Pharmacy

Raw Diets For Dogs & Cats

What the Science Actually Says

An Evidence-Based Guide for Pet Owners

Raw meat diets for pets have moved firmly into the mainstream. Walk through any pet-supply store and you’ll find freezer cases stocked with raw patties, freeze-dried nuggets, and “prey model” meal kits — all marketed with language that evokes ancestral eating, vibrant health, and a return to nature.

It’s completely understandable that pet owners want the very best for their animals. But as veterinarians, our job is to give you evidence-based guidance, not marketing. This article summarizes what the current science, major veterinary organizations, and federal regulators actually say about raw meat diets for dogs and cats — including practical advice if, after weighing everything, you decide to proceed.

1. What Is a Raw Pet Diet?

Raw diets go by several names: BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food or Bones and Raw Food), prey-model raw (PMR), and simply “raw feeding.” They typically include some combination of:

  • Raw muscle meat (chicken, beef, lamb, turkey, fish)
  • Raw meaty bones (whole or ground)
  • Raw organ meats (liver, kidney)
  • Raw eggs
  • Fruits, vegetables, and dairy (in some formulations)

These diets may be homemade or purchased commercially as frozen, refrigerated, or freeze-dried products. It is important to note that freeze-dried raw foods are still raw — freeze-drying preserves bacteria and parasites rather than eliminating them. Despite how they look on a shelf, freeze-dried products carry many of the same pathogen risks as fresh raw meat.

2. Why So Many Pet Owners Are Interested

The growing interest in raw diets isn’t irrational. One frequently cited concern is the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) during the heat-processing of kibble. High dietary AGE intake in humans has been associated with metabolic and cardiovascular concerns.

Research published in October 2025 found that senior dogs fed fresh, minimally processed food showed increased metabolites consistent with healthier metabolic states, decreased serum AGEs, and improved antioxidant markers compared to dogs on conventional kibble — over a one-year feeding period. These are promising findings that deserve further investigation.

However, “minimally processed” does not necessarily mean “raw and uncooked.” There is an important distinction between fresh, lightly processed food (such as gently cooked human-grade diets) and raw, uncooked meat. The metabolic benefits suggested by emerging research do not require the pathogen risks that come specifically with raw, uncooked animal protein.

3. Seven Well-Documented Risks of Raw Meat Diets

Based on data from the FDA, the AVMA, AAHA, Cornell University’s Riney Canine Health Center, Tufts University’s Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, and peer-reviewed research, the following risks are well established:

Risk 01

 Bacterial Contamination

Raw pet foods are significantly more likely to harbor dangerous bacteria. In an FDA study, raw pet foods tested positive for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes at rates far exceeding those of any other pet food type tested. No samples of dry, semi-moist, or jerky-type products tested positive for either pathogen.

Risk 02

 Antibiotic-Resistant Organisms

A 2025 Cornell University study found that raw cat foods contained significantly more bacterial genes associated with antibiotic resistance than cooked foods. Some bacterial strains isolated were genetically nearly identical to strains associated with human infections.

Risk 03

 Parasitic Infection

Raw meat may harbor parasites including Toxoplasma gondii, Trichinella spiralis, and tapeworms. The 2025 Cornell study found parasite DNA exclusively in raw cat foods — none was found in any cooked cat food tested.

Risk 04

 Viral Transmission (H5N1 Bird Flu)

The FDA has been tracking H5N1 (“bird flu”) cases in domestic cats linked to contaminated raw poultry and raw milk. Cats who eat contaminated raw food have a fatality rate exceeding 50%. The virus is inactivated by pasteurization or cooking — but NOT by freeze-drying or freezing.

Risk 05

 Nutritional Imbalance

Homemade raw diets frequently lack balance. Deficiencies in calcium, phosphorus, vitamins, and trace minerals can cause serious bone disease, developmental problems in young animals, and organ damage. Even many commercially prepared raw diets have been found to be nutritionally incomplete.

Risk 06

 Raw Bone Hazards

Whole or large raw bones can fracture teeth, cause choking, and create gastrointestinal injuries including perforations — especially in dogs. These risks are well documented and can require emergency surgery.

