Raw meat is likely to contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, E. Cooking meat at a safe temperature kills those harmful bacteria. By feeding raw meat, there is a greater risk that your dog will develop a foodborne illness or other type of bacterial infection. Can dogs eat raw meat safely? There are some inherent risks when choosing to serve raw meat even to people.
All raw meat and raw meat products can be contaminated with bacteria, such as Salmonella and E. Unlike an obligate carnivore who must eat meat to survive, like cats, scavenger carnivores can adapt to the nutrients around them. They wander around in search of food and eat what is available. Dogs can survive on plant materials and a minimum amount of animal protein if necessary, but they will thrive on a diet rich in meat.
When I first switched my dogs to raw food, they weren't used to eating cold food straight out of the refrigerator. You cannot give your dog a raw fillet and end the day; you have to make sure that the diet is nutritionally balanced. We've been taught for a long time that the bacteria in raw meat can be harmful to us, so it's easy to assume the same for your dogs. No matter how average or unique your dog's dietary needs are, there is a raw dog food option to help your pet thrive.
Don't start feeding richer raw foods, such as viscera or eggs, until your dog has started to get used to eating raw food. This can be limiting if you are traveling with a raw fed dog, so you may want to look for some kibble style dog foods that use very low temperatures to gently cook food and retain nutrients that are normally lost in the kibble extrusion process. However, raw dog food is not designed to heat up or undergo the changes caused by cooking, and cooking raw dog food can cause a variety of problems for your dog. That's a big part of it, but the best raw diet for dogs should contain all of its essential nutrients, so muscle meat, organs, bones and even a little greenery may be needed to help them thrive.
Some dogs swallow food as if it were going out of style, but raw meals can be a little more complicated for the most delicate diners. Beef is a classic option of raw meat for dogs, and it is widely available, compared to the more difficult to find bison. As long as the protein is fresh and of good quality, most older pets do very well with protein-rich foods, such as raw ones. Raw diets are calorie-dense and easy to digest, allowing you to feed smaller portions and provide better nutrition and energy to your dog.
Most pet owners who choose to feed dogs a raw food diet focus on meat as a source of protein, but eggs are also a great option for adding nutrients and protein to their dog's meals. Like most omnivores, your dog has canines and incisors in the front, and premolars and molars in the back, but that doesn't mean they're designed to eat the same food.
