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There's a misconception in the traditional veterinarian community that raw meat is dangerous for dogs. As a raw feeder for over ten years, I respectfully disagree with this stance. Raw beef is a common protein in my dogs' diet, along with duck, turkey, venison, and pork.
Raw feeding has grown in popularity over the past ten years, with many pet owners opting for a more natural and ancestral diet for their dogs. However, weighing the benefits against the risks is essential to ensure you make the right choice for your dog, which will be covered here.
Benefits of Feeding Raw Beef to Dogs
One of the primary advantages of raw feeding is improved digestive health, which leads to better nutrient absorption and a more robust immune system. Raw beef is a popular ingredient in a raw food diet for dogs and can provide a wealth of benefits for their overall health and well-being.
Grass-fed beef is more expensive than conventionally raised grain-fed beef when bought through grocery stores. However, I can affordably source grass-fed beef from local farms, making it a regular protein for my dogs.
Here are some key advantages of choosing grass-fed beef:
- Nutrient Density: Grass-fed beef is typically higher in essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals than grain-fed beef.
- Healthier Fats: Grass-fed beef tends to have a healthier fat profile, with higher levels of beneficial omega-3 fatty acids.
- Lower Risk of Contaminants: Grass-fed cattle are less likely to be given antibiotics or hormones.
- Improved Animal Welfare: Grass-fed cattle typically have more space to roam and graze in a natural environment.
- Environmental Impact: Grass-fed beef production is often considered more environmentally sustainable as it can help preserve grasslands and promote biodiversity, which has been negatively impacted by pollution.
That being said, if grass-fed beef isn't an option, I would look for grain-fed from a reputable source.
Risks of Feeding Raw Beef to Dogs
There are three primary risks to feeding raw beef to dogs in order of seriousness (from my perspective):
- Nutritional Deficiencies: even a balanced diet comprised solely of beef (muscle meat, organs, bone, etc.) can produce nutritional deficiencies over time. Variety is essential in a raw food diet; I alternate the main protein in my dogs' diet weekly to avoid protein sensitivities and provide nutritional diversity.
- Protein Sensitivities: beef and chicken are common proteins on sensitivity tests. Switching from a processed diet (kibble and canned) to a fresh food diet (raw or cooked) can sometimes eliminate some sensitivities, but not always.
- Beef Bones: some dogs may find beef bones too hard. I avoid weight-bearing bones because I worry about tooth breakage. I have two dogs that will tear the meat from the beef bones and one dog that tries to eat the bones.
- Harmful Pathogens: raw beef can contain harmful pathogens such as e.coli, which may be an issue for some dogs. I've never worried about the pathogens in raw meat because (1) our dogs contain anti-bacterial properties in their saliva, (2) an acidic gut that kills bacteria, and (3) a shorter digestive tract that processes food quickly. I've never had a dog get sick from a raw food diet, but that doesn't mean that raw food is appropriate for all dogs.
My dogs have survived these risks because I use a base mix, alternate proteins, avoid weight-bearing bones, and wash my hands after meal prep.
How to Safely Add Beef to a Dog's Diet
When feeding kibble, we're told to switch brands by gradually mixing small amounts of the new food into the old food, increasing over time until the switch is complete.
Luckily, adding new proteins to a raw food diet is easier. There are two ways I go about adding new proteins to my dogs' diet:
- Cold Turkey – I mix up a batch of dog food using beef as my primary protein and add it to the weekly rotation.
- Partial Diet – if I'm concerned about a sensitivity (if a dog has shown signs in the past), I'll mix a smaller batch of dog food, combining the beef with a protein my dog does well on, and adding it to the weekly rotation.
If I notice digestive issues, I back off from feeding the new protein until the symptoms clear. When feeding commercial raw, it's important to know that if a dog doesn't do well on one brand's beef recipe, this doesn't mean they will struggle with other brands.
Tips for Sourcing Grass-Fed Beef
I source grass-fed beef from local farms, homesteaders, and through a raw food co-op. My orders arrived frozen, and the food is human-grade, so I've never worried about pathogens.
Other places to score grass-fed beef include:
- community Facebook groups
- homesteaders/farmers
- outlet grocery stores
- restaurant supply stores
Making a few local connections put me on everyone's radar, and when someone has extra beef (or another protein), they call me. This year alone, I've scored hundreds of pounds of grass-fed beef for less than $2/lb. My local grocery store's grass-fed beef is $8 to $10/lb.
Misconceptions About Feeding Raw Beef
There are a few misconceptions about feeding beef to dogs that I'd like to clear up:
- Beef isn't for All Dogs – some raw feeders will try to convince you that beef has to be part of the menu, but not all dogs are down with this protein, and grass-fed beef isn't cheap, so don't stress about it if this doesn't work for your dog or your budget.
- Grain-Fed Beef is Fine – whenever I mention grass-fed beef, I feel my privilege screaming for attention. Not everyone has access to grass-fed beef; grain-fed is fine. And, if grain-fed isn't acceptable, there are several other red meat alternatives (listed below).
- It's Okay to Mix Proteins – I rarely use a single protein when I prep meals for my dogs. I often use ground duck wings or necks as my bone source, and I occasionally have more pork organs than beef.
Alternatives to Grass-Fed Beef for Dogs
I alternate proteins weekly and try to alternate between red and white meat. It's a great idea to have alternatives on hand in case of sourcing issues, budget constraints, and sensitivity concerns.
Other ruminating proteins I feed to my dogs include:
- venison
- elk
- bison
All three can be expensive, but you can save money by ordering in bulk, shopping through a raw food co-op, and connecting with local farms and hunters.
A Grass-Fed Beef Raw Food Recipe
These recipes aren't easy to replicate because they lack a few details. I'm sharing them to show you how I've added grass-fed beef to my dogs' diet.
Grass Fed Beef & Pheasant Necks
- grass-fed beef
- ground pheasant necks
- beef and/or pork organs (liver, heart, kidneys)
- Raw Vibrance base mix
- boiled canned oysters
Grass Fed Beef Tongue & Duck Wings
- grass-fed beef tongue
- grass-fed beef
- ground duck wings
- beef and/or pork organs (liver, heart, kidneys)
- Raw Vibrance base mix
- boiled canned oysters
Grass-Fed Beef & Turkey Necks
- grass-fed beef
- ground turkey necks
- beef and/or pork organs (liver, heart, kidneys)
- Raw Vibrance base mix
- boiled canned oysters
None of the following recipes are formulated with only beef ingredients because it’s easier to use ingredients that I can easily source locally (and affordably).
