Can dogs eat raw meat?
Risky. Not without understanding the trade-off. The ASPCA warns that raw meat and eggs can carry Salmonella and E. coli.
How much is dangerous?
This is a contamination risk rather than a dose-dependent toxicity, so no threshold applies. It is also a household hygiene question, not only a canine one.
Why it does harm
Bacterial contamination, affecting both the dog and the household handling the food. When the FDA’s Center for Veterinary Medicine tested 196 commercial raw dog and cat foods, 15 were positive for Salmonella and 32 for Listeria monocytogenes; every dry dog food sample in the same study was negative for both. The ASPCA additionally notes that raw eggs contain an enzyme that can interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins, leading to skin and coat problems.
Sources
- ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. People foods to avoid feeding your pets.
- US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine. Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets Can Be Dangerous to You and Your Pet (content current as of February 2018). CVM testing of 196 raw pet food samples for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes.
What to look for
- Vomiting and diarrhea
- Loss of appetite and lethargy
- Fever
What to do
- If you feed raw, handle it as you would raw meat for people: separate boards, washed hands and surfaces, refrigerated storage.
- Call your vet if a dog develops persistent vomiting or diarrhea after raw food, particularly a puppy or an older dog.
- If you are working out raw portions, the raw feeding calculator balances calories only — it says nothing about whether the diet is complete.
Raw and BARF Dog Food Calculator → Raw dog food calculator: daily raw feeding amounts as a percentage of body weight, split into muscle meat, bone, organ and plant matter.
Common questions
Is raw dog food a risk to the people in the house?
It can be. The FDA warns that the bacteria in raw pet food can spread to people, objects and surfaces. It advises washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling it, cleaning everything it touched, and not letting your dog lick your face after a raw meal.
Does cooking the meat make it safe?
Cooking deals with the bacteria: the FDA notes that thorough cooking kills Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes and other harmful foodborne bacteria. Keep it plain, with no onion, garlic or seasoning, and take out any bones, which splinter once cooked.