Can Golden Retrievers Eat Raw Meat? Yes, But Risks Involved!

I got this question from my friend. My friend’s golden retriever, Snowy, has a taste for raw meat. But my sister doesn’t want to give him raw meat because she doesn’t know what the effects of raw meat on dogs are. So, today I will talk about the effects of raw meat on dogs, and if you can feed it to your golden retriever.

Risks of feeding raw meats in golden retrievers

While raw meats might be safe for dogs, it’s important to understand that these meats come with risks.

Raw meats can contain bacteria like salmonella and E coli, which can be transferred to humans when handling raw meat dog food. These bacteria are dangerous for small children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.

Raw meats should also be handled with care. If you give your golden retriever treats without washing your hands after touching them, you could get sick.

Another risk of raw meats is that they might have been treated with antibiotics or other drugs. According to the ASPCA, some producers may use drugs in their livestock “to promote growth or prevent or treat diseases. The ASPCA further warns that these medicines may not be fully cooked out of the meat. This presents a risk not only to your dog—who could become ill—but also to you and your family.

A final concern is that raw meat diets don’t always provide all the nutrients your dog needs. So if you’re considering a raw meat diet for your golden retriever, it’s important to talk to your vet first.

Benefits of raw meat in golden retrievers

Here’s why you should feed your golden retriever raw meat:

1. Raw meat aligns with your dog’s natural diet. Golden retrievers are supposed to eat raw meat, so feed them what they were meant to eat!

2. Your dog will have a healthier coat and skin. You’ll be able to see the benefits of raw meat just by looking at your dog, who will have healthier skin and a shinier coat.

3. Your dog will have improved oral health and breath. If you’ve ever been close enough to a dog’s mouth when it’s eaten kibble, then you know how bad their breath can get—and how much time it can take for that smell to go away. With a raw meat diet, your dog will have better breath immediately after eating its meal!

4. There is a possibility that your dog’s medical conditions could improve. Whether your dog is facing digestive issues or allergies, raw meat diets can help ease the symptoms of those conditions—sometimes even eliminating them altogether!

5. With a raw meat diet, you don’t have to worry about maintaining lean mass or weight in older dogs who are slowing down. A raw diet can help keep the weight off while maintaining muscle mass.

6. Finally, raw meat is easily digestible for golden retrievers—kibble takes 8 hours or more for their bodies to break down, while raw meat takes just 1 or 2 hours.

Do all golden retrievers like raw meat?

The simple answer—do all golden retrievers like raw meat? Is no. In fact, most golden retrievers don’t have strong preferences with their food.

That’s not to say that you can feed your golden retriever whatever you want for dinner and be confident that he’ll eat it. Like all dogs, there are certain foods that are safe for him to eat and others that aren’t. Knowing which is which is critical to keeping your pup healthy and happy.

If you’re having trouble deciding what kind of food is best for your pet, look at the list below and see if any of these dog food concerns match yours:

Fussy Eater – If your pooch won’t touch anything but human food, then you need to make sure that the food you’re giving him isn’t bad for him. The ideal solution is a balanced diet consisting primarily of commercial dog food with occasional treats of safe human-grade foods like chicken or turkey as long as these foods aren’t fatty or heavily seasoned.

Frequent Food Changes – If your pup is constantly going through food changes, then you should consult with your vet to find out if there are any foods that he may be allergic to. Dogs have sensitive stomachs and it’s not uncommon for them to react adversely when exposed to certain types of foods. If this happens, you’ll want to look into switching his diet so that he doesn’t suffer from any health problems down the line.

Can golden retrievers’ puppies eat raw meat?

Can golden retrievers’ puppies eat raw meat? The short answer is no, we don’t recommend feeding raw meat to golden retrievers puppies unless your vet approves it for certain reasons.

Puppies have a delicate digestive system and may not handle the bacteria found in raw meat. Your puppy should be on a specialized puppy diet during their first months of life.

Puppy food contains important nutrients, including high levels of some amino acids that help with growth.

If you want to discuss feeding your golden retriever puppy raw meat, consult your vet.

How much raw meat my golden retriever can eat?

Feed approximately 2-3% of your golden retriever’s weight daily and split this between two meals.

If you have a small size dog (under 20 lbs), feed about 1/2 pound of raw meat per day.