Risk 07

 Zoonotic Disease Risk to Your Household

Handling and feeding raw meat exposes everyone in the home to potentially dangerous pathogens — through contact with the food itself, contaminated surfaces, and even contact with your pet after eating. A child was infected with E. coli O157:H7 — capable of causing kidney failure — traced back to a commercial raw frozen pet food fed to the family dog. This risk is especially serious for children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, and immunocompromised family members.

4. What Veterinary & Public Health Organizations Say

The position of major veterinary and public health bodies has been consistent and clear:

AVMA Position Statement:

“The AVMA discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs, as well as humans.”

— American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)

The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) does not recommend raw protein diets for dogs or cats due to the risk of illness to the patient and the potential public health risk to people in the household.

The Cornell Feline Health Center took a definitive stance against raw diets in their 2022 Annual Report, stating that health risks to both cats and their owners far outweigh any perceived benefits.

The FDA advises pet owners against raw pet food diets and has issued multiple advisories and recalls related to bacterial contamination in commercially prepared raw products.

Practically speaking, some veterinary clinics and boarding facilities will not allow pets consuming raw diets to board or be hospitalized alongside other animals due to infectious disease control concerns.

5. What the Latest Research Shows

The body of peer-reviewed evidence on raw diets has grown substantially in recent years, and it consistently points in the same direction:

The Cornell / Nature Study (2025)

Researchers at Cornell University purchased 85 commercial raw cat foods (frozen, refrigerated, and freeze-dried) and 27 cooked cat foods, then subjected them to rigorous laboratory analysis. Key findings:

  • Viable, live bacteria — including Salmonella, E. coli, and Klebsiella — were cultured from 42% of raw cat foods but from none of the cooked cat foods.
  • Raw cat foods contained significantly more antibiotic-resistance genes than cooked cat foods.
  • Parasite DNA was found only in raw foods — not in any cooked food samples.
  • Live bacteria were found across all forms of raw food, including freeze-dried products.
  • One Salmonella strain was genetically identical to a strain from a reported human infection case.

The FDA’s Multi-Year Study

In an FDA study screening over 1,000 pet food samples, raw pet foods were the only category to test positive for both Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. Every other category tested — dry kibble, semi-moist food, jerky treats, and exotic animal foods — returned zero positives for both pathogens.

6. A Special Note for Cat Owners

Cats face all of the same risks as dogs from raw diets — and at least one that is tragically unique. The H5N1 avian influenza virus has caused the deaths of numerous domestic cats who consumed contaminated raw poultry products, including several commercial raw cat food brands. The mortality rate in cats infected with H5N1 via food is extremely high — greater than 50% in documented cases. Cooking and pasteurization reliably inactivate the virus. Freezing and freeze-drying do not.

The Cornell Feline Health Center was unequivocal in their 2022 assessment: the risks to cats and their owners from raw feeding far outweigh any potential benefits. The American Association of Feline Practitioners (CatVets) similarly emphasizes evidence-based nutrition and safety for cats and the people who share their homes.

7. If You Still Want to Feed Raw: Harm-Reduction Tips

We understand that some pet owners will weigh all of this information and still wish to pursue a raw or minimally processed diet. If that is you, the following steps can reduce — though not eliminate — the risks:

