FrançaisCan dogs eat raw eggs or raw meat?
Dogs can eat raw meat and raw eggs, but these foods carry documented risks. Studies keep finding Salmonella, Listeria and antibiotic-resistant E. coli in raw pet foods [1, 4], and dogs fed them can shed these germs in their stool without showing any sign of illness [8]. Home-made raw rations are also often unbalanced [16]. If you feed raw, review the diet with your vet, and call them if your dog has diarrhea, vomits or seems unwell.
Raw feeding is a choice, and this page does not judge it. The benefits claimed for it are a different question: a 2019 review found evidence for changes in the gut bacteria and, subjectively, firmer stools, but no robust evidence for many of the other claimed benefits [1].
Which germs have been found in raw meat diets?
Most of what we know comes from testing commercial raw pet foods, often frozen products bought in shops or online [1]. Home-made diets of uncooked meat or egg are also more often culture-positive for Salmonella and E. coli than heat-treated food [11]. In the FDA survey, only 2 of 480 dry and semi-moist foods tested positive, against Salmonella or Listeria found in raw foods and jerky treats [3].
| Germ | In raw pet foods | In the stool of raw-fed dogs | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salmonella | FDA survey 2010–2012: 15 of 196 raw dog and cat food samples [2]; Netherlands: 7 of 35 frozen products (20%) [4] | UK: 8 of 114 raw-fed dogs (4%), none of 76 others [6] | Causes food poisoning in people; dogs are usually silent carriers [11] |
| Listeria monocytogenes | FDA survey: 32 of 196 raw samples [2]; Netherlands: 19 of 35 (54%) [4] | Rarely causes disease in dogs [1] | Causes serious disease in people [1] |
| E. coli O157:H7 and other STEC | Netherlands: 8 of 35 products (23%) [4] | Not measured in these studies | Can cause severe illness in people, including hemolytic uremic syndrome [13] |
| ESBL and other resistant E. coli | Netherlands: 28 of 35 (80%) [4]; Sweden: 9 of 39 samples (23%) [5] | UK: 31% of raw-fed vs 4% of other dogs carried E. coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins [6]; Sweden: 13 of 25 vs 1 of 25 [7] | Resistant bacteria could spread to people and other pets in the home [1, 6] |
| Campylobacter | Not found in about 300 North American samples; found in 22% of raw pet foods tested in New Zealand [1] | Sweden: 12 of 25 raw-fed vs 4 of 25 kibble-fed dogs [7] | A well-documented zoonosis, passed from animals to people [12] |
Parasites. In the Dutch survey, 8 of 35 frozen products held Sarcocystis and 2 (6%) held Toxoplasma gondii [4]. A review lists other parasites proposed as risks from raw meat and offal, including Neospora, Giardia, tapeworms such as Echinococcus, and Trichinella [1]. Freezing and thawing harms parasites far more than it harms many bacteria [1]. A Hungarian study of 89 BARF-fed pets found no Toxoplasma or Neospora in their stool [22]. More on this parasite in toxoplasmosis in cats.
Raw bones raise other questions, such as splinters and blockages: see chicken bones and dogs.
Healthy-looking dogs can shed germs: what it means for the family
- After one contaminated meal: in a Canadian study, 7 of 16 dogs fed a single Salmonella-contaminated raw meal shed Salmonella 1 to 7 days later. None showed any sign of illness [8].
- Over a year: in 200 healthy therapy dogs, those fed raw meat had about 0.61 new Salmonella episodes per dog per year, against 0.08 in other dogs [9].
- In clinically healthy pets: all 50 dogs in the Swedish study were healthy, yet most resistant E. coli and Campylobacter came from the raw-fed group [7].
- When dogs do get sick: acute salmonellosis is infrequent in dogs; when it happens it causes diarrhea, sometimes with infection of the blood [11]. In a kennel outbreak linked to a raw diet, dogs had vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and dehydration without fever [14].
