THE RAW DIET
In February of 2000, after progressing from better kibble to better kibble to cooking meat, veggies, grains, etc., I finally took the plunge and switched completely to raw, grain-free. It was tough at first, not sure if feeding raw chicken wings and necks would cause damage, but with the support of a good friend and of the Canadian raw e-list, I persevered and am thankful it worked out so well. The last Akanami litter was my first second generation raw Shiba Inu pups.
I had the wonderful opportunity to attend a seminar from the reknowned Dr. Ian Billinghurst, the Australian veterinarian who has fervently advocated the raw diet and who has written three books to help newbies in their transition. A wonderful gentleman he is, passionate about the health of animals and, particularly, about canine and feline nutrition. Dr. Billinghurst and others developed a raw diet which was distributed commercially and which appealed to those who were not able to scout for, or to prepare, the ingredients required for a good raw diet. Unfortunately, not long later, the diet was discontinued in Canada due to processing and other costs. Just a few months later, Brenda & Dennis Hagel of Saskatoon carried the raw diet to a whole new level with the introduction of The Urban Carnivore and its accompanying information-packed website.
No dog is too young or too old to switch to a raw diet and any furkid's human can feed the diet, whether feeding a commercially available diet or preparing it from scratch. It is very strongly advised for the feeder to learn about the diet in order for it to be presented properly to the dog. A poor raw diet can cause harm while a well-prepared raw diet can give a dog a longer, healthier and happier life. There are many books and e-lists to learn about the diet.
Please check the "Links" portion of this website for excellent reading.