Many customers ask us this question - is buying supermarket raw meat for my dog the same as raw dog food? The answer is that there is a definite difference and most experts wouldn't recommend it. Read on to find out why...
What are the benefits for dogs eating raw meat?
A nutritionally balanced, stable diet is crucial for your dog’s health and particularly for day-to-day digestive comfort and stool quality. With an unbalanced diet, the risk of dietary discomfort and stomach issues can significantly increase, causing future long term health issues for your pet.
Think of it like you would for your own diet. Over the past few years, wellness - particularly digestive and gut health issues - have definitely become more of a focus to us as humans, and now an increasing number of dog owners are becoming more and more focused on their dog's wellbeing too. Diet has a huge part to play, and raw dog food has many compelling benefits for your pet's overall health and wellbeing. By feeding complete and balanced NAKEDDOG raw meals, owners can feel confident that their dog is getting all the nutritional elements they need to thrive.
Because it's all-natural with no fillers, a raw diet may not only help reduce the risk of digestive upset, it also supports healthy gut function long term. Our NAKEDDOG Original recipes are balanced and complete with everything your dog needs, ensuring that they consistently get the right nutrients at every stage of life. So, even if it’s not practical for you to feed our raw recipes full-time, incorporating them into an existing diet -even just once or twice a week - can be beneficial. Plus, dogs really love the taste! (We run free taster sessions at our independent retailers if you want to give them a try - follow our socials @nakeddograw for details of those, or ask your local NAKEDDOG supplier - you can find them via our website).
Many of our customers report seeing digestive improvements after switching to raw. These include:
· Less smelly, firmer stools
· Better skin condition (less dry and itchy!)
· Shinier, healthier coat
Can I feed my dog raw food from the supermarket?
Homemade raw diets made from supermarket meat may seem like a good idea - since that’s where we often buy our own meat from. But a homemade raw diet will usually lack the complete set of nutrients (including bone and organs) your dog needs to develop properly - unless you add all the extras. It’s crucial that a dog’s diet consists of complete, balanced nutrition, including protein, fatty acids, carbs and all the essential vitamins.
In addition, raw meat at the supermarket is sold with the expectation of being cooked. This means that it may not have been tested for pathogens like Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria – all of which pose severe foodborne illness risks to your dog and family.
Going raw with NAKEDDOG ensures that you’re giving everything your dog needs and nothing they don’t, to stay happy and healthy. But most of all, we are UK Pet Food Certified, which means that every part of our production process is monitored to the very highest standard to ensure no contamination. Our meals arrive frozen and ready to defrost in your fridge, where they can be stored for up to four days.
Is raw food safe for my dog?
Raw safety is, understandably, a huge concern for pet owners. Dealing with raw meats relies on an immense amount of control for humans, and at NAKEDDOG, this is no different.
We are proud to be UK Pet Food Certified - a standard which shows that we go above and beyond the legal requirement for raw pet food. This means that from start to finish, our process is audited - from ingredient selection to food processing, to storage, and even delivery - every step is controlled, checked, and approved. It’s hugely important to us that we’re able to provide our customers with complete confidence in our products, and that it is to the safest and highest quality it can be.
Not only that - but NAKEDDOG was the first brand to achieve this status! So, we are quite literally leading the way in terms of exceptional pet food standards.
Is raw food safe for puppies?
Growing pups need different nutrients than adult dogs - the same way babies need different foods to ourselves. With supermarket-bought meat, you don’t have the full story on whether it’s right for your pup, no matter what stage of life they are. Another reason to stick to certified raw brands like NAKEDDOG.
Our complete raw dog food range of recipes is expertly designed – with over 40 years of experience - to meet the nutritional requirements of puppies, all the way through to their senior days. More and more dog owners are finding that starting a pup on a nutritionally balanced raw diet from day one can truly help with long-term health.
· NAKEDPUP - start as you mean to go on. Give your puppy the healthiest start in life with NAKEDDOG’s raw puppy food - made using only high-quality meat, bone, and natural ingredients, this range is especially curated to support growth, digestion, and strong immunity.
· NAKEDDOG - our Original, 90/10/10 PURE, and Superfoods ranges is designed for adult working dogs of all sensitivities and lifestyles.
· PetEat - we even have a specially designed range for smaller pet dogs, contained in a smaller tray (250g) and more finely ground mince for littler tummies.
Is raw feeding messy?
Feeding your dog raw is as easy as it is delicious (for your pup!). We know that convenience is key for our customers - fitting your dog’s meal prep into everyday life is better when it’s seamless and, above all, as hygienic as possible. Unlike many raw dog food companies, NAKEDDOG’s product is carefully designed so that you can portion out and store your dog’s food without any hassle, mess, or stress.
