Raw Food Diet for Dogs and Cats: Benefits, Risks, and What Vets Say

Q: What is the difference between BARF and prey model raw diets?

BARF stands for 'Biologically Appropriate Raw Food' (or 'Bones and Raw Food') and was popularized by Dr. Ian Billinghurst. BARF diets typically include raw muscle meat, raw meaty bones, organ meats, and a portion of fruits, vegetables, and sometimes dairy or eggs. The prey model raw (PMR) diet attempts to replicate a whole prey animal and consists exclusively of animal products, typically following a ratio of approximately 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, and 10% organ meat (with half being liver). The prey model excludes plant matter entirely, while BARF diets typically include 10-20% vegetables and fruit.

Editorial note: This guide takes a balanced, evidence-based approach to raw food diets for pets. We neither promote nor condemn raw feeding. Our goal is to present the current state of veterinary science, acknowledge the claims made by proponents, identify the documented risks, and help pet owners make informed decisions in partnership with their veterinarian. All claims are referenced to published research, regulatory positions, or established veterinary guidelines. See our Editorial Standards for details on our review process.

What Is a Raw Food Diet for Pets?

A raw food diet for dogs or cats consists of uncooked animal products—typically raw muscle meat, organ meats, raw meaty bones, and in some formulations, raw eggs, fruits, vegetables, and dairy. The concept gained mainstream attention in the 1990s when Australian veterinarian Dr. Ian Billinghurst published his book advocating what he called the BARF diet. Since then, raw feeding has grown into a significant segment of the pet food market, with passionate advocates and vocal skeptics on both sides of the debate.

There are two primary philosophies within the raw feeding community:

BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food): The BARF model, popularized by Dr. Billinghurst, includes raw muscle meat, raw meaty bones, organ meats, and a portion of plant matter (typically 10–20% vegetables and fruit), along with supplements like eggs, yogurt, and fish oil. The philosophy is that dogs and cats evolved eating whole prey and some foraged plant material, and their modern diets should approximate this ancestral pattern.

Prey Model Raw (PMR): The prey model attempts to more closely replicate the consumption of a whole prey animal. It typically follows an approximate ratio of 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, and 10% organ meat (with half of that being liver). Prey model feeders exclude plant matter entirely, arguing that canine and feline digestive systems are not designed to derive significant nutrition from vegetables or grains.

Both models differ fundamentally from conventional pet feeding. Most commercial pet foods—kibble, canned, or semi-moist—are cooked at high temperatures during manufacturing, which kills pathogens but also alters the nutritional profile of the ingredients. Understanding these differences is essential for evaluating the claims and concerns surrounding raw diets.

What Proponents Claim

Advocates of raw food diets for dogs and cats report a range of benefits that they attribute to feeding uncooked, minimally processed foods. While many of these claims come from individual owner observations rather than controlled studies, they are widely and consistently reported within the raw feeding community:

Shinier, healthier coat and skin: Many raw feeders report noticeable improvements in coat condition, often within the first few weeks of transitioning. They attribute this to the higher levels of unprocessed animal fats and omega fatty acids in raw diets.
Improved dental health: Chewing raw meaty bones is claimed to help scrape plaque and tartar from teeth, functioning as a natural dental cleaning mechanism. Some owners report fresher breath and healthier gums after switching to raw.
Smaller, firmer, less odorous stools: Raw feeders commonly observe that their pets produce significantly less stool with less odor, which they attribute to higher digestibility and the absence of fillers found in some commercial foods.
Increased energy and vitality: Some owners report that their pets seem more energetic and engaged after switching to raw diets.
Reduced allergy symptoms: Owners of dogs with food sensitivities sometimes report improvement when switching to a raw diet, particularly one based on novel proteins.
Better weight management: Some raw feeders find it easier to maintain their pet's ideal body condition on a raw diet.

It is important to note that most of these reported benefits are anecdotal. Some may also be achievable through other dietary changes (such as switching to a higher-quality commercial food or a diet with different protein sources) and are not necessarily unique to raw feeding.

What Veterinary Research Says

The scientific literature on raw pet food diets is growing but remains limited in scope compared to research on conventional pet diets. The evidence to date presents a nuanced picture:

Digestibility: Some studies have found that raw meat-based diets have high apparent digestibility in dogs, meaning a high percentage of the nutrients consumed are absorbed by the body. A 2021 study published in the Journal of Animal Science reported that raw diets had significantly higher apparent total tract digestibility compared to extruded (kibble) diets. However, high digestibility alone does not guarantee nutritional completeness or safety.

