Misinformation scares us into believing raw meats, organs, and raw meaty bones are harmful for our domestic pets, yet this is what their wild counterparts would naturally seek out and eat as nature intended.
It’s very easy for the pet food industry to convince us their products are the only safe option, and veterinarians for that matter. After all, we’re taught as kids that bacteria in raw meat can be dangerous.
I don’t want you to see bacteria in raw feeding as the enemy. There are many very healthy, very happy raw fed dogs in the world, and although there are important considerations, we shouldn’t be afraid of bacteria in raw.
Bacteria have been given a very bad reputation, especially when it comes to raw dog food.
On many occasions I’ve suggested raw feeding to someone and been met with a look of dumbfounded fear, as if it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
I’ve known the same reactions from veterinarians, who religiously believe Hill’s or Royal Canin are the only safe option despite being made significantly of grains for carnivorous animals (yes, cats are factually carnivorous yet these brands are still made from grains).
Many people panic at the thought of bacteria in raw dog food, but bacteria are everywhere. We come into contact with bacteria – literally – all the time.
Take your phone, for example.
Studies have shown the average phone is crawling with ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat, and this includes antibiotic-resistant strains. I know I spend too much time on my phone, yet the thought of groping my toilet seat for 3+ hours a day is freaky, even if it’s cleaner.
The real problem isn’t bacteria itself, but how we handle it.
In my many years researching and reviewing commercial pet foods, it’s clear the risks of Salmonella, E. coli, and other harmful pathogens aren’t just limited to raw foods.
Kibble may be cooked at high-temperatures to kill bacteria (but also nutrients for that matter), but poor processing standards can often lead to contamination of the big bags of kibble you trust.
Fresh fruit, vegetables, and even packaged human foods can also be covered in bacteria.
Rather than fearing bacteria in raw meat, the focus should be on proper food handling. Washing your hands, cleaning food bowls, and sourcing from reputable suppliers does far more for safety than avoiding raw food altogether.
Dogs aren’t humans.
A dog’s digestive system works very differently from our own.
With a stomach pH as low as 1-2, a dog’s gut is designed to break down raw meat quickly, and will destroy most harmful bacteria without it ever becoming an issue.
On top of that, a dog’s digestive process is much faster than ours, giving bacteria little time to multiply. Their digestive system is short, more like a carnivorous cats than our own, making it naturally geared to digesting raw meats rather than the heavily baked grains found in most commercial dog foods.
As scavenging carnivores, dogs evolved eating raw meat, consuming foods which we know could make us humans seriously ill.
But don’t worry, their bodies are equipped for it in ways that ours simply aren’t.
Raw feeding isn’t risky if you follow a few very simple common-sense guidelines:
While raw feeding is natural for dogs, some struggle with it.
In my experience the main cause of this is processed pet food. Especially when a dog has been fed an unvaried diet of one brand of processed pet food for a long period of time, allowing dietary intolerances to build up.
Decades of processed diets, environmental toxins, and poor gut health can leave some dogs unable to handle raw meat properly, and sadly many assume raw is the problem as soon as they introduce it to their dogs diet and diarrhea occurs.
If your dog has digestive issues, then lightly cooked fresh food might be a better place to start.
I find digestive issues or a disrupted microbiome (such as from a poor quality kibble diet) can be hard to rectify, but adding digestive enzymes or probiotics can help restore your dog’s gut over time.
You shouldn’t consider bacteria in raw dog food as an automatic health risk.
Poor food handling and a misunderstanding of how dogs process bacteria are what you really should consider. If you’re comfortable touching an iPhone covered in bacteria before eating, then raw feeding shouldn’t scare you.
Handled correctly, raw feeding can be just as safe – if not safer – than processed pet foods.
It’s simply about understanding how to do it properly, not avoiding it out of fear or because the pet food industry has advised you against it.
For those who like to see the science, check out these research studies on bacteria in pet food and how dogs digest raw meat.
My answer is no, assuming you use common sense.
Keep in mind as of 2025 (when I’m writing this article) there are many healthy raw fed dogs in the world.
I remember starting researching pet foods over 17 years ago, and back then nearly everyone fed a commercial brand of dog food.
I’ll also happily state I’ve fed my cat raw meats, organs, and raw meaty bones for the last 14 years, and my current dog has been fed raw since being weened off her mother’s milk 9 years ago (combined with commercial dog foods I rate highly on this website).
What do you think?
Are you still afraid of bacteria in raw, and if that’s still the case then feel free to ask me any questions in the comments.
Read more...
It’s very easy for the pet food industry to convince us their products are the only safe option, and veterinarians for that matter. After all, we’re taught as kids that bacteria in raw meat can be dangerous.
I don’t want you to see bacteria in raw feeding as the enemy. There are many very healthy, very happy raw fed dogs in the world, and although there are important considerations, we shouldn’t be afraid of bacteria in raw.
- Why bacteria isn’t the enemy you think it is
- Bacteria are everywhere – including processed pet food
- Your dog is biologically designed to handle raw food
- How to keep raw feeding safe and simple
- Not every dog is ready for raw – yet
- The real issue isn’t bacteria – it’s misinformation
- So, should you be afraid of bacteria in raw meat?
