There are many options when it comes to pet food, and along with the options comes quite a bit of confusion. Commercial pet food claims to be the healthiest food for your pet, yet raw diets are gaining in popularity and in use. As you evaluate the possibility of going to a food diet that’s raw, it’s good to look at the risks associated with both.

We are well aware of pet food recalls, so we know a commercial diet is not risk free. Looking at the history of commercial pet food, we see canned horse meat and scraps introduced in the 1920’s. Then in the late 1940’s dry pet food took off as a method of using cheap by-products and grains. This food was promoted for its convenience. In the ‘60s, the pet food industry began a campaign to get people to stop feeding their dogs anything but packaged dog food by warning against table scraps. What they offered as the healthy option was extruded pet foods. Because extruded food, cooked under pressure and steam heat, destroys heat-sensitive ingredients such as enzymes and vitamins, pet food manufacturers added synthetic vitamin/mineral supplements to compensate for this deficiency. It’s worthwhile to note also that commercial pet foods include a huge range of chemical preservatives and colorings, some of which are now recognized as carcinogenic.

Many pet owners are switching to a raw diet as a means of coping with the allergies and coat problems that come from feeding extruded food, depleted in Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and plant nutrients. They feel the health benefits of a raw diet outweigh any potential risks. The two main concerns with raw diets are bacteria and bone hazards. While food-borne bacteria like such as e-coli and salmonella can be existent in a raw diet, these risks can be drastically lowered by choosing fresh meat from reliable quality sources, and by storing it appropriately. Remember, dogs and cats are routinely exposed to many types of bacteria in their daily lives and their bodies are equipped differently than ours. The bone hazard risk is not as great as some might believe. Raw bones are vital to diets, providing calcium and minerals, as well as teeth and gum benefits. Bones such as chicken bones are considered digestible for dogs. Larger bones, such as beef bones, should be selected and sized so that the dog cannot choke on them. Common sense comes into play. Cooked bones should never be fed, as they splinter.

What we feed our pets is a personal choice, dependent on many factors. By no means is raw your only option, as every animal has individual factors or health issues that may make other diets, such as kibble or homemade cooked, a better choice. Choosing and planning a raw diet for your pet requires self education, research, and common sense. And just because it is raw does not mean it is completely balanced or healthy. Supplements are a necessity with any diet, and natural supplements are highly recommended for all pets. The Missing Link (human food quality) pet supplements are made with ingredients that are nutrient rich to address the problems of marginal or empty calories and missing nutrients that are characteristic of commercial pet diets and even some raw diets. These nutrients provide support to the digestive, nervous, and immune systems. The result is sustained energy, healthy skin and coat, and much more.