Whether raw or cooked, homemade canine cuisine gives dog owners something to chew on

Robin Morehouse has a pretty good idea what your pet will look and smell like if she spots you buying a bag of kibbles at a grocery store.

“Oozing eyes, bad skin, smelly farts,” Morehouse, a certified pet trainer and groomer says, ticking off the list as she rolls her eyes.

“They have bad teeth, they’re overweight, they age prematurely — just a lot of health problems. It makes me sad.”

Healthier dogs, she says, don’t shed as much, have shiny coats, are trim, fit and a joy to be around. The difference is diet, Morehouse says. For her dogs, she believes, the magic ticket has been a totally raw diet — chunks of steak, turkey and other muscle tissue, mixed in with bones, organs and uncooked vegetables.

“I’m definitely in the raw camp,” Morehouse says. “I’m an advocate of raw-meat diets.”

With the recent tainted pet-food scare, more and more animal owners are searching for the best way to keep their companions healthy and content. But the choices they are faced with can be confusing and contradictory; the opinions in all camps are strong.

These days, getting into a debate about feeding dogs raw foods, home-prepared meals, dry kibbles or canned food is as tricky as discussing politics or religion, says Mary Leatherberry, a Santa Fe dog trainer.

It seems as if there as many variations on homemade dog food as there are breeds of dog. Some include grains such as wheat or corn; some are grain-free. In the raw-food camp, there’s raw meat, raw-meaty bones, and raw meat with ground bones and/or raw vegetables. Cooked meat can be mixed with vegetables, calcium and other supplements. And commercial premixes can be added to either cooked or raw meats.

The raw controversy

The ranks of the raw-food group have been growing steadily. A decade ago, most pet owners were forced to buy a grinder and mix bone and meat together for dog meals. Many latched onto the BARF diet — or Biologically Appropriate Raw Food — created by Australian veterinarian Ian Billinghurst, which offered some of the first books and recipes of the movement.

Now, commercially prepared raw foods are readily available frozen or dehydrated at many pet stores and offer a myriad of meats: venison, rabbit, chicken, beef and lamb, along with exotic animal protein such as ostrich and buffalo.

Diet is the first thing that Olive Branch Animal Hospital veterinarian Eugene Aversa — a strong advocate of raw-meat diets — considers when he examines an animal.

“I find no other diet that consistently affords the same health benefits,” the holistic veterinarian says. “Old animals, those that are sick, come back to life; their eyes shine and their spirits are raised. You just don’t see that in a commercially prepared diet.”

Raw food best mimics a canine’s natural or “evolutionary” diet, Aversa says. But since the days of most dogs foraging and hunting on their own have long since passed, Aversa says, such a diet “is the best we can do.”

Other veterinarians disagree. A raw-food diet might have been fine for the canine population hundreds of years ago, says veterinarian Mike Dobesh of Santa Fe’s Smith Veterinarian Hospital, but modern canines are just as susceptible to the E. coli bacteria and salmonella that can be present in raw meats as humans.

Dobesh recommends that clients who want to make their own dog food cook the meat and add the proper nutritional supplements to the meals.

“Raw vegetables and raw fruits are fine,” Dobesh says, “but I suggest cooking the meat. Homemade, cooked diets can be very good, and I’ve seen them used successfully.”

Sue McKelvey, a veterinarian with Eldorado Animal Clinic, says homemade diets are a lot of work for the average pet owner.

“You can’t just feed them chicken and rice,” McKelvey says. “They need a lot of nutritional supplements. It takes research.”

McKelvey also advises against raw-food diets, despite many “amazing” stories she’s heard about some animals who’ve made the switch. From the veterinary perspective, she says, there are too many risks inherent in raw meat.

“We have to caution them,” McKelvey says, “because of the bacteria. Your animal could get sick and you could get sick, too, if (the raw meat is) improperly handled.”

Proponents of raw-food diets argue that the digestive systems of dogs and cats are short, acidic and handle bacteria well. They note also that the intestines of healthy dogs generally contain bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli — and that commercially prepared foods are often contaminated with such bacteria.

Success stories

The apparent health benefits of a raw-food diet convinced Morehouse to make the shift about a decade ago. Her mother, who raises dogs in North Carolina, took on a dog that was chronically ill. The German shepherd had a chronic yeast infection, oozing ears, swollen, itchy feet, and a terrible odor; the dog’s hair also had sloughed off.

“The owners were going to have him euthanized,” Morehouse says. But a raw diet of muscle tissue (meat), bones, fruit and vegetables turned the dog’s major health problems around.

