a dog’s digestive tract is considerably hardier than a person’s. Wild wolves survive on the meat of animals that died recently — or not so recently. Pet dogs have somewhat different tolerances, which is exactly why quality raw food brands balance meat, produce, and bone carefully to deliver the safest, most nutritious option for your dog.
One recent survey found that more than 52 percent of dogs are overweight or obese — roughly 50 million animals that would benefit from better nutrition. With close to 90 percent of owners feeding kibble, and over half of all dogs carrying extra weight, it’s clear that mass-produced kibble is linked to a range of problems, from arthritis and skin issues to allergies and heart disease. Switching to the right diet can genuinely extend a dog’s lifespan. A raw diet supplies the essential nutrients dogs need to thrive and can even help reverse obesity. Consider these numbers:
- Roughly one-third the carbohydrate content of dry kibble;
- More than 50 percent more protein;
- An average of about 7 ingredients, versus 47-plus in most kibble;
- Vegetables that supply meaningful nutritional value.
Once you’ve weighed these facts, raw feeding — or at minimum, lightly cooked meals — deserves serious consideration for your dog. Think back to those green beans, and feed your dog with that same logic in mind.
