Education over fear, evidence over sweeping statements – and the individual dog at the centre of the conversation.
I recently had a very long conversation with a customer who had come away from a veterinary appointment feeling absolutely awful about the fact that she feeds her dog raw.
She had been told, amongst other things, that feeding raw was “like putting a dog on Atkins”, that if her raw-fed dog licked her face she could become ill, and that raw dog food was essentially made from “supermarket rejects”.
Understandably, she was worried.
And that conversation really got me thinking.
Not because a vet had questioned raw feeding. There are legitimate considerations surrounding raw feeding, and owners should understand them.
What concerned me was that this owner felt frightened and judged rather than informed.
So I wanted to write this article for anyone who has ever found themselves in a similar position.
Not to tell you to ignore your vet. Not to pretend raw feeding carries no risks. And certainly not to start another “raw feeders versus vets” argument.
Instead, I want to give owners the confidence to ask sensible questions, understand some of the evidence and have a respectful conversation about the food they have chosen for their dog.
First, this is NOT an anti-vet article
Before I go any further, I want to make something very clear.
I have enormous respect for veterinary medicine and the work our vets do.
When we first took Sergio to our vets years ago, we had an initial discussion about the fact that we had chosen to feed raw.
Since that very early conversation, we have never been challenged, criticised or made to feel uncomfortable about our decision to raw feed either Sergio or Pablo.
Our vets have always been respectful of the choices we make for our dogs, just as we respect their professional expertise and the incredibly important role they play in our dogs’ healthcare.
We absolutely value the fabulous care they have always shown both of our dogs.
And that relationship is exactly how I believe it should work.
We don’t have to agree on absolutely everything nutritionally to have mutual respect.
My vet’s role in examining, diagnosing, treating and caring for my dogs is invaluable. My own education and experience in canine nutrition helps me make informed decisions about what I choose to feed them.
Those two things don’t have to be in competition with one another.
A good vet-owner relationship should be a partnership, with the welfare of the individual dog right at the centre of it.
“Feeding raw is like putting your dog on Atkins”
This isn’t a particularly useful comparison.
A properly formulated raw diet isn’t simply a bowl containing enormous quantities of protein.
Depending upon the formulation, a raw diet can contain muscle meat, organs, appropriate sources of bone/calcium, fats and other ingredients designed to provide the dog’s required nutrients.
But this is also where responsible raw feeders need to be honest: raw does not automatically mean balanced.
Putting some mince, liver and a bone into a bowl doesn’t automatically create a nutritionally complete diet.
If you’re feeding a commercial raw food labelled complete, understand what that means and look at the manufacturer’s nutritional information. If you’re formulating your dog’s diet yourself, you need to understand how its nutritional requirements are being met.
Recognised nutritional guidelines, including those produced by FEDIAF, provide reference nutrient levels for complete dog foods.
So if a vet has concerns about the nutritional adequacy of your dog’s diet, that’s a conversation worth having.
The useful question isn’t “Do you agree with raw feeding?” It’s “Is there something specifically missing or inappropriate in the diet I’m actually feeding my dog?”
That’s a very different conversation.
What about the potential benefits of raw compared with kibble?
This is another subject where I think we need to get away from two opposing camps shouting “RAW IS BEST!” or “RAW IS DANGEROUS!”
Nutrition is more complicated than that.
Raw and extruded dry foods are fundamentally different food formats. Raw diets are generally high in moisture and don’t undergo the extrusion process used to manufacture kibble.
Research comparing particular raw, lightly cooked and extruded diets has identified differences in digestibility, faecal characteristics and gut microbial populations.
That doesn’t prove that every raw food is better than every kibble. But equally, it doesn’t support simply dismissing raw feeding as having no nutritional merit.
Digestibility and stool output: Controlled research comparing different diet formats has demonstrated differences in digestibility and faecal characteristics between raw, lightly cooked and extruded foods. Individual formulations matter enormously, so we cannot take one study and conclude that every raw food will outperform every kibble.
Moisture: Raw food naturally contains considerably more water than dry kibble. Your dog is therefore consuming water as part of its meal rather than eating a very dry food and obtaining its water separately.
The microbiome: Studies have found differences between the faecal microbial communities of dogs consuming raw meat-based diets and those consuming extruded diets. However, different doesn’t automatically mean healthier. We are still learning an enormous amount about the canine microbiome.
