"Dogs come from wolves, so shouldn’t they eat raw meat?” It is a common question among pet owners — especially those looking for a more natural diet. But does ‘natural’ automatically mean nutritionally better or safer?
Why many owners choose Raw
There are multiple factors and thoughts that contribute to why certain pet owners opt to feed their companions raw meat. There were two main ideas as to why some pet owners opt for a raw diet:
- Ancestors/relative species eat it
The main idea is that the ancestors and relative species of these animals are capable and do so on a daily basis. Herein there is also the idea that this is what nature intended for these animals, meaning that the raw diet is the natural diet for their pets.
- Natural foods are best
The second idea was the concern for artificial chemicals within current selection of pet feed, opting instead to go with a natural food: raw meat. With processed foods there is less control in what goes into the feed, raw meat is only one ingredient, providing assurance to the owner that their pet is not eating anything unhealthy.
These perspectives underline a growing desire of pet owners wanting a more natural and transparent diet for their pets. But are they completely accurate?
What does Science suggest?
When reviewing these ideologies using current information, this is what we deduced:
- Are pets the same as their ancestors?
We need to remember that our dogs and cats are not the same as their ancestors.
- There is a drastic difference between a sausage dog and a wolf. Compared to wolves, dogs have adapted to digest a broader range of food components.
- The same is applicable for cats, there is an evidential difference between Lola and a Siberian tiger. While cats are obligate carnivores, they still require a balance in nutrients and not just meat.
- Nutritional balance matters more than ingredient type
We need to remember that nutrition at the end of the day is the deciding factor for good food.
- Raw meat on its own may not provide the full range of nutrients required for a balanced diet.
- Properly formulated pet food is designed to deliver complete and balanced nutrition, with consistency, safety, and digestibility in mind.
Raw meat, the best or the worst?
Neither. Regardless of whether a diet is raw or processed, what matters most is whether it meets established nutritional requirements, such as those outlined by FEDIAF (Which we discuss in detail in THIS article).
When thinking of opting for the natural raw diet for your pet, there are several key factors pet owners need to understand before transitioning:
- Raw meat alone is insufficient to provide all the nutrients your pets require (calcium, vitamins, and more…)
- Raw meat may carry bacteria or parasites which impacts the pets health and household safety
- It still requires proper formulation by an expert, simply feeding your pet a steak bought straight from your local butcher is ill-advised.
The final verdict
In the end, a raw meat diet IS possible, however the formulas should be made through detailed planning, expert guidance and must be done at the pet owners’ discretion. This however is not always practical or accessible for every pet owner. Ensuring nutritional balance, food safety, and consistency often requires a level of precision that can be difficult to achieve at home.
For pet owners who want convenience without compromising on nutrition, safety, or transparency, professionally formulated diets can be a practical solution.
At KEOS, our recipes are designed to meet FEDIAF nutritional guidelines, with a strong commitment to ingredient transparency: if it is in the bag it is on the bag, if it is on the bag it is in the bag.
As we believe every pet owner deserves to know that their pet is eating; Simply good kibbles.