Coat and skin: There is limited peer-reviewed research specifically comparing coat condition on raw versus cooked diets. However, the role of dietary fatty acids in skin and coat health is well established in veterinary dermatology. Diets rich in omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids—whether raw or cooked—tend to support better coat quality.

Dental health: Research on the dental effects of raw meaty bones is mixed. Some studies suggest that chewing raw bones may reduce calculus accumulation compared to commercial dry food. However, veterinary dentists also warn of significant risks from bone chewing, including fractured teeth, oral lacerations, and gastrointestinal obstructions. The Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC) does not currently endorse raw bones as a dental care strategy.

Nutritional completeness: Multiple studies have analyzed the nutritional content of both homemade and commercial raw diets. A frequently cited 2001 study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association (JAVMA) found that most homemade raw diet recipes evaluated had nutritional imbalances, including deficiencies in calcium, phosphorus, and various vitamins. More recent studies continue to find variability in the nutritional adequacy of raw diets, though commercially formulated products tend to be more consistent than homemade recipes.

Bacterial contamination: This is the area with the most robust research, and the findings are consistent: raw meat-based pet foods have significantly higher rates of bacterial contamination than cooked foods. A 2012 study published by the FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine tested over 1,000 samples of pet food and found that raw pet food was significantly more likely to be contaminated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes than other types of pet food. Multiple subsequent studies from various countries have confirmed these findings.

Overall assessment: The current body of veterinary research does not provide sufficient evidence to broadly recommend or broadly condemn raw diets. What the evidence does establish clearly is that raw diets carry a higher risk of pathogenic bacterial contamination, that nutritional imbalances are common in improperly formulated raw diets, and that any potential benefits of raw feeding have not yet been conclusively demonstrated in controlled studies to be attributable to the raw nature of the food itself rather than to other factors like ingredient quality or dietary composition.

Risks and Safety Concerns

Bacterial Contamination

The most well-documented risk of raw pet food is contamination with pathogenic bacteria. Research has consistently identified the following organisms in raw pet food products:

Salmonella: Found in a significant percentage of commercial raw pet foods tested by the FDA and independent researchers. Salmonella can cause illness in pets (salmonellosis) and in humans who handle contaminated food or come into contact with the feces of pets shedding the bacteria.
Escherichia coli (including pathogenic strains): Various studies have detected E. coli, including shiga toxin-producing strains, in raw pet food samples. While healthy adult dogs may tolerate these organisms, they can pose risks to puppies, immunocompromised animals, and humans in the household.
Listeria monocytogenes: The 2012 FDA study found Listeria in approximately 16% of raw pet food samples tested. Listeria is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, young children, elderly individuals, and immunocompromised people.

The zoonotic risk—the potential for these bacteria to spread from pets to humans—is a major concern for public health experts. Pets fed raw diets can shed pathogenic bacteria in their feces even if they appear clinically healthy. This creates potential exposure for everyone in the household, including through contact with pet saliva, feces, food bowls, and the surfaces where raw food is prepared.

Nutritional Imbalances

Creating a nutritionally complete raw diet is more complex than many pet owners realize. Dogs and cats require precise ratios of dozens of nutrients, and an imbalance in any one can have serious health consequences over time:

Calcium and phosphorus: An incorrect calcium-to-phosphorus ratio is one of the most common problems in homemade raw diets. This is particularly dangerous for growing puppies and kittens, where imbalances can cause serious skeletal deformities and metabolic bone disease.
Vitamin D: Deficiency can lead to bone disorders, while excess (common in diets too high in liver or inappropriately supplemented) can cause toxicity with kidney and cardiovascular damage.
Taurine: Essential for cats (and increasingly recognized as important for certain dog breeds), taurine deficiency can cause dilated cardiomyopathy and blindness. Meat-based raw diets generally provide taurine, but processing methods and storage can affect levels.
Zinc, copper, and iodine: Frequently deficient in analyzed homemade raw diet recipes.
Vitamin E: Often insufficient in raw diets without proper supplementation, potentially leading to oxidative damage over time.

Bones: Benefits and Dangers

Whole raw bones are a central component of most raw diets, providing calcium and phosphorus as well as the mechanical dental cleaning that proponents value. However, bones also carry well-documented veterinary risks:

Fractured teeth: Hard bones (particularly weight-bearing bones from large animals like beef marrow bones) are a leading cause of tooth fractures in dogs. Fractured teeth are painful and often require extraction or root canal treatment.
Gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation: Bone fragments can become lodged in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines, potentially requiring emergency surgery. Cooked bones are more dangerous than raw bones in this regard (as cooking makes them more brittle and likely to splinter), but raw bones are not risk-free.
Constipation: Excessive bone consumption can cause severely compacted stools that are difficult or painful to pass.

