Glossary

Raw feeding

Feeding uncooked meat, organs and often bones, either homemade or commercial, which carries germ risks for dogs and the people who handle it.

Also called: raw diet, BARF, raw dog food, raw meaty bones, freeze-dried raw, homemade raw diet

Raw feeding means giving uncooked meat, organs, bones and sometimes vegetables, either as a commercial frozen, freeze-dried or high-pressure-treated product or as a home recipe. Supporters cite shinier coats and cleaner teeth, but controlled evidence of benefit is limited.

The risks are well documented. Raw meat can carry Salmonella, Listeria, E. coli and parasites, which can sicken dogs and also people who handle the food or are licked by the dog, especially children, older adults and anyone with a weak immune system. Bones can break teeth or block the gut. Home-prepared raw diets are often unbalanced.

The American Veterinary Medical Association and the CDC advise against feeding raw. If you do, work with a veterinary nutritionist, handle food as you would raw chicken and wash hands and surfaces thoroughly.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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