I am amazed my the amount of people that feed a raw diet...not just here on this board, but even in my small town.

Almost every pet store in my area (minus the "big city" Petcos/Petsmarts of course) offer a raw diet...either Bravo, Steve's Real Food, Nature's Variety, etc...the premade raw in other words. And according to the owners of these stores...they just can't keep enough in stock...they're all in the market for more freezers or more space to stock them.

And yet, according to my vet hospital...which is the only one for many miles for people to go to...I am one of only TWO people that feeds raw. That's obviously not true...people just aren't telling their vet.

Now the other person that admits to feeding raw is someone who has a littermate of my Corgi. That littermate has the same autoimmune disorder that my Corgi has that causes their face and ears to literally rot away. We both went through the steroids, the creams, the "special" diets, the experimental drugs, the antibiotics, the specialist vets.

NOTHING worked except keeping the dogs on steriods 24/7. The minute the steriods were reduced, the symptoms returned. And keeping the dogs on steroids is NOT a life for any dog, IMO.

So then I found the raw diet. The change was AMAZING. Since being on the raw diet, my dog has had ZERO outbreaks and looks healthier than any other Corgi I have personally seen. Not to mention he's active and happy and healthy.

My friend with my Corgi's littermate took longer to come around for the raw diet. Finally, he was to the point that he was willing to try anything...but he was only willing to try the patties.

Again, an immediate and miraculous change in this dog. After one month on raw...he is as healthy and sore-free as my Corgi and he's finally lost that extra steroid weight and sluggishness.

I bring all of this up for a reason...my vet was amazed with the results of my Corgi, but to him, one success story doesn't necessarily prove anything. Then, when he saw the results in the other Corgi...he's a believer. He still says he doesn't understand why it worked, but he's very happy that something did. He is, as a result of all of this, MUCH more accepting of and interested in the raw diet and it's benefits then he would have been if we haven't told him we were on raw. There's nothing like personal experience to wake you up.

I KNOW that there are many more people out there with success stories fromt the raw diet (just scan the posts here on LB), but I wish that the vets got to HEAR more of these. I know that you have to put up with a bucket of crap from the vet when you first tell them, but doesn't anyone agree with me that the more good they see, the more their eyes will be opened?

I HATE to think that the glowing coats, disappearing hot spots, increased energy, better tooth condition, etc...are all being viewed by vets as a result of the kibble they THINK their clients are feeding their dogs.

Both my Vets were fine with it. One said it wasnt something she was personally comfortable doing but that was just her. The main reason I switched Andy was allergies last year. I'm so happy with it, that now I'm switching our English Setter.

I told mine. I think they forgot cause no one has said anything about it. I didn't want to tell because I want the vet to treat my dogs problems when I go in and not blame it on the way I feed.

I think most vets are inclined to blame diet because they don't know anything about raw diets. I would be more than willing to lead my vet to info, but things I have said in the past fell on deaf ears. You could tell they weren't listening so I shut up and don't mention it anymore. If asked I would probably say I fed some kind of kibble.

I see what you mean though. It would be nice if t'were different.

The thing that really got me was when my dog had bloody diarrhea. That e-vet really just flat out insulted me. He told me to my face that I was not capable of feeding a dog a home made diet. I had no "science" behind what I was doing.

A year later my cousin's kibble fed dog got the same thing. He didn't get berated for what he fed. That lead me to call around to vets and e-vets. If they gave me time I asked what there most common problems were. Behind peridontal disease, which is a whole 'nother story, was acute bloody diarrhea. Nobody could tell me a cause and I would be willing to bet that an overwhelming majority of their clients feed kibble. Basically it had nil to do with my dogs raw diet.

Sorry this post is so un-organized and full of rambling. I don't really get mad about stuff, but this subject is frustrating for me and others that feed a raw diet. I think pride just gets in the way and they don't want to learn anything from some pet owners. What do we know.

I stopped because I got tired of hearing about all the "evils"

I admit I did not tell my then-boss/vet I was feeding raw...at first. I just didn't want to hear it. Connie set me straight on that and I fessed up.

I'm still looking for a vet and raw feeding is the very first thing out of my mouth when I call to book an appointment: "This is how I feed my dog...do you have a vet on staff who will accept/support this? I don't want any grief about the diet."

You bring up a good point, Amber. I've seen a number of different vets and every single one comments on his coat, his teeth, and his overall shining good health. Whatever they think about raw, they can't argue with the results they see in my dog.

I do, I do, I do!!!! I got the initial "It's going to make them sick, they will choke on the bones, you're just lucky, etc, etc, etc......" Now they just look at me and with a little smile (they're just humoring me).
Muahahaha, I'll convert them eventually. I'll have them selling GOOD food instead of that I-vet and Science Diet crap.

I can certainly understand why some people don't and what you're all saying are valid points.

I guess I've been lucky in that my dogs have been healthy and have given the vets no reason to attack how I feed.

Sure, there may be the rare impaction from a raw diet, or a nutritional deficiency from someone feeding raw incorrectly. But compared to the massive amount of the kibble-related issues and problems, I think that those things are really low on the scale of things to worry about.

