Is it Safe to Feed your Dog or Cat a Raw Diet?
Safely feeding your dog or cat a raw diet is simple when you follow these three rules:
- Choose human-grade
- Keep frozen and defrost individually
- Wash hands and dishes properly after use
Choose human-grade
This means buying ingredients that have adhered to the same standards that our own food is required to adhere to. They will also have been manufactured in facilities and with equipment all fit to manufacture human food.
Pet-grade food is potentially sourced from animals who were dead, diseased, dying or disabled. It has also been found to contain dangerous levels of preservatives, such as sulphur dioxide, which can lead to thiamine deficiency in dogs and cats.
Companion animals are part of the family, and we wouldn’t settle for sub-standard for anyone else in the family.
Where to buy human-grade pet food
Human-grade produce can be found in the meat section of your supermarket, or pet shops. Ensure you read the labels carefully and don’t fall for marketing tactics such as “sourced from human-grade facilities.” This implies the product itself might not be human-grade, but comes from a facility that does produce human-grade.
Please note: You must also ensure your dog or cat’s diet is complete and balanced. Human grade mince, alone is not sufficient as a complete diet. Refer to appropriate raw feeding guides to find the correct ratios of muscle meat, liver, other organs and bone.
Proudi raw frozen patties for dogs and cats contain 100% human-grade ingredients, are produced in a human-grade facility at the Sunshine Coast, here in Australia, and are certified as a complete and balanced diet as per 3 international standards (AAFCO, FEDIAF and NRC).
Keep frozen and defrost individually
Always store raw meat in the freezer, only taking it out to defrost in the fridge for up to 12 hours before use. If you forget to take your dog or cat’s food out of the freezer in time, wrap it in a plastic bag and place it in a bowl of warm water to defrost.
Wash hands and dishes
Much like you would when handling raw meat for human consumption, ensure you thoroughly clean surfaces, dog bowls and utensils with hot water and detergent. Wash your hands immediately after handling and dispose of any uneaten food after 20 minutes.
Remember, your pet has a completely different digestive system to yours
While dogs and cats thrive on a raw diet and can handle bacteria from fresh, raw meats, you should never risk feeding your pet spoiled meat.
If you couldn’t safely cook it up and eat it yourself, don’t feed it raw to your pet.
So, yes- feeding your dog or cat a raw diet is safe, providing you are minimising risk by choosing human-grade and practising safe storage and cleaning procedures.
