Is raw food good for dogs?

Back to basics: What is raw food? 

Raw food is exactly how it sounds- it’s a diet that is designed to mimic what your dog would naturally have access to in ‘the wild’.  This will be a combination of raw meats, bone, offal, and sometimes vegetables in varying proportions. 

The raw diet works so well for many dogs because it’s minimally processed, beyond mincing the whole ingredients together. Since this diet closely matches what a dog’s body is designed to digest, it can act like a ‘factory reset’, allowing their organs to function optimally without the strain of breaking down heavily processed materials. 

This efficiency is rooted in biology: dog and cat digestive tracts are less than half the length of a herbivore’s, making them far better suited to animal proteins than carbohydrates and plant matter. While pets may well survive on high-carb diets, they’re unlikely to thrive- the ingredients put unnecessary stress on their system, increasing the risk of long-term health issues.

 

The benefits of raw feeding

When your dog’s body is functioning well, you will begin to see the benefits- this can be instant or continue for up to a few weeks after switching. 

1. Improved digestion. Stools will become less frequent and easier to pick up. You’ll also see an improvement if your dog suffers from bloating or gas.

2. Healthier skin and coat. You may see a reduction in itching, dryness, and shedding when the skin is in optimal condition. 

3. Better dental health. Removing a significant portion of carbs from the diet means there is less sticking to the surface of your dog’s teeth- this, combined with feeding natural chews and raw bones, will improve overall oral health. 

4. Higher energy and improved muscle-to-fat ratio. Due to the bioavailability of raw feeding, your dogs' energy will be more balanced, and their vitality improved. 

5. Improved allergy symptoms. You can see an improvement with allergies when feeding raw, both because common triggers like grains and derivatives are excluded, and because the immune system becomes stronger. 

The challenges

No diet is without its drawbacks, but many who feed raw will agree that the pros outweigh the cons. 

1. A raw diet doesn’t suit every dog. There’s a caveat with this one, as it applies to all types of feeding. There is no ‘best food’ that works for every dog, and anyone saying otherwise simply hasn’t done their research! 

2. Freezer space. There is no getting around the fact that you have to remember to defrost your dog’s dinner, although it soon becomes an easy routine. Most raw comes in easy-to-store tubs, so there will still be more than enough room for your chips and ice cream in the freezer. 

3. Risk of bacterial contamination. This sounds scarier than it is, and can easily be avoided with general hygiene practices: keep hands, bowls, and utensils clean, and don’t kiss your dog after they’ve just eaten their dinner! 

Common misconceptions: debunked

As the raw diet has become more and more popular over the years, it’s natural that some myths have made their way into the industry. Here are some of our favourites…

Raw food is expensive

All dogs can be fed naturally, no matter your budget. We would always encourage calculating the cost per day of any food you’re thinking of switching to, and you may be surprised. Often, natural foods are more nutritious per gram, so you will need to feed less than a food that contains a lot of processed or empty calories. 

Remember: cost vs. value. Cheap grocery channel foods are cheap for a reason, but ‘expensive’ doesn’t necessarily mean ‘best’!  

If you have a 10kg adult dog, you could feed raw from as little as £1.05 per day, or just under £30 a month. 

It’s difficult to feed a raw diet

If you were going to attempt ‘DIY’ raw feeding, we agree! Ensuring your dog is getting everything they need requires a lot of time-consuming research and preparation. Your dog needs a careful balance of muscle meat, offal, bone, and veg- simply defrosting chicken breasts from the supermarket is not a raw diet.

Commercial specialist pet companies invest in research to ensure that their foods are complete and balanced. The beauty of this is that all the hard work is done for us, and all we have to do is defrost and feed it. It’s never been easier to feed raw. 

Vets hate raw feeding

Vets are all different- some will advocate a raw diet, whereas some are more reticent. Always open the dialogue and get their opinion, and choose a vet with values that align with your own. 

Some vets are cautious about feeding raw due to limited scientific studies on its benefits; however, there is an argument to be made that dogs have thrived on raw diets for thousands of years, long before commercial kibble even existed. 

It’s also worth mentioning that much of the existing research on pet nutrition is funded by large corporations such as Purina, which have a vested interest in promoting processed diets. This doesn’t automatically discredit kibble (there are some excellent quality options on the market), but it does highlight why we should be critical and research the sources behind dietary recommendations. 

Raw food will give my dog salmonella

Salmonella exists everywhere- in contaminated water, soil, and animal waste. It lives in the gut of animals; therefore can also be picked up from contaminated food, including raw. While there is a risk (with raw and dry food), two key factors minimise this:

1. Dogs with a healthy gut are at lower risk of becoming infected with Salmonella

Salmonella struggles to survive in guts with a pH below 3.8. Raw-fed dogs often have stronger gut health, making them less susceptible to Salmonella infections than those fed on ultra-processed kibble. A healthy, robust digestive system is your dog’s best defence against these bacteria. 

2. Hygiene is everything

Raw food producers are subject to stringent safety standards during manufacturing, and our practices at home are equally vital. It’s a common misconception that feeding dry food eliminates the risk. Salmonella infections have been contracted from kibble too, often when lax hygiene practices, such as leaving food in bowls for extended periods, or neglecting handwashing, create opportunities for contamination.   

Raw food is the best diet for dogs

We touched on this briefly above- raw food does not suit every dog! Though we can make generalisations about certain breeds, every dog is individual, and what may work for 100 others may not work for them. 

There are so many great options on the market, some now offering the benefits of raw feeding in a more convenient form. 

Pala is air-dried raw food that does not need to be kept frozen or defrosted, making it perfect for busy pet parents or dogs that prefer a more ‘treat-like’ texture to their food. It’s made from minimal Nordic-quality ingredients, and we’ve yet to meet a dog who doesn’t love the taste. 

Cold-pressed foods like Tribal and Wilsons are cooked at lower temperatures than standard kibble, making them much easier to digest. They can be fed standalone as a complete diet or as a handy addition to raw meat recipes. 

There is no right or wrong, so we recommend considering both your dog’s needs and what fits in with your lifestyle (psst… if you’re not sure, why not take advantage of our free consultation service?) 

Do you feed your dog raw or cold-pressed? Get in touch with your testimonials on socials or email us at support@brownsnaturalpetstore.co.uk.