From Dr. Kathy – Please accept these comments as advise, not as a criticism or judgement.
There is a reason that cavemen cooked their food; they recognized that fewer of their family members got sick or died after eating cooked food.
“Dogs” and “cats” in the wild eat raw meat. Our domestic dogs and cats are over 10,000 years from being wild. Yorkies, poodles and even Huskies are thousands of generations from being wild dogs. People ate raw meat, too. Are their some benefits? Perhaps.
B U T the risks are much greater! Especially from the bacteria that have developed over the last several decades. Unless eating wild meat, the risk of worms is not as great, however, it IS there. Also, all raw diets are not created equal and to feed them “safely” takes a lot of effort and care. Some people believe that getting 10# of hamburger, some broccoli and blueberries from the grocery store constitutes safe “raw feeding.” As an on-the-firing-line veterinarian I have had too many patients negatively impacted by feeding raw. One of the most heartbreaking was a WONDERFUL owner who “treated” her 3 dogs to a raw organic Amish egg each. Two were were dead 3 days later from Salmonella, and the third dog was hospitalized for several days. Especially nowadays, with antibiotic resistant bacteria, there are too many risks, ESPECIALLY for our pets who already have compromised health, AND for immuno-compromised people who are in contact with raw food fed pets.
Many pet owners claim to have “safely” fed raw for decades without having problems, but the risks are significantly serious.
In a two-year study spanning from October 2010 through July 2012, the FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) screened over 1,000 samples of pet food for bacteria that can cause foodborne illnesses. (The illnesses are called “foodborne” because the bacteria are carried, or “borne,” in or on contaminated food,) The study showed that, compared to other types WC (wet canned) pet food tested, raw pet food was more likely to be contaminated with disease-causing bacteria.
Some owners believe that frozen raw diets are safe, but freezing doesn’t preclude bacterial risk. Freezing slows down the growth and activity of bacteria, but it does not destroy them. Bacteria can survive in frozen foods for extended periods, especially if they aren’t kept at temperatures below 0°F (-18°C). When the food is thawed, the bacteria become active again.
See:
Risks of Feeding Raw Diets to Dogs & Considerations for Human Health
Daniel L. Chan, DVM, DACVECC, DECVECC, DACVIM (Nutrition), DACVN, MRCVS, University of London, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Monsey O, Wareham K, Hammond A, et al. Evidence that faecal carriage of resistant Escherichia coli by 16-week-old dogs in the United Kingdom is associated with raw feeding. One Health. 2022;14:100370. doi:10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100370
https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2025/09/deadly-pathogens-found-commercial-raw-cat-foods?fbclid=
Dr. Kathy
**The Vet Corner groups encourage members to establish a relationship with their local veterinarian, don’t wait until an emergency.**
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