We all love to treat our fur babies with something tasty from time to time, and raw meat is a common choice for many pet owners. But just because dogs are descended from wolves doesn’t mean eating raw meat is healthy for them.
Dogs have evolved alongside humans, and their digestive systems and physiology have changed significantly over many years. As responsible pet owners, we want our pets to live longer and healthier lives—and diet plays a big role in this.
While some people believe feeding raw meat occasionally offers benefits, studies show that a raw meat diet is not as safe or nutritious as you might think.
The Perceived Benefits of Raw Feeding
Supporters of raw feeding often argue that it aligns with a dog’s natural, ancestral diet. Many dog owners claim to see improvements after switching to a raw meat-based diet, such as:
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Better stool quality
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Metabolic benefits
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Cleaner teeth
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Enhanced fat digestion
While these benefits may sound appealing, many are speculative and not scientifically proven. In reality, you’ll achieve much better results with the right kind of balanced and complete pet food.
The Risks of Feeding Raw Meat
While feeding raw meat may seem natural, there are significant risks you should be aware of:
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Dogs can contract Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli, and other pathogens.
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Raw meat often carries bacteria that can make both dogs and humans sick. When dogs groom themselves, furniture, or your face after eating, germs can easily spread.
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Raw meat alone does not provide a balanced diet.
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Growing puppies require a complete diet to develop properly, which raw meat alone cannot provide.
A well-formulated home-cooked diet can offer many benefits associated with raw feeding, including control over ingredients, freshness, and tailored nutrition—but cooking the meat is crucial. Cooking destroys harmful pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, reducing the risk of foodborne illness for pets and people.
Properly cooked meals also prevent cross-contamination in the kitchen, protect immunocompromised family members, and reduce the risk of bacteria being shed in your dog’s feces.
When combined with guidance from a veterinarian or veterinary nutritionist, home-cooked meals can be both safe and nutritionally complete, offering the best of both worlds without the hazards of raw feeding.
Suggestions and Safety Precautions for Cooked Meat
If you decide to include cooked meat as part of your dog’s diet, follow these safety tips:
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Cut the cooked meat into small, bite-sized pieces, especially for smaller dogs.
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Remove bones—they can splinter, cause internal damage, or be a choking hazard.
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Know the right type of meat to give your dog.
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Trim excess fat to avoid upset stomach or pancreatitis.
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Do not season the meat. Avoid garlic, onions, salt, or other additives—they can be toxic to dogs.
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Serve high-quality meat with no harmful additives.
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Maintain proper hygiene by washing your dog’s food bowls and kitchen surfaces.
Preparing a properly balanced homemade diet every day can be expensive, time-consuming, and challenging. Even small imbalances over time can lead to nutritional deficiencies, affecting your dog’s health, energy, and lifespan.
For these reasons, veterinarians often recommend high-quality commercial dog food. These foods are carefully formulated by animal nutritionists, undergo strict digestibility and palatability trials, and are designed to meet your dog’s specific needs.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat?
They technically can, but they probably shouldn’t.
Your dog may love a juicy raw treat, but cooking the meat makes it safer and tastier. Raw meat carries harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, which can make your dog sick. Lightly cooking the meat eliminates these risks while keeping the nutrients intact.
Even better, a properly balanced diet with high-quality commercial dog food ensures all your dog’s nutritional needs are met. While cooked meat can be part of a dog’s diet, it should only be offered under the guidance of a qualified animal nutritionist or veterinary nutritionist.
Commercial pet foods are carefully formulated, nutritionally balanced, and safe, using cooking processes that destroy pathogens and make nutrients easier to digest and absorb. While “processed” may sound negative in human foods, in pet nutrition it simply means the food is scientifically formulated to support your pet’s health.
Choose science over speculation—nourish your pet with Ultra Pet’s scientifically formulated food for optimal health.