Shedding by dogs and cats has been linked to illness in people living in the same home [11]. In England in 2017, three of four people in a cluster of E. coli O157 infections had contact with dogs fed raw tripe; one person died of hemolytic uremic syndrome [13]. The authors of the UK study advise owners to be aware of these risks, especially in homes with very young, elderly or immunocompromised members [6].
Ordinary cleaning did not remove Salmonella from bowls in trials [1]. The FDA advises washing hands with soap for at least 20 seconds after handling raw pet food, cleaning then disinfecting surfaces and bowls, thawing in the fridge, and washing hands after being licked [2].
Raw eggs: Salmonella, biotin and egg allergy
- Salmonella: home-made diets that include uncooked egg are more often culture-positive for Salmonella [11]. In 138 Ontario dogs, feeding raw meat and eggs was one of the factors linked to Salmonella in the stool [10].
- Avidin and biotin: raw egg white contains avidin, a protein that binds biotin and stops it being absorbed. Egg yolk is a good source of biotin, and cooking destroys avidin. Naturally occurring biotin deficiency is very rare in dogs; its signs are poor growth, skin inflammation, lethargy and nervous signs [15].
- Egg allergy: in 297 dogs with a food allergy affecting the skin, egg was the culprit in 11 (4%), far behind beef, dairy, chicken and wheat [21].
Nutrient imbalances and thyroid hormone in raw diets
A raw diet can be complete or incomplete, depending on how it is put together. In 95 home-made bone and raw food rations in Germany, 60% had at least one imbalance: 10% supplied less than a quarter of the recommended calcium, about half supplied less iodine than the minimum, and many were low in zinc, copper or vitamin A. The other 40% were balanced or had minor issues such as excess calcium from bones [16]. Commercial raw diets, too, are often formulated without feeding trials [1].
Growing puppies are the most vulnerable. Four large-breed puppies fed only boneless, unsupplemented raw meat developed pain and weakness from fragile bones, a condition called nutritional secondary hyperparathyroidism; two had fractures [17]. All-meat diets are high in phosphorus and low in calcium [15].
Some raw foods also contain thyroid hormone. In 12 dogs fed raw meat or gullets, thyroid hormone was high; half showed weight loss, aggressiveness, a fast heart rate, panting or restlessness, and half showed no sign at all. T4 returned to normal after the diet changed [19]. See hyperthyroidism in dogs.
What the tests show, and what they cannot show
There is no single test for "raw diet problems". The vet chooses tests according to the signs and the diet history.
- Abbreviation TT4, T4 or thyroxine, the main thyroid hormone.
- Result 8.8 µg/dL in this illustrative line: the median found in 14 dogs fed foods or treats with excess thyroid hormone [20].
- Unit µg/dL in the United States, nmol/L in Europe (µg/dL × 12.87 = nmol/L).
- Laboratory interval The interval used in a study of raw-fed dogs was 19.3–51.5 nmol/L, about 1.5–4.0 µg/dL [19]; each laboratory sets its own.
- Flag H: above the interval. Your vet asks about raw meat, gullets and treats; in both studies T4 returned to normal after the diet changed [19, 20].
| Test | What it looks for | Limits |
|---|---|---|
| Stool culture for Salmonella | Live Salmonella, after an enrichment step | Culture lacks sensitivity, and shedding can be intermittent and low; repeated samples may be needed [11] |
| Stool PCR | Salmonella or Campylobacter DNA | Very sensitive, but also detects dead bacteria, so a positive is not proof of infection [11] |
| Interpreting a positive | Whether the germ explains the diarrhea | These bacteria are found about as often in dogs with and without diarrhea [12]; see chronic diarrhea in dogs |
| Total T4 (and TSH) | Thyroid hormone from the diet | High T4 in all 14 dogs fed all-meat foods or treats with excess thyroid hormone (median 8.8 µg/dL) [20] |
| Calcium and phosphorus | Mineral imbalance | Low in one raw-fed puppy [18], but normal in all four puppies of another series [17]: normal results do not rule out the problem |
| PTH (parathyroid hormone) | The body’s response to low calcium intake | Raised in the one puppy where it was measured [17] |
| X-rays or CT | Thin, weak bones and fractures | Reduced bone density in all four puppies [17] |
Calcium values and what moves them are explained in calcium in dogs and cats.
