Holistic Basics

Importance of Meat

If you are a vegetarian you may have an aversion to handling meat. However, understanding how your pet’s body works may make you more receptive to supplementing a diet with this important protein source.

Since the advent of commercial pet food, we have been led to believe that feeding raw meat is unnecessary and a health risk. But there are many differences between humans and their pets. A dog or cat has a much higher ability to tolerate, neutralize and digest raw meat than we do. Bacteria that would make us ill does not have the same effect on our pets. Our pets need these bacteria for digestion. The amount of bacteria (E Coli, for instance) that would hinder a cat’s or dog’s system would have to be many times more concentrated than the amount that would make a human ill. Using common sense when feeding raw meat will help keep your animal healthy. It is unlikely that meat that has been USDA approved for humans and purchased in a reputable supermarket would be unsuitable for animals. And remember, if your animal does eat tainted meat, he may just vomit.