Hi
There are several different raw diets out there, and I'm sure different pros and cons depending on which one someone is feeding. I follow the approx. 70% muscle meat (including canned sockeye salmon, eggs too but I hard boil them), 10% edible bone, 10% organ meat (liver is a big part of this) and 10% veggies/fruit/herbs, supplemented with 6000 salmon oil, B-complex and uba vet (joint supplement) daily. I feed raw marrow bones for recreation and teeth cleaning. My Timber was on this diet for over 9 years. Our River has been on it for 5 months.
Pros: never needed teeth cleaning
no bad smells, awesome soft coat
no allergies, skin issues or even one ear infection, no digestive problems or joint problems
Overall, great health and energy
Small stool to clean up (I like this one a lot).
She really enjoyed her food (and so does our recent family addition River) - I like watching them eat!
Feeding this way satisfies my own desire on how I want to care for my Newfs, a personal life style choice
Cons:
You have to follow a proper diet. Lots of research involved. You will have to tweak it for various reasons over a dogs life. I know some people who feed raw and make it up as they go. Calcium/Phosphorus ratios for example must be maintained carefully. Its not rocket science but you have to know what you're doing. It is not as easy as scooping out kibble and walking away....
- keep your freezer stocked or you will end up having to spend a fortune paying full price for quality meat.
It requires much more effort to buy and store raw meat.
Quality must be human grade (and yet even now we have a recall on beef products here with E.Coli so right now all beef is cooked _ I wont risk it).
Keep your work area, storage and feeding area very clean - every single time. This is raw meat and there is bacteria.
Many Vets are not happy with raw feeding (mine included). You will have to find answers on your own - books, groups (K-9 kitchen on yahoo is excellent)
My Timber was fed an excellent diet her entire life and still had cancer by 9 years of age - raw diet is no guarantee for a healthy dog. Many raw feeders believe that this diet will protect your dog from things like cancer and bloat - and while it may be true (or not), maybe it does improve your odds - dont count on it 100% and think you can never have to worry about those two killers. I use to believe this.
I'm sure I've missed some pros and cons but others will give their experience. I'm very happy feeding this way and my Newfs are too or I wouldn't do it.
All the best whichever you choose.
Marina