<<Dogs digest raw meat more quickly and thoroughly than cooked. Veggies, otoh, they can't really handle without cooking/pureeing (or eating it out of an herbivore's stomach!).>> I have a 6 yo Shih Tzu who has eaten BARF for the past 4 years. He adores many cooked vegetables. During his 1st 2 years of life, I tried every dog food known, tried feeding him by hand...crawling around the floor carrying dog food and begging him to eat, lol. I finally decided to follow info I found in a book by Dr. Richard Pitcairn. He began eating. Now, he's a very instinctive eater. Some days he likes raw, other days, lightly cooked, and some days he fasts or only eats carrots. I let him lead me in feeding him now. He's a very healthy dog. Siobhan