Why Veterinarians Don't Recommend Raw Diets

Why Veterinarians Don’t Recommend Raw Diets

               We all want to feed our pets the best foods that are tasty, nutritious, and that will keep them healthy.  Raw food diets for pets have gained popularity in part due to human trends towards fresh, minimally processed foods.  Raw diets can be made fresh in the home, but many commercially available fresh and freeze- dried raw options exist as well.  These diets usually contain fruits, vegetables and other foods as well as meat, but raw meat, bones, and dairy post the most risks.  But, are raw diets really healthy for pets? Are there risks with feeding raw? Let’s learn more.

               Raw diets are purported to be better for pet’s skin and coats, to improve dental health and to keep pets at a healthy weight and be easily digested.  However, there are risks associated with feeding raw.  Raw diets may not be nutritionally sound, especially for puppies and kittens and for older pets with health issues.  Certain ratios of vitamins and minerals such as calcium and phosphorus may be difficult to regulate and may cause skeletal and dental issues if not balanced. High protein levels in many raw diets may also be problematic for some pets, especially those with kidney disease.  Vitamin deficiencies and toxicities could also occur.  Bones in raw diets can also occasionally cause gastrointestinal issues such as splintering and obstructions in the esophagus or intestinal tract.

The main concern is contamination with infectious diseases including bacteria, parasites and viruses that may pose a risk not only to the dogs and cats consuming the diet but also to their owners, especially children and those with compromised immune systems.  Bacteria such as Salmonella or Campylobacter may be present in raw meats and can cause illness in pets and can be transferred to humans by dogs licking people’s faces and hands.  Parasites such as trichinosis can infect animals eating raw pork.  There have been documented cases of cats contracting tuberculosis (caused by mycobacterium bovis bacteria) from a commercially available raw diet and, most recently, the highly contagious avian flu (H5N1) has been found in 2 commercially available raw diets and has also sickened some cats who drank raw milk.  Avian flu virus found in a raw food called Northwest Naturals caused the death of at least one cat in Oregon. 

Infectious organisms such a H5N1, various bacteria and parasites found in raw foods pose a real threat to pets and their owners.  If you do choose to feed raw to your pet, use scrupulous handling of raw meats and dairy products if preparing foods in your home and be sure to store commercial raw diets properly and check for recalls often.  Remember, while some pets seem to do well on raw foods, many risks and concerns exist with providing proper, balanced nutrition, especially to puppies and kittens and elderly or ill pets.  Cooked diets, commercially available pet foods by major pet food companies or some combination of the above may be safer and more cost effective than most raw diets. Please ask your veterinarian for more information and recommendations to provide the best nutrition for your pet.

This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6849757/

Several cat deaths reported following bird flu exposure through raw pet food and milk

https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/features/raw-dog-food-dietary-concerns-benefits-and-risks

FYI:  Northwest Naturals, based in Portland, Oregon, voluntarily recalled its Northwest Naturals brand 2 lb Feline Turkey Recipe raw frozen pet food after it tested positive for H5 bird flu.^1,2 The product comes in a blue-colored plastic bag with “Best if used by” dates of 05/21/26 B10 and 06/23/2026 B1.

The company may be contacted at [email protected] or at 866-637-1872, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 AM and 3:30 PM PST for additional information or questions.

Distributors in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Washington in the United States, as well as British Columbia, Canada, sold the product nationwide.²

Bird flu was also detected in Monarch Raw Pet Food based in California.