Raw Feeding for Dogs and Cats: A Vet-Approved Starter Plan for 2025

Why Pet Owners Are Turning to Raw Feeding

Raw feeding dogs and cats is no longer fringe. Walk into any pet store and you will see freezers stacked with pre-packaged chicken necks and lamb tripe. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reminds owners that uncooked diets can pose bacterial risks, yet demand continues to rise because many report shinier coats, smaller stools, improved dental health, and fewer allergy flare-ups.

Before you dump kibble for ground turkey, understand there is a right and a wrong way to begin raw feeding. This guide combines veterinary consensus, published feeding trials, and real-world tips from boarded nutritionists to give you a safe starter plan you can print, tape to your fridge, and follow without guesswork.

What Raw Feeding Actually Means

Raw feeding means feeding uncooked muscle meat, edible bone, organ meats, and optional produce. Two main models dominate:

• BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food) – roughly 70 % muscle meat, 10 % bone, 10 % organ (half liver), 10 % veggies or seeds.
• Prey Model – 80 % meat, 10 % bone, 10 % organ with no plant matter.

Cats are obligate carnivores; most skip veggies. Dogs are facultative scavengers and can use limited plant fiber.

Quick Safety Checklist Before You Begin

• Schedule a baseline vet exam and baseline bloodwork to rule out kidney, liver, or pancreatic issues.
• Tell your veterinarian you intend to feed raw; request printed fecal screening instructions.
• Set aside a freezer zone for raw products only; buy color-coded cutting boards and stainless-steel bowls.
• Wash hands with hot soapy water for 20 seconds after handling raw meats—same protocol used by the CDC.

Choosing Vet-Endorsed Ingredients

Proteins

• Chicken – cheapest, soft bone, high taurine; ideal starter.
• Turkey – similar to chicken, slightly richer.
• Duck – great for allergic pets.
• Beef – iron-rich but can trigger intolerances.
• Rabbit – naturally lean, novel protein.
• Fish – limit oily fish to twice weekly to avoid vitamin E depletion.

Bone Guide

Feed edible raw bones that are pliable and match your pet’s jaw size. Examples:

• Dogs (under 30 lb) – chicken necks, wings, cornish hen frames.
• Dogs (30–70 lb) – turkey necks, chicken backs.
• Dogs (70 lb +) – lamb necks, pork ribs.
• Cats – chicken wing tips, quail bones, day-old chicks.

Organs

Feed 5 % liver and 5 % other secreting organs (kidney, spleen, brain). Liver provides vitamin A; imbalance causes toxicity, so weigh carefully.

The First Two Weeks: Printable Transition Schedule

Print the schedule below and tick boxes daily.

Portion Math Made Simple

Adult dogs: 2 % to 3 % of ideal body weight daily. Active or intact dogs: 3 %–3.5 %.

Example 70 lb (31.8 kg) active dog:
31.8 kg × 3 % = 956 g total food per day (split 478 g twice daily).

Breakdown:
· 669 g muscle meat (70 %)
· 96 g raw bone (10 %)
· 48 g liver (5 %)
· 48 g kidney (5 %)
· 96 g veggie or fermented seeds (10 %)

Cats: 2 % to 2.5 % of body weight. An 11 lb (5 kg) neutered cat needs roughly 100–120 g per day.

Weekly Batch Prep That Takes 30 Minutes

1. Buy meats on sale, freeze 72 h to reduce parasites (University of Illinois Extension data).
2. Thaw overnight in refrigerator or cold-water bath.
3. Weigh proteins using a kitchen scale. Combine in ratios above in stainless tub. Mix.
4. Portion into silicone molds or quart freezer bags. Flatten to freeze faster. Label date.
5. Pull one bag nightly to thaw in refrigerator ready for next day.

Red Flags That Mean ‘Phone the Vet’

• Blood in stool: bone shard injury or bacterial infection.
• Persistent vomiting lasting over 12 h or any bile after bone.
• Lameness: possible nutrient imbalance tied to incorrect Ca:P ratios.
• Weight loss exceeding 5 % in two weeks.
• Lethargy combined with yeast-ear odor — check B-vitamin intake.

Common Supplements to Discuss with Your Veterinarian

Never dose blindly; use AAFCO adult profiles and your vet’s recommendation tailored to bloodwork.

Handling Bacterial Risk Without Paranoia

The same tactics used in human commercial kitchens keep households safe. According to the FDA:

• Thaw raw food in refrigerator 0–4 °C (never on counter).
• Discard uneaten meat within 15 minutes in warm climates; 30 minutes in air-conditioned homes.
• Use 1:32 bleach solution (½ cup bleach per gallon water) to sanitize prep surfaces and soak bowls for 10 min weekly.
• Keep susceptible elderly and immunocompromised individuals separate from feeding zones.

Raw Feeding on a Tight Budget

• Buy whole fryer chickens and split at home; backs cost < $1.50 / lb.
• Ethnic grocery stores often sell beef heart at stew-meat prices.
• Start an online co-op for bulk orders; cases of turkey necks drop to 79 ¢ / lb.
• Use imperfect produce from farmers’ markets for the 10 % plant mix.

Switching Specific Breeds: What to Tweak

Small Dogs & Cats

Mini mouths need ground bone. Invest in a $90 electric grinder; tiny choking risks are real.

Large-Breed Puppies

Avoid rapid calcium spikes; keep Ca:P between 1.2:1 and 1.4:1. Balance across a week, not every meal. Boarded nutritionists recommend full exams every 3 months until skeletal maturity.

Brachycephalic Breeds (Frenchies, Persians)

Bulldogs inhale food. Use large rec-reational bones or slow-feeder mats to prevent choking and to scrape teeth simultaneously.

Cheat Sheet: 7 Day Sample Menu for 50 lb Dog

How to Track Progress

1. Body Condition Score (BCS): Feel ribs monthly—should feel like tops of knuckles through a thin T-shirt.
2. Coat Shine: Baseline photos from same lighting every 4 weeks.
3. Stool: Ideal stool is firm, crumbles after 24 h, low odor.
4. Blood Work: Every 6 months first year, yearly after stable.

When Vet Kibble Might Be Safer

• Dogs on immuno-suppressant chemotherapy
• Cats with stage 2 or higher chronic kidney disease
• Household with infants who crawl on feeding-area carpets
• Owner who travels often and relies on pet-sitters unfamiliar with hygiene protocols

Final Take Away

Raw feeding can align with ancestral diet thinking while leveraging modern veterinary nutrition. Prep smart, track lean body mass, and schedule regular welfare checks. If you understand ratios, weigh ingredients, and respect food-safety protocol, you will give your dog or cat a natural menu without unnecessary risk.

Disclaimer: This article was generated as educational material and should not replace examination or dietary planning by a licensed veterinarian. Always consult a vet before switching diets, especially for pets with medical histories.