Is Raw Pet Food Really Safe? What You Need to Know Before Switching!
The Raw Pet Food Debate: Should You Feed Raw?
The FDA has issued a strong warning against feeding raw pet food, stating that it is very dangerous and should NEVER be fed to pets. On the other hand, many dog and cat parents swear by raw food, claiming it offers significant health benefits and is much better than kibble.
So, who should you believe, and what should you be feeding your pet?
What I’ve Seen in My Practice
As a veterinarian, I’ve seen many clients who feed their pets raw food. In general, the animals I’ve observed on a raw diet appear healthier. However, I’ve also encountered a few cases where feeding raw food led to some problems. The takeaway here is that while raw feeding can be beneficial, it needs to be done correctly.
The Importance of Balance in a Raw Diet
One key aspect of many raw diets is ensuring that the food provides all the necessary nutrients. Without proper supplementation, raw food can be unbalanced and fail to support your pet’s overall health. To provide specific health benefits, it’s essential to include additional nutrients that address various aspects of your pet’s well-being.
Supplementing Raw Diets with Complete Dog and Cat Supplements
A simple and effective way to balance a raw diet is by supplementing it with a high-quality Complete Dog or Cat supplement. These supplements are packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that can support your pet’s skin, musculoskeletal system, intestinal tract, urinary system, and immune response.
Our Complete Dog and Cat supplements provide all of these nutrients in just one scoop—no need to give your pet six different supplements. We’ve combined the best ingredients in one convenient formula, making it easy to ensure your pet gets everything they need for optimal health.
Get the Best for Your Pet
If you’re feeding your pet a raw diet, supplementing with our products will help ensure they’re getting a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet.
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Dr. Jones’ Ultimate Canine ADVANCED PLUS Health Formula
Dr. Jones’ ULTIMATE Feline Health Formula
Raw Food Diets for Pets: A Return to Natural Nutrition
For thousands of years, dogs and cats thrived on diets of raw meats and human dinner scraps. However, around 60 years ago, commercially prepared pet foods began to rise in popularity, gradually replacing the more natural diets our pets once enjoyed.
Today, many pet owners are rediscovering the benefits of raw food diets, providing their pets with a healthy and safe alternative to processed foods. There are several raw food diets available, and most are based on two primary models: the BARF diet and the Prey diet.
The BARF Diet: A Biologically Appropriate Raw Food Diet
The BARF diet was introduced by Dr. Ian Billinghurst, who wanted to provide pets and wild animals with a better, more natural way of living. BARF stands for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food. This diet includes a variety of non-meat ingredients, along with supplements to provide a complete nutritional profile. Dr. Billinghurst emphasizes that commercially prepared pet foods simply cannot offer the same nutritional advantages as the raw and wild foods our pets’ ancestors once consumed.
The Prey Diet: Simulating Natural Prey
The Prey diet is designed to simulate the proportions of an actual prey animal in a pet’s diet. For example, the Whole Prey diet mimics an animal prey by including bone, fur, feathers, scales, muscles, organ meat, and skin. The advantage of this diet is that no additional supplements are required, as everything your pet needs comes from the “prey” itself.
Simplified Raw Diets
Another option is a simpler raw diet that includes a wide variety of meats, butcher’s scraps, bones, and occasional table scraps for supplementation. This approach can be effective, though it requires careful planning to ensure nutritional balance.
Convenient Commercial Raw Diets
If you prefer a more convenient option, commercially prepared, pre-frozen raw diets are available. These meals are complete and ready to feed—just thaw in the refrigerator and serve.
Health Benefits of a Raw Food Diet
Many pet owners report numerous health improvements after switching to a raw food diet for their pets, and I’ve seen these benefits in my practice as well. Here are some of the most common improvements:
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Shinier coat
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Elimination of “dog” odor
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Better body muscle-to-fat ratios
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Cleaner teeth and breath
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Decreased itching
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Normalized energy levels
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Improved urinary tract health
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Enhanced resistance to infections
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Increased mobility with a decrease in arthritis pain
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Decreased allergy symptoms
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Little to no hairballs in cats
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Lower stool volume
While not all pets will experience every listed benefit, most pet owners report at least one or more improvements after switching to a raw food diet.
Additional Benefits: Healthier Pets and Lower Vet Bills
Aside from the health benefits, one of the most encouraging aspects of raw food diets is that they can lead to fewer trips to the veterinarian. A healthier pet often means fewer vet visits, and many owners find raw diets to be more cost-effective than premium commercial foods—especially if they prepare the meals themselves at home.
Concerns About Raw Food Diets
Despite the many benefits, there are some valid concerns when it comes to feeding your pet a raw food diet.
