What is a negative of a raw diet for dogs

Feeding your dog a raw food diet could be harmful and even life-threatening, according to vets

• A raw food diet for dogs consists of uncooked meats, raw eggs, and whole or ground bones.
• But raw food could be contaminated and lead to bacterial infections that compromise your dog's and your ownhealth.

A raw food diet is just what it sounds like you feed your dog only raw products like uncooked meat, bones, and certain vegetables.

Proponents of the raw food diet say it has important health benefits for dogs, but the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) discourages giving dogs raw animal products.

Here's what you need to know about the raw food diet for dogs and why it may not be your best option.

What is a raw food diet?

A raw food diet for dogs usually contains various animal parts along with other raw foods. This can include:

• Muscle meat
• Whole or ground bones
• Organ meats
• Raw eggs
• A dairy product like yogurt
• Fresh fruits and vegetables

By comparison, most store-bought dog food contains some combination of cooked meat, grains, fruits, and vegetables. Proponents of raw food diets say that commercial diets are "unnatural" and that raw diets more closely mirror what dogs would eat in the wild.

Advocates for raw dog food claim it has numerous health benefits, like a reduced risk of cancer, dental disease, and allergies. But "there is absolutely no reliable scientific evidence for these claims," says Brennan McKenzie, VMD, a veterinarian at Adobe Animal Hospital.

Is a raw food diet safe?

Though the raw food diet may have some advantages, the risks far outweigh the benefits.

A small 2017 study found that dogs who ate a raw food diet had a more balanced gut microbiome and showed signs of healthier gut functions. But "there have been no studies that demonstrate any long-term health benefits of raw diets compared to other types of pet food," says Jennifer A. Larsen, DVM, the chief of nutrition service at UC Davis' Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital.

Putting your dog on a raw food diet comes with risks to both the dog and the people living in your household, says Alison Meindl, DVM, a veterinarian and professor at Colorado State University.

Some of the risks of a raw diet include:

Bacterial infection. Compared to cooked diets, raw diets are more likely to be contaminated with bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, which can make your dog seriously ill. But even if your dog doesn't get sick, your pup could shed bacteria into your household, which could then get picked up by another pet or human.

"These infectious organisms can be very dangerous to immunocompromised people living in the household with the dog," Meindl says. This can include elderly people, young children, and people on immunosuppressive medication such as chemotherapy.

Nutritional deficiency. "Many raw diets are also not nutritionally balanced and complete. Unless formulated by an expert in veterinary nutrition, these diets can lead to malnutrition and health problems," McKenzie says.

What the research says: A 2011 study that analyzed the nutritional content of raw food diets found that 60% of the diets had significant nutritional imbalances.

Injury from bones. Bones are often a part of raw diets, but they may not be safe for dogs. Dogs can break their teeth while chewing on bones and shards of bone can pierce their intestines or cause blockages, Larsen says. In some cases, these injuries can be life-threatening.

What should I feed my dog?

The best diet for your dog is a nutritionally balanced cooked diet that meets the standards set by veterinary nutritionists. "This may be a canned or dry commercial diet, a fresh-cooked commercial diet, or even one dog owners cook at home," McKenzie says.

One way to tell if store-bought dog food meets these standards is to look for an "AAFCO" label on the bag, which stands for Association of American Feed Control Officials, Meindl says.

If you want to prepare your own dog food, make sure to consult a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, Meindl says.

Dog owners should avoid feeding pets homemade meals based on recipes that are not created specifically for their dog by veterinary nutritionists. "There are dozens of books and web pages providing recipes and feeding advice, some even by veterinarians, that are not based on sound science," McKenzie says.

Insider's takeaway

There may be possible benefits to a raw food diet, but so far we don't have any reliable studies to show that it's good for your dog's health. There are, however, many studies showing possible health issues.

"If people want to feed a raw diet, they need to be aware of the risks to their pets, themselves, and other family members," Meindl says. If you do choose to feed your dog a raw diet, look for recipes that are AAFCO-approved or work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, Meindl advises.

Overall, always make sure to check in with your vet before making any major diet changes. "Your veterinarian is always the best resource when it comes to questions about the best diet for your pet," Meindl says.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

On this page:

In a two-year study spanning from October 2010 through July 2012, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) screened over 1,000 samples of pet food for bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses.¹ (The illnesses are called foodborne because the bacteria are carried, or borne, in or on contaminated food.) The study showed that, compared to other types of pet food tested, raw pet food was more likely to be contaminated with disease-causing bacteria.

The Pet Food Study

Raw pet food was not included in the first year of the study. In the second year, CVM expanded the study to include 196 samples of commercially available raw dog and cat food. The center bought a variety of raw pet food online from different manufacturers and had the products shipped directly to six participating laboratories.² The raw pet food products were usually frozen in tube-like packages and made from ground meat or sausage.

