Raw Food Better Than Cooked Food

[ncarter]

I was wondering what is it about raw food that makes it better for the nutrition of dogs compared to cooked food?

Edited October 15, 2007 by ncarter

[westielover]

One theory is that people who feed their dogs raw food diets feel that nature intended for animals to eat their food raw and that cooking damages the chemical makeup of foods and therefore may not be as nutritional for the dog as food in the raw form.

[ncarter]

oh right thanks. I dont understand how people can feed a kibble only diet as well its like damn u have to feed some fresh food imagine if we only ate processed food

[Jed]

Apparently meat contains an enzyme which helps dogs digest it. When it is cooked, the enzyme is destroyed.

[poodlemum]

Get hold of a copy of "Give your dog a bone" by Ian Billinghurst - he explains the value of feeding raw foods - it's just common sense really - would a wild dog make a fire & cook his food?

[horus]

Cooking not only alters enzymes, but protein, amino acids, fat etc. The changes in these nutritional requirements can lead to deficiencies in diet. Feeding raw food (ie meaty bones) also satisfies behavioural requirements with regards to feeding ie ripping, tearing, crushing of bones etc (apart from hunting). These behavioural requirements stimulate internal functions of the digestive tract to process food, which may not occur with cooked or processed food, again leading to nutritional deficiencies and associated health problems.