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This submit was initially printed in August 2015. It has been up to date with new data and republished.
With the entire combined details about uncooked feeding, there are various pet dad and mom who’re understandably apprehensive about transitioning their canine to a uncooked eating regimen. Years in the past, in a submit, I said that the recollects are about people, not about canine. The micro organism in uncooked pet food poses a threat to…
- youngsters who might contact or eat uncooked pet food and never wash their palms
- individuals who have an auto-immune illness and are discouraged from dealing with uncooked meat by their doctor
- canine with a compromised immune system
I am unsure about that final one as a result of I do know canine homeowners who’re elevating canine dwelling with most cancers, they usually feed uncooked. Nevertheless, most cancers is not the one sickness that may result in a compromised immune system. Working with a holistic veterinarian skilled in canine diet and uncooked feeding is vital.
That being stated, salmonella and different micro organism aren’t solely present in uncooked pet food.
My Canine Dined on a Useless Rabbit for 4 Days
Years in the past, I discovered that my canine had been taking turns snacking on a lifeless rabbit for 4 days. Yep. 4 days. I used to be understandably disgusted, however I noticed this as a studying alternative too.
I am unsure what killed the rabbit. I am unable to think about that it was a coyote that left the rabbit behind. Possibly an eagle or hawk dropped the rabbit? I have never a clue, however our canine have been very fascinated about one part of our yard. I did not pay it any thoughts – they’re canine and like to scent the whole lot, and I figured they’d picked up on a scent that was one of the best ever – canine shall be canine.
A day later, I turned involved once I observed Rodrigo chewing one thing on the bottom. I noticed that it was a lifeless animal, assumed “rabbit” due to the scale, and as an alternative of burying it (I did not wish to see it shut up), I used “Go away It” and centered the canine on one other a part of our property.
A few days later, I observed that they have been sneaking again to the rabbit for a snack, so I went to bury the carcass. Yep, it was a rabbit.
Our candy, comfortable canine have been smiling and wagging their tails, and I needed to giggle. Sure, that is gross, however they’re canine, and I suppose that is what canine generally do. No less than it wasn’t poop, proper?
Can Canine Eat Roadkill?
Technically, the rabbit carcass wasn’t roadkill, however you get it, proper?
I did a Google search – yeah, tremendous dependable – and examine “Roadkill Delicacies” and roadkill being utilized in pet meals. I used to be stunned by how troublesome it was to seek out any details about the hazards of canine consuming roadkill. I requested across the uncooked feeding neighborhood and bought many alternative solutions there too. In the event you hit a deer, there are occasions when you’ll be able to take it dwelling and butcher it up for the canine (examine your native legal guidelines first). Learn extra under.
However again to our lifeless rabbit, apart from the truth that it is gross that my canine have been consuming this lifeless rabbit throughout the hottest month of the 12 months, roadkill will be spoiled and teeming with micro organism and worms. So, I figured that one of the best factor to do is to take away entry to “roadkill.”
However Some Uncooked Feeders Feed Roadkill
I do know loads of uncooked feeders on-line who feed roadkill to their canine when it is accessible. Principally deer, rabbits, and squirrels are the animals I’ve seen listed in uncooked feeding teams. The distinction, I discovered from fellow uncooked feeders, is that the roadkill is recent, not one thing hanging round for days on finish in the summertime.
I’d have anticipated Rodrigo, our most delicate canine, to get sick. He ate essentially the most and beloved it. He did not vomit, have free stool or diarrhea, and by no means had fuel. He was simply superb. How can this be? I anticipated explosive diarrhea and worms. Nothing occurred. My canine have been superb.
I do not plan to encourage my canine to dine out on days-old roadkill, however I am glad that it labored out okay for our canine.
If My Canine Can Survive Roadkill, They Can Survive Uncooked Meals
So the lifeless rabbit snack the canine have been having fun with (yuck! nature is frightening) bought me fascinated about previous uncooked recollects. If our canine can deal with snacking on roadkill for days within the lifeless of summer time, then they’ll deal with uncooked pet food.
Nevertheless, I do not plan to start out feeding roadkill anytime quickly.
Quick ahead to the Summer season of 2020, and our latest member of the family, Apollo, modified my world and the way I take a look at my canine. After a coordinated effort of 4 canine, my candy infants cornered a rabbit, and my little boy, Apollo, snatched it up and ate it alive. It was essentially the most stunning expertise I’ve had with my canine, and I hope to by no means repeat it. Watching this occur gave me a brand new respect for my canine and solidified a number of issues for me:
- My canine are facultative carnivores; whereas they’re going to choose berries off my bushes and apples from our bushes, they’re going to additionally hunt and kill prey for a meal.
- A uncooked meals eating regimen is biologically applicable for my canine – not kibble, not a plant-based eating regimen – FRESH RAW FOOD!
- Though my canine are essentially the most lovable infants on the planet, they’re additionally animals, and it is vital that I respect their species, breed, and nature.
What About Rabbit Hemorrhagic Illness?
I not too long ago discovered a couple of illness that’s making its method by means of the rabbit inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest. Rabbit Hemorrhagic Illness is attributable to a virus and is impacting domesticated rabbits. It has been detected on Vancouver Island (Canada) and surrounding areas, and somebody talked about to me not too long ago that in 2019 RHD was detected in Washington State.
This illness is very contagious; nonetheless, the Van Isle Veterinary Hospital says, “[t]he illness doesn’t have an effect on people or different species together with canine and cats.” It is vital to know that neither freezing nor warmth kills the virus. Though RHD hasn’t been tied to wild rabbits, I do not see how they are often immune. If somebody abandons or loses a rabbit that may be a service and that rabbit comes into contact with wild rabbits, then the illness will unfold, proper? Though it is stated that canine cannot contract RHD, I’ve determined to succeed in out to my two rabbit sources to be taught extra about how they’re preserving their rabbits secure from this virus.
What I Do When My Canine Eat Prey
Though I have been assured many instances that my canine shall be superb in the event that they eat prey, I nonetheless do a number of issues simply in case:
- Look ahead to a change in habits that will signify that my canine are sick.
- Take note of canine poop – worms, diarrhea, constipation.
- Add floor pumpkin seeds to their eating regimen as a pure dewormer for 3 days – 1/2 tsp per meal (my canine weigh between 50-75 lbs).
- I examine the yard earlier than releasing the canine to make sure child birds and bunnies aren’t hopping round.
Learn Extra About Canine Well being and Uncooked Feeding
