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Can Border Collies Eat Raw Meat?

The short answer is yes, dogs can eat raw meat. Infect, it has become an increasingly popular choice among dog owners and there’re even some vets now recommending it. But it’s not a decision you should take lightly. In this article, we’ll discuss the arguments for and against feeding raw meat to your dog.

Should You Feed A Raw Food Diet To Your Dog?

Raw food diets for us humans fall often come in and out of fashion all the time, but at least we can choose if we want to eat only uncooked foods, and if not, we can change our minds if it doesn’t suit us. On the other hand, raw meat diets for dogs are more controversial as the dogs themselves don’t have a say in the decision. But what are the facts? Is it good for your dog to eat only uncooked meat, fruit and vegetables?

While it’s more common for working dogs to be on a raw meat diet, is it the right thing for your border collie? Those in favor of the raw meat diet would claim that it’s more of a natural feeding regime compared to canned or dry commercial food and closer to the food a domestic dog’s wild ancestors would have eaten. Owners who are against feeding raw meat to dogs claim that the scientific studies have shown the potential health risks posed with raw meat and vegetable only diets for dogs are too high. The biggest risks are bacterial infection, poor nutrition, and injury from splintered bones.

Essential Nutrition For Dogs

Dog owners should be aware of how important proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals are for a dog’s diet. However, too much or too little of any of these nutrients could be harmful to your dog.

If you are determined to feed your border collie a raw meat diet, then consider getting advice from an animal nutrition expert or buying commercially prepared meat meals recommended by your vet. A lot of vets and pet nutritionists can provide you with ready-made recipes for you to use. But as food preparation can be very time-consuming and expensive, you may want to keep a supply of pre-made food just in case.

To Feed Or Not To Feed Raw

It’s important to take into consideration just how time-consuming it is to feed a safe and nutritionally balanced raw food diet to your dog. Vets recommend dog owners that wish to avoid feeding commercially produced food to prepare homemade dog food if they follow a recipe planned by a certified animal nutritionist. However, most vets agree that commercially prepared dog food that’s certified by the Association of American Feed Controls is the safest and healthiest choice for your dog.

Your Border Collie Isn’t A Wolf

It’s a fairly common belief that because dogs are descended from wolves, they should therefore eat a diet similar to their ancestors. As wolves are carnivores —meaning that they only eat meat — it’s often assumed that dogs should also be fed a carnivorous diet.

The problem with that assumption is that dogs are genetically different from wolves. Thousands of years ago, dogs split off from wolves and became domesticated. Since then, they have evolved alongside humans to be able to eat a lot of what humans eat.

The Importance Of A Balanced Nutrition

An important criticism of raw meat diets for dogs is the lack of balanced nutrition. For healthy dogs that don’t have any known health problems require a specialized diet, experts recommend feeding a diet with the right balance of protein, water, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. High-quality dog foods are formulated specifically to meet these needs and in the correct amounts. What’s more, a dog’s nutritional needs will change as they go through different life stages. Most dog foods are specifically suited to each stage of your dog’s development.

Fans of raw meat diets claim that their dogs’ skin and coat showed improvements after switching to raw meat diets; however, it’s possible that any previous skin problems occurred because of low-quality dog food, an unknown environmental factor that’s no longer around, or a negative reaction to an ingredient in a previously used brand of dog food. Instead, switching their dogs to high-quality dog food may lead to similar improvements while ensuring that their dogs receive the proper balance of nutrients.

Raw Diet Safety

Despite the risks and the lack of scientific evidence supporting the health benefits of a raw meat diet, many people still insist that a raw diet is the healthiest way to feed their dogs. If you’re not convinced that a raw meat diet for dogs should be avoided, then you should use some safety guidelines which are recommended by the FDA to help reduce the risk of contamination to you and your dog.

  • Avoid touching your mouth or face while handling raw dog meat.
  • Also, wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.
  • Make sure to clean and disinfect all surfaces, utensils and other objects that came into contact with the raw meat.
  • Freeze raw meat or poultry until you’re ready to use it (note: freezing does not guarantee to kill off all the bacteria. E Coli and salmonella can often be resistant to cold temperatures). Thaw raw meat in your refrigerator, avoid using the sink or your countertop.
  • Carefully handle raw meat or poultry to avoid spreading raw juices to other surfaces.
  • If your dog doesn’t finish their food, immediately refrigerate or carefully dispose of the leftovers.
  • Avoid kissing your dog on or near their mouth and don’t allow them to lick around your face.
  • Be sure to wash your hands and face after handling or being licked by your dog.
  • It’s also a good idea to wear disposable gloves while handling your dog’s raw food and to feed your dog using disposable plates. As young children and the elderly are especially susceptible to food-borne illnesses, they should never come into contact with this type of raw dog food.
  • Your dog’s stool is also a potential source of contamination. Be sure to collect and safely dispose of your dog’s stool, making sure not to come into contact with it. Thoroughly wash your hands with soap/water when done.

Conclusion

With this knowledge in hand, you can confidently answer “No” the next time you hear the question “can border collies eat raw meat?” While the enthusiasm of raw diet proponents can be alluring, the safety of your border collie and the people within your household should be your highest priority. If you’re still not sure, talk to your veterinarian about the best type of raw food to feed your collie.

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