What you feed your dog is one of the most important decisions you can make as a pet owner.
With growing interest in "natural" lifestyles, many dog owners are now turning to a raw food diet in hopes of promoting a more ancestral way of eating. The idea of feeding raw meat, meaty bones, and organ meats may sound like a return to nature, but is it really better for your dog's health and well-being?
In this post, you'll learn:
- Why feeding your dog a raw food diet may do more harm than good
- The environmental cost of raw pet food and raw meat-based feeding
- A safer, more sustainable alternative for a complete and balanced diet
Read on to discover the hidden risks of raw feeding and what to do instead to support your pet's health naturally and responsibly.
The Raw Food Trend: What Is It?
The raw dog food movement, often referred to as the BARF diet (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food), focuses on feeding your dog uncooked foods like meaty bones, raw eggs, and some dairy products.
Raw food enthusiasts argue that this is a more natural diet, closer to what canines eat in the wild.
But let's not forget: our dogs are domesticated creatures. They're household pets with vastly different lifestyles, environments, and nutritional needs than wild canids. Feeding raw food may seem appealing, but it introduces a range of health, safety, and sustainability concerns.
The Health Risks of Feeding Raw Food
Despite claims of shinier coats, healthier skin or better dental health, the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and most veterinary nutritionists strongly discourage raw diets.
Bacterial Contamination
Raw meat can harbor pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli. These bacteria not only threaten your dog's health but also pose a risk to your household, particularly to children, older people, and pets with compromised immune systems.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Most raw diets are unbalanced, lacking essential nutrients such as calcium, zinc, and vitamin D. Many dog owners also lack the expertise to create a properly balanced homemade diet. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, weakened bones, immune issues, and long-term health problems.
Risk of Injury from Bones
Feeding meaty bones might seem like a good idea, but it can lead to fractured teeth, blockages, or tears in the digestive tract.
Unregulated Formulations
Homemade raw pet food isn't held to the same standards as commercial pet food. While organizations like the American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) establish guidelines for complete and balanced diets, raw food recipes often fail to meet these benchmarks.
The Environmental Impact of Raw Dog Food
At The Kind Pet, sustainability is at the core of our mission. That's why we urge pet owners to think beyond just the bowl and consider the environmental footprint of a raw food diet.
Raw dog food which contains animal-origin proteins contributes to deforestation, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions.
Unlike canned food or dry dog food, raw feeding often uses muscle meat intended for human consumption, increasing demand for intensive livestock farming.
Feeding a large or even small breed dog a diet of raw meat daily requires more animal resources than feeding processed foods or plant-inclusive options. And unlike some commercial pet foods that aim to use the entire animal (reducing waste), raw diets often favor only select parts.
If you're feeding raw food to your dog in pursuit of being "natural," it's worth asking: Is this sustainable? Is it justifiable?
Introducing a Whole Foods Cooked Diet Instead
Introducing your dog to a whole food diet requires a bit of planning, but the benefits for your dog's digestive health, energy levels, and overall well-being are well worth it.
Before you begin, be sure to:
- Consult with a veterinary nutritionist or vet to ensure you're meeting your dog's nutritional requirements
- Consider food sensitivities or food allergies
- Add a supplement for cooked meals to help provide a complete and balanced diet
Start slow:
- Mix in cooked whole foods with your dog's current dog food
- Begin with 25% new ingredients and gradually increase over 7–10 days
Some easy starter options include:
- Cooked eggs
- Canned fish (like sardines for omega-3s and a shinier coat)
- Leafy greens like kale or spinach (cooked lightly)
- Lean meats, poultry, or cooked ground meat
- Healthy leftovers (e.g., steamed sweet potatoes, brown rice, cooked carrots)
A balanced food diet for dogs based on whole ingredients can support healthier skin, stronger immunity, better weight management, and reduce the likelihood of food allergies.
A Safer, Sustainable Alternative
If you're looking for a more natural diet for your dog that skips the risks of feeding raw food, cooked whole foods paired with the right supplement offer a safer and smarter option.
Unlike raw dog food, which can carry harmful bacteria and lead to nutritional deficiencies, a carefully prepared cooked food diet can provide all the essential nutrients your dog needs without the dangers of bacterial contamination or imbalance.
Brand Recommendation: Crude Carnivore
Crude Carnivore's Rabbit Bone Broth is a gentle and nourishing addition to your dog's meals, especially ideal for sensitive or finicky eaters. Why?
- Made from pasture-raised rabbit bones and infused with healing herbs
- Doesn't use pesticides or herbicides
- Supports digestion, hydration, and immune function
- High amino acid content helps repair tissue and muscle
- Freezer-friendly
Whether poured over cooked meals or used to moisten dry dog food, it's a soothing and functional upgrade to your dog's diet.
Crafted from pasture-raised, free-roaming chicken bones, this wholesome Chicken Bone Broth is designed to nourish your pet from the inside out. It's perfect because it:
- Uses chicken sourced from humane-certified farms and is blended with parsley, dandelion, and thyme
- Offers gentle detox support while promoting liver, kidney, and immune health
- No preservatives or fillers
- Freezer-friendly
Especially helpful for dogs who need an extra nutritional boost or hydration. Simply pour over your dog's bowl to transform everyday food into something healing and delicious.
Brand Recommendation: Pezzy Pets
This air-dried Single-Ingredient Fish Food Topper is made from 100% wild-caught devil fish, an invasive species threatening native ecosystems across Mexico. It's perfect for dog meals:
- Offers a rich source of protein
- Environmentally friendly
- Free from additives, fillers, and synthetic ingredients
- Perfect for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies
Each bag contains the nutritional equivalent of a full pound of raw fillet, delivering variety and sustainability in every sprinkle.
By choosing cooked whole foods enhanced with eco-conscious boosters like bone broths and natural toppers, you're not only protecting your pet's health, but you're also supporting a more sustainable future for our planet.
Rethink the Raw
While the appeal of the raw diet is understandable, the risks far outweigh the potential benefits.
Many pet owners are unaware of the danger that harmful bacteria, nutritional deficiencies, and improper formulations can pose, not just to their dog's health, but to the well-being of their entire household and the planet.