“He still had some occasional health problems, but his hair grew back and he had a completely different coat,” she recalls. “He lived for five years longer.”

Morehouse also had firsthand experience with the benefits of a raw-meat diet. When Kodi, a Doberman pinscher, entered her life 11 years ago, she fed him premium kibbles. She vividly remembers rolling down her car window 35 times on one trip.

“He had horrible gas,” she says. “Kibble, especially for Dobermans, who have digestive problems, will cause terrible gas.”

A switch in diets eliminated the problem.

Karen Lewis made the switch to raw-food diets eight years ago when she was in California. The Santa Fe resident’s 2-year-old American Staffordshire terrier had definite health problems. Veterinarians at the University of California-Davis said her dog was allergic to fleas and offered megadoses of antibiotics. But Lewis was doubtful of the diagnosis, she said, because her dog didn’t have a flea problem.

So she simply changed her dog’s diet to raw foods and the health issues went away.

“With raw food, you’re investing in their whole life,” Lewis says.

Lewis’ three dogs have a morning meal of grains, yogurt and fruits and an evening meal of muscle meat and supplements. A variety of meat and vegetables is important, she says, along with a once-a-week fast.

She draws her dogs’ menu plans from diets developed by Wendy and Jack Volhard, dog trainers who’ve written several books on the health and care of dogs.

Raw-food realities

Morehouse says it’s important to use common sense with raw diets. Bones might not be the best choice for dogs that gulp their foods, although she has some tricks for those dogs: Frozen bones slow the gulpers down; so does offering them larger portions.

She feeds her dogs commercially prepared raw foods about one-third of the time, along with a mix of muscle tissue, organs, fruit, vegetables, yogurt and apple-cider vinegar. Raw meaty bones, which are about 75 percent bone and 25 percent tissue, make up about 75 percent of her dogs’ diet. Those bones include turkey necks, chicken drumsticks, lamb and pork necks and beef ribs. She’s also an advocate of fasting or simply skipping a meal once a week or so to mimic a dog’s natural feeding pattern.

Aversa acknowledges the regimen of raw-food diets isn’t for every pet owner — a few very ill animals can’t tolerate it, he says. And — as with any raw meats — those handling them need to take necessary precautions, he notes.

A home-prepared cooked meal is the next best thing, Aversa says, but it won’t go as far for the health of the animal.

Kibbles and more

Leatherberry, the Santa Fe dog trainer, doesn’t feed her dogs, Angela and Razz, raw food. She chooses high-quality kibble and switches between brands.

“I’m a total label sleuth,” she says. “Many supposedly ‘healthy’ brands aren’t.” She relies on the annual dog-food review published by Whole Dog Journal to help her decide what dog foods are best.

Leatherberry and her husband, Jim, also supplement their dogs’ diet with cooked foods. Grilled salmon is a favorite, along with vegetables. Sunday mornings, the “whole pack has scrambled eggs,” she says.

A quick look at the nutritional label on dog-food packages can help owners sort out the good from the bad, the Volhards’ Web site says. Ingredients are listed in order of weight and the amount that appears in the food.

The source of protein in commercial dog food is critical in determining the product’s quality, Wendy Volhard says in a number of articles. Healthy dog food has higher percentages of animal proteins as opposed to grains, which are cheaper to manufacture.

Canines do need some carbohydrates or grains and vegetables for energy and proper digestion, Volhard says, but dog-food manufacturers often use a heat process to break down the carbohydrates, which destroys many of the vitamins and minerals.

Volhard recommends adding mineral and vitamin supplements — such as vitamin C and vitamin B-complex and amino acids — daily if you use commercially prepared kibbles. Her suggested diet also includes fresh vegetables, fruit and raw meat, such as ground beef, beef liver or chicken. The supplemental diet is topped off with soft-boiled egg four times a week. Cottage cheese and yogurt take the place of meat on subsequent days during the week.

The right choice

So what’s a pet owner to do? It all comes down to meeting the nutritional needs of the animal and the comfort level of the pet owner, Aversa says.

“There are many approaches to this,” Aversa says, noting that books and information are widely available on the Internet. It’s critical the diet a pet owner chooses doesn’t become neglected because it’s inconvenient or doesn’t suit the person’s lifestyle.

New diets, especially those based on raw foods, should be introduced slowly to the animal, Aversa says. He offers a basic diet outline for his patients, but says as long as the diet is nutritionally complete, just about any combination will work. An animal’s nutritional needs can be met over a week or two, not necessarily in every meal, he says.

Morehouse, though, says the choice is obvious.

“It’s common knowledge that unprocessed foods are healthier,” she says. “Dogs can’t make choices for their health, but you can.”