The participating laboratories analyzed the raw pet food for harmful bacteria, including Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. In past projects, CVM had monitored dog and cat food for the presence of Salmonella. But before this study, the center had not investigated the occurrence of Listeria in pet food, said Renate Reimschuessel, aveterinarian at CVMs Office of Research and one of the studys principal investigators. Dr. Reimschuessel further noted that quite a large percentage of the raw foods for pets we tested were positive for the pathogen Listeria monocytogenes. (Pathogens are disease-causing germs, like some bacteria. Not all bacteria are harmful pathogens, though. Some bacteria are helpful to people and animals, such as those that live in the intestines and contribute to a healthy gut.)

Of the 196 raw pet food samples analyzed, 15 were positive for Salmonella and 32 were positive for L. monocytogenes (see Table 1).

Based on the studys results, CVM is concerned about the public health risk of raw pet food diets. As Dr. Reimschuessel explained, the study identified a potential health risk for the pets eating the raw food, and for the owners handling the product. Owners who feed their pet a raw diet may have a higher risk of getting infected with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.

Back to the top

Tips to Prevent Foodborne Illness from Raw Pet Food

If you choose to feed raw pet food to your pet, be aware that you can infect yourself with Salmonella or L. monocytogenes by spreading the bacteria from the contaminated food to your mouth. For instance, you may accidentally ingest the bacteria if you touch your mouth while preparing the raw food or after handling a contaminated utensil. If you get Salmonella or L. monocytogenes on your hands or clothing, you can also spread the bacteria to other people, objects, and surfaces.

Here are some tips to prevent infection with Salmonella and L. monocytogenes:

• Thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water (for at least 20 seconds) after handling raw pet food, and after touching surfaces or objects that have come in contact with the raw food. Potential contaminated surfaces include countertops and the inside of refrigerators and microwaves. Potential contaminated objects include kitchen utensils, feeding bowls, and cutting boards.
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect all surfaces and objects that come in contact with raw pet food. First wash with hot soapy water and then follow with a disinfectant. A solution of 1 tablespoon bleach to 1 quart (4 cups) water is an effective disinfectant. For a larger supply of the disinfectant solution, add cup bleach to 1 gallon (16 cups) water. You can also run items through the dishwasher after each use to clean and disinfect them.

The Difference between Cleaning and Disinfecting

Cleaning removes germs (like bacteria) and dirt from surfaces and objects. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove germs and dirt. This process doesnt necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, cleaning lowers the number of germs and the risk of spreading infection.

Disinfecting kills germs on surfaces and objects. Disinfecting works by using chemicals, such as bleach, to kill germs. This process doesnt necessarily clean dirty surfaces and objects or remove germs, but by killing germs after cleaning, disinfecting can further lower the risk of spreading infection.

Source: How to Clean and Disinfect Schools to Help Slow the Spread of Flu Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

• Freeze raw meat and poultry products until you are ready to use them, and thaw them in your refrigerator or microwave, not on your countertop or in your sink.
• Carefully handle raw and frozen meat and poultry products. Dont rinse raw meat, poultry, fish, and seafood. Bacteria in the raw juices can splash and spread to other food and surfaces.
• Keep raw food separate from other food.
• Immediately cover and refrigerate what your pet doesnt eat, or throw the leftovers out safely.
• If youre using raw ingredients to make your own cooked pet food, be sure to cook all food to a proper internal temperature as measured by a food thermometer. Thorough cooking kills Salmonella, L. monocytogenes, and other harmful foodborne bacteria.
• Dont kiss your pet around its mouth, and dont let your pet lick your face. This is especially important after your pet has just finished eating raw food.
• Thoroughly wash your hands after touching or being licked by your pet. If your pet gives you a kiss, be sure to also wash your face.

No matter what type of pet food you feed your pet, you should always follow these safe handling instructions.

Back to the top

Pet Food Recalls

Both cooked and raw pet food products are recalled for various reasons, including for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. For a list of recalled pet food and the reason for the recall, please see FDAs Recalls & Withdrawals Web page.

Back to the top

Resources for You

Back to the top

¹ Nemser S, Reimschuessel R. Food Emergency Response Network (FERN)Microbiology Cooperative Agreement Program (MCAP), FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Special Project: Pet food testing for selected microbial organisms. Final Report 2010-2012. The study was conducted by FDA CVMs Veterinary Laboratory Investigation and Response Network (Vet-LIRN), in collaboration with FERN MCAP laboratories. The journal citation is Nemser S, Doran T, et al. Investigation of Listeria, Salmonella, and Toxigenic Escherichia coli in Various Pet Foods. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2014;11:706-709.

²Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Michigan Department of Agriculture; Minnesota Department of Agriculture; North Carolina Department of Agriculture; Ohio Department of Agriculture; and Washington Department of Agriculture.

Back to the top