Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat? Not Recommended — Here's Why

Why raw meat is risky for dogs

The main concern is bacteria. In FDA testing of more than 1,000 pet food samples, raw pet foods were more likely than other types to be contaminated with disease-causing bacteria, with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes found in raw dog and cat foods and Listeria in no other food type tested. The ASPCA warns that raw meat and raw eggs can carry Salmonella and E. coli.

VCA Animal Hospitals concludes that the risks of feeding raw food outweigh the potential benefits. Freezing does not reliably kill these bacteria, and dogs can shed them in their saliva and stool without showing any sign of illness, which is how infections reach children, older adults and anyone with a weakened immune system in the home.

Nutritional balance and bones

A raw diet is not automatically a complete one. VCA notes that raw diets usually supply plenty of protein but can fall short on vitamins and minerals, many commercial raw foods carry no statement that they are complete and balanced, and homemade raw recipes are unlikely to be balanced unless a veterinary nutritionist formulated them.

Raw bones bring their own problems. They can break teeth and cause choking or intestinal blockages that may need surgery, and the ASPCA lists raw bones among the hazards of raw feeding. Puppies, whose growth depends on precise calcium and phosphorus levels, are especially vulnerable to an unbalanced raw diet.

For dogs that gulp anything new, a slow feeder bowl or a lick mat keeps portions small and eating slow.

If your dog ate raw meat

A healthy adult dog that snatched a piece of raw steak or ground beef from the counter will often have no problems, or a mild upset stomach within a day. Offer water, keep meals plain, and wash your hands and any surfaces the meat touched. Keep the dog away from young children's faces until it has had a day or two to clear its system.

Call your vet the same day if your dog has repeated vomiting, diarrhea with blood, fever, lethargy or stops eating. Raw salmon, trout or steelhead from the Pacific Northwest can cause salmon poisoning disease, so tell your vet right away if raw fish was involved. Raw meat seasoned with onion or garlic, such as a marinated cut, is another reason to call.

If you choose to feed raw anyway

Tell your vet, so they can factor it into your dog's care and suggest safer options. VCA recommends choosing a commercial diet that is complete and balanced and tested for pathogens, and asking the maker whether it uses a kill step such as high-pressure processing.

Follow the FDA's handling advice: keep raw food frozen until use, thaw it in the refrigerator, wash hands for at least 20 seconds after handling it, clean and disinfect bowls and surfaces after every meal, refrigerate or discard leftovers promptly, and do not let your dog lick your face after eating.

Puppies and households at higher risk

Puppies have developing immune systems and exacting nutritional needs, so a raw diet carries more risk for them than for an adult dog. Ask your vet before feeding a puppy any raw food.

Homes with babies, young children, pregnant people, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system face the greatest risk from bacteria a dog sheds. In those homes especially, cooked meat and a complete commercial dog food are the safer choice.

Safer ways to share meat

The ASPCA lists small amounts of lean, cooked chicken, turkey, beef or pork, free of bones and seasoning, as fine to share. Cook meat thoroughly, cut it into bite-size pieces, and keep it within about 10 percent of your dog's daily calories.

Gently cooked commercial dog foods and freeze-dried treats made with a validated kill step offer a middle ground for owners who want a fresh-food feel. Watch for signs of a sensitivity, such as itchy skin or loose stool, and talk to your vet if you are thinking about changing your dog's whole diet.

This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your pet.