The growing trend of feeding dogs raw meat and carnivore-style diets raises animal welfare concerns both for the companion animal and for the livestock and other animals in the supply chain.
Choosing what to feed companion dogs involves welfare considerations that extend beyond the individual pet. Raw meat diets typically draw on conventional livestock production with its associated welfare costs. Well-formulated commercial diets or veterinary-supervised plant-based diets can meet all nutritional needs of dogs while reducing reliance on farmed animal products. The welfare implications of pet food choices are underappreciated by most owners, but represent a meaningful lever for reducing animal suffering at scale.