Is a Raw Puppy Food Diet Right for Your Pet?

Many pet owners who want to feed their puppy fresh, natural foods eventually ask: can puppies eat raw meat, and is a raw food diet safe for dogs to eat as they grow?

The short answer: Puppies can eat raw meat, and many dogs eat raw meat safely. However, raw meat may require careful handling, strong nutritional balance, and guidance from your veterinarian to ensure your puppy gets everything they need. Some organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Centers for Disease Control, have concerns about contamination and nutrient precision, particularly for growing dogs and cats.1

Holistic veterinarians and raw-feeding advocates, however, believe feeding raw meat can be healthy for dogs, including puppies, when pet owners ensure a balanced diet, safe sourcing, cleanliness, and proper ratios of meat, bone, and organs. Many dogs today digest raw and uncooked meat extremely well because domesticated dogs still share traits with their wild counterparts, including wolves, particularly in terms of jaw structure and digestive efficiency.

This article will discuss the updated safety guidance, scientific caution, and the long-standing belief that puppies can thrive on a high-quality raw dog food diet, such as Darwin’s.

What Is a Raw Diet for Puppies?

A raw diet consists of raw meat, uncooked muscle meat, raw bones, organs, and select plant ingredients. The goal is to provide nutritious, raw foods that reflect how dogs and cats evolved before the introduction of cooked food and commercial pet food to the market.

Raw feeding is based on the idea that biologically appropriate raw food mimics what dogs and humans historically consumed in their natural environments. Many meat-based diets, raw dog meals, and types of raw feeding systems are available today, allowing pet owners to choose a feeding method that aligns with their philosophy and their dog’s needs.

Popular Raw Feeding Models

Feeding raw food to pets has gained popularity among pet parents since the 2000s. The diet’s popularity can be correlated with the rise of the organic food movement in humans and the concept that raw is the most authentic, natural and healthy way to feed dogs based on their biology.

Here are the three raw feeding models you can try:

1. BARF (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food)

As described by Dr. Billinghurst, BARF is a modified homemade diet consisting primarily of food that has been ground into a fine powder.2 Some dog owners choose to leave bones out and feed them separately, while others grind the bones up along with the other food.

This is a modeled and balanced dog food structure with:

• 70% muscle meat
• 10% edible raw bones
• 5% liver
• 5% other secreting organs
• 10% fruits & vegetables

2. PMR (Prey Model Raw)

The originator of this version of raw feeding is unknown, but its popularity is growing. This raw diet is based on the idea that canines are carnivores who would seek out and consume whole prey in the wild.

This is designed to mimic whole prey, using:

• 80% meat
• 10% bone
• 10% organ (5% liver)

3. Ancestral Diet (Steve Brown)

Formulated by pet nutrition expert Steve Brown, the Ancestral Diet is a research-based model that focuses on the animal and plant materials that a canine’s ancestors once hunted and foraged.3 Ancestral Diet food is high in protein, contains balanced fats, and features at least some fresh food.

This emphasizes:

• 75% meat
• 25% vegetables
• Trace minerals

These raw feeding models help ensure your puppy receives the correct nutrient support. A well-designed diet for dogs must consider each dog's needs, making it easier to feed your puppy a complete and balanced diet.

A Holistic Veterinarian’s View on Raw Food for Puppies

Dr. Jacqueline Sehn, a raw food expert, supports the argument that raw food is the most natural way to nourish your puppy based on her canine ancestry. 

She notes:

“Wolves and wild dogs feed their young regurgitated raw animal material until they are ready to eat raw meat independently.”

Although adult dogs and domesticated dogs have different lifestyles today, they still effectively digest raw meat. This belief supports why many dogs can eat raw meat safely when the meal is properly structured.

The Debate: Is a Raw Meat Diet Safe for Puppies?

While many dogs eat raw meat successfully, several groups raise concerns:

1. Nutritional imbalance

Puppy bones grow fast. Feeding a raw diet without balanced calcium/phosphorus ratios may affect skeletal development in a puppy on a raw diet.

2. Pathogens

Raw meat can also contain E. coli, Salmonella, or parasites, which may cause food poisoning or illness. This is why safe handling is essential, especially when feeding them a raw diet.

