Is cooked meat dangerous?

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Furania42 Icon representing the flag French
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Hi everyone,

Trying to find information on dog food is a real minefield on Google. I've heard that cooked meat destroys a dog's gut flora, but others say the risk of parasites in raw meat is too high and that you have to cook it...

I'm completely lost.

To be more specific: the meat I give Loup isn't her main daily meal. It's just in small amounts (2 chicken breasts spread over the week) for training. It's her high-value treat (whether it's cooked or raw) and we can work well in any situation using it.

So my question is: can I cook the meat for her?

On the one hand, it's more practical because raw meat sticks to your fingers and the bag, so it's a bit of a nightmare when you're out and about...

On the other hand, my dog has a sensitive stomach and too much raw meat gives her diarrhoea.

What's the deal? Can I carry on lightly cooking the chicken before giving it to her (boiled for 5 minutes without salt) without the risk of destroying her gut flora?

Or should I just stick to dried and/or raw chicken?

Just for info, Loup is 8 months old (I don't know if that makes a difference).

Thanks!

Translated from French
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    • Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    I’ve got a bit of time! ^^

    Going back to the misconceptions many people have about raw meat being supposedly dangerous...

    (Including me, when I first started feeding my first dog raw for BARF)

    @Kainate ^^ it would be lovely, if you wouldn’t mind? Telling us about when you first started BARF (the warnings, the questions you had the day you took the plunge...)

    As well as all the other Wamiz members doing homemade food (with raw meat or just lightly cooked)...

    Those arguments that make owners hesitate to switch to homemade, home-cooked (raw), BARF or other raw diets...

    It’s a bit off-topic (since there is already a BARF section)

    I’m going to write down what I heard... with Volka (a 9-year-old Lab) who was starting to develop pancreatitis (on homemade meals)

    The warnings from some vets, from certain people... including my own family... and our friends...

    For example:

    First of all, nutritional deficiencies. (If I’d had to put £1 in a jar every time, I’d have a wall of jars by now ^^). After several visits to the vets for my three dogs (blood tests and other exams) over the years, no deficiencies.

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    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    https://www.pinterest.fr/Doudou229/friandises-maison-pour-chien/

    For training Oxane the Lab and Ixia the Golden

    https://www.magicclicker.ch/archives/541

    I don't fancy lugging raw meat around with me either ^^

    It's better than bits of cheese (too much salt)..

    https://www.pinterest.fr/Doudou229/le-barf-pour-chien/

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    Doudou229
    Doudou229 Icon representing the flag French
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    Evening everyone,

    According to a veterinary thesis, a dog's pH is supposedly lower than 1, with ten times more hydrochloric acid than ours (human pH being around 4 to 5).

    So, when it comes to parasites, salmonella, carrion, or dodgy meat, our carnivorous dogs (or man-made omnivores) should, in theory, be fine if they're healthy. They can handle raw, cooked, questionable, or even high/gamey meat perfectly well.

    It’s the meat itself that stimulates the production of digestive juices.

    By feeding less raw meat (like with cereal-based diets), they won't produce enough gastric juices. Without enough of these juices, it's likely that parasites and bacteria aren't properly eliminated, leading to things like diarrhoea, fermentation, bloat, or worms.

    Vets who support raw feeding argue that cooking meat denatures proteins and destroys too many minerals.

    For sensitive dogs, this can make food harder to digest.

    Raw meat keeps amino acids intact, which are essential for building tissue and acting as the guardian of the immune system and overall health.

    BARFers feed fresh food to preserve as many vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids as possible.

    Feeding raw meat equals a healthy pancreas.

    If the pancreas isn't functioning "healthily," you see a drop in immunity, gingivitis, and tartar build-up.

    A raw diet (meat, fish, veg...) supposedly meets all the nutritional needs of our furry friends.

    Yes, with my three BARF-fed girls, I do stray from the path occasionally! ^^ We’re talking table scraps, treats, dairy, the odd field mouse (Oxane’s specialty), a little bit of cake, pancake, or even pizza, and cooked meat from the BBQ.

    For the gut flora to be in tip-top shape and act as a barrier against bugs, a varied diet is key. It provides the natural bacteria essential for synthesising vitamins.

    Vets often suggest FortiFlora (and not by coincidence! ^^) for all the digestive issues that have become so common with certain types of pet food.

    Translated from French
    F
    Furania42 Icon representing the flag French
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    I've seen this mentioned on forums and in articles on Google! But there’s nothing really concrete, no studies or anything. So, naturally, it took me by surprise—hence my question! I did have an inkling what the answer might be, though, especially since I only use really 'tiny' amounts as treats rather than it being a major part of his daily diet.
    Translated from French
    Kainate
    Kainate Icon representing the flag French
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    Your dog can eat cooked meat without any issues—where did you read that it ruins their gut flora? I’m also of the opinion that a healthy dog should be able to eat just about anything without getting ill. If they can’t, I’d be worried about a potential digestive weakness, likely caused by a main diet that isn't suiting them. My dogs are mostly fed a BARF diet, but they also regularly get table scraps, including starchy bits, or dry food. They often scavenge all sorts of muck outside and it’s very rare for them to have any tummy troubles. I’m fairly convinced that the reason they are so robust is partly because they’ve been used to eating a bit of everything since they were pups. I remember when Basile first came home from the breeder, switching him from the breeder’s dry food to BARF was quite a struggle—several weeks of intermittent diarrhoea. But once that ‘transition’ was over, I could give him anything (raw or cooked, animal or plant-based, fresh or dry food, etc.) without any problems at all. I imagine that if I’d just stuck to the breeder’s kibble and nothing else, he would have remained sensitive and the slightest change would have upset his stomach, just like how he initially struggled when I introduced raw meat. If we’re talking about gut flora, I’m certain that a puppy builds up a ‘strong’ gut through a rich and varied diet :)
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    ?
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    I think it’s actually quite healthy for a dog to be able to eat all sorts of things without constantly getting sick. Obviously, it’s best to avoid too much refined sugar. Norkhzm’s guilty pleasure is licking out our yoghurt pots... and we go through quite a lot of them in our house!
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    B
    Bangdji Icon representing the flag French
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    I didn't dare say it, Nordic attitude, but my dogs also make the most of everything life has to offer: raw meat bought as a special treat, table scraps, leftovers from our plates, cheese rinds and, just like you, all sorts – fat trimmings we don't eat, meat that’s been sitting out a bit too long, cooked, raw, etc... Aside from anything with sugar, potatoes, onions, shallots, etc... But it’s not unusual for Dingo to finish off my pasta (plain or otherwise), and I’ll even admit that sometimes, as an ultimate little treat like today, the two big ones have half a waffle each in their bellies (Padja doesn't have any, she's not a fan...) 😅 Please don't lynch me...
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    Kikaah
    Kikaah Icon representing the flag French
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    When it comes to treats, whether they're raw or cooked doesn't really make much of a difference. You can even dry them out if you like, using the oven or a dehydrator—any type of meat or fish works ^^. They keep well, dogs absolutely love them, and it's a nice change from just having chicken.
    Translated from French
    B
    Bangdji Icon representing the flag French
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    Hi there, doudou will likely be along to give you some more expert advice, but personally, whenever there’s chicken on the table, my cats and dogs always get a good helping and I’ve never had any problems (just avoid the bones and cook it without salt, the same as for yourselves). It was the same with the dogs I’ve lost over the years, so that's over the long term. I know one person’s experience doesn’t make it a rule, but there you go...
    Translated from French

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