September 15, 2022 · Updated September 26, 2026 · By Collar.pet

Raw food diets for pets: risks, questions and safer decisions

In brief

• Raw food can carry germs that affect pets and people.
• A raw recipe still needs to be complete for your pet's age and species.
• Ask your vet whether a safer food can meet the same goal.

Raw feeding appeals to some owners because it feels less processed or lets them choose ingredients. Those preferences are understandable, but “raw” does not by itself establish better nutrition, digestion or weight control. A diet still needs to meet the animal's nutritional requirements, and handling uncooked animal products creates risks for pets and people. Discuss a proposed raw diet with your veterinarian before making a change, particularly if anyone in the home has a higher risk from infection.

The main safety issue: bacteria can travel beyond the bowl

The US Food and Drug Administration's study of commercial raw pet food found raw products were more likely than the other tested pet foods to contain disease-causing bacteria. Contamination can spread through hands, bowls, counters, packaging and a pet's stool. A pet that looks well can still expose people in the household. Young children, pregnant people, older adults and immunocompromised people require particular care.

If you already feed raw, tell your veterinary team. Ask for advice about the household risk and follow official food-safety guidance for storage, thawing, cleanup and handwashing. Clean preparation surfaces and utensils promptly; keep pet-food equipment separate from human-food preparation where possible. Hygiene reduces risk but does not prove a product is free of pathogens.

Nutritional adequacy is a separate question

A homemade mix of meat, organs and bones may look varied but still be deficient or excessive in important nutrients. This matters especially for growing puppies and kittens, pregnant animals and pets with medical conditions. Commercial raw products also differ; inspect whether the particular recipe is a complete diet for your pet's species and life stage or merely a complementary food.

The WSAVA nutrition guidance recommends evaluating the manufacturer and the diet's nutritional adequacy, not just its ingredient list. Ask your veterinarian whether a board-certified veterinary nutritionist should formulate or review a homemade plan. Avoid giving bones without professional advice because injury and obstruction are possible.

Questions to take to a veterinary appointment

• What goal are we trying to achieve: a diagnosed food reaction, weight management, palatability or something else?
• Is there a complete, appropriately formulated cooked or commercial alternative that meets that goal?
• Who is responsible for formulating and testing the proposed diet, and how will we monitor body condition and health?
• Are household members or this pet at elevated risk from foodborne infection?

Do not make a sudden diet change for a pet that is vomiting, has diarrhoea or is losing weight; these signs deserve veterinary assessment. The safest decision is one that accounts for both the individual animal and the people who handle its food.

This article provides general information, not a feeding prescription. It was substantively updated on 26 September 2026.