Raw feeding advocates generally recommend feeding only appropriately sized raw meaty bones (such as chicken necks, backs, or wings for dogs) rather than large, dense recreational bones. They also emphasize that bones should always be fed raw, never cooked.

FDA and AVMA Positions

Understanding the official positions of major regulatory and veterinary organizations provides important context for evaluating raw diets:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA): The FDA does not recommend feeding raw meat-based diets to pets. The agency's position is based on its own research demonstrating higher rates of pathogenic bacterial contamination in raw pet foods compared to other pet food types. The FDA has stated that it "does not believe feeding raw pet food to animals is consistent with the goal of protecting the public from significant health risks." The agency monitors and has taken enforcement action against raw pet food manufacturers whose products test positive for pathogens.

American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA): The AVMA adopted a policy in 2012 (reaffirmed in subsequent reviews) discouraging "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." The AVMA's position is based on the documented risk of pathogenic contamination and the potential for zoonotic disease transmission.

Other organizations: The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA), the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA), and the British Veterinary Association (BVA) have all issued statements discouraging raw meat-based diets for pets, citing similar concerns about bacterial contamination and public health risks.

Context for these positions: Raw feeding advocates argue that these organizational positions are overly conservative, influenced by the commercial pet food industry, and do not adequately reflect the experiences of the raw feeding community. It is worth noting that these positions are based primarily on food safety concerns (bacterial contamination) rather than on evidence that cooked diets are nutritionally superior. The organizations acknowledge that more research is needed on the topic.

Commercial Raw vs. Homemade Raw Diets

Pet owners considering raw feeding face a choice between purchasing commercially manufactured raw products and preparing raw meals at home. Each approach has distinct advantages and limitations:

Factor	Commercial Raw	Homemade Raw
Nutritional formulation	Typically formulated by animal nutritionists; many carry AAFCO complete-and-balanced statements	Relies on owner following a recipe; high risk of imbalances without professional guidance
Bacterial safety	Some brands use high-pressure processing (HPP) to reduce pathogens; still carries risk	No pathogen reduction step; bacterial risk depends entirely on ingredient sourcing and handling
Convenience	Pre-portioned, ready to thaw and serve	Requires significant time for sourcing, preparation, portioning, and storage
Ingredient control	Limited to what manufacturer offers; less transparency into sourcing	Full control over ingredients, sourcing, and quality
Cost	Higher than kibble; typically $5–$12 per pound depending on brand and protein	Variable; can be lower if sourcing ingredients in bulk, but supplements add cost
Consistency	Consistent nutrient profile batch to batch	Can vary significantly depending on ingredient availability and preparation accuracy

If choosing commercial raw, look for brands that employ a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or animal nutritionist in their formulation process, carry an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, conduct regular nutritional testing, and are transparent about their sourcing and manufacturing practices. Some commercial raw foods use HPP (high-pressure processing), which applies extreme pressure to reduce bacterial counts without heating the food—though it does not eliminate all pathogens and changes the product's technical status among raw feeding purists.

If You Choose to Feed Raw: Safe Handling Practices

If, after weighing the evidence and consulting with your veterinarian, you decide to feed a raw diet, following strict food safety protocols is essential to protect both your pet and your household:

Source ingredients carefully: Purchase meat from reputable suppliers. Many raw feeders use human-grade meat, though this does not guarantee the absence of pathogens. Avoid meat that is past its use-by date or has been improperly stored.
Keep raw food frozen until use: Thaw raw food in the refrigerator, not at room temperature. Use thawed food within 2–3 days. Never refreeze thawed raw meat.
Designate separate preparation areas and utensils: Use dedicated cutting boards, bowls, and utensils for raw pet food preparation. Do not use the same surfaces and tools for human food preparation without thorough sanitization.
Clean and disinfect thoroughly: After preparing and serving raw food, wash all surfaces, bowls, utensils, and your hands with hot soapy water, then sanitize. Pet food bowls should be washed after every meal.
Supervise bone consumption: Never leave your pet unsupervised with a raw bone. Remove the bone once it has been chewed down to a size that could be swallowed whole.
Handle pet waste carefully: Pets fed raw diets may shed pathogenic bacteria in their feces. Pick up waste promptly and wash your hands thoroughly afterward.
Consider household risk factors: Households with young children, elderly individuals, pregnant women, or immunocompromised members face higher risks from the pathogens found in raw pet food. The FDA and CDC particularly caution these populations about raw pet food handling.

