The debate over raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) versus commercial cooked diets (CCDs) continues to divide dog owners and veterinarians. Empert-Gallegos et al. (2020) surveyed 419 owners internationally to explore perceptions of nutrition, risk, and veterinary communication.
Among respondents, 25.3% reported feeding RMBDs. Owners who fed raw diets consistently rated them as highly nutritious, with 83.5% endorsing commercial RMBDs and 73.6% endorsing homemade RMBDs. In contrast, only 12.5% rated CCDs as highly nutritious. CCD feeders also expressed limited enthusiasm, with just over half (52.7%) rating them highly nutritious.
Risk perception varied sharply between groups. Raw feeders judged RMBDs as risky less than 20% of the time, while they saw CCDs as risky for dogs in over 65% of responses. In contrast, CCD feeders generally viewed RMBDs as higher risk, citing pathogen exposure and nutritional imbalance. When describing benefits, raw feeders used broad terms like “better” and “health,” while CCD feeders focused on barriers such as cost, time, and risk.
The study also uncovered differences in trust toward veterinarians. Owners feeding RMBDs rated their own nutritional knowledge higher and veterinarians’ lower compared to CCD feeders. Notably, over 70% of all respondents had discussed nutrition with a vet, underscoring the importance of effective dialogue. The authors conclude that bridging this communication gap is essential to help owners make evidence-based feeding decisions that prioritize canine health and safety.
Source: Empert-Gallegos, A., Hill, S., & Yam, P. (2020). Insights into dog owner perspectives on risks, benefits, and nutritional value of raw diets compared to commercial cooked diets. PeerJ, 8. Published December 8, 2020.