During a dialogue with my vet about the raw diet in which I told him how popular the raw diet was in actuality in our area, he did tell me that he has seen waaaaay more impactions from tennis balls from kibble fed dogs than he has any bone impactions.

His stance on it is that the AAFCO patties he feels comfortable with because of the assurance that people are getting a nutritionally balanced food and not just plopping hamburger down and calling it dinner for Fido.

But he knows I feed raw whole rabbits at times and I guess we'll see who's right in the end. At least he's aware of the powerful benefits now.

I'm still glad I'm open with my vet about it. I know that I run the risk of him blaming issues on my dog's diet, but I really believe that because my dog will be so healthy...he won't see me that often! He's a cool guy in general and I know I'm lucky to have an openminded vet in a sea of nay-sayers.

But I'm going to stick to my guns, even if I have to change vets down the road for whatever reason. I have the power of my convictions, I guess, and I'm proud of my choice. I'm also not afraid to argue with the "white coats" though. I've annoyed many a GP and pediatrician, too.

 Quote: Amber Morgan

Sure, there may be the rare impaction from a raw diet, or a nutritional deficiency from someone feeding raw incorrectly. But compared to the massive amount of the kibble-related issues and problems, I think that those things are really low on the scale of things to worry about.

Right, but I think those risk are as much or more real with kibble fed dogs. I know that if a kibble fed dog has bloody diarrhea it will be of unknown causes. It just happened. But let a raw fed dog go in the same exam room, with the same vet, with the same problem right after the other dog and I will put money on diet being blamed.

I keep saying vets in a blanket statement kind of way. Thats not what I mean. All vets aren't judgemental and do their jobs instead of giving lectures. Ya'll know what I mean.

I'm gonna rethink not telling my vet about it. Who knows, if someone ask about a raw diet maybe he will send them my way. Or if more people do it he'll have to change his views to stay in business.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

I know that if a kibble fed dog has bloody diarrhea it will be of unknown causes. It just happened. But let a raw fed dog go in the same exam room, with the same vet, with the same problem right after the other dog and I will put money on diet being blamed.

Agreed, for sure.

 Quote: Michael Wise

I'm gonna rethink not telling my vet about it. Who knows, if someone ask about a raw diet maybe he will send them my way. Or if more people do it he'll have to change his views to stay in business.

Yeah, this is what I mean! It's what I'm hoping, anyway. I know I'm a closet optimist but truthfully, the client's wallets talk if nothing else. And the raw diet really DOES seem to be getting a whole lot of converts...at least where I live. The patties do, anyway, if the pet stores are any indication.

 Quote: amber morgan

I guess I've been lucky in that my dogs have been healthy and have given the vets no reason to attack how I feed.

Unfortunately, the first thing that prompted me to actually pick a new vet and make an appointment within the first few months of us moving last fall was Oscar's fractured molar . It's one thing to go into an exam room with a beautifully healthy dog and proudly talk about what you feed (and I have no problem explaining myself and standing behind my research and opinions), but when you have to go head to head with a dental professional and you KNOW your dog's problem was caused by chewing on a bone... it just gets demoralizing. Sure, it was a recreational bone, not one of the RMBs in his "meals" (and we don't give rec bones anymore ), but once I explained what he ate it was like it didn't even matter that it was a marrow bone that caused the problem: feeding bones = very bad, and she made sure to remind me every chance she could that if I didn't change my practices, I'd be back in her office with more problems. She even told me stories about working on the teeth of wild dogs at the zoo and what a tragedy it was that they continued to be fed raw, bone-in meat... *I have no idea what exactly they were being fed, and the particular cuts could very well have been a bad match for those particular animals chewing styles, but boy I hope they haven't switched the captive wolves, coyotes, hyenas and dingos over to Science Diet at her suggestion!

She was a VERY good dentist, I was truly pleased and impressed with her work, but there wasn't a chance in h*ll she was going to see the benefit in any type of raw feeding program (and she made sure to make that clear about every 5 minutes). After listening to her talk down to me for a while and tell me how many worlds away my domesticated dog was from a wild animal, I had to just stop her and tell her that nothing she could say would make me feed kibble. I agreed to think hard about the TYPES of bones I feed my obviously determined chewer, but raw meat and bones were still going to be on the menu and I would just take my chances. So far so good.

 Quote: amber morgan

But I'm going to stick to my guns, even if I have to change vets down the road for whatever reason. I have the power of my convictions, I guess, and I'm proud of my choice. I'm also not afraid to argue with the "white coats" though. I've annoyed many a GP and pediatrician, too.

Ain't that the way it's done! Gotta say I feel the same. I don't ever want to hide how I take care of my dog, especially when I'm so proud of it and hopeful that more will follow suit, but dang if I'm going to sit and be lectured about why I'm wrong from someone with NO training or experience on the subject of raw feeding! I usually mention it early on, make it clear I've done my research, then move on to the exam at hand without giving them any indication of weakness of conviction, or desire to go into details (unless it might have bearing on the situation). But on the bright side, Amber, I think the tide IS turning (just like there's a food revolution brewing worldwide). And I'm just excited to be on the knowledgeable forefront of all of it.

~Natalya