Raw Feeding: Let’s Talk About Doing It Properly

Because social media influencers & opinions aren’t a nutritional qualification!!!

At Pickles Pet Pantry, we’ve always had a slightly complicated relationship with raw feeding.

Not because we “hate raw.”Not because we think kibble is automatically superior.And definitely not because we believe there’s only one correct way to feed dogs.

Here’s a little Pickles secret:

Between our own dogs, rescues, sport dogs and nutrition work… we’ve fed:

• raw

• wet food

• kibble

• cold pressed

• hydrolysed diets

• fresh food

• veterinary diets

• science-led therapeutic nutrition plans

Because we never want to preach about feeding choices we haven’t either:

• experienced ourselves

• researched properly

• or worked with in real dogs

And honestly?

That experience has taught us something incredibly important:

There is no universally “perfect” way to feed dogs.

What matters is:does the diet work for your dog?

Because your dog decides whether a food is right for them — not TikTok, Facebook groups or nutrition trends online.

That said…

If you are going to raw feed, we strongly believe it should be done:

• safely

• scientifically

• realistically

• and nutritionally complete

So let’s talk honestly about it.

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The Biggest Problem In Raw Feeding?

Nutritional Imbalance And Bacterial Risk

One of the biggest issues we see isn’t raw feeding itself.

It’s poorly managed raw feeding.

The internet has normalised:

• DIY feeding

• “Franken-prey” bowls (All the random body parts in a meal!)

• guessing ratios

• random organ additions

• unsafe storage

• poor hygiene practices

• aesthetic meal prep over nutritional adequacy

And unfortunately, dogs can survive on nutritionally poor diets for a surprisingly long time before issues appear.

That does not mean the diet is optimal.

Likewise, many owners are told:“Dogs can handle bacteria.”

To a degree, healthy dogs often tolerate bacterial exposure better than humans.

But that does not mean bacterial contamination is harmless or irrelevant.

Let’s Talk Honestly About Bacteria

Raw meat can carry pathogens including:

• Salmonella

• E. coli

• Campylobacter

• Listeria

This is not fearmongering.

It is microbiology.

Studies investigating commercial raw pet foods have repeatedly identified bacterial contamination in some raw products, particularly poorly handled or lower-quality formulations. (SOME not ALL!)

The risk is not only to dogs.

It’s also to:

• humans preparing the food

• young children

• elderly family members

• immunocompromised people

• other pets in the household

Cross contamination from bowls, surfaces, saliva and storage areas matters.

Especially in busy family homes.

“But Wolves Eat Raw…”

".... But dogs aren't wolves?"

This argument appears constantly online.

And honestly?

Domestic dogs are not wolves living in wild ecosystems with natural population turnover and dramatically shorter lifespans.

Modern dogs:

• live longer

• share homes with humans

• sleep on beds

• lick toddlers

• interact with vulnerable people

• receive advanced veterinary care

We should absolutely consider biology.

But we also have to consider public health and modern living.

Lando thrives on a raw diet, because his owner listens to his body, and has found the prefect match for him!

But Let’s Be Fair — Why Do Some Dogs Thrive On Raw?

Despite the challenges and risks surrounding raw feeding, there are reasons some owners report positive changes when switching certain dogs onto raw diets.

And it’s important to acknowledge those honestly.

Some dogs may experience:

• improved stool consistency

• reduced stool volume

• improved palatability

• better coat condition

• improved body composition

• high enthusiasm around meals

There are several possible scientific reasons behind this.

Raw diets are often:

• highly palatable

• rich in animal protein

• lower in carbohydrate content

• highly digestible in some formulations

Digestibility can influence:

• stool quality

• nutrient absorption

• satiety

• coat condition

• muscle maintenance

In some cases, owners may also unintentionally remove ingredients their dog previously struggled with when changing diets — such as certain protein sources or poorly tolerated formulations.

That improvement can absolutely be genuine.

However, it’s important to understand that these benefits are not always because food is raw specifically. Usually just that its RIGHT for the pet!