Less processing and ingredient choice: For many owners, one of the attractions of raw feeding is knowing what they are putting into the bowl. They may choose particular proteins, rotate ingredients or select foods according to the individual dog’s needs and tolerances. Raw food also doesn’t undergo the same extrusion process used to manufacture kibble.
For somebody who prefers feeding a less processed food with recognisable ingredients, that is a perfectly legitimate consideration. But less processed doesn’t automatically mean nutritionally complete. Formulation still matters.
“If your raw-fed dog licks your face, you’ll get ill”
Let’s put this into perspective.
There is a genuine microbiological consideration with raw meat. Raw meat can carry potentially harmful bacteria including Salmonella, Campylobacter, Listeria and certain strains of E. coli.
Responsible raw feeders should acknowledge that.
But food hygiene isn’t exclusively a raw-feeding issue. Dry pet food isn’t magically sterile either, and contamination and recalls involving dry foods and treats can occur.
However, we also need to be accurate: the microbiological risk associated with raw meat is greater than with properly heat-treated foods such as kibble. And that’s precisely why good hygiene matters.
I find experienced raw feeders are often extremely conscious of food hygiene because they know they’re handling raw meat.
Think about preparing your own dinner. If you cut up a raw chicken breast on your kitchen worktop, would you leave the chopping board there afterwards and prepare tomorrow’s lunch on it? Of course you wouldn’t.
You’d wash your hands, wash the knife, clean the chopping board and preparation area, and store the remaining food correctly.
The same common-sense principles apply to your dog’s raw food: wash your hands after handling it; wash the dog’s bowl after meals; clean preparation surfaces; keep raw food appropriately refrigerated or frozen; defrost and store it safely; and take particular care in households containing very young children, elderly people, pregnant people or anyone who is immunocompromised.
That’s responsible raw feeding.
But when did you last wash the kibble bowl?
This is a part of the hygiene conversation that I think deserves much more attention.
Because kibble looks dry and clean, there’s a temptation to think that the bowl is clean too. A little more food gets poured in. Then some more. The dog eats, drinks, licks the bowl and comes back later.
Research into dog owners’ food-handling practices found surprisingly poor bowl hygiene. In one study, just 12% of respondents reported washing their dog’s food bowl at least once a day, while 18% washed it less often than every three months – or not at all. The same research found that introducing proper food-bowl hygiene protocols significantly reduced bacterial counts.
So this isn’t about pointing the finger at kibble feeders either. It’s about educating everybody.
Whether you feed raw, wet, cooked or kibble: wash the bowl, wash your hands, store the food properly and keep your preparation area clean.
A dry-looking bowl isn’t necessarily a clean bowl.
“Raw dog food is made from supermarket rejects”
This is another statement that needs some context.
Commercial raw pet-food production in Great Britain is regulated. There are rules governing the animal by-products that can be used, alongside requirements relating to production, packaging, microbiological sampling and traceability.
Importantly, the term “animal by-product” doesn’t simply mean rotten or spoiled supermarket meat.
Material used within pet-food production can include animal material that was suitable for human consumption but wasn’t intended or required for the human-food market for commercial reasons.
That’s very different from the impression created by saying “It’s supermarket rejects.”
And this is precisely why I’m so passionate about knowing where your dog’s food comes from.
At Pets Boutique, we always buy directly from our suppliers for full traceability.
Ask where your dog’s food comes from. Ask who manufactures it. Read the label. Understand whether it’s complete or complementary.
Good raw feeding isn’t simply about buying a packet of mince because somebody has written RAW on the front.
So what should I say if my vet challenges me about feeding raw?
Firstly, don’t turn it into an argument. You don’t need to prove your vet wrong. Equally, you don’t have to sit there feeling embarrassed or frightened to ask questions.
Try asking:
- What specifically concerns you about my dog’s current diet?
- Is your concern nutritional adequacy, bacterial risk, bone content or something specific to my dog’s health?
- Can we look at the food I’m feeding rather than raw diets as a whole?
- This product is labelled as a complete food. Is there a particular nutrient you’re concerned it isn’t providing?
- Is there something in my dog’s examination, body condition, medical history or test results that makes this diet inappropriate for them?
- Can you explain the evidence behind that recommendation?
That last question isn’t rude. It’s an entirely reasonable question when making decisions about your dog’s health.
