A raw diet is a diet consisting mainly of uncooked meat, edible bones, organs and some pet safe fruits and vegetables. This diet can be homemade or commercially prepared.

Homemade raw diets:

 
Raw feeding can be problematic especially when prepared at home and as such I would advise you to have a think about the following.

1. Ask your vet: It is always best to consult with your vet if you are thinking about feeding your pet a raw diet long term. 
2. Is this a complete and nutritionally balanced diet? : It is often difficult to achieve a nutritionally balanced diet for your pet unless assisted in doing so by a certified pet nutritionist. A complete food can be prepared specific to the anticipated activity level of a pet ( indoor - reduced calorie content), age specific, anticipated and actual size of the pet ( small, medium, and giant breeds of dog). 
3. Risk of infection: Raw food may contain bacteria, parasites and other disease causing organisms which would require cooking in order to be killed. It can be quite difficult to prevent the chance of cross-contamination during and after its preparation. As such there is a risk of zoonosis (a disease or infection which can be spread between people and animals). Those who are especially at risk include people and pets who have underlying health conditions, immunocompromised, the elderly and the very young.  A pet and a pet owner could both become unwell with a stomach bug caused by food poisoning - Salmonellosis, Campylobacter pylori, TB, E.coli infections. A pet owner may become unwell following a lick from a pet who has just consumed raw food - so maintaining hand hygiene is very important.
4. Bones: Bones can get stuck in a pet’s mouth, break teeth or even cause major gastrointestinal tract complications that often require emergency veterinary attention, major emergency surgery to remove the blockage or repair the damage. It is safer to grind the uncooked bones down and a maximum of 4% be added to the raw food mixture. Not many kitchen appliances are equipped to grind the bones to a suitable fineness. 

Commercially prepared raw diets:

1. Precautions are made to ensure that this food is prepared in accordance with food hygiene standards.
2. Should contain all nutrients in the correct proportions to ensure optimal pet gut and overall pet health.
3. Purchase from a manufacturer which is a member of the Pet Food Manufacturing Association (PFMA). Their products have exceeded the legal minimum food and hygiene standards.
4. It is always best to consult with your vet if you are thinking about feeding your pet a raw diet long term.
5. Storage: Freezer storage is essential and once thawed it must be used within 24 hours. 
6. Hygiene: Always wash, sanitise and store utensils and the pet bowl used in a stainless steel or glass container immediately after use. 

Visits to the vet: 

If a pet, who is fed a raw meat diet, needs to attend its vet practice there may be additional protocol safeguards in place for staff safety and infection control. These measures may incur additional costs if hospitalisation is required.