Raw Feeding Dogs: The Honest Pros and Cons

Raw Feeding Dogs: The Honest Pros and Cons

By Olivia Kerr, Diploma in Canine Nutrition.

Last updated: 21 October 2026 Fact-checked against: BVA, Food Standards Agency, UK Pet Food and peer-reviewed veterinary journals (full list at the end).

Key takeaways

  • Raw feeding is common in the UK: 94% of companion animal vets have clients who feed raw.
  • The best-supported pro is smaller, firmer poos, backed by owner surveys and a small feeding study. A possible link with fewer skin allergies is promising but unproven.
  • The best-supported cons are bacterial contamination (35% of UK raw pet food samples in an FSA survey published in 2026) and nutritional imbalance (60% of 95 homemade raw diets in a German study).
  • A complete commercial raw food plus strict kitchen hygiene reduces the main risks. Homemade raw for puppies carries the biggest nutritional risk.

Raw feeding is one of those subjects that every dog owners has an opinion on. 

So here's the short answer first. The main pros of raw feeding dogs are that many dogs love it, it tends to mean smaller and firmer poos, and you get full control over what goes in the bowl. Some research also links raw food in puppyhood with fewer itchy skin problems later on. The main cons are bacteria in the food (including antibiotic-resistant strains), a real risk of nutritional gaps in homemade diets, and the hazards that come with bones.

Neither camp is completely right. Below I'll go through what the evidence actually says, where it's thin, and how to raw feed more safely if you decide it's for you.

We do actually come across a lot of customers who have switched to raw feeding in a bid to help their dogs skin complaints. Some report noticing a marked improvement in their skin and coat conditions whereas others are reaching out to us still desperate to find the answer. It all comes down to what is causing the itching. I personally do not raw feed my own dogs simply because I have small children in the house but my sister does and her reason; it makes her boxer dogs poop more bearable to pick up. 

A quick word on where we stand. We don't make or sell raw food, so we've no stake in which way you go. We do make a natural skin and coat supplement, which we mention at the end, and we've kept it out of the advice itself.

What is raw feeding?

Raw feeding means giving your dog a diet based on uncooked meat, offal and bone, sometimes with small amounts of vegetables, fruit or seeds. Nothing is cooked. That's the whole point for fans, and the whole worry for critics.

You'll come across a few styles:

  • BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food, or Bones And Raw Food). Raw meat, bone and organ plus a little veg and fruit.
  • Prey model. Meat, bone and organ only, roughly copying a whole prey animal.
  • Commercial raw. Ready-made frozen or freeze-dried meals from a manufacturer.

Commercial raw splits again, and this matters more than people realise. A complete raw food is formulated to give your dog everything it needs on its own. A complementary one isn't, and has to be fed alongside other foods. Always check the label.

How common is raw feeding in the UK?

More common than you might think. Research published by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) alongside its 2024 policy on cat and dog diets found that 94% of companion animal vets have clients who feed raw. The PDSA's 2022 PAW Report estimated that around 7% of UK dogs, roughly 790,000, were fed a raw diet.

So you're in good company. Vets are also now being encouraged to ask every owner what they feed, so don't be shy about bringing it up at your next check-up.

What are the pros of raw feeding dogs?

Most of the benefits people describe come from owners rather than controlled feeding trials. That doesn't make them wrong. It just means we should be honest about how strong the evidence is.

Many dogs love it

Ask raw feeders why they started and plenty will mention a fussy eater. Dogs who push kibble round the bowl often clear a raw meal with real enthusiasm. That's owner experience rather than hard data, but for a picky or underweight dog it can be a big deal.

Smaller, firmer poos

This is the benefit raw feeders mention most. In a University of Liverpool study published in 2022, 83% of raw feeding owners named stool consistency as a benefit, and around 65% mentioned better breath or oral hygiene.

There's some lab evidence behind the poo point too. In a small 2017 feeding study, dogs on a raw meat diet digested their food more completely than dogs on kibble and produced far less poo, around 56g a day compared with 198g. Their stools were firmer as well.

