I’m a vet – here’s why you should NEVER feed your dogs raw meat & why Dentastix is a waste of money
A BRITISH veterinary expert has revealed why feeding your dog raw meat may not be the best of ideas – and other four pet ownership opinions that may be unpopular.
Pet guru Ben, also known as @ben.the.vet, took to TikTok to share his thoughts on the platform, where he’s won more than 208k followers.
Feeding raw meat – not worth the ‘risk’
According to the pro – who recently explained why your four-legged friend wees on everything during a walk – he has a particular dislike towards people who feed their dogs raw meat.
In his eyes, this was simply ”not a risk worth taking”, the Daily Mail reported.
As explained by Ben, people are typically quite ”careful” when preparing raw meat to eat themselves, making sure to wash their hands and avoiding cross contamination.
However, when a dog eats uncooked meat, they’ll get the raw meat juice in around their mouth – potentially spreading the harmful bacteria all over your house, and even on your face when licking you.
The whizz warned: ”If you have small children or anyone immunosuppressed in your house, just don’t take the risk of making them sick.”
Pet parents
Do you refer to yourself as a ”pet parent”? Well, it’s bad news, as this makes Ben want to ”throw up”.
Although, in his eyes, we should all indeed consider dogs to be a part of our families, at the end of the day they’re not your child and you’re not their parent.
”Sorry, just gives me the ick a little bit – surely I’m not the only one.”
Cats as companion animals
According to Ben – who also recently revealed the dog breed with the most expensive vet bills – cats are loners and it can be a ”disaster” to introduce a new cat to the household.
Although it may be quite difficult for us, ”a social species”, to grasp this, cats are ”naturally solitary” – and they like being on their own.
Not only can this result in stress, as well as being unpleasant for the cat, it can also lead to a range of health-related issues, such as cystitis and urinary obstructions, he explained.
Adopting a stray dog from abroad
When it comes to adopting a four-legged stray friend from abroad it can actually do more harm than good – and there are several things to consider, Ben insisted.
Some of it, he noted, has to do with temperament, as a number of these dogs haven’t had any – or very little – social interaction with humans at a young age.
This can then make finding living in a household very stressful, and lead to problem behaviours and even aggression, the pet pro warned.
Pet lovers also need to consider the risk of introducing exotic infections, including Brucella, which can cause serious health issues if humans pick it up.
If you want to help these dogs, the vet advised to best donate to a charity that helps these dogs in their country of origin.
Hollywood smile
And last – but certainly not least – Ben urged to ditch Dentastix, and just start brushing their gnashers instead.
Although these sticks are supposed to be clinically proven, Ben warned that ”many dogs just inhale them practically”.
What’s more, he added in the video, Dentastix are also ”very fattening”.
Dog Owner Guide: All You Need To Know
Owning and keeping a dog happy and healthy is not only a long-term financial, but a lifetime commitment.
Nine facts you should know ahead of time:
- Why do dogs lick you?
- Is it legal to let my dog off its lead?
- Why do dogs sneeze when they play?
- Can I be fined for letting my dog hang out the car window?
- Will my dog be put down for attacking a human?
- What are the most dangerous dog breeds?
- When is it too hot to walk your dog?
- When is it too cold to walk your dog?
- How to stop a dog barking?