Do vets recommend a raw dog food diet?

Quick takeaways about feeding a raw food diet

• Feeding a raw food diet is becoming increasingly popular, but not all vets are fully supportive.
• Choosing a reputable, DEFRA-registered raw pet food manufacturer and complete and balanced recipes is important.
• As long as you adopt basic hygiene rules when handling raw food, it can be as safe as any other type of pet food.

As feeding a raw diet becomes increasingly popular, many of us are looking to our vets to find out if it’s a good idea.

After all, with so many options on the market, it’s natural for pet parents to seek expert advice about their dog’s nutritional needs. So, what do vets think about raw feeding?

To find out, we quizzed our in-house expert and Registered Veterinary Nurse, Melanie Sainsbury. She’s the proud owner of a 12-year-old Springador, Herbie, and a 4-year-old English Springer Spaniel, Seth. And as a raw feeder herself, she’s ideally placed to answer the biggest questions around raw.

From the best vet-recommended raw dog food to whether it’s safe to make your own homemade raw food recipes, Mel shares her advice…

 

Is a raw diet good for dogs?

“In 10 years of working with Natures Menu, and having been a raw feeder myself for almost 12 years, I’ve seen many benefits of feeding a raw food diet. I’ve heard success stories from customers who’ve noticed:

• An improvement in their dog’s digestion
• Smaller, firmer poos that are less smelly and easier to pick up
• Fresher breath
• More stable energy levels

“Many customers contact me as a last resort after trying numerous dry foods and wet foods, all of which haven’t improved their dog’s particular ailment. Often, a raw diet can be the answer they’re looking for.

“Personally, I can honestly say I would never feed my dogs anything else as they have thrived on a Natures Menu balanced raw diet for most of their healthy and happy lives. They regularly receive comments on their soft, shiny coats and general vitality.”

 

Is raw feeding safe from a hygiene point of view?

“Raw feeding can be a safe way to feed your dog, as long as you follow some basic hygiene rules when handling it. At Natures Menu, we always recommend defrosting our food in a covered container, washing bowls, utensils, and hands thoroughly after handling, and wiping down feeding areas.

“These practices should be adopted whatever type of food you feed, as all pet food can contain bacteria. But you can be confident that as a DEFRA-registered raw pet food manufacturer, Natures Menu abides by all government legislation and recommendations to ensure our food is as safe as possible to feed.”

 

Are there any risks that come from raw feeding?

“In my opinion, there’s no increased risk in feeding a raw diet to your pet over any other type of pet food, provided you choose a reputable and DEFRA-registered manufacturer, follow good hygiene practices, and feed a fully complete and balanced raw pet food.

“As a UK Pet Food member, Natures Menu follows the same nutritional guidelines as many other popular dry brands of pet food seen in veterinary practices across the UK, so we know our foods are fulfilling our beloved dog’s nutritional needs.

“If your pet suffers from a medical condition or is on long-term medication, speak to an expert before switching. Our fully trained customer service team at Natures Menu can help and advise, with the assistance of our in-house veterinary team, if needed.”

 

Why do some vets advise against raw feeding?

“Many vets and veterinary nurses are nervous about raw feeding as, sadly, they have treated pets when owners have fed a raw diet incorrectly or irresponsibly. A slight nutrient imbalance can be catastrophic, and feeding raw meat that isn’t produced by a pet food manufacturer can carry additional bacterial risks.

“Therefore, many veterinary professionals prefer to recommend diets they’re familiar with and which they know contain all the required nutrients.

“Many professionals are also unaware of raw, complete and balanced options and that – as a company – Natures Menu follows the same nutritional guidelines to achieve our balanced recipes as the big science-based dry food companies.

“We offer free continued professional development programmes for any professionals like vets, nurses and pet nutritionists who want to learn more.”

 

Why is feeding a complete and balanced diet important?

“A complete and balanced diet ensures your dog is getting all the nutrients they need to keep them fit and healthy. Even a tiny imbalance, deficiency or overabundance of certain nutrients can cause health problems, some of which may not develop for months or even years.

