Why dogs should not have it
Raw meat can carry salmonella, listeria, campylobacter and E. coli, and some meat can also carry parasites. A dog can fall ill itself, and even while it looks healthy it can spread bacteria in its saliva and droppings. That puts the people it lives with at risk too, especially children and older people.
Raw pork and wild boar meat are especially risky: they can carry parasites and viruses that are dangerous for dogs. Thorough cooking kills bacteria and parasites, so lean cooked meat is the safer choice.
What to watch out for
- Bacteria can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and fever.
- A dog can spread bacteria even when it shows no signs of illness.
- Raw pork and wild boar meat can carry parasites and viruses that are dangerous for dogs.
- Raw meat on the bone can injure the mouth or block the gut.
- If your dog vomits more than once, has bloody diarrhoea, a fever, is lethargic or refuses food, contact a vet.
Different parts
Not every part of this food is equally safe.
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Well-cooked meat
SafeLean, well-cooked meat without seasoning or bones is fine for a dog.
What it can cause
Signs that can appear after eating it. Each page explains what to look out for and when to hurry to a vet.
What to give instead
Foods that are safer to give.
- Chicken Yes, plain cooked chicken without bones, skin or seasoning makes a good treat for a dog, but do not give bones or raw meat. Safe
- Beef Yes, lean cooked beef without seasoning makes a good treat for a dog, but do not give fatty cuts, bones or raw meat. Safe
- Turkey Yes, plain cooked turkey without skin, bones or seasoning is fine for a dog, but do not give festive turkey with stuffing and gravy. Safe
- Fish Yes, well-cooked fish without bones or seasoning is fine for a dog, but do not give raw, smoked or salted fish. Safe