And if your vet identifies a genuine concern – listen
Being passionate about raw feeding shouldn’t mean becoming so entrenched that we refuse to hear anything negative about it.
If your vet identifies something concerning about your individual dog, listen to them. Ask questions. Understand their reasoning. Investigate it. And change something if the evidence indicates that you should.
I don’t believe responsible nutrition is about defending a feeding philosophy at all costs.
It’s about doing what’s appropriate for the animal standing in front of us.
There is room for both
I don’t want somebody reading this article and leaving with the message “Vets know nothing about nutrition.”
And I certainly don’t want somebody leaving with “Raw feeding has no risks.”
Neither statement is helpful.
Veterinary medicine and good nutritional practice should complement one another.
Your vet has an incredibly important role in your dog’s examination, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing healthcare. Good nutritional support can help you examine what you’re feeding and whether it’s appropriate for your individual dog.
Sometimes those two worlds may have different perspectives. That’s OK.
Have the conversation. Ask questions. Look at the evidence. And keep coming back to the most important thing: your individual dog.
Questions to take to your next vet appointment
- What specifically concerns you about the food I’m currently feeding?
- Is this a general concern about raw feeding or something specific to my dog?
- Is your concern nutritional balance, bacteria, bones, fat, protein or another nutrient?
- Can we look at the nutritional information for the actual product I’m feeding?
- Is there anything in my dog’s examination, body condition, medical history or test results that concerns you about this diet?
- What evidence or guidance is your recommendation based upon?
- If you think something needs changing, can we discuss exactly what needs changing and why?
You don’t need to walk into the consulting room ready for battle. Walk in ready for a conversation.
My final thought
Nobody should be frightened into changing how they feed their dog.
But equally, nobody should be frightened of hearing genuine evidence that challenges their choices.
Understand the risks. Practise excellent hygiene. Choose reputable suppliers. Understand whether you’re feeding a complete diet. Keep learning. Listen when a healthcare professional identifies a genuine concern. And never be afraid to ask why.
The aim shouldn’t be to win an argument about raw feeding.
It should be to have an informed conversation about the individual dog standing in front of us.
Education over fear. Evidence over sweeping statements. And the individual dog at the centre of the conversation.
That, to me, is responsible raw feeding.
Liz
PB Nutrition & Holistic Wellness
Care You Can Trust
References & Further Reading
This article is intended to provide general nutritional education and encourage informed discussion with veterinary professionals. The following sources support the key factual points discussed above.
- Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs & Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). Using animal by-products to make pet food. GOV.UK. Updated 3 March 2026. Covers approval of pet-food plants, permitted animal by-products, microbiological sampling, packaging and raw pet-food hygiene. View source
- Food Standards Agency (FSA). An assessment of the risk of companion animals acquiring Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter and MRSA from contaminated raw pet food, and associated risks to pet owners from use of these products in the home. 2024. View source
- FEDIAF. Nutritional Guidelines for Complete and Complementary Pet Food for Cats and Dogs. 2025 edition. Reference guidance for nutrient levels in complete and complementary pet foods. View source
- Luisana E, Saker K, Jaykus L-A, Getty C. Survey evaluation of dog owners’ feeding practices and dog bowls’ hygiene assessment in domestic settings. PLOS ONE. 2022;17(4):e0259478. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0259478. View source
- Algya KM, Cross T-WL, Leuck KN, et al. Apparent total-tract macronutrient digestibility, serum chemistry, urinalysis, and fecal characteristics, metabolites and microbiota of adult dogs fed extruded, mildly cooked, and raw diets. Journal of Animal Science. 2018;96(9):3670–3683. doi:10.1093/jas/sky235. View source
- Sandri M, Dal Monego S, Conte G, et al. Raw meat based diet influences faecal microbiome and end products of fermentation in healthy dogs. BMC Veterinary Research. 2017;13:65. doi:10.1186/s12917-017-0981-z. View source
- Fecal microbiota composition, serum metabolomics, and markers of inflammation in dogs fed a raw meat-based diet compared to those on a kibble diet. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. 2024. View source
Important Note
This article provides general educational information only and is not intended to replace veterinary diagnosis, treatment or advice. Dietary requirements vary between individual dogs, particularly where a medical condition is present. If you have concerns about your dog’s health or whether a particular diet is appropriate for them, discuss these with your veterinary professional.