I went to the vet's today and I mentioned by mistake (stupid me)that I was giving my Chi raw food (which she likes very much). Well, it was like an alarm went off!She said that it causes worms in dogs. When I mentioned that dogs used to eat raw food in the wild she nodded and said that the prey was consumed completely with skin and hair etc. and that by doing so the dogs got complete meals and worms also, as a matter of fact and that I should give my dogs kibbles and intestines. I am now in a dillema, to stay on the raw diet and possibly risk worms in my dogs or to go back on the kibbles with the grains .
Has anyone of you experienced a case in which your dog got worms as a direct result of the raw diet? I really hope not.

Rosalinda,

Dogs get worms regardless of whether they are on raw, a good all-natural kibble or a "crap in a bag" kibble.
Dogs that are outside are exposed to all kinds of things.

I have my dogs checked for worms regularly now instead of having them on a worming schedule like I used to.
Last two worm checks=all 5 adult dogs were negative and Little Ember had her first one and she was negative too. All dogs at my house are raw fed.

My dogs have been on raw for 5 years and in that time the only worming I have done is a litter of puppies. I used diatomaceous earth(DE) for 6 weeks and all 12 puppy fecals came back clear. My adult dogs have fecals done every other year and have been clear the entire time we have been on raw.

I truly believe that the health of my dogs do to their raw diet(as well as no vaccines or preventatives, plenty of exercise and fresh air) allows my dogs bodies and immune systems to naturally conquer things like worms, viruses... that they come in contact with.

Hope this helps,
Shannon

Ditto the above!

The only worms that I can think of are tapeworms from fleas that might be in the fur of whole prey or encysted in the liver of deer. (Thanks Debbie Bruce :grin

My dog has not had a problem with either. If he does, then I will simply worm him. It will not be the end of the world.

I would put the "burden of proof" on your vet. Just simply ask for some kind of proof. All they will be able to come up with is the above listed risk for tapeworm. Which isn't really a risk. Just an inconvenience. IMO, not near the inconvenience of huge poops, allergies, bad teeth, "dog" smell, or bad breath that you will get with kibble.

Trust yourself. You ARE feeding the right way.

Give her Tom Lonsdale's website. http://www.rawmeatybones.com/ He's a vet. I guarantee that if she e-mails him he will respond back with answers to any of her questions.

I've emailed him twice and he has responded promptly both times. Very nice man.

Thanks a lot, Carol and Shannon, I feel so relieved. My doubts are gone. Paws up!

 Quote: Rosalinda van den Ham

I went to the vet's today and I mentioned by mistake (stupid me)that I was giving my Chi raw food. . .

Bet you won't do that again!

I'd talk to the vet and see if she's willing to stand behind her statement. Offer to have your dog tested for worms. If he comes back negative, there's no charge to you. If he's positive, you'll pay for the test.

Mike

 Quote: Mike Armstrong

I'd talk to the vet and see if she's willing to stand behind her statement.

So would I. That is a remarkably uninformed statement from a vet. Food is not where dogs get worms.


http://www.vet.uga.edu/VPP/animaldoc/worms/worms02.php
QUOTE: Dogs get roundworms either from eating worm eggs off the ground or because the mother dog was infected and passed the worms to her puppies during her pregnancy ... Dogs can get hookworms from the ground where other dogs have passed eggs before, or from the milk of their mother if she was infected ... Dogs usually get whipworms from eating eggs that other dogs have shed. ... Dogs usually get tapeworms when they eat a flea that ate a tapeworm egg. There is another kind of tapeworm that dogs can get when they eat a rabbit that ate a tapeworm egg. ... Dogs get heartworms when an infected mosquito bites them. The mosquito got infected by biting another dog that already had heartworms. END

Also,

http://ezinearticles.com/?Causes-of-Worms-in-Dogs-and-What-You-Can-Do-About-It&id=931347

http://www.thepetcenter.com/exa/worms.html

You will notice the complete absence of food, raw or other, as a source of infestation. The lone exception is one kind of tapeworm (not the common canine tapeworm) that the dog who kills and eats a rabbit can pick up.

That first link is a vet med school. You will find the same information on the CDC site and in vet med manuals, such as Merck.

I think I am about the only one with dogs on the raw diet here, other dog's owners look at me with bulging eyes and astonishment when I tell them, so it is impossible to discuss this topic with other dog owners. I wish more dog owners here would feed their dog raw food so we could exchange info and tips.

But thanks to you all for the helpfull replies and links which I will check out, study and print.

I think it's possible to get disease/parasites from raw diets...however from my reading it seems that people are feeding high-quality fresh items. So say, flies and other parasites don't exactly have a chance to lay eggs on the raw meat.

You CAN get parasitic infections from raw meat. I forget the name of the scientist, but they used to believe that flies mysteriously metamorphasized out of raw meat. The scientist proved it wrong by placing a cheesecloth over one jar and not another. Larvae appeared on the open jar but not the covered one. Bugs are gross...they like putting their nurseries in rotting things

The other impression I get is the "raw crowd" seems to be very conscientious about the health and care of their animals, and their strong constitutions and lack of parasites is most likely testament to that. Oh well, it's your dog and it's healthy right? Maybe the vet should be glad you look after them so well instead of criticizing your menu!