And if you’re not sure of how much food your dog needs in their bowl, our handy Raw Feeding Guide will help.
Fuss-free NAKEDDOG trays with re-sealable lids mean that you can portion out your dog's food and then pop the lid back on - no cross contamination, no messy counter tops, and no overflowing fridge.
There’s never any need for our raw dog food to touch any of your kitchen surfaces. Popping the lid back on means you can store NAKEDDOG safely in the fridge for up to 4 days. Don't worry - we've thought about the environment too! Our trays are made from recycled plastic and are fully recyclable.
We know the additional peace of mind is a non-negotiable to our customers for ensuring they feel confident and supported in what they are feeding their dog, and how they do it.
Which types of raw meat can dogs eat?
Dogs can eat a wide variety of raw meat, so long as it is not seasoned or marinated. We include a wide range of meats in our menu to make sure your dog never gets bored at dinnertime. Plus different meats have different benefits.
Can dogs eat raw chicken?
Yes. Dogs can eat raw chicken so long as it is prepared safely. With NAKEDDOG raw recipes you can be confident that it has.
Chicken is full of nutritional benefits including high quality protein, which provides essential amino acids to build strong muscles, repair tissues and boost immunity. Chicken is also a lean meat so despite being nutrient dense, it is relatively low in calories. The Omega-6 in chicken fat is also beneficial for healthy skin and a shiny coat.
Raw chicken bones (but never cooked bones as they splinter and are dangerous) are also very beneficial to your dog’s diet, raw bones contain essential minerals like calcium and phosphorus and are great for dental health as they scrape plaque off their teeth and can prevent bad breath.
Can dogs eat raw beef?
Yes. Dogs can eat raw beef, it is a great source of protein, as well as beneficial vitamins and minerals. The protein in raw beef provides essential amino acids for fueling energy and for building strong muscles, while also delivering vital nutrients including iron, zinc and B vitamins.
Iron is used by your dog to create red blood cells and haemoglobin to transport oxygen, which boosts energy and supports your dog’s immune system. Zinc in raw beef, improves the quality of their skin and fur, as well as supporting thyroid function and a healthy immune system. The B vitamins in raw beef are extremely important; they support a healthy nervous system and aid digestion.
Can dogs eat raw pork?
Yes. Dogs can eat raw pork, providing it has been treated beforehand to make sure it is safe for your dog. Our Wild Boar PURE 80/10/10 recipe is a single protein blend of Wild Boar meat with Wild Boar heart, kidney, liver, and bone.
The high-quality protein in our recipe is important for building muscle, as well as supporting healthy skin and a shinier coat and our UK Pet Food certified freezing process ensures that the parasite trichinella spiralis larvae is not present in the meat.
Can dogs eat raw lamb?
Yes. Dogs can eat raw lamb, and it can be a very beneficial. Lamb is suitable for food-sensitive dogs as it is a novel protein, and it can reduce reactions and inflammation.
Lamb is rich in high-quality protein, which helps to build and maintain muscle tissue. Lamb is also rich in iron which helps transport oxygen around the body and helps to boost energy.
Lamb is a great source of omegas, which can help keep your dog’s coat shiny and healthy. The omegas also aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A, D and E, to support your dog’s overall health.
Can dogs eat raw turkey?
Yes. Dogs can eat raw turkey, providing it has not been seasoned or processed. Ours isn’t, of course.
Turkey has many nutritional benefits, it is rich in protein which promotes the maintenance and recovery of strong muscles, bones and joints. Turkey also contains riboflavin (Vitamin B2) which is vital for dogs as it helps to convert protein, fats and carbohydrates into usable energy. Phosphorus is also found in turkey and works with calcium to support strong bones and teeth; it also supports a healthy metabolism.
Dogs should not eat turkey bones even when raw, as they can splinter and become a choking hazard.
Can dogs eat raw duck?
Yes. Dogs can eat raw duck; it is high in protein and iron and is an easily digestible source of beneficial nutrients.
Duck contains antioxidants like selenium and zinc, which boost the immune system and help promote healthy thyroid function. Duck also contains pyridoxine (Vitamin B6) which is vital for supporting metabolism, immune function and cardiovascular health.
Can dogs eat bacon?
No, dogs should not eat bacon as it is high in fat and salt. This can cause vomiting and indigestion in dogs.
Dogs can be sensitive to fatty foods in general, and where possible should always be fed leaner cuts of meat. Too many fatty foods can lead to pancreatitis – with some breeds more susceptible than others, says the Royal Kennel Club.
Can dogs eat sausages?
No, dogs shouldn’t eat sausages – even though they’d likely love to! Unlike raw pork, sausages often contain high levels of fat and salt, as well as other additional ingredients such as preservatives and seasonings which may be harmful to dogs.