Raw Food Diets for Dogs: The Risks, What Vets and the FDA Say, and Safer Choices
Why major veterinary and public health bodies discourage raw feeding, who in the household is most at risk, and what to do if you still choose it.
A raw food diet for dogs is built on uncooked meat, organs, bones and sometimes raw eggs or unpasteurized milk. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the FDA and the CDC all discourage feeding raw animal-source protein to dogs and cats, mainly because raw products can carry harmful germs such as Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli that can sicken both pets and people. Homemade raw diets can also be nutritionally unbalanced. If you are considering raw feeding, talk to your veterinarian first.
What “raw feeding” usually means
Raw diets come in several forms:
- Commercial frozen raw diets, sold as patties, nuggets or chubs;
- Freeze-dried or dehydrated raw foods and toppers;
- Homemade raw diets, often based on muscle meat, organs and bones (sometimes called BARF or prey-model);
- Raw treats and chews, including some freeze-dried treats.
The CDC notes that freeze-drying and dehydrating reduce germs but do not kill all of them, so these products carry similar risks to frozen raw food.
What the major organizations say
AVMA
The AVMA policy discourages feeding any raw or undercooked animal-source protein (meat, poultry, fish, eggs, milk) to dogs and cats because of the risk to human and animal health. It supports diets processed with methods that reduce or eliminate pathogens, such as cooking, pasteurization or other validated technologies.
FDA
The FDA does not recommend raw diets and has issued many recalls and warnings involving raw pet foods contaminated with bacteria. Since early 2025, the FDA has also required makers of cat and dog food that use uncooked or unpasteurized poultry or cattle ingredients to treat H5N1 avian influenza as a known or reasonably foreseeable hazard in their food safety plans. That followed illnesses in cats linked to contaminated raw products. Cats appear to be most affected, but it is a reminder that raw ingredients can carry more than bacteria.
CDC
The CDC does not recommend raw pet food or raw treats. It notes that pets can carry germs from raw food without looking sick and can spread them to people through saliva, feces and fur.
The main risks
| Risk | Who it affects | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Bacteria (Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli) | Dogs and people | Dogs may show vomiting or diarrhea, or no signs at all while shedding germs |
| Cross-contamination in the kitchen | Everyone in the home | Bowls, counters, sinks and hands can spread germs to human food |
| Higher-risk household members | Children under 5, adults 65+, pregnant people, people with weakened immune systems | More likely to get seriously ill from foodborne germs |
| Nutritional imbalance | Dogs, especially puppies | Homemade recipes often miss key nutrients or get the calcium-phosphorus balance wrong |
| Bones | Dogs | Broken teeth, choking, and blockages or injury in the digestive tract |
What about the claimed benefits?
Raw feeding is often promoted for shinier coats, better teeth, smaller stools or better digestion. These claims are mostly based on owner reports rather than strong research. The CDC points out that both raw and cooked pet foods can be made with high- or low-quality ingredients; “raw” is not a guarantee of quality. Many of the changes owners notice, such as a shinier coat, can also come from a diet higher in fat, which cooked foods can provide too.
If you still choose to feed raw
We don’t recommend it, but if you decide to feed raw after speaking with your vet, these steps from CDC and FDA guidance reduce the risk:
- Choose commercial products from companies with strong food safety programs; ask whether they test finished products for Salmonella, Listeria and E. coli. Check that the food is labeled complete and balanced for your dog’s life stage; see how to read a pet food label.
- Keep raw food frozen until use and thaw it in the refrigerator, never on the counter or in the sink.
- Store it away from human food, in sealed containers on the lowest fridge shelf.
- Wash hands with soap and water before and after handling pet food and bowls.
- Clean and disinfect counters, utensils, bowls and anything the raw food touched.
- Pick up uneaten food promptly and wash the bowl after every meal.
- Don’t let your dog lick your face right after eating, and pick up feces promptly.
- Avoid raw feeding in homes with young children, older adults, pregnant people or anyone with a weakened immune system.
- Watch for recalls; raw products are recalled regularly. See how to check pet food recalls.
Safer alternatives
- Commercial cooked diets, including fresh-cooked, canned or dry foods labeled complete and balanced.
- High-pressure processed (HPP) or otherwise pathogen-treated foods: these may reduce risk, though they are not the same as cooked. Ask your vet.
- Home-cooked diets formulated by a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, if you want to cook for your dog. Online recipes are often incomplete.
If you change your dog’s diet, do it gradually; see how to switch dog food.
When to call the vet
Contact your veterinarian if your dog has vomiting, diarrhea (especially bloody), fever, lethargy or loss of appetite. Get emergency care for choking, repeated vomiting, a swollen or painful belly, or signs of a bone stuck in the mouth or throat. If people in the home develop fever, diarrhea or vomiting, they should see a doctor and mention the raw pet food.
Bottom line
Raw diets carry real risks of bacterial contamination for dogs and people, and homemade versions are often unbalanced. The AVMA, FDA and CDC all advise against them. If you want a fresher diet for your dog, a complete and balanced cooked food is the safer route. Talk to your veterinarian before making changes.
FAQ
Can dogs get sick from raw food if they seem healthy?
Dogs can carry and shed germs from raw food without showing signs, which is part of why it is a risk for people in the home.
Is freeze-dried raw food safer?
The CDC says freeze-drying reduces germs but does not kill them all. It carries similar risks to frozen raw.
Are raw bones good for dogs’ teeth?
Bones can break teeth and cause choking or blockages. Ask your vet about safer dental care, including brushing.
Is cooking raw food at home enough?
Cooking kills most germs, but a homemade cooked diet still needs to be nutritionally complete. Work with a veterinary nutritionist.