3. Zoonotic risk

Raw meat and bones may expose humans to bacteria. Young children and immunocompromised individuals are more vulnerable.

Benefits of a Raw Meat Diet for Puppies

However, holistic veterinarians emphasize that raw diets may offer significant benefits when prepared carefully. Many dogs find raw beef, raw chicken, raw fish, and raw ground meats easier to digest than cooked food or cooked meat, as long as they are high quality and safe to feed.

Supporters of raw feeding and feeding a raw diet claim:

• Easier digestion (many dogs digest raw better than kibble)
• Robust immune health
• Shinier coat and healthier skin
• Stronger teeth & gums
• Smaller, less smelly stools
• High energy
• Support for lean muscle
• Better breath
• Mental enrichment from chewing raw bones
• These benefits of a raw approach are often why dog owners and pet raw feeders strongly prefer raw pet food or raw dog food over commercial pet food. There were also pet parents who claimed that a raw food diet had helped their dogs with inflammatory bowel disease.

How to Feed Raw Food to Puppies

If you transition to a raw diet or start feeding them raw early, follow these guidelines:

Feeding Frequency

• Young puppies: 4 meals/day
• 4–6 months: 3 meals/day
• 6+ months: 2 meals/day

Here is a chart on how much to feed your puppy:

Portioning

• Use small pieces sized appropriately for your dog
• Start feeding them a raw food that is a single protein
• Choose to feed human-grade raw

Safe Handling

• Store frozen raw safely
• Thaw in the refrigerator
• Avoid cross-contamination
• Discard uneaten food promptly

Following safe handling practices reduces contamination risks, as cited by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association and the American Veterinary Medical Association.

You should also observe how much your puppy eats and if they leave food in their bowl (which is fine). Raw food can’t be kept out for long amounts of time, so free feeding isn’t an option. This is why many pet parents are debating the nutritional value in convenience of raw vs. cooked dog food.

When Should Puppies Start Eating Raw?

Puppies typically transition from milk to solid foods around 6–8 weeks of age. If switching to a raw food diet later, follow a gradual 4-day plan:

1. 75% old food + 25% raw
2. 50/50
3. 25% old + 75% raw
4. 100% raw

This helps puppies digest raw food smoothly and reduces GI upset.

Large Breed Considerations

Extra-large breeds grow rapidly, so Dr. Sehn suggests mixing raw and cooked food or commercial pet food until bone growth stabilizes. Consuming too much raw meat early may disrupt growth rates.

Commercial Raw Dog Food Options

If you decide to feed your dog a raw meal plan, whether full or partial, Darwin’s provides raw pet food designed by nutrition experts.

Darwin’s offers:

• Human-grade raw meats
• High-quality vegetables and raw fruits
• Balanced dog food created to exceed nutritional standards
• Frozen raw meals for convenience
• Carefully sourced ingredients from trusted food manufacturers

Darwin’s formulas mirror what dogs today thrive on, fresh foods similar to what dogs and wolves historically consumed.

Darwin’s helps ensure your puppy gets the nutrients needed for healthy development while simplifying safe raw feeding for busy pet owners. You can also take advantage of our free, personal consultation by contacting a Darwin’s Pet Food Advisor.

So, Should You Feed Your Puppy Raw Meat?

Feeding a raw diet is a personal decision for each pet owner. Raw diets may support natural digestion, muscle development, and overall vitality, but they must be handled with care to remain safe for dogs to eat.

If you choose to feed your dog a raw food diet, Darwin’s helps you feed your puppy safe, high-quality, complete, and balanced diet meals, such as chicken and beef dog food menus that support growth and wellness. 

Our menu consultants can also guide you based on your dog’s age, breed, and health considerations so you can confidently feed your dog the best food possible.

Sources:

1. National Library of Medicine. Survey of owner motivations and veterinary input of owners feeding diets containing raw animal products. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5337082/

2. Dr. Ian Billinghurst. Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. https://drianbillinghurst.com/barf/

3. Dogwise. Unlocking The Canine Ancestral Diet - Healthier Dog Food The Abc Way. https://www.dogwise.com/unlocking-the-canine-ancestral-diet-healthier-dog-food-the-abc-way/?srsltid=AfmBOopffKRB0tGDdzYpxBrxL-eTonRGV9B20h4s_5zgzerPNCT83t34