If you have an average size dog (20-50 lbs), feed about 1 pound of raw meat per day.

If you have a large size dog (50–80 lbs), feed about 1 1/2 pounds of raw meat per day.

If you have a giant breed dog, feed about 2 pounds of raw meat per day.

How to reduce the risk of feeding raw meat to golden retriever?

Feeding raw meat is a common practice for many dog owners. However, it can put your dog at risk of contracting salmonella.

There are a few ways to reduce the risk of feeding raw meat to your golden retriever:

Be careful of the meat quality and hygiene. In order to avoid contamination, make sure that the meat you give to your dog is fresh and properly stored. Freezing it can also help eliminate harmful bacteria. Do not serve it if it looks or smells unusual.

Keep it separate from cooked meat. Make sure that you store raw meat separately from cooked meat, and always wash your hands after handling them.

Clean the surface and food bowl. Make sure that you clean the surface that you cut the meat on, as well as your dog’s food bowl after each meal.

Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat. As with any other form of handling uncooked food, washing your hands properly can help prevent contamination and its spread to other surfaces or people.

Do not offer raw meat to puppies and senior golden retrievers. Younger dogs have weaker immune systems than adult dogs, while older dogs are more susceptible to infection than younger ones.

Can golden retrievers eat raw bones?

Yes, golden retrievers can eat raw bones.

The key is to make sure that the bone is big enough for your dog to chew on comfortably. If your dog has a small mouth, take extra care in choosing bones. Small bones can cause choking hazards and also problems with the digestive tract.

For example: if your dog chews on a bone and breaks off small pieces, it’s possible that those small pieces could get lodged in the throat or intestinal system. You should monitor your dog while they eat to make sure they are chewing the bone properly and picking off pieces that aren’t too small.

It’s very important that you do not offer your golden retriever cooked bones. Cooking softens the bone, making it easier for your dog to break into small pieces and increasing the possibility of choking hazards or damage to internal systems.

Will raw meat make my golden retrievers more aggressive?

We know that it’s a common myth that raw meat, especially red meat, will make your dogs more aggressive, especially if your dog is a more docile breed like a golden retriever.

But no, the truth is: it won’t.

Everything in moderation, of course—but raw meat does not inherently make your dog more aggressive. In fact, it’s unlikely to make them more aggressive at all. Dogs are naturally omnivores and can digest red meat just fine.

The myth is that dogs aren’t used to eating such rich foods as part of their natural diet; they evolved from wolves who ate animals they hunted and caught themselves, and those animals would have been leaner than the average cow or pig. But this has less to do with aggression than with digestion—the fact is, you wouldn’t want your dog eating too much meat anyhow!

So if you’re concerned about giving your golden retriever too much meat and making them aggressive, don’t worry about it! As long as you give them appropriate portions for their size (and you don’t give them anything spoiled or rotten) then you’ll be fine.

Our take on a raw diet for golden retrievers

Many people have been talking about feeding raw diets to their dogs, including golden retrievers.

We recognize that there are people who support this kind of diet, and there are also people who don’t.

We’re not here to tell you what’s right and what’s wrong, but we do want to provide you with some facts so that you can make the best decision for your dog.

Here is our take on raw diets for golden retrievers:

First, we don’t recommend it. There are too many risks involved, like bacteria or other contaminants in the food itself, as well as tooth damage from chewing on bones.

That being said, if you decide to go with a raw diet for your dog anyway, we want to help you do so safely. We recommend you talk to your vet first and get their opinion on how likely it is that these risks will affect your specific dog in particular circumstances.

Find out if your golden retrievers can eat other foods

So, can golden retrievers eat raw meat?

Yes, technically your golden retriever can eat raw meat.

This isn’t a black-and-white issue, though—there are advantages and disadvantages to feeding your golden retriever a raw meat diet.

The main advantage of feeding your dog a raw meat diet is that it’s extremely similar to what they’d be eating if they were still in the wild. This type of diet provides them with all the nutrients they need while boosting their immune system and reducing allergies.

However, it’s also slightly riskier than a traditional kibble or canned food diet because you have less control over the quality of the food. You’re not only responsible for feeding your dog raw meat—you must also source it yourself and make sure it’s safe for consumption.

The decision is yours, but we recommend you talk to your vet about this option before changing your dog’s diet.