Contact Ben Swan at 986-3051 or bswan@sfnewmexican.com

Dining à la carte

Here are some suggestions for a dog’s diet — whether raw, cooked or supplemental to commercially prepared kibbles — from the May issue of The Whole Dog Journal. Note that the amounts used will vary according to a dog’s weight:

Raw meaty bones: Chicken necks, backs and leg quarters; turkey necks; pork breasts and necks; canned fish with bones. These bones should be 30 percent to 50 percent of the diet for those dogs on a raw-food diet. Bones can be ground or cut up into bite-size pieces to cut down the risk of choking.

Organ meat: Liver, kidneys and heart are nutritionally rich, but shouldn’t make up more than 5 percent to 10 percent of the diet.

Muscle meat: Beef, lamb, chicken and turkey can be ground or cut up into chunks. Never feed more than half the total diet from a single protein source.

Dairy products: Eggs, yogurt and cottage cheese provide nutrition and beneficial bacteria.

Vegetable, fruits: Canine digestive systems can’t break down raw vegetables, so they should be puréed, cooked or steamed. Good vegetables include broccoli, cauliflower, celery, carrots, squashes, leafy greens and cucumbers. Kelp, alfalfa or seaweed are good alternatives for dogs who refuse their vegetables. Recommended fruits include small amounts of apples, bananas, berries and melons.

Grains, beans and starchy vegetables: Potatoes, sweet potatoes and winter squashes should be cooked for easy digestion. They are a source of inexpensive calories but don’t provide much nutritional value. They shouldn’t make up more than 20 percent of a dog’s diet. Grains and starchy vegetables can aggravate arthritis and other forms of inflammation.

Supplements: Fish oil, ginger, kelp, unpasteurized apple cider vinegar, nutritional yeast, raw honey and dark molasses, all in small amounts, can provide additional benefits.

No-nos: There are several foods to avoid when supplementing a dog’s diet or creating homemade meals. These include: chocolate, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts and onions. Fresh garlic has many benefits for dogs, but high doses can cause anemia. The Whole Dog Journal suggests one small clove per day per 20 pounds of the dog’s body weight.

Other sources also suggest avoiding moldy cheeses or soft cheeses with rinds (like camembert and brie), raw potatoes, apple seeds and cherry or olive pits.

WHERE TO GO

Some local resources for frozen or dehydrated

raw foods for dogs:

• Critters & Me, 1403 Agua Fria St., 982-5040
• The Feed Bin, 1202 W. Alameda St., 982-0511
• Fido Food, Robin Morehouse, 660-6666
• Shiloh Pet Supply, 3660 Cerrillos Road, 471-3177
• Tullivers Pet Food Emporium, 807 Cerrillos Road, 992-3388
• Zoe & Guido’s Pet Boutique, 1441 C Paseo de Peralta, 988-2500

   

• Grrrrowlicious food for hungry dogs, by Jamie Young, was published in Canada byWhitecap in 2006. It’s U.S. price is $14.95. To find copies, log onto www.grrrr.com.au or www.whitecap.ca.
• The Whole Dog Journal: A three part series on home-prepared diets was published in the April-June issues. Copies are available at some pet stores or online at www.wholedog-journal.com.
• Barfworld.com and www.volhard.com offer online resources for books, diet guidelines, nutritional information and commercially available dog food.

Recipes

Jamie Young’s Grrrowlicious food for hungry dogs (Firefly, 2007) offers recipes for cooked and raw food, along with selections for raw meaty bones. The book also contains tightly written chapters on treats and a overview of necessary canine dietary supplements.

This is one of the Australian’s raw-food recipes for dogs. To give your animals as much variety as possible, Young suggests frequent changes in the meat and vegetables you use.

Mincemeat & Greens

(Makes one serving)

101/2 ounces raw ground meat (lamb, veal, chicken, pork)

1 cup broccoli, chopped

2 brussel sprouts, finely chopped

1/2 cup peas

1 carrot, grated

1 tablespoon cottage cheese

1 tablespoon oil

Mix all ingredients together and serve.

From the same book, an interesting combination of textures — cooked and raw; chewy and crunchy

Pork, apple & oats

(Makes one serving)

1 tablespoon olive oil

101/2 ounces raw pork, diced

1 medium sweet potato, cooked and mashed

31/2 ounces greens (beans or spinach) roughly chopped

1 celery stalk

1 apple, chopped and deseeded

1 handful oats

In a medium-sized pot, heat oil and fry pork. When cooked, add sweet potato, beans and celery and stir through. Allow to cool, adding apple and rolled oats before serving.