Nutritional Requirements That Must Be Met

Whether raw or cooked, any pet diet must meet the animal's complete nutritional requirements. For dogs and cats, these include:

For dogs (adult maintenance, AAFCO minimums on dry matter basis):

Protein: minimum 18%
Fat: minimum 5.5%
Calcium: 0.5–2.5%
Phosphorus: 0.4–1.6%
Calcium-to-phosphorus ratio: 1:1 to 2:1
Plus essential vitamins (A, D, E, B-complex), minerals (zinc, copper, iron, manganese, iodine, selenium), and essential fatty acids

For cats (adult maintenance, AAFCO minimums on dry matter basis):

Protein: minimum 26%
Fat: minimum 9%
Taurine: 0.1% (dry matter) or 0.2% (canned/wet)
Arachidonic acid: required (cats cannot synthesize it from linoleic acid like dogs can)
Vitamin A as preformed retinol (cats cannot convert beta-carotene)
Niacin: required in the diet (cats cannot synthesize adequate amounts from tryptophan)

A common pitfall in homemade raw feeding is the assumption that feeding a variety of meats and organs automatically provides complete nutrition. While variety helps, it does not guarantee that all micronutrient requirements are met. For example, many raw diets are deficient in vitamin E, zinc, and iodine unless specifically supplemented. Working with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVN) or using their formulated recipes through services like BalanceIT.com is the most reliable way to ensure completeness.

Alternatives to Fully Raw Diets

Pet owners interested in the principles behind raw feeding but concerned about the risks have several alternative options that may offer a middle ground:

Lightly cooked diets: These diets use fresh, whole-food ingredients cooked at temperatures sufficient to kill most pathogens but lower than the high-temperature extrusion process used for kibble. Lightly cooking food addresses the primary bacterial safety concern while preserving more of the natural nutrient profile than heavily processed foods. Several commercial brands now offer subscription-based fresh cooked diets delivered to your door.

Freeze-dried raw: Freeze-drying removes moisture from raw food through sublimation while preserving much of the raw nutritional profile. Many freeze-dried raw products are also HPP-treated before freeze-drying, adding a pathogen reduction step. Freeze-dried raw is shelf-stable and convenient, though typically more expensive per serving than frozen raw. It can be rehydrated with water before serving.

Raw toppers and mix-ins: Rather than feeding a fully raw diet, some owners add small amounts of raw or freeze-dried raw food (such as freeze-dried liver, raw goat's milk, or raw egg) to a nutritionally complete commercial base diet. This approach provides some of the variety and raw food exposure that proponents value while relying on the base diet for nutritional completeness.

Air-dried diets: Air-dried pet food is gently dehydrated at low temperatures over an extended period. This process reduces moisture and kills many pathogens while retaining more of the original nutrient content than extrusion. The resulting product is shelf-stable and calorie-dense.

High-quality commercial diets: Premium commercial diets using named animal protein sources, limited and identifiable ingredients, and higher meat content can address many of the ingredient-quality concerns that drive owners toward raw feeding, while offering the convenience and safety of cooked food with verified AAFCO nutritional adequacy.

Cost Comparison: Raw vs. Other Diet Types

Cost is a practical consideration for any pet diet. The following table provides approximate monthly cost ranges for feeding a 50-pound (23 kg) adult dog, based on typical 2026 market prices. Actual costs vary significantly by brand, protein source, and region.

Diet Type	Estimated Monthly Cost (50-lb dog)	Notes
Standard kibble	$30–$60	Most affordable; widely available; long shelf life
Premium kibble	$60–$120	Higher-quality ingredients; named protein sources
Canned / wet food	$120–$250	Higher moisture content; more expensive per calorie than kibble
Fresh cooked (commercial)	$200–$400	Subscription-based delivery; human-grade ingredients; gently cooked
Freeze-dried raw	$250–$450	Convenient shelf-stable raw option; most expensive category per calorie
Commercial frozen raw	$150–$350	Pre-formulated; requires freezer storage; varies widely by brand
Homemade raw	$100–$300	Depends on meat sourcing; does not include cost of supplements or nutritionist consultation

For cats, monthly costs are generally lower due to smaller portion sizes, but the relative cost differences between diet types remain similar. Use our Pet Care Cost Calculator to estimate feeding costs specific to your pet's size and dietary needs.

