Is Raw Food Good for Dogs? Pros, Cons, and Tips

Raw dog food consists of raw meat, bones and offal, and sometimes dog-safe fruit or vegetables to complete the diet. This diet emulates what dogs would eat if they were living in the wild.

Although its safety may be debated, its uncooked nature means that nutrients found in the food are “saved” which makes the diet more beneficial for your dog. Cooking raw ingredients means your dog doesn’t receive the food’s ultimate nutritional benefits.

Ultimately, if raw food is stored and handled safely, this diet can be safe for dogs and the parents feeding it them.

You’ve heard about a raw diet, but now you’re wondering is raw dog food good for dogs?

There are numerous benefits to feeding raw food to dogs, including:

-        Supporting joint and bone health as the food source contains calcium, phosphorus and collagen.

-        Aiding their immune system with vitamin rich fruit and vegetables.

-        Easy on their digestive system as dog’s digestive enzymes are capable of digesting raw meat not only easier, but absorbed better so all nutrients are actually used!

-        Helps with dietary allergies

-        Good for their gut thanks to high-quality protein aminos and key bone fibres.

Any dog breed can eat raw food! It’s actually down to the dog’s individual characteristics which are the deciding factor when it comes to making the swap.

Swapping your canine companion from one type of food to another should always be a gradual process. It should take around one to two weeks to get them transitioned onto an entirely raw diet and this process is even more important when they aren’t used to eating raw. Feeding some of their own diet with gradually more and more of the new raw food will allow their digestive systems to get used to it slowly. Changing their food all in one go can lead to an upset stomach, especially when feeding raw meat.

If you’re wondering, should dogs eat raw food? There are risks that come with feeding raw which are usually related to handling and storage. Raw meat is susceptible to bacteria growth, which is why storage and handling is absolutely key in any feeding preparation. Freezing temperatures are antibacterial, and keeps the raw food in the same state as it entered.

Here’s what you need to know when considering this diet for your dog.

1.     Feeding the raw food in its frozen state

Can dogs eat raw food frozen? There’s no inherent danger to feeding their food frozen, however it does depend on the individual and how they eat their food. It may not be suitable for the pups who sometimes forget to chew.

2.     Feeding raw food cooked.

Raw dog food is made to be fed uncooked so there is no preparation required. The process of cooking uncooked meat for dogs would reduce the quality of the ingredients and if you’re feeding a diet that contains bone, it can make these hard and brittle so they become dangerous to your dog.

Some diets like Nutriment Boneless Beef Formula can be cooked because it has no bone in it, but if you want your pooch to get the most nutrients out of a raw diet, it is best served uncooked.  

3.     Salmonella & food poisoning

Humans can catch salmonella poisoning if the meat is contaminated, however most pups can eat contaminated food and not suffer from any symptoms. Dogs have a very short digestive tract so any invading pathogens are quickly banished! Their saliva has antibacterial qualities and their digestive enzymes destroy bacteria efficiently. That is why raw feeding is suitable for dogs.

As for the risk to pet parents, it’s important to handle raw food properly. As long as you wipe down surfaces, clean bowls after meal times and thoroughly wash anything you’ve used with soap (including your hands) to prepare their meals, you should have no issues.

Dogs have evolved to eat lots of different food so it should go without saying that while raw food is perfectly safe for your pooch, you shouldn’t try sampling it as our stomachs are much more delicate!

You can start your new pup off on a raw diet if you aren’t swapping them from another diet. It’s best to go straight in with your pup, but only with one protein source for about a week to measure if there’s any digestive discomfort. In regards to introducing organ meats to their bowl, wait at least two weeks for firm stools and then begin to welcome organs into their diet.

Learn how to transition your puppy from a different diet in this article.

Many pet parents include raw fruit and vegetables in their pet’s raw diet. It’s worth noting that some fruit and vegetables are toxic to dogs, so should be specifically avoided. Here are a few common toxic foods:

1.     Grapes

2.     Onions

3.     Garlic

4.     Avocado

5.     Mushrooms

You also may wonder, can you give dogs raw meat from the supermarket? Cheaper alternatives may not meet hygiene standards that are required for meat to be consumed raw. It’s always best buying raw meat that’s specifically for dogs.

The most popular choices of meat to feed your dog are chicken and beef! Other proteins you can feed your pooch are lamb, turkey and duck.

The benefits to feeding your dog a raw diet are:

-        Fewer, firmer, less smelly stools.

-        A glossy coat and healthy skin thanks to healthy, unoxidised fatty acids and amino acids which supports hair production.

-        Healthy teeth: a low carb diet is low in sugar which in turn is better for your pet’s teeth.

-        Boosts their energy levels!

