Raw feeding and working dogs: evidence and risks

Define the diet

Record exactly what raw feeding means in your situation: a formulated product, a home-prepared recipe, raw treats or bones added to another food. These are different exposures and should not be grouped into one vague answer at a nutrition appointment. Include the source, storage and preparation method in the record.

Review the evidence

WSAVA’s raw-diet resource states that evidence does not establish health benefits over balanced cooked or commercial alternatives. It identifies concerns about contamination, nutritional imbalance and bone-related injury. Freezing is not a guarantee that all bacteria have been removed. Keep those issues separate: a recipe can raise a nutritional question even when it has been handled carefully.

Consider people and other animals

The potential consequences extend beyond the dog eating the ration. WSAVA describes risks associated with handling food and animal waste and notes greater vulnerability among some people. Explain who prepares meals, where equipment is cleaned and whether the dog visits clinical, care or public settings. Do not assume that lack of visible illness proves absence of a hazard.

Make the decision transparent

Bring the full recipe or product information to a veterinary nutrition review rather than asking whether raw is good in the abstract. Ask what evidence supports adequacy and how relevant hazards would be managed. This page provides educational context and does not formulate a diet or prescribe a transition. Preserve any professional plan and review it when work, household or health circumstances change.

Common questions

Sources & further reading

References for this guide. Rules and services can change; check the responsible organisation for current details.

• WSAVA: Raw meat-based diets (opens in a new tab)

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