Raw Diets for Cats: Special Considerations

While much of the raw feeding discussion centers on dogs, raw diets for cats have their own unique considerations. As obligate carnivores, cats have a stricter requirement for animal-based nutrients, and some raw feeding advocates argue that cats may benefit more from raw diets than dogs given their evolutionary biology.

Taurine is non-negotiable: Cats absolutely require taurine in their diet, and deficiency causes irreversible damage. While raw meat naturally contains taurine, grinding, freezing, and thawing can reduce levels. Many raw cat food formulations include supplemental taurine for this reason.
Cats need preformed vitamin A and arachidonic acid: Unlike dogs, cats cannot convert beta-carotene to vitamin A or synthesize arachidonic acid from plant-based precursors. These must come from animal tissue.
Hydration benefits: One acknowledged advantage of raw (and wet) diets for cats is higher moisture content. Cats on dry-food-only diets often consume insufficient water, contributing to urinary and kidney problems. A raw diet provides approximately 65–75% moisture, similar to a cat's natural prey.
Small prey model: Cats in the wild consume small prey (mice, birds, insects), so raw cat food should reflect this with appropriately portioned and textured food. Whole raw bones fed to cats should be small and fully consumable (such as quail or small poultry necks).

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a raw food diet safe for dogs and cats?

Raw food diets carry both potential benefits and documented risks. Proponents report improved coat condition, dental health, and smaller stools, but veterinary organizations including the FDA and AVMA have expressed concern about bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli, Listeria) in raw pet foods and the risk of nutritional imbalances in homemade raw diets. Published studies have found pathogenic bacteria in a significant percentage of commercially available raw pet foods. If you choose to feed raw, work with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist to ensure the diet is nutritionally complete, and follow strict safe-handling protocols to protect both your pet and your household.

What is the difference between BARF and prey model raw diets?

BARF stands for "Biologically Appropriate Raw Food" (or "Bones and Raw Food") and was popularized by Dr. Ian Billinghurst. BARF diets typically include raw muscle meat, raw meaty bones, organ meats, and a portion of fruits, vegetables, and sometimes dairy or eggs. The prey model raw (PMR) diet attempts to replicate a whole prey animal and consists exclusively of animal products, typically following a ratio of approximately 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, and 10% organ meat (with half being liver). The prey model excludes plant matter entirely, while BARF diets typically include 10–20% vegetables and fruit.

Is commercial raw dog food safer than homemade raw diets?

Commercial raw pet foods offer some advantages over homemade raw diets, including formulation by animal nutritionists aimed at meeting AAFCO nutritional standards, more consistent ingredient ratios, and in some cases high-pressure processing (HPP) that reduces (but does not eliminate) bacterial loads. However, FDA testing has still found pathogens in commercial raw products. Homemade raw diets carry a higher risk of nutritional imbalances because formulating a complete and balanced diet from scratch requires precise knowledge of nutrient content and supplementation. If preparing raw food at home, consultation with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist (DACVN) is strongly recommended.

Can raw food diets cause nutritional deficiencies in pets?

Yes, improperly formulated raw diets can cause significant nutritional deficiencies or excesses. Published studies analyzing homemade raw diet recipes have found that many are deficient in key nutrients including calcium, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. Some recipes also contain excessive amounts of vitamin A (particularly those heavy in liver) or have inappropriate calcium-to-phosphorus ratios, which can lead to skeletal problems, especially in growing puppies and kittens. Even commercially prepared raw diets may not always meet AAFCO standards. This is why veterinary nutritionists emphasize the importance of using professionally formulated recipes and appropriate supplementation.

What are safer alternatives to a fully raw diet for dogs and cats?

Several alternatives offer some of the perceived benefits of raw feeding with reduced risk. Lightly cooked diets (heated to an internal temperature sufficient to kill most pathogens but lower than traditional cooking) preserve more nutrients than heavily processed kibble while addressing bacterial contamination concerns. Freeze-dried raw foods undergo a process that removes moisture while preserving nutrients, and some brands use HPP to further reduce pathogens. Raw toppers and mix-ins allow owners to add small amounts of raw or freeze-dried raw food to a complete and balanced commercial base diet. Fresh commercial pet foods (gently cooked and delivered refrigerated) are another growing category that bridges the gap between raw and traditional diets.

Related Resources

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute veterinary nutritional advice. Raw feeding decisions should be discussed with your veterinarian, especially for puppies, kittens, senior pets, immunocompromised animals, or households with vulnerable members. See our Medical Disclaimer for complete details.

Last updated: March 2026 · Editorial Standards