Companion Animals

Raw Feeding in Dogs: Welfare Benefits, Risks and Evidence

Raw meat diets for dogs are growing in popularity but carry specific welfare and public health risks that owners must understand to make informed decisions for their animals.

Key Facts

Approximately 7% of UK dog owners feed raw meat diets
Salmonella and Campylobacter are detected in 20-50% of raw pet food samples
Dogs fed raw meat shed higher levels of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
Bone feeding risks include tooth fractures, intestinal perforation, and choking
PFMA and British Veterinary Association advise against raw feeding
Some owners report improved coat condition and digestion on raw diets

Welfare Considerations

Raw feeding carries real welfare risks from bacterial contamination causing gastrointestinal illness, bone-related injuries causing perforation or impaction, and nutritional imbalance in home-prepared diets. However, advocates report welfare benefits from improved coat condition and digestion. The evidence base is insufficient to make definitive welfare claims. Owners who raw feed should minimise contamination risks and ensure nutritional completeness.

What You Can Do

Consult your vet before starting a raw feeding programme
If raw feeding, use commercially balanced raw food rather than home-prepared
Handle raw pet food with the same hygiene as raw human food
Never give cooked bones which splinter, and exercise caution with raw bones
Consider the risk to vulnerable household members from zoonotic bacteria
Discuss nutritional completeness with a veterinary nutritionist if preparing raw food at home