Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?

Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?

Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?

May 19, 2022

One of the most frequently asked questions by pet parents exploring natural or alternative diets it, "Can dogs eat raw meat?" The short answer is yes, dogs can and should eat raw meat - but there are several factors to take into consideration before making the switch!

A Dog's Ancestral Diet

Dogs are descendants of wolves, who are obligate carnivores and consume prey raw in the wild. While domesticated dogs have adapted to eat a more omnivorous diet, their digestive systems are still capable of handling raw meat. A dog's stomach is highly acidic, which helps them digest meat and kill off many harmful bacteria that might make humans sick. A raw diet mirrors what your dog would eat in nature, complete with high-quality protein, high moisture content, and NO fillers or artificial additives.

Risks of Feeding Homemade Raw Dog Food

A commercial raw diet, like Steve's Real Food, ensures that you're feeding a safe, complete and balanced raw food. But what if you're looking to make your own raw dog food at home? Here are some things to consider:

  • Bacterial contamination: Raw meat can contain harmful pathogens like Salmonella, Listeria, and E.coli, which can affect not only your dog but your family - especially if hygiene protocols aren't strictly followed.
  • Nutritional imbalance: Feeding only muscle meat without organs, bones, or supplements can lead to deficiencies in calcium, phosphorus, and essential vitamins like A and D. Over time, this can cause health issues such as brittle bones or organ dysfunction.
  • Choking or internal injury: If bones are fed improperly, especially cooked bones (which should never be given), they can splinter and cause choking, blockages, or even tears in the digestive tract. Most commercial raw pet foods contain bone that is ground into extremely small pieces to avoid these issues.

How to Feed Raw Meat Safely

If you're considering a homemade raw diet for your dog, do your research and proceed with care. Here are a few tips for feeding raw safely:

  • Consult a veterinarian or canine nutritionist before making any major dietary changes.
  • Choose high-quality meat from trusted sources, ideally human-grade and handled with care.
  • Balance the diet by including raw meaty bones, organ meats, and possibly supplements. Many pet parents follow a model like BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) or PMR (Prey Model Raw) to help guide proportions.
  • Follow safe food handling practices, just as you would when preparing raw meat for yourself: wash your hands and dog food bowls, sanitize surfaces, and refrigerate or freeze food in appropriate temperatures.

Steve's Real Food frozen and freeze-dried raw diets contain 80% human-grade meat, organ, and bone with 15% produce (GMO-free/pesticide-free) plus 5% value-added ingredients, like raw goat milk. Each complete and balanced formula is reviewed by a PhD animal nutritionist and we take numerous steps to ensure the safety of our raw foods.