Interview: Feeding Your Dog a Raw Diet

Jill Cherrier is a raw diet advocate and co-founder of In The Raw…Food for Dogs and Cats Inc. in North Vancouver, BC. In an interview for Your Holistic Dog, Jill explains the philosophy and research behind this natural approach to feeding your animal.

Your Holistic Dog: How did you first become involved with feeding a raw diet to your dogs and cats?

Jill Cherrier: Approximately 15 years ago, a close friend and fellow dog lover told me about a book she had read Give A Dog A Bone by an Australian vet named Dr. Ian Billinghurst. I borrowed her book and read it in one sitting, fascinated by his concepts of natural raw feeding. It was one of those light bulb or ah-ha moments and the next day I went out and bought some raw meat and bones and started our Dalmatian “Joshua” on this new diet.

Joshua had always had some health issues that we were never quite able to pin down. It appeared as though he had allergies and, after much veterinary testing, he was diagnosed with liver and kidney issues. His health improved greatly once he began eating a whole raw food diet plus supplements to target his health problems.

After witnessing his improvements, my partner and I decided to share the education and benefits to other cat and dog owners. In September 2000, IN THE RAW first opened its doors catering exclusively to raw food diets. We were among the first in North America to offer a “grocery” like variety for consumers to choose from.

YHD:  How does a dog’s digestive system lend itself to raw foods?

JC: Veterinarians, Scientists and archeologists agree that, although altered in outward appearance, the internal workings of today’s dogs and cats are fundamentally the same as their wild counterparts and ancestors.

Dogs are classified as omnivores. That means that your dog needs a wide range of food in their diet, including raw meats, raw bones, organs, stomach contents plus vegetables and fruits.

Cats are classified as carnivores. That means that your cat needs raw meat including the muscle, organs, stomach contents, and bones.

Look at the dental structure of our dogs and cats. Their “fang” like teeth are designed to rip, shred, and tear. There are no flat molars to grind food into smaller more workable pieces before swallowing. They are not designed to chew kibble!

Dogs and cats do not have digestive enzymes in their saliva. Their saliva is designed to lubricate large chunks of food for easy travel to the stomach. Due to the lack of digestive enzymes in their saliva, these enzymes MUST be present in their food. These vital enzymes are present only in raw unaltered, uncooked food.  Any heat processing kills these vital enzymes and taxes the animal’s pancreas, digestive and immune system.

Dogs and cats have single-chambered stomachs, similar to human beings. However, their intestines are half the length of ours (approximately 11 feet vs. our 21 feet) and their stomach acidity content is lower than ours (ph. 2 vs. our ph. 4). This acid, along with other digestive enzymes, are what break down the food matter so that the life-sustaining nutrients can be absorbed.

This acidity level allows your dogs and cats to eat raw meat and raw bones, with little to no risk of parasitic disease. The intestinal walls of dogs and cats are a host to hundreds (400) of species of bacteria and microorganisms, called micro flora.  The natural balance of your animals micro flora provide enzymes, vitamins, and minerals. They also help to inhibit the growth of disease-forming bacteria such as salmonella and E. coli.

So why should you choose a raw natural pet diet over a cooked dry/canned pet diet? Due to their anatomical and digestive functions, dogs and cats are predestined to eat a species-appropriate diet of raw meat, bones, veggies and fruits (minimal for cats) for optimal health.

YHD: Describe some of the health benefits of raw food feeding.

JC: Switching to a raw natural diet will have a positive impact on boosting your pets overall health, vitality, longevity,  and quality of life. The following ailments can be greatly improved, if not eliminated, once your pets are eating a raw, natural diet:

- Allergies                                                 
- Eye ailments/discharge      
- Arthritis/joint problems                     
- Lacks energy/enthusiasm
- Bowel/urinary problems                    
- Obesity/weight problems
- Cancer                                                     
- Parasites/fleas and mites
- Dental/breath problems                    
- Poor skin and coat
- Ear ailments/discharge                      
- Weakened immune system 

YHD:  For someone considering feeding their dog or cat a raw diet for the first time, it can be somewhat overwhelming. What advice would you give them?

JC: For some, the concept of feeding raw meat to their pets can seem odd, especially since we grew up with the old adage “don’t give your dog chicken bones” and “don’t feed them raw meat because they’ll become agressive.” Both of which are untrue.

