Raw Food and Pets: Is It the Right Choice?

Conversations surrounding raw food diets for pets have been common for some time now. While some pet owners swear by them claiming it is the most natural way to feed an animal, others worry about the risks encountering those diets. With all that is said and done, rest assured there is an answer to the question on your mind: is raw food beneficial for your furry friend?

This is Day 10 of Debunking Common Pet Myths - let’s breakdown the reality on raw feeding for pets.

 

Reasons Why People Go For Raw

 

Many pet owners believe that switching to raw diets will benefit them because:

• It is more natural. "Animals always had access to raw foods, and it is what they lived on."
• Incorporates unprocessed food items. No preservatives, additives, or artificial ingredients added.
• Dogs and cats can process raw food better than their cooked variants.
• A raw diet automatically fortifies the immune system.
• Contributes to the effortlessly needed water intake pets that don’t drink much water naturally require.

The list goes on, and while these reasons seem to make sense after a while, there is a lot more to it than simply exploring the positive side of things.

Before making any conclusion whether we should go for raw feeding or not, let’s explore in detail the advantages and disadvantages that come along with raw feeding.

 

The Advantages of A Raw Diet

 

When properly followed, a raw food plan can be very beneficial in the following ways:

1️⃣ Loaded with Nutrients

Vitamins, minerals, and enzymes are crucial for the betterment of health and are highly abundant in raw foods that are untouched by industrial processes. Raw diets help retain the nutrients that are essential and reduce the nutritional value deterring actions like cooking.

2️⃣ Improved Skin And Coat

Increased luster in fur and enhanced skin texture are common in pets that are raw-fed owing to fats and amino acids present in raw meat.

3️⃣ Increased Oral Health

Cleaning of meaty bones can help in decreasing tartar build-up and improving oral health, serving as a natural/ biological tooth brush.

4️⃣ Better Various Forms of Metabolism

Due to the make-up of the intestines in dogs and cats, animals designed to digest proteins from dead animals, a species appropriate raw diet prevents bloating and reduces food sensitivity.

5️⃣ Greater Physical Endurance

Animals put on raw diets have an increased level of stamina marked by lower fatigue due to cleaner sources of protein.

Sounds fantastic, right? But there’s another side to this story.

 

The Dangers of Feeding Animal Foods Plastics

 

The risk associated with raw food ignore the benefits but the drawbacks make it clear.

1️⃣ Bacterial Contamination

Pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria can be present in raw meat. Not following food safety norms can make a pet or human ill, because these bacteria are dangerous.

2️⃣ Digestive Upset

A sudden shift in the diet, most often directly transitioning to raw food, can result in vomiting, diarrhea, and upset stomach. Time is needed for dogs and cats to adjust.

3️⃣ Unbalanced Nutrition

A proper raw diet is not simply providing raw meat! A balanced approach includes:
✔ Muscle meat – Primary source of protein.
✔ Bones – Calcium source.
✔ Organs (liver, kidney) – Storehouse of vitamins.
✔ Vegetables (dogs only) – Good source of fiber and antioxidants.

Omitting any of these components along with raw meat will lead to malnourishment.

4️⃣ Choking Hazards and Injuries

Choking, broken teeth, and digestive obstructions can all occur from unsupervised feeding of large hard bones.

5️⃣ Risk to Humans

There are important hygiene practices to take into account when dealing with raw meat. Not cleaning properly can spread bacteria all over your kitchen, which is dangerous to the household.

What steps can be taken to ensure proper transitioning of your pet to avoid any of the mentioned issues?

 

How do you best ease a pet into a raw diet?

 

In case you want to move your pet to a raw diet, you cannot do it abruptly. Any change should be approached in a more planned way.

Step One: Consult a Raw Diet Expert

In the first place, get in touch with a veterinarian or a pet nutritionist. They will make an assessment of your pet’s age, breed, and health condition to cater a perfect plan needed to ease your pet into the new diet.

Step Two: Look for Quality-Grade Meat

All meats are not created equal! Check that you are buying from suppliers that offer:

✔ Human-grade meat (not low-grade pet food meat)

✔ Correctly frozen and stored meat

✔ Meat that is free of bacteria and chemicals

Step Three: Transition Over 10 Days

Moving straight to raw food will cause digestive shock. So, remember to follow the step-by-step approach:

🔹 Day 1 to 3: 25% raw food with 75% of standard food

🔹 Day 4 to 6: 50% raw food + 50% regular food

🔹 Day 7 to 9: 75% raw food + 25% standard food

🔹 Day 10 Onwards: full raw diet

This slow change enables the pet’s digestive system to adapt and reduces gasing and any soreness in the stomach.

Step 4: Look For Detox Indicators

As the pets begin to adapt, you may observe the following:

✔ Diarrhea

✔ Slight vomiting

✔ Higher than usual water intake

These symptoms are part of the detox phase, but it is important for them not to exceed several days. If they do, modify the approach or contact your veterinary doctor.

Pro Tip: Supporting the transition phase with probiotics or pumpkin puree helps digestion.

Step 5: Maintain Balanced Nutrition

Note that a healthy raw diet does not mean simply feeding the pets raw meat. It is best to observe the BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) diet:

✔ Muscle meat (70%)

✔ Raw bones (10%)

✔ Organ meat (liver, kidney, heart, etc) (10%)

✔ Vegetables (optional for dogs, mandatory for cats) (10%)

 

Final Verdict: Myth or Fact?

 

🚨 Is raw food bad for pets? Absolutely not!

🚨 Is raw food good in all cases for pets? Not necessarily!

Feeding raw has its pros and cons, and the trick is doing it right—in proper risk mitigation, balance, sourcing, and safety measures.

Should you opt to go raw:

✅ Speak to a pet nutritionist

✅ Obtain safe and high-quality meat from credible suppliers

✅ Shift over a period of 10 days

✅ Include bones, organs, and other necessary nutrition

✅ Adhere to proper cleaning to ensure no contamination is introduced

If planned thoughtfully, a raw diet has its perks for your pet’s wellbeing. However, without proper structure, the risks can severely harm your pet’s health.

🐶🐱 Always do your research and have your pet’s safety in mind before making a decision.