Raw chicken
CautionRaw chicken is a bacterial risk, not a toxic one. FDA testing found Salmonella and Listeria in raw pet food, dogs can shed the bacteria without ever looking sick, and that shedding has been linked to illness in people in the same household.
This food guide has not been reviewed by a veterinarian. It summarises general information from sources and should not be used to decide whether a food is suitable for an individual dog or to assess an emergency.
Check before feeding
Check the precautions before sharing
Risk depends on preparation, ingredients or amount. Read the precautions below; body weight alone cannot establish a safe portion.
Signs and health concerns
This list includes both observable signs and conditions identified through examination or testing. It cannot establish the cause or whether an exposure is safe.
- Diarrhoea
- Bloody diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Lethargy
- Loss of appetite
- Dehydration
- Salmonella infection
- Gastrointestinal blockage
- Broken tooth
More about this food
The danger in raw chicken is microbiological. In FDA's 2010-2012 survey of more than 1,000 pet food samples, 196 raw pet food samples yielded 15 positive for Salmonella and 32 positive for Listeria monocytogenes, while dry food, semi-moist food and jerky treats came back with little or nothing. The AKC's position is that most sources recommend against raw chicken because of the salmonella and bacterial infection risk.
Merck notes that clinical salmonellosis and fecal shedding in companion animals have both been linked to the practice of feeding raw meat diets, and that homemade uncooked meals culture positive for Salmonella far more often than heat-treated commercial food. Clinically affected dogs show acute diarrhea with septicemia, most often puppies or adults already stressed by other disease. The bigger issue is what happens afterward: many dogs become subclinical carriers, and Merck states plainly that shedding by dogs and cats has been linked to illness in humans living in the same household. If anyone in your house is pregnant, under five, over sixty-five, or immunocompromised, that is the deciding fact.
Bones are still bones. Raw ones splinter less than cooked ones, but a swallowed neck, wing or thigh bone can still lodge or perforate. Merck lists slowly digested objects such as bones among the causes of GI obstruction, and recommends retrieval when they fail to pass in 36-48 hours. Freezing does not sterilize meat.
If a healthy adult dog snatched a scrap of raw breast meat off the counter, watch stool, appetite and energy for about 48 hours and call if you see bloody diarrhea, fever, repeated vomiting or real lethargy. If bone was involved, or the dog is a puppy, a senior, or immunosuppressed, call your veterinarian now rather than waiting. Do not induce vomiting at home. For you: wash hands for at least 20 seconds, disinfect bowls and counters with one tablespoon of bleach per quart of water, and keep your face away from the dog right after a raw meal. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is at (888) 426-4435 if you are unsure what was eaten.
Frequently asked questions
- My dog stole a piece of raw chicken off the counter. Should I panic?
- For a healthy adult dog, usually not. Watch stool, energy and appetite for about 48 hours and call your vet for bloody diarrhea, fever, repeated vomiting or marked lethargy. Call sooner for a puppy, a senior, an immunosuppressed dog, or if bone came with it.
- Isn't a raw diet more natural and healthier?
- VCA's summary is that the risks of raw feeding are well reported while strong evidence of benefit is lacking, with food safety and nutritional adequacy as the two main concerns, and many raw diets found deficient in one or more essential nutrients. If you still want to feed raw, do it with a board-certified veterinary nutritionist.
- Does freezing raw chicken kill the bacteria?
- No. Freezing halts bacterial growth, it does not sterilize, and the bacteria resume multiplying on thaw. The freezing schedules published for meat safety target Trichinella larvae in pork, not Salmonella or Listeria.