Related articles
Foods that are toxic rather than risky are listed in toxic foods for dogs and cats.
En français : viande crue, œuf cru et BARF chez le chien.
Questions to ask your veterinarian
- Is my dog’s diet complete and balanced for its age and size?
- Is a stool culture or PCR useful for my dog, and how many samples are needed?
- Could a positive Salmonella result be silent carriage rather than the cause of the diarrhea?
- Should we check total T4, calcium or phosphorus, given the diet?
- What hygiene steps matter most in a home with a baby, an older person or someone with a weak immune system?
Get your dog’s blood work and stool results explained.
AI DiagAnimals reads thyroid values, calcium, phosphorus, the blood count and chemistry together with your laboratory’s intervals, and prepares the questions for your vet. The service opens soon: leave your email to be told first.
Frequently asked questions
Can dogs safely eat raw eggs?
Raw eggs carry two known issues. Home-made diets that include uncooked egg are more often positive for Salmonella [11], and raw egg white contains avidin, which binds biotin. Biotin deficiency is very rare in dogs, and egg yolk is a good source of it; cooking destroys avidin [15]. Ask your vet whether eggs fit your dog’s diet.
Can I feed my dog raw mince from the supermarket?
Meat sold for people is not guaranteed free of germs: chicken carcasses, for example, are commonly contaminated with Campylobacter [1], and diets of uncooked meat are more often positive for Salmonella [11]. Plain mince is also not a complete diet: puppies fed only boneless, unsupplemented raw meat developed fragile bones [17]. Discuss any home-made diet with your vet.
Do dogs live longer on a raw meat diet?
There is no evidence that they do. A 2019 review found evidence only for changes in gut bacteria and, subjectively, firmer stools; for most other claimed benefits there was neither robust evidence nor a plausible mechanism [1].
What raw meats are safe for dogs?
No study has identified a raw meat that is free of risk. Salmonella, Listeria and resistant E. coli turned up across brands and products [4], and freezing reduces parasites but not many bacteria [1]. Cooking kills Salmonella and Listeria [2]. Raw meat and gullets have caused hyperthyroidism through the thyroid hormone they contained [19].
Can dogs be allergic to eggs?
Yes, but it is uncommon. In 297 dogs with a food allergy affecting the skin, egg was involved in 11 (4%). Beef, dairy, chicken and wheat were far more common [21]. A diet trial with the vet is the way to find out.
Sources
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- Nemser SM et al. Investigation of Listeria, Salmonella, and toxigenic Escherichia coli in various pet foods. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2014;11(9):706-709. doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2014.1748
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- Lefebvre SL et al. Evaluation of the risks of shedding Salmonellae and other potential pathogens by therapy dogs fed raw diets in Ontario and Alberta. Zoonoses Public Health. 2008;55(8-10):470-480. doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2008.01145.x
- Leonard EK et al. Evaluation of pet-related management factors and the risk of Salmonella spp. carriage in pet dogs from volunteer households in Ontario (2005-2006). Zoonoses Public Health. 2011;58(2):140-149. doi.org/10.1111/j.1863-2378.2009.01320.x
- Abuelo A, Renaud D. Salmonellosis in Animals. Merck Veterinary Manual, updated 2026. merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/salmonellosis/salmonellosis-in-animals
- Marks SL et al. Enteropathogenic bacteria in dogs and cats: diagnosis, epidemiology, treatment, and control. J Vet Intern Med. 2011;25(6):1195-1208. doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00821.x
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Laboratory methods and reference intervals vary. This article explains; it does not diagnose. For a decision about your pet, use the original report and talk to your veterinarian. Our editorial policy.