Can You Cook Raw Dog Food?

The biggest clue as to whether or not you should cook raw dog food is in the title itself. A raw food diet for dogs is designed and developed to be fed raw to your pet as a natural way of giving them all the nutrients they require in their diet. It’s made to be served exactly as it comes - you just need to defrost it and then feed it.

Whilst raw dog food for dogs in its very basic form is raw protein, you can certainly add fruit, vegetables and supplements to make raw dog food meals that will set your pooch’s tail wagging! Most raw meat recipes for dogs include offal and bone to make the meal more complete with the nutrients your pooch needs.

Yes, dogs can eat rice! Wondered if rice is beneficial for your furry friend? Whilst some complete dog food includes rice as the “grain” portion of their complete meal, it’s not recommended to feed solely to your pooch, nor is it a beneficial addition to their raw dog bowl. Rice should be part of a varied diet as long as it is cooked and unseasoned. Due to its plain taste, it’s great as a one-off meal for a pooch with a poorly tummy.

You may wonder exactly why can dogs eat raw meat? It seems only natural for us to cook raw food; you wouldn’t get a steak out of the freezer and just start chewing it as soon as it thaws. However, dogs are not humans; they have evolved from species that were predatory animals and while they’re very much loved and pampered now, that doesn’t mean their stomachs are any different. Their stomach acid is stronger than a human’s, so they are capable of breaking down the raw meat and bones. Your pup is perfectly capable of eating uncooked meat, in fact, it can be better for them than cooked meat.  Your dogs can eat cooked meat everyday (but always in moderation) but they will gain more nutrients from eating it raw.

All of the benefits of raw feeding, the shiny coats, the bright eyes, the extra energy and the joint support your pooch gains are all locked-in in its raw state. If you introduce heat to the raw food to cook it, you can destroy many of the nutrients available and it can become much less beneficial to your four-legged friend.

The only possible benefit to cooking the raw food you give to your dog is reducing the risk of your pup eating contaminated meat. Humans cook our food to rid any risk of sickness from bacteria that can live in it, but dogs are built a little differently. The risk of this is very limited in good brands of dog food in pet stores and dogs aren’t as susceptible to becoming ill from things like Salmonella as we are. While there are some brands of raw dog food you can cook, you will still be reducing the nutritional value of that food so it isn’t recommended.

It can seem like a minefield when it comes to choosing the best raw dog food for your pooch. Whilst it’s risen in popularity, it can still be tricky to find out where to go when you’re searching “raw food for dogs near me”! Luckily, Jollyes has over 100 stores nationwide (and a website you can order raw food for dogs from). That’s why we’ve broken it down further in this article, featuring the wide selection that Jollyes stocks in The Raw Store.

Raw chickens and humans are an absolute no-no (and a major health risk) so you may wonder, can dogs have raw chicken? The answer may be surprising, but it’s a yes! It’s worthwhile keeping in mind that your pooch is still susceptible to salmonella (the risk of this in raw food for dogs is very slight) but it’s important to buy your meat from responsible farmers or pre-packaged offerings from Jollyes.

Again, ensuring you’ve bought the meat from a trusted, high hygiene standard supplier like Jollyes, raw steak is generally safe to feed your dog.

Raw beef mince is a great protein source for your pooch – just make sure it’s lean as too much fat isn’t healthy for your canine.

Yes! Dogs can eat raw beef, whether it’s mince or steak. Have a look at our selection of raw beef dog food here.

If you’re unsure how to figure out the correct portion size for your pooch (and how much of each component makes up a complete meal) check out our raw feeding guide here.

It’s usually recommended not to leave raw dog food out for longer than 2 hours, and it’s always best to defrost your pooch’s meal in the fridge. If it’s a particularly warm day, food tends to spoil quicker so keep that in mind if you’re leaving it out. Learn more on how to safely feed raw for dogs.

If you feed your dog a diet like Nutriment Boneless Beef Formula then there are no strict safety reasons against cooking your pup’s meals. They may lose some nutrients but if you can’t stand the thought of raw feeding, then it is an option to gently cook raw dog food on the stove. 

Boneless raw dog food options are limited though, as most meals are served as complete raw dog food diets which will mean they often contain bones. Bones offer a valuable source of calcium and are great at keeping your pup’s teeth clean, however should never be served cooked.

Under heat, bones will become brittle and can break into sharp little fragments as your dog chews on them. This can cause all kinds of damage from the mouth all through the digestive tract, so cooking raw food that contains any amount of bone should always be avoided.

There is nothing wrong with feeding both a mixture of cooked and raw food to your dog. However, you should be careful not to throw off the nutritional balance of the meals you’re feeding.

Most complete meals are designed to be the only major component of your pup’s diet, so when you feed two different diets, it can throw the balance off. It can be a good way of cutting costs for parents who aren’t able to feed their dogs on raw food alone but still want the benefits of raw feeding[1] .

If you raw feed to avoid allergies or feed a diet for a specific health issue, then mixing feeds can be complicated and you have to spend time making sure both diets are suitable and the calorific intake for your pooch is correct.

While cooking raw dog food is a possibility, you may be overcomplicating the whole process by adding steps you just don’t need and even compromising the quality of the meal by sticking it in the oven or zapping it in the microwave. Raw food is designed to be fed as it is to your pup for them to really benefit from all the vitamins and minerals available in every bite.

Yes, your new addition can eat raw meat! Begin to introduce raw proteins once they’ve started weaning off their mother’s milk, and gradually introduce it. This means introducing one raw protein at a time and allowing an adjustment period of a week or so before welcoming anymore new proteins.

A significant drawback to feeding your dog a raw diet is the difficulty in feeding it whilst on the go! Due to the temperature sensitive nature of raw food, it’s crucial that raw meat is kept frozen (or cold, until it’s ready to be eaten). This is why it can be difficult to know what to feed them when you’re on holiday with your pooch or travelling! Looking for an alternative?

As the name suggests, ingredients are gently mixed together before pressed with oils. The meat in cold pressed dog food is cooked and is usually a complete meal featuring a grain and vegetables so doesn’t typically need to be served with anything else. It’s great for travel as it’s dried, easy to serve and easier for pooches to digest!

 

The nutrients and flavour is maintained in this unique preparation process of freezing and then placed in a little pressure and heat to reduce the water. It’s an ideal option for travel thanks to its lightweight, packable form and long shelf life. However, it’s considered a more expensive diet and requires water to be rehydrated. Check out our range of freeze dried dog food here.

Slowly processed at low temperatures to remove moisture, dehydrated dog food is a good travel alternative due to the fact it doesn’t need refrigerating and it’s easy to pack! It’s still a nutritious option for your dog’s diet so they aren’t missing out on too much with a temporary swap from raw. However, a dehydrated food diet does require water to be rehydrated which must be considered when you’re packing.

Browse our wide range of dog food in store and online to find the perfect diet for your beloved pets.