Hello Lorenzo. While many people have fed raw wild game with no bad results for years, there are many parasites in wild deer than can be transmitted by eating muscle meat. It's a chance I don't care to take with my dogs.
Here are some links:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/trichinosis/2004_Trichinellosis_FS.pdf
http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/DS/00510.html
http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publications.htm?seq_no_115=172546
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/faculty/path/documents/Transmission.pdf
This next link has way more info than I think anyone would be interested in, so I'll print the pertinent data:
http://www.wsava2005.com/memorias/Montej...0and%20dogs.htm
In dogs, toxoplasmosis is a rare primary disease of dogs, Most reports are in dogs that are immunosuppressed and not vaccinated against the distemper virus. The most dramatic clinical signs in older dogs have been associated with neural and muscular systems. Neurologic signs depend on the site of lesion in the cerebrum, cerebellum, or spinal cord. Seizures, cranial nerve deficits, tremors, ataxia, and paresis or paralysis may be seen. Dogs with myositis may initially show abnormal gait, muscle wasting, or stiffness. Paraparesis and tetraparesis may rapidly progress to lower motor neuron paralysis. Canine toxoplasmosis is clinically similar to Neospora caninum infection, which was previously confused with toxoplasmosis (see Neosporosis later). Although these diseases are similar, toxoplasmosis appears to be more prevalent in cats and neosporosis in dogs.

For your information, I hunt and eat a lot of game and was thinking about feeding raw venison to my dogs. I did research and decided not to do so. So I did check things out before "Blabbing".
Once again, it's everyone's choice what to feed or not feed their dog, just figured I would post a caveat about feeding raw game to dogs, particularly venison.
Janice Jarman

Thanks Janice!

Some of the same findings are available on the warnings of feeding raw (i.e. chicken, bones, etc) but let's agree to disagree at this point.

The raw diet isn't for everyone and every dog. I wouldn't recommend this to some of my careless friends :-D

As you mentioned, it is wise to do a little research before trying this or any drastic change to your "FIDO'S" diet.

 Quote:

Hello Lorenzo. While many people have fed raw wild game with no bad results for years, there are many parasites in wild deer than can be transmitted by eating muscle meat. It's a chance I don't care to take with my dogs.

to repeat: FREEZING is the solution. read billinghurst. this is what he recommends. if you hunt you are wasting a very valuable food source for your dogs by not feeding them wild game. read my post on the do's and don'ts of feeding wild game (previous page) and you can do this with confidence that you aren't giving your dogs parasites.

having said that, all dogs and people carry parasites to some degree, and mixing raw garlic in your and your dogs' diets is a good preventive/corrective, as are some chinese herbs that are less harsh than commercial wormers.

Wow....thanks for all this well written advice. Here it is Fall of 2010 and I've just started my 2 gsd'd 1 border collie and 1 blk lab on RAW. However, with hunting season gearing up I know I can get plenty of venison. So this helps to answer many of my questions and even debunks what are myths....I guess.

My gsd has been on raw venison (mixed with other proteins of course) for about 10 months with no issues. If you can butcher your own deer it can be pretty darn cheap. I don't have any reservations about feeding it.