Opinion: My Concerns with a Raw Food Diet for Dogs in India

Supriya Chatterjee
Jun 3, 2025
3 min read

While the raw food diet has gained popularity globally, especially in Western countries, I have serious reservations about recommending it in the Indian context—particularly when it’s being prepared at home without stringent sourcing protocols.

Why Raw Food Diets For Dogs are Risky in India

Having briefly worked in the food and beverage sector, I’ve seen firsthand how meat is sourced and handled, especially at local mandis. The reality is, India currently lacks comprehensive, enforceable food safety regulations for meat at the grassroots level. Unlike the West—where bodies like the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) regulate every aspect of meat production from farm to shelf—India's supply chains are largely unregulated, especially in the informal sector.

Let’s break this down.

Raw dog food — Photo by **Geraud Pfeiffer**

The Meat Supply Chain Problem

Quality and Hygiene Gaps at Source:
Whether it’s poultry, red meat, or fish, meat sold at Indian mandis is rarely subjected to standardized hygiene practices. Cold chains (refrigerated supply lines) are inconsistent or completely absent in many areas. Carcasses are often exposed to the open air, flies, and rough handling—all of which increase the risk of contamination by bacteria like Salmonella, E. coli, or Listeria
Lack of Post-Butchering Regulation:
There are minimal or no enforced laws around how meat should be stored post-slaughter, especially in small-scale or local operations. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) does lay down guidelines, but enforcement is sparse, particularly outside metro cities or in informal meat markets
Antibiotics and Growth Promoters:
Many animals are raised on farms using antibiotics and growth hormones—practices that are poorly regulated in India. These chemicals can remain in the meat and pose health risks not just to humans but to dogs, especially when the meat is fed raw and uncooked
Zoonotic and Bacterial Risks:
Raw meat carries the risk of transmitting zoonotic diseases—those that can spread from animals to humans. Improper handling or storage of raw meat at home can also put other members of the household (especially children or immunocompromised individuals) at risk

The “Natural Instinct” Myth

At this point, I often hear raw feeders argue that they’re honoring their dog’s natural instincts—“this is what they’d eat in the wild.” But here’s the thing: we’ve already taken dogs out of their natural habitat. Through centuries of domestication, their digestive systems and immune responses have evolved. The gut of a modern dog living in an urban apartment is not designed to handle raw, potentially contaminated meat the same way wild animals would.

Contamination Risks at Home

Even if we entertain the natural for dogs argument: in the wild, dogs or wolves hunt, kill, and eat their prey immediately. That meat is fresh, still warm, and consumed on the spot—meaning bacterial growth hasn’t had time to set in. Nutrients are absorbed efficiently, and the risk of contamination is low. Compare that to home kitchens in India, where meat might be stored in subpar refrigeration conditions or bought from unhygienic vendors and then served raw after a few days—this is not the same scenario.

In countries like the U.S., raw pet food manufacturers are required to follow strict safety protocols including the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) system. Even with such regulations in place, raw food recalls due to bacterial contamination are not uncommon. That raises an important question: if issues arise in such tightly monitored environments, what’s the risk in India where most home kitchens lack those controls?

This isn’t to say a raw diet is inherently bad. There are anecdotal benefits reported by pet parents—shinier coats, smaller stools, improved energy levels. But the risk-to-benefit ratio in India, particularly for homemade raw food, is skewed far more heavily toward the risks.

Unless you can completely trust your source—say, a certified organic farm with transparent slaughter and storage practices—a raw food diet for dogs in India can be risky. Most pet parents don’t have the time, resources, or infrastructure to maintain these standards consistently.

As someone who wants to see dogs thrive safely, my advice is: unless you are fully equipped to manage the sourcing, hygiene and storage of raw meat—don’t risk it.

So What’s a Safer Alternative?

At Wag-itarian, we understand the instinct to give your dog the very best. But “best” doesn’t have to mean raw—especially when safer, high-quality, cooked meals are an option. Our meals are made in small batches, using fresh, locally sourced ingredients and designed with both nutrition and hygiene in mind.

See how we source and prep meals for our own dog, Spike here.