Raw Meat: What Every Dog Owner Should Know
Nutrition is crucial to the health and well-being of dogs and cats. Like human nutrition, pet feeding is constantly evolving. New scientific findings are incorporated, and many pet owners are adopting new nutritional concepts. This includes feeding raw meat. At the same time, this type of diet requires a solid understanding of the animals' nutritional needs and careful handling of the food and feed used.
A balanced diet is crucial.
Many pet owners choose to feed their animals raw materials: raw meat, offal, and bones, because they perceive these as particularly natural or expect a diet that closely resembles their animals' natural eating habits. For dogs and cats to stay healthy long term, their diet must be carefully planned. A balanced supply of energy, protein, minerals, trace elements, and vitamins is essential. Diet composition errors can lead to nutrient deficiencies or excesses and have serious health consequences. This applies particularly to trace elements such as copper, zinc, and iodine; vitamins A and D; and the calcium-phosphorus ratio. Taurine is essential for cats. Feeding offal containing thyroid tissue (so-called gullet) can elevate thyroid levels in dogs. Veterinary nutritional counseling can help consider the animal's individual needs and prevent deficiencies.
Do not underestimate pathogens.
In addition to a balanced nutrient supply, pay special attention to the safety of the food and feed used. Raw meat can carry pathogens. These include bacteria such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, or certain strains of Escherichia coli, as well as parasites such as the dog tapeworm or Toxoplasma, which can also be dangerous to humans.
Viruses can also be transmitted through raw meat. A recent example is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI, fowl plague). In recent years, infections with this virus have been reported in cats, primarily in Asia and the USA, but also in some European countries, after consuming contaminated raw poultry or raw pet food. Dogs are considered less susceptible; infections in dogs have mostly been attributed to contact with dead wild birds.
Due to the risk of contamination with the Aujeszky's disease virus, dogs and cats should never be given raw pork. Although the disease has long been eradicated in German pig populations, it still occurs in other European countries and in wild boar. While the virus is harmless to humans, it poses a deadly threat to dogs and cats. Hunting dogs are particularly at risk, especially those that come into contact with hunted animals or are fed meat or offal from them.
Hygiene and parasite prevention are essential.
Anyone who chooses raw feeding should pay close attention to hygiene during storage, preparation, and feeding. Meat should come from reliable sources and be properly refrigerated or frozen. Thoroughly clean work surfaces, bowls, and kitchen utensils after contact with raw meat. Thorough handwashing with warm water and soap is also crucial.
If you want to make meat "parasite-free" by freezing, ensure it stays frozen at -17°C to -20°C for at least one week. Only then can any remaining parasite stages be reliably killed.
Similarly, dogs and cats fed raw meat have special requirements for parasite prevention. Review deworming treatments regularly and tailor them to each animal. A veterinarian can provide advice and recommend a suitable preventative care plan.
Well-informed feeding:
Feeding raw meat can be a suitable diet for dogs and cats – provided the rations are balanced and basic hygiene rules are consistently followed. Equally important are parasite prevention measures tailored to the diet and regular veterinary checkups. Those who are well-informed and seek expert advice beforehand create the best conditions for a safe and needs-based diet for their pet.