Is there any validity to them? Since this is an honest and candid look at raw feeding, I will be frank: yes, these claims may have some validity to them, but the 'problems' with raw feeding are not the problems of epidemic, drastic proportions that they are made out to be. There are risks to feeding raw, just as there are risks to feeding kibble. No one seems to mention the risks of feeding kibble, perhaps because pet food companies have been very good at making people believe kibbled food is a risk-free diet for their pets. Here are some of the risks of feeding raw:

Choking.
Yes, choking can happen with raw meaty bones. The primary culprit is a raw meaty bone that is too small for the dog (such as single chicken wings or necks). To prevent this from occurring, feed big raw meaty bones. Additionally, dogs that have been eating commercial food must learn how to chew. They do not chew their kibble but typically "inhale" and gulp the food down; they try to do this with their first raw meaty bone and quickly learn that they need to CHEW their food. So choking can and does occasionally happen. However, think of all the other things that dogs choke on: kibble, pieces of rawhide, rocks, sticks, water, raquet balls, tennis balls, broken-off pieces of synthetic chew bones, pieces of toys. People tell you your dog will choke to death on raw bones, but they conveniently neglect to mention all the other things dogs choke on, including kibble (ever hear your pet scarf its food and then suddenly give a nice big 'HORK'? Your pet just choked. Good thing they managed to cough it up; other dogs have not been so lucky.). Heck, dogs will choke on their own spit!! I know mine has. The truth of it is that any object the dog places into its mouth presents a choking hazard. I personally have heard of more dogs choking on and then dying from tennis balls than I have heard of raw-fed animals choking on their raw meaty bones (let alone dying from them!).

Intestinal Perforation and Obstruction.
Yes, I suppose these could happen and have happened to dogs. However, as one JAVMA article put it: "the actual incidence of complications resulting from the ingestion of raw bones is unknown" (Freeman, L.M. and K.E. Michel. Evaluation of raw food diets for dogs. JAVMA. 218(5): 705-709). People are claiming that this happens all the time without ever providing evidence for these claims.

Bacterial septicemia.
Yes, this could possibly happen, but it is rather rare (even in kibble-fed dogs) and usually occurs only in unwell animals that are incapable of dealing with a population of bacteria (which, coincidentally, is all throughout their intestines anyway): immune compromised pets, sick pets, animals that have an underlying health issue. As with all other anti-raw claims, you cannot take this one at face value. You need to probe and question. What, exactly, was the animal being fed? Were there any other complicating factors? Was the bacteria septicemia secondary to some other health problem or following recent vaccination (which can depress the immune system by 80% for as long as 10 days post-vaccination)? Can they conclusively determine that the dog got 'sick' from its food (remember, bacteria are absolutely everywhere, and dogs often have a habit of eating anything and everything)? The unfortunate truth of it is that many vets and pet owners will simply blame the diet than work to find the real cause. An example of this is on the Rawfed.com homepage: the article of the two cats that supposedly died from salmonella. If you want a more in-depth discussion of bacteria, see the Bacteria myth. Additionally, if a raw-fed dog (or any dog) is afflicted with bacterial septicemia, one must ask "Why? Why this dog? Why now?" Not EVERY dog (raw-fed or otherwise) is afflicted with bacterial septicemia, so there must be something going on that made this dog susceptible to an overgrowth of bacteria.

Parasites.
Yes, this can happen, but if you are getting your meat from a human-approved source, this is not an issue (despite people trying to blow it out of proportion and make you think it is). Just think about the kind of meat that goes into kibble (dead, dying, diseased, or disabled) and you will be much happier knowing your dog is getting real human-grade meat in its fresh form. Yes, there will always be a minimal risk that your dog can contract some parasite from meat, but most parasites are not life-threatening and can be dealt with easily (did I mention there was a minimal risk?). Contrast this to the toxic molds that caused thousands of bags of dog food to be pulled off the shelves once dogs starting getting sick and dying. For more information on the parasite half-truth, see the Parasite myth.

This is what it comes down to: everything has a risk associated with it. That is the way life is. Regardless of what you feed your pets, there will ALWAYS be some sort of risk. These are the main risks of feeding a raw diet, but they are minimal risks, and people who feed raw truly feel that the benefits outweigh any possible risks. Claims of 'hundreds of dogs' suffering from punctured intestines or 'a high percentage of dogs' dying from pancreatitis induced by the "high fat content" in meat are unfounded scare tactics and undocumented generalizations. Kibble has risks, as well. Even feeding your dog a premium kibble still puts it at risk for choking, bloat, cancer, diabetes, obesity, telescoping bowel, anal sac problems, joint problems, and periodontal disease (which allows bacteria and bacterial toxins to enter your pet's body and affect every single organ). Home-cooked diets also have their own set of risks: unbalanced nutrition (since cooking alters and destroys many of the necessary nutrients) resulting in a myriad of health problems (some of which are fatal or irreversible), small intestine bacterial overgrowth, and periodontal disease, for example. Everything has risks whether we acknowledge them or not.
No one is going to force you to make a decision. This is your choice and no one else's. Choosing to feed raw will put you in conflict with the majority of vets and pet owners, and you will undoubtedly be attacked for your choice by both ignorant (yet well-meaning) people and by educated people. Be informed, be educated, and be prepared. The fact that you came to Rawfed.com already speaks volumes about you: you have an open mind and are willing to read and think critically, something most vehement anti-raw people do not share with you. Personally, I cannot help but wonder why raw feeding provokes such a visceral reaction from people and why we have come to believe that dogs are supposed to eat pre-formed pellets and nothing else. 'Dogs do not need variety.' 'Do not feed your dog people food or it will become finicky and will not eat its dog food.' I wonder why!! Real food versus processed pellets sprayed with fat? No wonder dogs prefer 'people food'.

As you leave this page, I hope that you will give some serious thought to the material presented here. Remember that really learning something makes one uncomfortable because one realizes they are deficient in some way; no one enjoys coming to that realization, especially when they must present or project a particular, well-learned image to others. I encourage you to work through the discomfort and to not just dismiss everything you have read here simply because it does not fall in line with what you personally believe or practice. Be critical in your thought and analysis of EVERYTHING, not just the myth arguments. When you see pet food advertisements, question the reality they are presenting to you. What things are being left out and unspoken? Everything that is presented to you via the media has been altered in some way to represent a new reality—the reality certain parties want you, the consumer, to hear—so what other realities are being neglected and ignored? Raw feeders are giving voice to some of these neglected realities. When vets encourage and sell commercial foods, ask them why. Why and how is a processed food better for our pets than fresh whole foods? You are very capable of providing your pet with the best quality of life that you can give it; it is up to you to decide to what lengths you will go to achieve that. Happy trails to you, and may you walk a blessed path.