There are two ways to switch a pet to a raw food diet–the hard switch and the gradual switch. With either process, we recommend a healthy dose of probiotics (friendly bacteria) for a two-week period to introduce good healthy flora to the intestinal tract, stomach, and bowel.

The hard switch is literally out with the old and in with the new. Please note that some pets with  sensitive digestive systems and some seniors may have bowel reactions (loose stools), so a gradual switch would be better for them. This is where the owner needs to be in tune with their pet.

The gradual switch is a slow 7-day to 14-day process, gradually introducing the raw food while keeping the original diet then slowly weaning them off of their original diet. Please note that once weaned, we do not recommend mixing processed foods (can/kibble) with raw foods as each will digest at a different rate and in the long run will be harder on your pet’s digestive function.

YHD:  There are some misconceptions out there on feeding bones. What suggestions can you give on the subject of bones (both recreational and meal bones)?

JC: There are lots of misconceptions about bones, mostly based on fear and poor choices. Bones are an essential and wonderful component of the raw food diet. Pets love them. Just look inside a cat or dogs mouth, they are designed to rip, crush, and tear bones for the health and dental benefits and also for the sheer joy of it.

Making the right choice of bones for your pet is essential. Size is a big issue. Never choose a bone that is smaller than your pet’s mouth capacity. You don’t want them to swallow it whole. That would be bad and they could choke.

Know the density of the bones in relation to your pets chewing ability. If you have a hard-core chewer, then do not choose elk, venison, or lamb bones–they are softer by nature. Look for beef and bufflalo/bison, which are tougher. Puppies and seniors should have softer bones, like necks, backs and knuckles (either chicken, elk, venison or lamb).

When you are just starting out with bones, choose chicken necks as they are cartilage padded by meat. So, if they swallow whole or regurgitate, there will be no exposed bone to scrape or irritate the esophagus. From there, gradually work up to bigger, denser bones, which are more ideal for teeth-cleaning and removing bacteria built up above the gumline.

Bones should never be fed either cooked or frozen. Always serve defrosted at room temperature. They can splinter and cause intestinal, esophageal, stomach, and anal punctures.

One of the biggest mistakes people make is to hover over pets eating bones. It is the ultimate treat, and if you hover, they fear it will be taken away and then they try to gulp it down. Common sense is key.

YHD:  What types of vegetables can be added to a raw meat diet?

JC: There are lots of veggies you can use for your pets, but it is important to process them correctly. They should be very finally pulverised or juiced so that the nutrients are bio-available to your pet’s system. Ideally you are trying to duplicate the pre-digested stomach contents of prey animals–that is how wild dogs and cats get their veggies.

For dogs the ratio is 20% to 25% of the overall diet in vegetation. For cats, if they have any veggies at all, it should not exceed 5% (true carnivore).

Generally you can use whatever veggies you like (with a few exceptions – see below). I prefer a mix of approximately 80 % leafy greens (beet & carrot tops, leafy lettuces, kale, chard, parsley etc.) and 20 % starch or fruit (yams, squash, berries, melons, etc.)

Veggies to avoid or use in limited amounts: potato, tomato, eggplant, grapes, rasins, corn, beets (limited), spinach (limited), broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips, onions, garlic (limited).

YHD:  Should one also consider using nutritional supplements? If so, what?

JC: Supplements are great if used in limited amounts…sometimes people just add too many extras when the quality and nutrients are already in the whole foods they are feeding. One important supplement is an essential fatty acid supplement (EFA oil) plant or fish based (fish only for cats and dogs with liver problems). This nourishes skin, hair, joint, heart, and brain function and is limited in meats naturally.

If you have a sick or older pet, it would be beneficial to add a multivitamin with digestive enzymes and/or joint support (anti-inflammatory) where needed.

YHD:  In your own experience, can you cite some examples of how raw food has helped the animals of your customers?

JC: Over the last 10 ½ years, we have seen the health and vitality of so many our clients’ pets improve on raw food. We have had several cats with insulin-dependent diabetes go into remission. We’ve seen seniors gain a new zest and energy for life. We see animals who have had horrible allergies, chronic infections, or digestive disorders disappear. Animals with cancer live longer and stronger lives.

Photo Credit: K. Garland

Photo Credit (Joshua): Courtesy In the Raw