Many dog owners like to supplement their dog’s diet with raw meat, bones, and organs as part of a raw food diet. While raw diets can have benefits when formulated properly, there are also risks to be aware of. One question that often comes up is what happens if a dog accidentally eats raw chop meat that is meant for human consumption.
Can dogs eat raw meat?
The answer is yes, dogs can eat raw meat. However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind:
- Dogs and humans have different digestive systems. Dogs have a shorter gastrointestinal tract that is better equipped to handle bacteria from raw meat. Humans have a longer GI tract and are more susceptible to food-borne illnesses from raw meat.
- Raw meat diets should be specially formulated for dogs. Meat, bones, and organs should be from USDA-inspected, human grade sources. The right balance of muscle meat, organ meat, and edible bone is necessary to provide complete nutrition.
- Never feed your dog raw meat off the table or that is meant for human consumption. This type of raw meat is not treated or processed for safety like commercial raw pet food.
Risks of feeding human-grade raw meat
While dogs can eat raw meat, feeding raw chop meat intended for humans carries risks:
- Bacterial contamination – Raw meat intended for humans may contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can lead to food poisoning in dogs. Commercial raw pet food undergoes safety testing and processing methods to reduce pathogens.
- Parasites – Raw meat products for humans are not frozen or treated to kill parasites like Toxoplasma, Toxocara, Taenia or Trichinella that can infect dogs.
- Nutritional imbalance – Chop meat for humans does not provide complete and balanced nutrition for dogs when fed exclusively. It may be high in phosphorus and fat and lack proper calcium, vitamins and minerals.
- Gastrointestinal upset – The high fat content in raw chop meat for humans could lead to gastrointestinal upset like vomiting or diarrhea if fed in large quantities.
- Choking hazard – Some raw meat chop varieties may contain small bones that could be a choking hazard or damage the dog’s teeth.
What happens when a dog eats raw chop meat?
If a dog accidentally eats a small amount of raw chop meat intended for humans, the following may happen:
- Mild gastrointestinal upset like vomiting or diarrhea due to the high fat content.
- Potential food-borne illness if the meat contained harmful bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, fever, abdominal pain, lethargy.
- Parasite infection such as roundworms or toxoplasmosis if the meat contained parasites. Symptoms depend on the parasite but may include gastrointestinal issues, respiratory disease, or neurological signs.
- Constipation or pancreatitis if a large amount was consumed. The high fat content increases these risks.
- Blockage or damage to the gastrointestinal tract if the meat contained small, sharp bones.
The amount consumed, the dog’s size, age and health status will influence the severity of these risks. Healthy adult dogs are less likely to become ill compared to puppies or dogs with compromised immune systems.
What to do if your dog eats raw meat
If your dog accidentally eats raw chop meat intended for humans, here are some recommendations:
- Contact your veterinarian, especially if a large amount was consumed. They can advise you on any signs of illness to watch for.
- Monitor your dog closely for the next 3-5 days for symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy or loss of appetite. Seek veterinary care if concerning symptoms develop.
- Withhold all food for 12-24 hours then reintroduce a bland diet like boiled chicken and rice. Feed smaller, frequent meals for a few days.
- Check the dog’s stool for any sign of bones, blood or parasites and monitor for constipation or diarrhea.
- Deworm the dog with an all-wormer if parasites are found in the stool. Discuss with your veterinarian.
- Consider probiotics or gastrointestinal protectants if diarrhea develops. Discuss dosage with your veterinarian.
Most healthy dogs will recover well if an isolated incident but try to prevent access to raw meat products in the future. If symptoms concern you or persist more than 1-2 days, take your dog to the veterinarian for an exam and treatment.
How to prevent dogs from eating raw meat
To keep your dog safe, take these precautions to avoid your dog accessing and eating raw meat products intended for human consumption:
- Supervise your dog any time raw meat is being prepared or consumed by family members.
- Keep countertops and tables cleaned of any meat spills or leftovers.
- Store raw meat out of reach of your dog such as in high cabinets or the refrigerator.
- Securely wrap or contain raw meat away from your dog when thawing or marinating.
- Place your dog in another room or crate when meals containing raw meat are being prepared and eaten.
- Keep the garbage secure and empty frequently so your dog can’t rummage for scraps.
- Train your dog a reliable “leave it” command to discourage scavenging for food items.
If you want to feed your dog a raw food diet, work with your veterinarian or canine nutritionist to formulate a complete and balanced homemade diet or purchase a commercial raw food diet made just for dogs.
Conclusion
While the occasional nibble of human grade raw meat may not cause major issues for most healthy dogs, there are risks of gastrointestinal upset, food-borne illness, nutritional imbalance or intestinal obstruction. It’s ideal to keep dogs away from raw meat products intended for human consumption. Supervise your dog closely anytime raw meat is prepared in the home and contact your vet if symptoms develop after accidental ingestion. With proper precautions, you can keep your furry best friend safe while still enjoying your own raw meat dishes.