No raw meat-based diet (RMBD) has demonstrated proven health benefits over commercial or balanced homemade cooked diets in dogs. The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) states there is no evidence that RMBDs provide health benefits over commercial or balanced homemade cooked diets, and the majority of owner-cited benefits — including cleaner teeth, shinier coat, improved immunity, and reduced inflammation — are largely unproven and not based on scientific evidence.WSAVA Global Gu…+1

The microbiological risks of RMBDs are well-documented and clinically significant. Salmonella species are consistently detected across surveys of commercial frozen RMBDs in Europe and North America, and raw pet food commonly exceeds hygiene thresholds for Enterobacteriaceae counts.Journal of Smal… Dogs fed RMBDs carry a greater prevalence of fecal Salmonella and antimicrobial-resistant (AMR), multidrug-resistant (MDR), and third-generation cephalosporin-resistant/extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli than dogs fed non-raw diets.Journal of Smal… These bacteria can colonize household members via oro-fecal contamination, and fecal shedding of contaminated organisms persists for up to 7 days after consumption of a contaminated RMBD.Journal of the…+1 Additional pathogens of concern include Listeria, shiga toxigenic E. coli, Toxoplasma gondii (zoonotic, with particular risk to pregnant individuals due to fetal effects), and — identified in South Korean commercial RMBDs — live low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 virus.Journal of Smal…+2

Nutritional imbalance is the second major risk category. Deficiencies of vitamins A, D, and E, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, zinc, and copper have been specifically reported in RMBDs.Veterinary Reco… Feeding nutritionally incomplete homemade RMBDs has been linked to nutritional deficiencies, secondary hyperparathyroidism, osteopenia, and myelopathy in young dogs.Preventive Vete… Commercial RMBDs formulated to meet AAFCO nutrient guidelines for a specific life stage carry minimal risk of nutritional inadequacy, but few RMBD manufacturers conduct AAFCO feeding trials or digestibility studies on finished products, and quality-control practices vary substantially between manufacturers.Journal of the…

High-risk individuals — immunocompromised, elderly, young, pregnant, or lactating humans and animals — warrant particular caution. In one Spanish survey, 22.58% of owners feeding RMBDs lived with immunologically vulnerable people.Veterinary Reco… All household members are at risk, and veterinary staff should be considered an exposed population given fecal shedding duration.Journal of the… Public Health England recommends strict hand hygiene after handling raw meat and sanitization of all contact surfaces and utensils.Journal of Smal…

Owner risk perception is consistently misaligned with the evidence. Owners feeding RMBDs at least twice per week demonstrate lower awareness of health risks and lower knowledge of pathogenic hazards than non-raw feeders, and perceive commercial dry diets as nutritionally riskier than raw diets.Preventive Vete… In one survey, 89% of raw-feeding pet owners perceived their personal risk of foodborne illness as low, and only 8% sought food safety advice from a veterinarian.Journal of Food… Malpractices including rinsing raw meat (reported by 27% of owners) and failure to segregate utensils and kitchen surfaces (52%) are common.Journal of Food… Owners feeding RMBDs are more likely to seek advice from non-validated, anecdotal, or opinion-based resources than from veterinary professionals.Preventive Vete…

For dogs with concurrent disease, specific contraindications apply. High-fat diets — including many RMBDs — carry risk of pancreatitis in susceptible animals, and gastrointestinal signs including diarrhea are reported even in otherwise healthy adults.WSAVA Global Gu…+1 Animals that are immunocompromised should not be fed RMBDs given the elevated pathogen exposure risk.Journal of the…

The one area of formal evidence supporting a biological effect of RMBDs is altered intestinal microbiome composition and subjectively improved stool quality, though robust evidence for the wide range of other claimed benefits does not currently exist.Journal of Smal…

Would you like guidance on how to counsel owners who are committed to raw feeding but want to minimize microbiological and nutritional risks?

1.
Nutrition Guidelines - WSAVA
WSAVA Global Guidelines.
Top Journal
2.
Exploring the popularity of raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats: A cross-sectional opinion survey in Spain.
Veterinary Record.2025.Díaz-Regañón D, Llorca C, Sainz Á, et al.
Top Journal
3.
Raw diets for dogs and cats: a review, with particular reference to microbiological hazards.
Journal of Small Animal Practice.2019.H Davies R, R Lawes J, D Wales A
4.
UK dogs eating raw meat diets have higher risk of Salmonella and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli faecal carriage.
Journal of Small Animal Practice.2022.F Groat E, J Williams N, Pinchbeck G, et al.
5.
Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.2013.M Freeman L, L Chandler M, A Hamper B, P Weeth L
Top Journal

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what does the current evidence say about raw meat diets for… | VetChamp