Anyone who's done the poo bag walk with a big kibble-fed Labrador will get the appeal.

You know exactly what's in it

With homemade raw you choose every single ingredient. For dogs with suspected food sensitivities, that kind of control can make it easier to work out what suits them, ideally with your vet involved.

A possible link with fewer skin allergies

This is the bit that interests me most. A large Finnish study from the University of Helsinki's DogRisk group looked at 4,022 dogs. Puppies who ate more than 20% of their diet as raw food had fewer owner-reported allergy and itchy skin signs as adults. Raw tripe and raw organ meat stood out in particular.

It's a striking result. But it's observational, based on owner questionnaires, and the researchers themselves say it suggests a cause rather than proving one. Some vets have questioned the group's methods too. Promising, then. Not settled.

What are the cons of raw feeding dogs?

Bacteria in the food

This is the con vets raise most often, and it's a fair one. In a survey published in February 2026, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) tested 380 raw dog and cat foods bought from UK shops and websites between March 2023 and February 2024. Disease-causing bacteria turned up in 35% of them. Salmonella was in 21%, Campylobacter in 14% and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in 12%.

These are the same types of bacteria that can be found on raw meat sold for people, although the FSA notes there's some evidence raw pet food can carry more of them. So it isn't a reason to panic, but it is a reason to be careful. Pets can carry these bugs without showing any symptoms, which means you may get no warning sign. The risk falls mainly on the people in your home, through handling the food, the bowls, or your dog's mouth and poo. Good hygiene brings it down a lot, but it doesn't take it away completely. This is why I personally choose not to, because of the risk to my small children. 

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria

The Liverpool team also tested poo from raw fed and non-raw fed dogs. Antibiotic-resistant E. coli was found in 54% of samples from raw fed dogs, against 17% from dogs on other diets. Salmonella only showed up in the raw fed group.

A larger 2024 study from the same university looked at 432 dogs. About 33% of the raw fed dogs were shedding E. coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins, a group of critically important antibiotics, compared with 5% of dogs on other diets. Raw feeding came out as a significant risk factor.

These were poo samples, not sick dogs, and the studies don't tell us how often this leads to illness in people. But resistant bacteria are harder to deal with if someone does get ill, and they have the potential to spread between pets and people. That's why vets and public health bodies take it seriously, and why careful handling matters even when your dog seems perfectly healthy.

Homemade diets are really hard to balance

As a nutritionist, this is the one that worries me most. A German study of 95 homemade BARF diets for adult dogs found 60% had at least one major nutritional imbalance. More than half supplied too little copper and zinc, about half were short of iodine, and around one in ten gave less than a quarter of the calcium a dog needs.

Puppies are the real concern. A 2020 analysis from the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna looked at 36 homemade raw plans for growing dogs, sent in to two veterinary nutrition practices in Austria and Germany. Every one of them was unbalanced, and only one met the calcium recommendation for growth. Getting calcium wrong in a growing puppy, especially a large breed, can cause lasting problems with bone development.

Bones carry their own risks

Raw bone is a natural calcium source, but it isn't risk free. Whole bones can crack teeth or get stuck in the throat or gut, and feeding too much bone can lead to constipation. Many commercial raw foods use finely ground bone instead, which avoids the choking and blockage risk of whole bones. Never swap in cooked bones, as they splinter more easily.

Cost, freezer space and faff

Less scientific, very real. Raw often costs more than dry food, especially for bigger dogs. You need freezer space, time to defrost properly, and a cleaning routine you'll actually keep up.

It doesn't suit every household

The FSA advises that children, especially those under five, should not touch or eat raw pet food, including raw chews and snacks. It also says older people and anyone with a weakened immune system are at higher risk of infection. If that's your household, think carefully. The FSA flags pets with developing or weakened immune systems as more vulnerable too.

Is commercial raw safer than homemade?

