Welcome to “Raw Dog Food Makes Humans Sick”!
It’s part 2 of my Raw Feeding Myth Buster Mini Series ~ it consists of 5 myths around the raw feeding world that I am going to rebut.
So far, I busted the myth that raw fed dogs are aggressive. Missed it? Check it out in the Related Reading section at the end of this blog post!
Today Iโll be showing that feeding your dogs a raw diet will not get you and your family sick!
Opponents of the raw diet have actually managed to spread this fear of getting sick by handling the raw meat we feed our dogs. They argue that this is the case because the raw meat could harbor salmonella, e.coli, and other bacteria.
5 Myths About Raw Feeding 2/5: Raw Dog Food Makes Humans Sick
Disclaimer: This blog post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated in 2022. It contains affiliate links I may earn compensation through at no additional cost to you.
Tip #1: Hygiene In The Kitchen
Hygiene in the kitchen is my #1 tip in ensuring that no bacteria from fresh meat is going to wreak havoc in your human body.
This includes washing:
- Your hands with warm, soapy water
- All surfaces and utensils used in preparing the raw meals (counters, cutting boards, mixing bowls, knives, spoons, etc.)
- Your dogโs bowl after meal time
I always dispose of empty meat packaging right away.
Iโll have a plastic bag sitting right on the counter whenever I pull meat out thatโs still wrapped. The packaging goes right into the plastic bag. Once Iโm done handling the meat, Iโll tie a knot into the bag and then throw it out into the trash.
I also like to use towels.
For example, you can line your meal prep surfaces with towels to minimize clean up. You can also line your dog’s eating area with towels and then throw them into the wash once they’re done eating.
I place a large doggie towel under Missyโs & Buzzโs bowls whenever I add a raw meaty bone because they will pull it out of their dish and eat it on the floor next to it. Once theyโre done eating, I simply toss the towel straight into the washing machine.
Optional: Gloves For Extra Protection
Iโve seen videos of raw feeders who wear disposable gloves while they handle and prepare their dogโs raw dog food. I personally don’t do that because I also donโt wear gloves when I handle and prepare raw meat for myself.
As mentioned above, I wash my hands thoroughly with warm, soapy water after I’m done handling my pupsโ raw meals. The same goes for raw meat I handle when I prepare it for myself โ to me, thatโs just common sense.
Side Note: I came across a video of Health & Wellness Couch Beth Carpenter from Austin, TX, where sheโs making her very own raw dog food from scratch.
She has an extra set of dishwashing gloves that she only uses for mixing pureed fruit & veggies with raw meat. Fast forward to minute 19 to see her gloves!
She explains that she washes them with hot, soapy water after each usage and then sterilizes them.
I thought that was such a clever idea, and one that is gentler on the environment than using disposable gloves.
Tip #2: Only Buy High-Quality Meat From A Trusted Source
You should, of course, stay clear of rancid, bad meat, and make sure to only buy high quality meat from a trusted source. This could be your local butcher who doesnโt use growth-hormones and/or antibiotics in raising their animals.
This could also be an online retailer for raw dog food such asย Raw Paws Pet Foodย orย Darwinโs Natural Pet Products. Both use high-quality protein for their meals.
Fun fact: I started my raw dog food journey with Darwinโs Natural Pet and Raw Paws Pet Food.ย
There are several other retailers in the raw dog (& cat) food market. For example, Raw Feeding Miami, Reel Raw Dog, Soulโy Raw, and many others. That’s great news as it indicates a trend towards feeding our dogs a more species-appropriate diet!
5 Myths About Raw Feeding 2/5: Raw Dog Food Makes Humans Sick: Bottom Line
I began feeding Missy & Buzz a raw diet in 2015. Over the years, I’ve become very confident in feeding this healthy, minimally processed food.
Neither my family nor myself have become sick at any point in time throughout the years.
That’s although we handle raw dog food twice per day. Thatโs 730 raw meals each year without any incidents because we apply common sense when handling raw meat:
- Wash your hands with warm, soapy water
- Clean all surfaces and utensils used in preparing the raw meals (counters, cutting boards, mixing bowls, knives, spoons, etc.)
- Wash your dogโs bowl after meal time
#MythBusted
Has the myth of potentially getting sick from feeding your dog (or cat!) a raw diet kept you from giving it a try? As always, Iโd love to hear from you in our comment section!
Related Reading:
- Raw Dog Food Myths 1/5: Raw Fed Dogs Are Aggressive
- Raw Dog Food Myths 3/5: Your Dog Will Get Sick From His Raw Diet
- Raw Dog Food Myths 4/5: Does Raw Feeding Cause Bad Breath?
- Raw Dog Food Myths 5/5: Your Dog Is Going To Die From Eating Raw Meat
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