Raw pet food diets are increasingly popular but carry risks of nutritional imbalance and zoonotic disease that affect both pet welfare and human health.
The welfare implications of raw feeding are primarily about nutritional adequacy and safety. Home-prepared raw diets are particularly prone to nutritional imbalance — deficiencies in calcium, iodine, and essential vitamins are well-documented in pets fed without expert dietary formulation. Skeletal disease, organ damage, and immune suppression can result from sustained nutritional deficiencies. Pathogen contamination in commercial raw products also poses a risk to immunocompromised pets and human household members. For owners committed to raw feeding, consulting a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to formulate a balanced diet is essential. The welfare of pets is best served by diets that meet all nutritional requirements regardless of format.