Conditions apply

Can dogs eat raw meat?

Raw meat is a genuine choice some owners make, but it carries real bacterial risks — to the dog and to the people in the house. Raw pork additionally risks a parasite.

If your dog reacts badly

See a vet for bloody diarrhoea, fever or a dog that will not eat.

Signs to watch for

vomiting
diarrhoea, sometimes bloody
fever
lethargy

When: 1–3 days for bacterial illness.

What makes it harmful

Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, E. coli; Trichinella in pork

Raw meat is regularly contaminated with pathogens. Dogs can carry and shed them without appearing ill, which is why the FDA, CDC, AVMA and WSAVA all advise against raw diets in households with young children, elderly people or anyone immunocompromised.

How much matters

Not dose-related — contamination is the variable, not quantity.

How to prepare it

If you feed raw, handle it as you would raw meat for people: separate boards, wash hands and bowls, and never leave it standing.

Portion

A raw diet still has to be complete and balanced. Home-assembled raw diets are frequently deficient in calcium, and growing puppies are the most vulnerable to getting that wrong.

How confident is this

established

Well established in the veterinary literature and consistent across sources.

Freeman LM, et al. Current knowledge about the risks and benefits of raw meat-based diets for dogs and cats. JAVMA 2013;243(11):1549-58.
WSAVA Global Nutrition Committee, raw meat-based diet guidance

Check another food

Informational only, and not a substitute for veterinary advice. Individual dogs vary, and this page cannot account for your dog's age, size, health conditions or medication. If you are worried, phone a vet — that call is always the right call.