Is Raw Dog Food Dangerous?

With the massive pet food recalls in the past few years, pet owners have been taking a closer look at their dog food. And a lot of people have been turning to a healthy, homemade or raw dog food over commercial dog food. Why? Because then you know exactly what is in your dog’s food. It’s food you get from your grocery store or butcher. But is feeding raw dog food to your dog dangerous?

Will My Dog Get Sick Eating Raw Dog Food?

Most people are concerned as to whether the raw meat might give their dog salmonella poisoning. Same with raw eggs. And then there is the controversy over whether raw eggs deplete biotin. But very few dogs have ever got sick from eating a raw diet. Dogs stomach acid is much higher than humans and they are able kill more bacteria. Their intestinal track is also much shorter, about 1/3, so food doesn’t stay in them for very long. Now, we are talking fresh meat, just like you and I would eat – nothing spoiled or rotten. As for eggs, again fresh eggs only. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t give it to your dog. The biotin controversy with raw eggs is really more if you are only feeding raw egg whites – if you feed the whole egg, the yolk counteracts the effects of the egg whites.

Raw Dog Food Side Note:

If you are wary of feeding your dog raw meat, give your dog a nyla bone, or something similar, for them to chew on for a week or two before you start feeding raw. The chewing increases their stomach acid production. Their stomach acids are much more acidic than ours and able to break down raw meat and kill bacteria easier.

I give them the same type of meats that we eat with the exception of seafood and  meats that can carry Trichinae, such as pork (this parasite is killed once it is cooked, but when eaten raw, will start to flourish inside your pet causing all sorts of problems – just like with humans). If I have leftover pork or seafood, I do cook it before feeding it my dogs.

Another Raw Dog Food Side Note:

Only feed organ meats, such as liver, a couple of times a week, not on a daily basis. These meats are very concentrated in certain vitamins and can cause problems if too much is consumed daily. For example, liver is very high in soluble Vitamin A and too much can cause liver stones in your dog. When feeding organ meats, only let it be 50% of the total meat source and only once or twice a week.

Why Not Just Cook The Meat?

Another reason people love raw dog food is that it is so much easier than having to cook the dog’s food first. Cooking is also known to kill off valuable enzymes and nutrients in foods, while fresh, raw foods are bursting with nutrients.

Some people who want to feed raw but are still afraid of bacteria will sear the meat on both sides, which kills most of the harmful bacteria, but keeps the meat raw on the inside. A nice way to go if you are on the fence about feeding raw meat.

When Raw Dog Food IS Dangerous

But really the only reason raw dog food is dangerous is that very few raw diets are balanced and this can cause nutritional deficiencies. Most proponents of raw dog food will advise you to add a canine multi-vitamin to their meals to ensure they are getting all the vitamins and minerals they need.

Don’t be afraid of raw dog food, it might just be the best thing you can do for your pet.