Very often, improvements may instead be linked to:

• improved ingredient quality

• better digestibility

• more appropriate calorie intake

• increased protein quality

• improved feeding consistency

• removal of poorly tolerated ingredients

  
  

This is important because some dogs may achieve very similar improvements through:

Ary has been fed a variety of diets and truthfully the reason she isn't raw fed, because I would love to raw feed her - she actually doesn't like raw at all!

• complete wet food

• hydrolysed diets

• gently cooked diets

• fresh diets

• high-quality dry food

Which is why at Pickles, we always come back to the same principle:

The best diet is the one that is:

• nutritionally balanced

• safe

• sustainable

• and genuinely works for the individual dog in front of you.

Why We Recommend COMPLETE Raw Diets

At Pickles, if owners want to raw feed, we almost always recommend feeding a properly formulated complete raw food from reputable manufacturers with robust safety and testing procedures.

Why?

Because proper formulation and food safety standards matter enormously.

Dogs require appropriate levels of:

• calcium

• phosphorus

• zinc

• copper

• iodine

• selenium

• essential fatty acids

• vitamins

• amino acids

And getting those levels correct consistently at home is incredibly challenging.

Especially over time.

A properly formulated complete raw food is designed to meet recognised nutritional guidelines such as:

• FEDIAF

• NRC

• AAFCO

That matters.

We actually look for additional marks such as RAWSAFE etc without this - we arent stocking the product.

Because “natural” does not automatically mean balanced — or microbiologically safe. (Added bonus they have to follow more stringent safety proceedures too!)

The Problem With DIY 80-10-10 Feeding

This may upset some corners of the internet, but honesty matters more than popularity.

The traditional 80-10-10 model:

• 80% meat

• 10% bone

• 10% organ

…was never designed as a complete nutritional guarantee.

And on its own, it often lacks adequate:

• iodine

• manganese

• zinc

• vitamin E

• omega-3 balance

• fibre diversity

  
  

Combined with inconsistent sourcing and poor hygiene, this is where we often see raw feeding go wrong.

Some dogs appear fine initially.

But over time, nutritional imbalances and digestive issues can develop quietly underneath the surface.

Safe Raw Feeding Requires Real Responsibility

Safe raw feeding means:

• proper freezer storage

• correct thawing

• cleaning bowls thoroughly

• disinfecting preparation surfaces

• hand hygiene

• avoiding cross contamination

• sourcing reputable manufacturers

• understanding food safety

And honestly?

Some lifestyles simply aren’t suited to raw feeding.

That’s okay too.

Not every owner wants raw meat preparation areas in their kitchen.

Not every household can safely manage it.

That doesn’t make them bad owners.

Raw Feeding Is Not Automatically Better

This is probably the biggest misconception online.

Raw feeding is not magic.

A poorly balanced raw diet can absolutely be worse than a well-formulated dry food.

Likewise, a dog can look shiny and energetic while still having nutritional imbalances developing underneath.

Good nutrition is about:

• digestibility

• nutrient availability

• balance

• safety

• suitability for the individual dog

Not simply whether the food is raw.

Your Dog Decides

Some dogs do brilliantly on raw.

Others don’t.

Some improve hugely with:

• hydrolysed diets

• gently cooked foods

• digestive support diets

• traditional dry foods

And that’s fine.

The internet loves black-and-white feeding debates.

Real nutrition is far more nuanced than that.

Your dog’s:

• stool quality

• coat

• skin

• energy

• muscle condition

• digestion

• bloodwork

• long-term health

…matter far more than social media trends ever will.

The Pickles Take

At Pickles, we are not anti-raw.

We are anti:

• nutritional misinformation

• imbalance

• unsafe feeding practices

• bacterial ignorance

• internet nutrition extremism

We’ve fed almost every style of diet ourselves at one point or another, because understanding nutrition properly means being willing to learn, research and experience different approaches with an open mind.

If you want to raw feed, we support doing it:

• safely

• realistically

• scientifically

• and with balance in mind

Because feeding dogs shouldn’t be about proving a point online.

It should be about helping the dog in front of you live the healthiest, happiest life possible.