The dreaded conversation about raw feeding with your vet 😩

While there are lots of great vets who understand nutrition, there are still some who are not supportive of raw dog food. It can be very frustrating talking to a vet that thinks dogs should eat processed cereals and synthetic vitamins instead of fresh food.

But please remember: your vet does truly want the best for your dog - and some of their concerns may be legitimate.

Here’s what you need to know to get your vet onboard with raw feeding.

Why your vet may have concerns

There are two main reasons that a vet will have issues with raw feeding. The first is that many raw diets are not properly formulated. This means they are nutritionally incomplete, or have unbalanced minerals or fats. This is a legitimate concern as it can have serious health ramifications for your dog.

The great news is that if you are feeding a high quality, properly formulated raw dog food like Whoa Nelly! this is not an issue. Your dog is getting bioavailable nutrition from fresh food instead of the synthetic supplementation found in processed diets. Our dogs thrive!

The second reason is a belief that feeding raw food to dogs is unsafe. The reality is there are risks no matter what sort of food you feed. But it really comes down to the quality of the food you are feeding, as both raw and kibble dog foods have historically had recalls. The idea that all raw dog food is unsafe is nonsense.

What to tell your vet

When you see your vet, the most important thing they need to know is that you are feeding a properly formulated diet made with quality ingredients. If you are feeding Whoa Nelly! this is exactly what you are doing.

If our food is not available where you live, here’s how to choose a great diet for your dog.

Your vet needs to hear that your dog’s food is:

Nutritionally complete (meets AAFCO and NRC nutrient guidelines)
Balanced fats and minerals (Ω3:Ω6 = 1:3 and Ca:P = 1.3:1)
Made from human grade ingredients (as safe as human food)

If you are feeding a diet that meets these three criteria, well done! Any vet worth their salt knows that your dog is eating a healthy diet, and should have no further objections.

For the lucky dogs eating Whoa Nelly! there’s lots more reasons for your vet to love our food.

For starters, it’s been formulated by a canine nutritionist and has been lab tested. It contains naturally fermented probiotics, and uses functional foods like turmeric which studies show reduces inflammation. Our food is also very low carb, at about 2-3% sugar vs 40% in some “good” kibbles. Plus it’s delicious! 🤤

The issue of safety

In Australia, both raw and kibble dog foods have caused harm. In 2018, Advance Dermocare kibble was linked to a deadly megaesophagus outbreak in over 100 dogs. And then in 2021, 25 dogs were killed from contaminated horse meat in a raw dog food made by EcoPet.

This is horrible.

But these foods are not made with human grade ingredients, nor could they be meaningfully described as a quality diet for dogs. The issue of food safety is not a kibble or raw issue, it’s a quality issue. It’s negated by using human grade ingredients because they are held to a higher safety standard.

While some meat can contain bacteria that can be harmful to humans, the same is generally not true for dogs. Based on their anatomy, dogs are primarily carnivores that have a digestive system that is designed to handle raw meat. If you use good food safety practices when handling human grade raw dog food it is as safe as raw chicken or steak in your fridge.

Food safety is pretty simple. Store all raw meat including dog food at the bottom of your fridge. Always keep it refrigerated below 5°C and wash your hands immediately after touching any raw meat. I’m sure you are already doing this!

What to do if your vet is not onboard

If you feed Whoa Nelly! you are feeding the healthiest diet for dogs in Australia. If your vet has any further issues or concerns, get them to call me. I am always happy to talk.

Ultimately if your vet is not supportive of a properly formulated raw diet, it may be time to find a new vet. There are lots of great vets out there! 🐾