Harm-Reduction Guidance for Raw Feeding

  • Consult a veterinary nutritionist first. Work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (Diplomate ACVN) to formulate a nutritionally complete and balanced diet. Do not rely on recipes found online without professional review.
  • Choose high-pressure processed (HPP) commercial products. High-pressure pasteurization is used by some manufacturers to reduce pathogen load without cooking. Look for this designation on packaging and verify it with the manufacturer.
  • Source meat carefully. Use human-grade meat from reputable, USDA-inspected sources. Avoid wild game, organs from unknown sources, raw fish from non-commercial sources, and any meat past its use-by date.
  • Avoid raw poultry given current H5N1 concerns. Until the H5N1 situation in the U.S. food supply is fully resolved, we strongly advise against feeding raw poultry or raw eggs to pets.
  • Practice rigorous food safety. Treat raw pet food like raw meat in your own kitchen. Wash hands thoroughly after handling. Disinfect all surfaces, bowls, and utensils. Keep raw pet food separate from human food. Never let children handle raw pet food or pet bowls immediately after feeding. Always wash hands after handling the pet, their bowls, or after cleaning up any feces.  Avoid allowing the pet to lick your face or mouth.
  • Do not feed raw to immunocompromised pets. Pets on chemotherapy, immunosuppressants, or those with chronic illness face elevated risk. The same applies to young puppies and kittens whose immune systems are not fully mature.
  • Do not feed raw if anyone in your household is immunocompromised. This includes infants, elderly individuals, pregnant women, cancer patients, and those on immunosuppressive medications.
  • Schedule more frequent veterinary checkups. Pets on raw diets should be seen at least twice yearly. Your veterinarian may recommend routine fecal testing for parasites and bacterial pathogens.
  • Transition gradually. Abrupt dietary changes can cause gastrointestinal upset. If switching diets, do so over 10-14 days.
  • Consider lightly cooked food as a safer alternative. Many potential benefits attributed to minimally processed diets — including reduced AGEs and improved metabolic markers — have been observed with gently cooked fresh food, not specifically raw food. Lightly cooked human-grade pet diets may offer a meaningful middle ground.
  • Avoid feeding whole bones.  Bones can break teeth, cause a blockage in the GI tract, or perforate (poke a hole) in the stomach or intestines.

8. Our Bottom Line

TLC Animal Hospital’s Recommendation

We believe that feeding your pet is one of the most important decisions you make for their health. The current scientific evidence does not support raw meat diets as a safe choice for most pets or households. If you are drawn to minimally processed or fresh food for your pet, we encourage you to explore lightly cooked, human-grade commercial diets that have undergone nutritional testing — and to discuss any dietary changes with our team before making the switch.

The honest answer, based on the current body of evidence, is this: There are no proven health benefits unique to raw, uncooked meat diets that cannot be achieved through safer alternatives. There are, however, multiple well-documented risks — to your pet and to your family — that are difficult to eliminate entirely, regardless of how carefully raw feeding is done.

Fresh, minimally processed diets — including gently cooked human-grade options — represent a promising area of nutrition science that TLC Animal Hospital is excited to discuss with you. We are here to help you find the best path forward for your individual pet’s health, lifestyle, and your family’s safety.

Have questions about your pet’s diet? Call us or schedule a nutritional consultation — we’d love to help.

References & Sources

  • American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Raw or Undercooked Animal-Source Protein in Cat and Dog Diets. avma.org/resources-tools/avma-policies/raw-or-undercooked-animal-source-protein-cat-and-dog-diets
  • Cornell University Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center. Raw Foods for Dogs: Evidence-Based Advice. vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/raw-foods-dogs-evidence-based-advice
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Get the Facts! Raw Pet Food Diets Can Be Dangerous to You and Your Pet. fda.gov/animal-veterinary/animal-health-literacy/get-facts-raw-pet-food-diets-can-be-dangerous-you-and-your-pet
  • McKenzie B. Revisiting the World of Canine Raw Diets. Veterinary Practice News, March 2022. veterinarypracticenews.com/rawdiets-march-2022/
  • Veterinary Practice News. Pet Food Additives: The Evidence. veterinarypracticenews.com/pet-food-additives-evidence/
  • American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). Raw Protein Diet Guidance. aaha.org/raw-protein-diet/
  • American Association of Feline Practitioners / CatVets. Client Education: Cat-Friendly Practices. catvets.com/resource/client-education-cat-friendly-practices/
  • Heinze CR. Raw Pet Food Risks: A Research Update. Tufts University Petfoodology Blog, October 27, 2025. sites.tufts.edu/petfoodology/2025/10/27/raw-pet-food-research-update/
  • Kiprotich et al. As cited in Veterinary Practice News. The Era of Raw and Minimally Processed Pet Foods. 2025.
  • Senior dog fresh food metabolomics study. Published October 2025. As summarized in peer-reviewed veterinary nutrition literature.

Disclaimer:
This article was created using trusted resources and AI technology.  Its content has been reviewed and vetted (ha!) by the veterinarian and medical director of TLC Animal Hospital.  The content in this article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not a substitute for a veterinary examination, diagnosis, or treatment plan. Always consult with your veterinarian for individualized medical advice and care specific to your pet’s needs.  Please consult your veterinarian before making dietary changes for your pet.

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