There are plenty of myths about feeding dogs a raw diet, and one of the most common is that raw meat is unsafe due to bacteria. But this simply isn’t true.

First, if you buy your raw food from a reputable commercial manufacturer, it must comply with strict DEFRA regulations on supply and production. Like all pet food, randomised batches undergo independent laboratory testing, and any that exceed acceptable bacteria levels are recalled. The key point here is acceptable vs. unacceptable levels—because all fresh meat contains bacteria. There’s no such thing as 100% bacteria-free food, whether for dogs or humans.

Secondly, dogs are biologically designed to handle bacteria far better than we are. Their stomach acid is much stronger, their digestive system is shorter, and they even produce an enzyme in their saliva that helps neutralise bacteria. Think about all the questionable things they eat on walks—yet they rarely get sick. Their bodies are built for it, unlike us more fragile humans!

And finally, let’s consider what dogs actually are: carnivores. Their teeth are made for tearing meat, and their digestive system is built to process it. While they can eat a variety of foods (unlike cats, who must eat meat to survive), they are naturally adapted to consume animal protein. It’s what they’ve evolved to do.

So yes, feeding raw is safe—because it’s exactly what nature intended. Check out our adult raw dog food to give your dog the diet they were born to eat!