1. Foodborne Illnesses
The most common concern is foodborne illnesses, such as Salmonella and E. coli, and the potential for these bacteria to be spread to humans. However, these are not well-documented risks for pets. Dogs and cats have digestive systems that are designed to handle raw meat. When they consume raw meat, their stomach pH becomes highly acidic (around pH 1), which makes it difficult for harmful bacteria to survive. Their short digestive tract ensures that food is processed quickly, usually within 6 hours, preventing these bacteria from becoming a significant problem.
2. Hygiene and Safety Precautions
To avoid any potential risk of bacteria transmission, simple hygiene practices are key. Bacteria are typically transmitted through fecal-oral contact, meaning handling pet waste and then touching your mouth. To protect yourself, always practice good hygiene—wash your hands after handling raw food or waste, and avoid handling food or waste if you’re ill or have a compromised immune system.
3. Choking or Intestinal Obstruction
Another concern is the risk of choking on bones or the potential for intestinal perforation. While rare, these incidents can happen. To minimize the risk, it’s important to chop bones into small pieces before feeding them to your pet. For cats, always chop up raw meat with bones into pieces no larger than one-quarter inch. Avoid feeding whole chicken necks to cats.
If you’d rather not worry about this, you can buy commercially prepared raw diets, which include everything your pet needs—chopped-up bones, meat, and organs—making feeding raw food both safe and convenient.
Incorporating Raw Food into Your Pet’s Diet
When preparing a raw food diet at home, keep a few basic guidelines in mind to ensure a healthy balance:
For Dogs:
When preparing a raw diet for dogs, be sure to include the following key ingredients:
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Meat
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Bones
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Organ meats
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Fruits and vegetables (optional)
Start with chicken, as it provides both meat and bones. You can purchase chicken backs and thighs—these are inexpensive and easy to handle. After purchasing, wrap the pieces individually and freeze them. Defrost them overnight, and chop them into small pieces in the morning. Allowing the chicken to defrost for 9 hours will make it easier to chop and less rubbery.
For Cats:
Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they thrive on animal-based proteins and little to no carbohydrates. Most commercial cat foods contain too many grains and vegetables, which are not necessary in a cat’s natural diet. A raw diet can provide significant health benefits for cats, particularly in reducing the incidence of late-life feline health issues.
For cats, the raw food groups include:
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Meat
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Bones (chopped into small pieces to avoid choking)
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Organ meats (given once a week)
Start with chicken backs and thighs, the same as for dogs. Follow the same process of wrapping, freezing, and defrosting before feeding.
Achieving a Balanced Diet
When feeding raw food, it’s essential to include bones (or bone meal) in the diet, as calcium is crucial for your pet’s health. Many new raw feeders may mistakenly focus only on meat, but without bones or bone meal, your pet’s diet will lack the necessary calcium to maintain bone health.
The correct ratio of calcium to phosphorus is approximately 1.3 parts calcium to 1 part phosphorus. For example, chicken necks, backs, and wings provide a good balance. Varying the protein sources will also help provide a broader range of nutrients.
If you prefer convenience, commercial raw diets are a great option. These diets typically cost about 2-3 times more than homemade raw food, but they are nutritionally complete and include meats, bones, organs, vegetables, and other ingredients.
How Much Raw Food Should I Feed?
The amount of food to feed will depend on your pet’s activity level, metabolism, and age. Generally:
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Active dogs with high metabolisms will need more food.
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Less active dogs or older dogs will need less.
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Puppies will need more food to support their rapid growth.
A good rule of thumb is to feed one pound of food per 50 pounds of dog. If your dog is gaining weight, reduce the amount; if they are losing weight, increase the food amount.
Final Thoughts: Is Raw Food Right for Your Pet?
Cooking destroys vital nutrients, including vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, which is why raw food diets are often superior. While commercial foods add these nutrients back after processing, they are no match for the fresh, natural nutrition found in raw food.
I have seen numerous pets benefit from raw food diets—shiny coats, better dental health, reduced allergies, and overall happiness. If you practice proper hygiene, store food properly, and provide a balanced diet, raw food can be an excellent choice for your pet.
P.S. In my veterinary practice, I’ve observed that dogs and cats eating raw food tend to be healthier, with better dental health, fewer allergies, no diabetic cats, and generally much happier lives.
P.P.S. I feed my dog, Tula, pre-packaged frozen raw food once a week, and she loves it! I’m planning to try it with my new cat, Cassian, next.
P.P.P.S. To ensure they stay healthy and potentially prevent disease, I supplement with my Complete Dog and Cat Supplement, which includes vitamins, minerals, EFAs for skin health, probiotics, medicinal mushrooms, and much more.
You can find our supplements here:
