User:Pelletil/sandbox

Article Evaluation

Chosen Article is "Raw Feeding"

The article contains fringe theories based on mainstream beliefs. Some reliable references missing; unknown where some information comes from.

It is part of three WikiProjects: The article is rated "B-class" by all three WikiProjects.
 * 1) WikiProjects Cats
 * 2) WikiProjects Dogs
 * 3) WikiProject Veterinary medicine

(Information to be added to "Raw Feeding" )

At home
At home preparation of raw food diets entails the use of wholesome ingredients that one can easily access by the owner.These diets are often based on opinion, which has not been peer reviewed. Preparing these diets can be time consuming and requires handling of raw meat. Home preparation is preferred in some cases as certain consumers believe that many of the same issues found in commercial pet foods exist with packaged raw diets.

Example of homemade diets include BARF, the Ultimate Diet and the Volhard Diet. Included ingredients should mimic the diet the animal would have had in the wild such as meat, bones, vegetables, and organ meats. Supplements such as vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, and probiotics are often included to provide the animal with a complete diet or to offer a variety of benefits to the animal

In most dogs homemade diets, a variety of ingredients are included which may include anything form:
 * Fresh raw meat. (Mostly lean meat with the exception of pork for some dogs. Beef is the most commonly used
 * Vegetables such as: Squash, Pumpkin, Leafy Greens, Carrots, Parsley, Etc
 * Offal such as live
 * Fruits such as: Apples, Cranberries, Blueberries, Etc.
 * Stocks, soups, milk or water for added moisture
 * Some cereal foods such as: barley, flax, etc
 * Some supplements
 * For dogs: Uncooked bones in the diet or allowing the animal to play with raw bones as a treat

Pet owners should keep in mind that homemade diets can be hard to balance properly and can be associated with poor nutrition so proper research and understanding of what is given to the animal is needed. When feeding a dog or a cat, one must consider the varying needs of the animal, which can change given factors such as life stages, breeds and overall health.

Commercial
After the 2007 pet food recall, interest in homemade pet food (both cooked and raw) grew tremendously. As a result, several pet food manufacturers now offer frozen raw diet products for pet owners. The commercial raw pet food market is estimated to be worth $169 million a year (2007 figures), less than 1% of total pet food sales figure in North America ($18 billion). Growth is estimated at 23% per annum.

Many consumer prefer raw commercial diets to raw homemade diets due to its convenience. Most are formulated to meet the requirements of AAFCO Dog or Cat Food Nutrient Profiles. The diets are formulated to satisfy values needed for the different life stages whether that is for adult maintenance, growth, gestation-lactation, or all life stages. Other diets are meant to be used as supplemental feeding only as they are not nutritionally complete or balanced. Raw commercial diets are usually pre-packaged fresh, frozen or freezer dried  They are easy to handle and include feeding instructions. They enable the owner to avoid touching the raw meat as frequently as home preparation. These diets should, for the most part, include all the nutrients and essentials that the animal requires however this is not always the case.

Most commercially sold raw food diets are treated with High Pressure Pasteurization (HPP). HPP sterilizes the food from pathogenic bacteria and extends the shelf life of the product. During HPP, the food is placed in a water-filled chamber and intense pressure is applied to it. High Pressure Pasteurization is a USDA-approved food processing technique. Although this method helps kill most bacteria, some pathogens are not destroyed.

The FDA has released a document that gives guidance for the raw pet food industry on preparation, labelling, storage and transport. (reuse)

Supplements
When feeding raw diets, considering adding supplements to the animal’s diet may be very beneficial. Supplements aid in providing the animal with a high quality, complete and optimal diet. Supplements may also be useful in improving an animal’s health, especially when that animal has specific health issues. Some raw dog diets have been found to be low in the following hence why supplementation can be advantageous: Vitamin E, Zinc, Iodine, etc. There are a variety of supplements that can be given to the animal and getting the opinion of a veterinarian or a nutritionist may be beneficial to the animal.

Example of vitamin supplements: Example of fatty acid supplements: Example of mineral supplements: Example of probiotics supplements:
 * Vitamin E is a good antioxidant that is not present in raw meat. It is acquired from plants. Providing supplements may benefit your dog as it is theorized to reduce inflammation and help aging dogs with memory problems.
 * Fish oil supplements aid reach the ratio needed for omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and therefore help improve coat help, reduce intestinal inflammation and more.
 * Zinc is essential for maintenance and supplements may be needed in some raw diets
 * Kelp supplements are given to increase the iodine that the animal gets. Iodine is essential in the production of thyroid hormones.
 * FortiFlora supplements aid in decreasing gastrointestinal problems in addition to supporting immune health.

Easy potato recipes are great! many many options! YAS