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Raw Food Diet for Pets

There has been a significant increase in interest recently in feeding cats and dogs ‘raw food diets’, whether commercially prepared or prepared owners at home. While this option has some appealing qualities to it, it is important to weigh both the advantages and risks of feeding raw before considering the switch. 

Raw food diets have a much higher risk of nutritional deficiencies. There are a few animals we would never recommend feeding a raw food diet, such as a growing puppy or kitten, pregnant animals, any immuno-compromised animal, or animals with diseases that require specific diets. 

Puppies and kittens require a very specific Calcium:Phosphorus ratio that needs to be met, and raw meat contains a much higher phosphorus content than is required, and can result in poorly grown, weak bones. 

Pregnant animals being fed raw meat are much more likely to contract and pass on parasites to their young, and of most importance is Toxoplasma gondii (in cats), and Neospora caninum (in dogs), the former posing many risks for pregnant women including miscarriage, and the latter being a common and important cause of abortion storms in cattle. Dogs however can contract and pass on Neospora at any stage in their life, and can easily pick it up from being fed raw beef if the meat has not been frozen at -20° for 24hr. 

If prepared and stored improperly, there is an increased risk of illness in animals fed raw food diets, , the most common infection being salmonella. Many bacteria, parasites, and viruses are not inactivated by freezing, and can still be infections after being thawed. Contamination to humans can occur at any point during preparation, clean up, picking up faeces, or dog licks. 

Raw food diets are commonly found to have bacterial contamination, even in commercially prepared raw food diets, one study in New Zealand found 28% of raw food diets commercially sold has Campylobacter sp. contamination, and another overseas study found 20% of commercially prepared raw food diets contaminated with Salmonella sp. These bacteria, along with many others that have been found can cause very serious illness in humans and animals.


Most of the benefits of raw feeding are around human perception, it feels more natural and authentic to feed an animal food where you can visualise the ingredients, and animals do seem more eager to eat a raw food diet. It is also anecdotally reported that there are less faeces produced in a raw food diet. Ultimately however, there is still no peer-reviewed scientific evidence of the benefits of raw feeding, and caution must be taken if considering a switch. Careful consideration should be given to the risks posed to yourself, family and children, other animals and livestock. 

Eltham Vet

Eltham Vet Services is a 10-vet practice that has served the farms and family pets of Central and South Taranaki with distinction since 1937. For your pet’s healthcare & your peace of mind contact or visit us.