Raw Pet Food Safety
A raw food diet is species-appropriate for your pet and is what nature designed them to eat. Many veterinarians’ concerns about feeding a raw diet are centered around keeping the humans in the house safe around raw food. I doubt they have these same concerns with their clients who cook themselves raw chicken; nonetheless, here are some storage and usage tips around safely feeding your pet a raw diet.
Why is a raw diet safe for your pet?
Despite very aggressive marketing from the pet food industry, your dog and cat are carnivores. They have not evolved into omnivores or evolved to consume and thrive on an ultra-processed, high-carbohydrate, high-starch diet. You are told this because the pet food industry wants you to buy and feed your pet precisely that type of diet.
When we use the term species-appropriate diet, it is because it is the diet that nature designed this species to consume. Not only does nature design them to consume a raw meat diet safely, but the species can also get everything they need nutritionally from the diet. Three factors that show us that a raw meat-based diet is appropriate for carnivores are the mouth, specifically the teeth, a highly acidic stomach, and a short digestive tract. Your pet’s jaw can only move up and down, not side to side like your own, making grinding up plant matter impossible. The teeth are also designed to rip, tear, and shred raw meat. If meant to grind plant matter, they would have flat molars like herbivores and omnivores at the back of their mouth. The highly acidic stomach (pH of 1 or 0) works to break down the meat and bones before entering the digestive tract. This acid also instantly kills most contaminants or pathogens. The short digestive tract, about a third the length of humans or other omnivores, moves the food quickly, not allowing any pathogens that survived the acid bath the time to bloom or take hold and cause issues. When you look at your pet in this light, it is easy to see that they are designed to consume a raw diet and that it is perfectly safe for them to do so.
Beef Mix – 40 lb Easy Ship
Pet parent safety with raw food
Many fears around raw pet food revolve around the safety of the humans in the house. Raw pet food is not very different from the other raw meat you may bring into your home for your consumption. In many ways, it is safer, but by applying the same safe handling practices you do with raw chicken, you can keep yourself and everyone else safe. Keep and feed your raw pet food separate from your food. Thoroughly wash and disinfect any utensils and bowls and the prep area after feeding, or consider having separate bowls and utensils used only for your pets. Thoroughly wash your hands after handling your pet’s food and before handling any of your food. If you have small children in the house, teach them to leave the pet’s food alone and to wash their hands after handling the pet, especially after eating. These simple steps keep everyone safe and allow you to feed your pet as nature intended.
Storage of raw pet food
Keep your raw pet food frozen until ready to use it. You can thaw it in the refrigerator or the sink filled with cold water. The latter is convenient for overnight thawing. Just put your rolls in the sink before you go to bed; they will be thawed when you wake up.
Once thawed, you should use your food within 5 days. You can keep it in the refrigerator during that time. You can refreeze any food you’ve previously thawed if you need to. You can do this multiple times.
Glass containers are best for storing your thawed food, but use what you can find or what works best for your situation. Wash these containers frequently; hand washing or dishwasher are both acceptable.
Closing thoughts
Feeding a raw food diet for your pet can align with their natural dietary needs and promote their overall health. Understanding carnivores’ anatomy and digestive system reinforces the notion that a raw diet is not only appropriate but beneficial. By implementing proper safety measures for both your pet and family, such as maintaining hygiene and practicing safe food handling, you can ensure a smooth and worry-free feeding experience. You can confidently provide your pet with a diet that mirrors nature’s intent while keeping your home safe and healthy for everyone.