On nutrition, generally yes. A complete commercial raw food from a reputable maker is formulated to be balanced, which removes the biggest homemade pitfall. UK Pet Food, the industry body, advises buying from registered raw manufacturers with proper microbiological controls, and runs a Raw Pet Food Standard scheme to help owners spot them.

On bacteria it's less clear cut. The FSA tested products on general sale, so commercial raw still needs the same care you'd give raw chicken for your own tea.

How can you raw feed your dog more safely?

If you've weighed it all up and want to go ahead, these habits make a real difference:

  • Choose a complete food from a registered UK raw manufacturer, or have a homemade plan checked by a qualified canine nutritionist or vet.
  • Defrost in a sealed, clearly labelled container, away from human food and food prep areas.
  • Store raw food on the bottom shelf of the fridge so it can't drip onto anything else.
  • Keep separate bowls, utensils and containers just for raw.
  • Wash your hands with soap and hot water straight after handling the food, and after handling your dog.
  • Throw away anything not eaten as soon as you reasonably can, and clean up any bits that land on the floor.
  • Pick up poo promptly and wash your hands afterwards.
  • Keep little ones well away from raw food and bowls.
  • Switch over gradually across a week or two, and tell your vet so it's on your dog's records.

Does raw feeding help dogs with itchy skin?

For some dogs it may play a part, but it's rarely the whole answer. Itchy skin is commonly linked to environmental allergies, such as pollen, grass and dust mites, and fleas should always be ruled out first. Changing diet won't remove those triggers.

Where food really counts is in giving the skin what it needs to keep its barrier strong. Fatty acids matter here. Omega-6 supports the skin barrier, while omega-3 has a separate anti-inflammatory role. A badly balanced raw diet can leave a dog short, just like a poorly formulated dry food.

So whatever you feed, get the balance right first. Then think about extra support.

Want to know more about how to help dogs with itchy skin? You can find our guide on 

So, should you raw feed your dog?

My honest view? Raw feeding can work well for some dogs and some homes. It isn't automatically better, though, and it asks a lot more of you than opening a bag. If you go for it, pick a complete commercial food or get expert help with a homemade plan. And take hygiene as seriously as you would with raw meat in your own kitchen.

If raw doesn't fit your household, that's absolutely fine. A well-made complete food of any kind beats a raw diet that's been thrown together.

Quick answers

Can I mix raw food and kibble?

Plenty of owners do. There's little solid evidence that feeding both causes digestive trouble, whatever you might read online. The bigger job is keeping the overall diet balanced and the calories in check.

Is raw feeding safe for puppies?

It can be done, but homemade raw is especially risky for puppies because their calcium and phosphorus needs are so precise. If you want to raw feed a puppy, use a complete commercial food made for growth and involve your vet from the start.

Do UK vets recommend raw feeding?

The BVA, which represents UK vets, stays cautious. Its 2024 policy says the potential health risks of raw feeding must be highlighted while more research is done, and asks vets to discuss and record every pet's diet. On the other side, the Raw Feeding Veterinary Society says there's growing evidence raw feeding can be species-appropriate for dogs, and that careful handling and reputable suppliers can minimise the risks.

A little extra support for skin and coat

Whatever's in your dog's bowl, Food Stuff can sit alongside it. It's our 100% natural daily supplement, made with cold-pressed oils to support skin, paws and coat from the inside. It mixes easily into your dog's food, whatever you feed, which is handy if you'd rather not fiddle with recipes. If your dog has medical needs, is on a special diet or takes medication, check with your vet first.

For dry or sensitive patches on the outside, Dog Stuff is our natural balm, and the two work nicely together if you like an inside-and-out approach.

Both come with a 60-day money-back guarantee, so you can see how your dog gets on.

About the author

Olivia Kerr, Diploma in Canine Nutrition is a qualified canine nutritionist at Stinky Stuff, a family-run UK business making natural skincare and supplements for dogs, cats and horses. She writes on diet, skin and coat health, and checks every guide against veterinary and government sources before it goes live. 

Sources

This guide is general information, not a substitute for advice from your own vet. If your dog has a health condition, talk to your vet before changing their diet.

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