“Natures Menu’s complete and balanced raw recipes are formulated to comply with the European Pet Food Nutritional Guidelines (FEDIAF), which are scientifically reviewed to ensure they provide optimal levels of micro and macronutrients.”

 

What’s the best raw food to feed and why?

“I’d say Natures Menu Complete & Balanced meals! My dogs and family members’ dogs have thrived on these recipes for many years. The simplicity of counting out nuggets or blocks, defrosting overnight, and feeding the next day is a winner.

“By choosing these meals, I have easy control over portion sizes, meaning I can keep my dogs’ weights healthy and there’s no need for measuring cups or scales.”

 

What’s the difference between 80/20 and 60/40?

“Our 80/20 range is made with 80% meat & offal with 20% fruits, vegetables, and superfoods. All these recipes are no-grain, and many are single-protein and chicken-free.

“This can be useful for dogs suffering from food intolerances, digestive sensitivities or allergies requiring an exclusion diet to help ascertain the potential trigger.

“Our 60/40 range is made from 60% meat and offal with 40% vegetables and healthy grain in the form of parboiled brown rice. This range can be a great introduction to raw, and the rice can help towards a healthy gut, proper poo formation, and to help prevent overeating.”

“Personally, I feed a mix of both ranges every day to my dogs so no two bowls are the same, helping to keep mealtimes exciting.”

 

Is there a ‘mix your own’ version?

“Our Ready to Mix range comprises pure meats and minces to be mixed with other ingredients to formulate a complete meal. Customers can choose their specific protein(s) and their selection of fruits, vegetables, and carbohydrates to add to each meal.

“We always recommend adding a multivitamin supplement to help ensure all essential vitamins and minerals are covered. This range is ideal for experienced raw feeders with some recipe formulation knowledge and is suitable for fully-grown adult dogs only.

 

What would you say to anyone on the fence about raw feeding?

“Give it a go! You’ve really got nothing to lose. If you try raw and you’re not happy or your dog isn’t happy, you always have the option to return to the food you’re used to feeding.

“You’re also not tied into continuous raw feeding should you go on holiday with your dog or they need to spend some time away from home without access to a freezer.

“Natures Menu has plenty of alternative options to tide you over, like our Complete & Balanced Freeze-Dried Raw and our delicious can and pouch cooked meals. These options can also be very handy if you forget to defrost a meal or two during your busy week (speaking from experience!).

Feeding dogs raw food FAQs

Are raw bones as treats a good idea?

“Raw bones can be an excellent source of mental stimulation and can help to keep your dog’s teeth healthy. However, we recommend a staging system to help gradually introduce bones, increasing in density as the levels progress.

“We always recommend that dogs are fed a 100% raw diet for a minimum of 4 weeks before trying raw bones or chews and always monitor your dog when they’re chewing. And remember, we only recommend feeding raw bones, as cooked bones can splinter and cause substantial damage to the digestive tract.”

Can you mix raw with dry or cooked food?

“Providing your dog can tolerate a mix of food formats, mix feeding is absolutely fine. However, suppose you have a particularly sensitive dog.

“In that case, you’re transitioning to raw feeding, or you’re already mix feeding and have noticed your dog suffering from occasional diarrhea and/or vomiting, try separating the food formats and feeding one in the morning and one in the evening.

“Mix feeding is really down to the individual owner and dog, and one way of feeding won’t necessarily suit everyone.”

Should I try making my own homemade raw food?

Making your own recipes can be challenging. It also requires some knowledge of canine nutrition and nutrient requirements.

Over- and under-supplementation can have catastrophic effects, so we only recommend home-preparing meals if you’re an experienced raw feeder.

For new raw feeders, Natures Menu’s complete and balanced raw food range takes the hassle and worry out of everything. With our range, you get easy and quick portion control, and you can get into the habit of defrosting your dog’s meals.

Once you’re established and have a good understanding of raw, you could try making your own following your own research.

Try our personalised meal plans with high-quality raw ingredients – including fresh fruits and vegetables – for a healthier, happier dog.