While surveys have revealed why pet owners feed raw dog food to their companion animals, the reasons why they stop haven’t received as much scrutiny. The Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich researchers explored pet owners’ motivations for stopping use of raw meat-based dog foods. They identified three main reasons for this and published their results in the journal Pets.
Why pet owners choose raw meat dog food
Pet owners’ demands for raw meat-based diets (RMBDs) may result from people’s increasing preference for less processed food overall. Two-thirds of dog/cat owners preferred to buy less processed pet food in a Packaged Facts survey. Consumer researchers with Vypr found that 61% of consumers have “significant concern” about ultra-processed foods. These concerns and preferences may help explain the rise of fresh (frozen/refrigerated), frozen raw and similar pet foods. In another survey of more than 600 pet owners in Belgium, France, Canada, the U.K. and the U.S. With raw in particular, approximately 25% of respondents said they had fed their pets biologically appropriate raw food (BARF), also called bones and raw food, or similar products over the previous six months. Pets International magazine and Yummypets, an online community for pet owners based in Europe, conducted the survey.
Understanding why dog owners stop feeding raw meat-based diets
Advocates of RMBDs argue that these foods, which typically include raw meat, offal, bones and sometimes vegetables and fruits, align more closely with a dog’s ancestral eating patterns and may therefore improve health and digestion. On the other hand, RMBDs have been criticized by some veterinarians and scientists due to potential risks such as nutrient imbalances and pathogen exposure. In their research, the Pets study authors explored why dog owners discontinued RMBDs and whether these reasons were related to health issues in dogs.
In this study, researchers distributed an online questionnaire to dog owners in Germany who had previously fed their dogs an RMBD but later stopped. A total of 802 dog owners participated, each describing one dog. The survey asked about the dogs’ health status, previous RMBD compositions, and reasons for switching to other diets.
The three primary reasons pet owners stopped feeding a raw meat-based diet were gastrointestinal intolerance, the onset of disease, and a lack of interest from the dog in eating raw food, according to the study’s authors. In total, 37% of respondents reported switching to other diets due to gastrointestinal problems, either from intolerance or diagnosed diseases. Upon discontinuing RMBDs, 65% of owners switched to dry food, followed by wet food (44%) and home-cooked diets (26%).
Gastrointestinal Intolerance: The most reported reason for discontinuing RMBDs was the dog’s intolerance to the diet, which was characterized exclusively by gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, or gas. Nearly one-quarter of owners (24%) stopped RMBDs due to these signs. Disease: Disease accounted for the second most common reason, with 20% of owners reporting that their dog developed a health condition while on an RMBD. Of these cases, 64% were gastrointestinal diseases. Specific illnesses like inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) were frequently cited, although not all cases were confirmed diagnoses. Lack of Acceptance: The third reason was that some dogs refused to eat raw food, which led 15% of owners to transition from RMBDs.
Other Reasons and Patterns in Dietary Changes
Owners also mentioned additional reasons for switching from RMBDs, including:
Cost and Convenience: RMBDs can be costly and require more time and effort for preparation and proper storage compared to kibble or canned diets. Health and Safety Concerns: Despite their support for RMBDs, some owners eventually cited concerns about infections or nutritional deficiencies as secondary reasons for stopping. New Diet Preferences: Implications for Pet Food Formulators and Veterinarians
The results of this study suggest that gastrointestinal issues play a central role in why dog owners stop feeding RMBDs. It appears that despite the initial appeal of these diets, practical challenges such as food intolerance and health complications can outweigh the perceived benefits. Veterinarians should consider a thorough dietary history for dogs presenting with gastrointestinal symptoms and remain open to recommending a diet change as needed.
This study provided insight into the reasons behind RMBD discontinuation, shedding light on the experiences of dog owners who initially adopted these diets for perceived health benefits.