Is Raw Pet Food the Right Choice For My Pet?

The ancestry of cats and dogs goes back millions of years. And you can probably guess what they ate! They were, of course, carnivores. When dogs and cats began to live among humans, they started to eat what humans ate including cooked foods, grains, corn, and legumes. These ingredients are often a part of conventional pet foods. This leads to the question: Are we feeding our pets the foods that benefit them the most? Many experts and pet owners are convinced that raw food for pets, which aligns with their ancestral diets, is the healthiest choice.

Feeding commercial raw foods to dogs and cats has been steadily growing in popularity. (Raw human foods you have at home in your refrigerator should never be fed to pets because they have not been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens.) If you haven’t tried prepared raw foods, you have likely wondered about their potential benefits.

Cats and dogs evolved with digestive tracts designed to thrive on a meat-based diet, and raw animal meat is loaded with protein in its natural, unaltered state.

1. Raw pet food is uncooked and minimally processed meat along with ground bones for calcium, plus fruits and vegetables for natural vitamins and minerals.

2. Raw pet foods often contain organ meats, which provide higher nutritional value than standard muscle meat.

1. Improved digestion – The enzymes and probiotics in a raw pet food diet make it easily digestible, and (once a vet has ruled out any medical causes) can address gas, diarrhea, vomiting, and low appetite.
2. Reduction in allergies – Raw foods are extremely low-ingredient.
3. Improved immune system – Raw foods maintain the probiotics, enzymes, vitamins, and minerals lost in the cooking process.
4. Increased energy – Raw foods are typically higher in protein and fat than kibble diets.
5. May lead to better oral and dental health – Because raw diets remove carbohydrates that stick to teeth and lead to decay, they can help prevent dental disease alongside proper vet care.
6. Weight control – Raw foods are lower in carbohydrates, so lower in calories, and because of their high nutritional value, less food is needed.
7. Enhanced hydration
8. Smaller, firmer stools

1. The USDA requires that raw pet foods contain 0% harmful pathogens. Raw foods are meticulously tested and subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens.
2. Buy raw foods from a reputable pet store you trust—one with reliable freezers and solid food-handling practices.

1. For cats and smaller dog breeds, feeding raw is no more costly than feeding two or three cans of quality food per day.
2. For larger dogs, the cost may be higher than your budget allows. If the cost is not in your budget, consider using raw foods as a supplement to what you currently feed.
3. Many benefits can be gained by simply incorporating raw foods into your pet’s existing diet, even as an occasional treat.

1. Start by doing your own research.
2. Visit specific manufacturers’ websites to read reviews and testimonials from countless pet owners who have seen positive changes in their pet’s health, appearance, and energy.
3. If your dog or cat has a specific health condition, speak with your veterinarian before changing their diet. You can also ask your vet’s opinion about raw foods, but be aware that veterinarians, like human doctors, often focus more on treating disease than on nutrition and prevention.
4. Any diet change should start out very gradually. You can introduce small amounts of raw food into their diet. Raw foods can also be used as a supplement to their regular meals.

1. Raw pet food can be purchased in freeze-dried form, which reconstitutes quickly, or in frozen form from your pet store’s freezer case. Thaw in small batches as needed. (You can search online for “raw pet food near me.”)
2. Ask your pet store for samples if available.
3. If no samples are available, start with a small bag of a flavor you know your pet already likes.
4. If your dog or cat isn’t immediately interested, mix a little in with their regular food and increase gradually over time.
5. Never heat raw pet food. If food is refrigerated, you can let it reach room temperature on the counter before feeding it to your pet.

Finally, there are many raw pet food manufacturers and flavor options to choose from. Talk to the staff at your local pet store. It may take some trial and error to introduce this highly nutritious food into your pet’s diet and to find brands and flavors that work, but the health rewards of feeding raw may be significant and well worth the effort.

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