You may wonder how to thaw raw dog food. There are a few different ways, but by far the easiest is to pull out what you need for the next day or two and store it in the fridge overnight to defrost. If you’re in the habit of doing this on a daily basis, it becomes second nature, and you develop a rhythm that’s easy to keep up with. Defrosted raw food can be kept in the fridge for three or four days and retain its freshness, though the shorter the time between defrosting and feeding, the better. Taking out little and often means you feed at the optimal freshness and don’t have a large quantity of raw food sitting in your fridge.

Alternatively, if you forget to defrost their food the night before, you can leave a packet in a bowl of water for a few hours, which should help it gradually defrost. You want to avoid the food thawing too quickly, which is why the water is helpful in the process. Leaving the food out on the side is another option but if it gets too warm, bacteria can start to grow inside, and you can risk your pup getting poorly.

Defrosting meat in a microwave is not an exact science; it can come out undercooked or if you leave it in slightly too long it turns into rubber. Most pooches will still gobble down their overcooked rubber but if you feed a raw diet that contains bones, microwaving them can make them hard and brittle so they can splinter off and injure your pooch.

It’s best to avoid microwaving your pup’s raw meals.

Mixing raw food with a dry diet can be a really good way to give your pup all the benefits of raw feeding without breaking the bank. If you have a fussy eater on your hands, even as much as 20% of their diet being raw can help them gain the benefits of the raw diet while at the same time enticing them to gobble up their grub!

The only real drawback of mixing two different diets together is working out the nutrition and caloric intake. While you can combine two complete meals so you know they contain everything your dog needs, feeding less or more of each might make your pup’s diet a little imbalanced, so there’s some maths involved.

If you do choose to introduce some raw food to your pup’s diet, be sure to introduce it gradually so you don’t shock their digestive system with such a rich addition.

We’ve got an entire guide on how to gradually move your dog on to another diet here.

Feeding raw food to your canine companion may look a little different to alternate diets, but it’s fairly simple to understand once you know what you’re doing. If you’re used to feeding a commercial diet of dry dog food, you just need to store it in an air-tight container to stop it from losing its freshness. Raw food is similar, except it needs to be kept frozen instead to lock in all of the nutrients. Once you get the hang of it, it can become the new normal and takes very little effort.

Raw food should always be kept in the freezer until you’re ready to take it out to defrost. Making sure it’s sat around for as little time as possible is key to keeping it fresh and healthy for your pet. Ideally, you want to aim for no more than 48 hours outside of the freezer before it’s consumed. When raw meat starts to spoil, it grows bacteria that can upset your pup’s stomach.

When you feed your pup, their food should be picked up after no more than 30 minutes to avoid bacteria growth. If left much longer, then you risk a stomach upset. Most pooches who are fed a raw diet will eat it right away, even if they’re picky eaters because it’s so tasty so it shouldn’t need to be left out for long periods.

At room temperature and unsealed, raw meat grows bacteria quickly. This becomes even more important if you have children in the house. While we understand the need to clean surfaces that have come into contact with raw meat, children aren’t quite so savvy and risk getting too close if left out.

If you’re choosing to defrost your meals at room temperature, a 400g pack like Natures Menu Frozen Turkey can take 2 to 4 hours to defrost fully. Any longer than that and it can get too warm and become a risk to your pup. It can be a good way to defrost food quickly but only if you remember it’s there and don’t leave it any longer.

1.     Not defrosted their food

If you’ve forgotten to get it out of the freezer in enough time, you’re probably wondering if you have to defrost raw dog food before giving it to your pooch. Technically, raw food can be fed frozen, however it’s not recommended. Some people like to use it as extra enrichment if they have a pup who seems to eat their meals without taking a breath. It can help encourage them to lick at it while it defrosts slowly and keeps them busy. Frozen food that has not been thawed contains all the same nutrients. However, some dogs can be put off by a slab of frozen meat if they decide the effort isn’t worth the reward. Other pets may eat too quickly, and the shock of the cold can upset their stomach. If you’re feeding a raw diet with large chunks of bone in, feeding frozen can damage teeth when they don’t want to wait around for their meal to thaw a little bit!

2.     Not including offal or bone

It’s important to make sure your pooch’s meal is a complete one, and offal and bone contain key nutritional benefits in a raw diet.

Any dog can consume raw food, but the amount you feed your dog is dependent on their breed, lifestyle, weight, age and energy levels! If you’re wondering how to feed raw dog food, and how much you should feed your dog, read this blog here.

Now that some of the mysteries and safety precautions have been explored, hopefully you can feel more confident about raw feeding. If you want to treat your pooch to a new and exciting diet they’ll go wild for, take a look at our extensive range of raw dog food for your beloved family pet.