Why bacteria isn’t the enemy you think it is
Bacteria have been given a very bad reputation, especially when it comes to raw dog food.
On many occasions I’ve suggested raw feeding to someone and been met with a look of dumbfounded fear, as if it’s a disaster waiting to happen.
I’ve known the same reactions from veterinarians, who religiously believe Hill’s or Royal Canin are the only safe option despite being made significantly of grains for carnivorous animals (yes, cats are factually carnivorous yet these brands are still made from grains).
Many people panic at the thought of bacteria in raw dog food, but bacteria are everywhere. We come into contact with bacteria – literally – all the time.
Take your phone, for example.
Studies have shown the average phone is crawling with ten times more bacteria than a toilet seat, and this includes antibiotic-resistant strains. I know I spend too much time on my phone, yet the thought of groping my toilet seat for 3+ hours a day is freaky, even if it’s cleaner.
The real problem isn’t bacteria itself, but how we handle it.
Bacteria are everywhere – including processed pet food
In my many years researching and reviewing commercial pet foods, it’s clear the risks of Salmonella, E. coli, and other harmful pathogens aren’t just limited to raw foods.
Kibble may be cooked at high-temperatures to kill bacteria (but also nutrients for that matter), but poor processing standards can often lead to contamination of the big bags of kibble you trust.
Fresh fruit, vegetables, and even packaged human foods can also be covered in bacteria.
Rather than fearing bacteria in raw meat, the focus should be on proper food handling. Washing your hands, cleaning food bowls, and sourcing from reputable suppliers does far more for safety than avoiding raw food altogether.
Your dog is biologically designed to handle raw food
Dogs aren’t humans.
A dog’s digestive system works very differently from our own.
With a stomach pH as low as 1-2, a dog’s gut is designed to break down raw meat quickly, and will destroy most harmful bacteria without it ever becoming an issue.
On top of that, a dog’s digestive process is much faster than ours, giving bacteria little time to multiply. Their digestive system is short, more like a carnivorous cats than our own, making it naturally geared to digesting raw meats rather than the heavily baked grains found in most commercial dog foods.
As scavenging carnivores, dogs evolved eating raw meat, consuming foods which we know could make us humans seriously ill.
But don’t worry, their bodies are equipped for it in ways that ours simply aren’t.
How to keep raw feeding safe and simple
Raw feeding isn’t risky if you follow a few very simple common-sense guidelines:
- Source wisely – Choose raw food from trusted suppliers with high hygiene standards. In Australia, there’s a big different between pet-grade meats and human-grade meats, and I advise you to source the latter.
- Keep things clean – Wash your hands, clean food bowls daily, and disinfect preparation surfaces. You know, what we’ve learned since we were kids.
- Store raw food properly – Keep raw food frozen or refrigerated at the right temperature. Again, we know this already, right?
- Support gut health – A well-balanced microbiome helps dogs process raw food safely. If raw food negatively affects your dog, keep in mind their digestive health might not be as good as it will be if you start feeding them a healthier diet.
Not every dog is ready for raw – yet
While raw feeding is natural for dogs, some struggle with it.
In my experience the main cause of this is processed pet food. Especially when a dog has been fed an unvaried diet of one brand of processed pet food for a long period of time, allowing dietary intolerances to build up.
Decades of processed diets, environmental toxins, and poor gut health can leave some dogs unable to handle raw meat properly, and sadly many assume raw is the problem as soon as they introduce it to their dogs diet and diarrhea occurs.
If your dog has digestive issues, then lightly cooked fresh food might be a better place to start.
I find digestive issues or a disrupted microbiome (such as from a poor quality kibble diet) can be hard to rectify, but adding digestive enzymes or probiotics can help restore your dog’s gut over time.
The real issue isn’t bacteria – it’s misinformation
You shouldn’t consider bacteria in raw dog food as an automatic health risk.
Poor food handling and a misunderstanding of how dogs process bacteria are what you really should consider. If you’re comfortable touching an iPhone covered in bacteria before eating, then raw feeding shouldn’t scare you.
Handled correctly, raw feeding can be just as safe – if not safer – than processed pet foods.
It’s simply about understanding how to do it properly, not avoiding it out of fear or because the pet food industry has advised you against it.
For those who like to see the science, check out these research studies on bacteria in pet food and how dogs digest raw meat.
So, should you be afraid of bacteria in raw meat?
My answer is no, assuming you use common sense.
Keep in mind as of 2025 (when I’m writing this article) there are many healthy raw fed dogs in the world.
I remember starting researching pet foods over 17 years ago, and back then nearly everyone fed a commercial brand of dog food.
I’ll also happily state I’ve fed my cat raw meats, organs, and raw meaty bones for the last 14 years, and my current dog has been fed raw since being weened off her mother’s milk 9 years ago (combined with commercial dog foods I rate highly on this website).
What do you think?
Are you still afraid of bacteria in raw, and if that’s still the case then feel free to ask me any questions in the comments.
Read more...
