Raw feeding research

These resources support our understanding of the healthiest way to feed our dogs.

• A study which evaluates the impact of raw pet foods on human health from the owners’ experience. Supporting the idea that raw dog food is a safe way to feed your pet. 
• This article reviews the reasons for feeding a raw diet to dogs and cats 
• This document exists to highlight the dog research that supports feeding pets their evolutionary diet.
• Blood test results are different for raw-fed dogs than kibble-fed dogs, this is explained in a blog written by Dr Jean Dodds from Hemopet.
• “Have we lost the plot on how we now feed our pets” A professional point of view by Dr Tom Lonsdale.
• Junk Pet Food and the Damage Done is an article written for the Raw Meaty Bones series. 
• There’s a recent study that indicates feeding raw food for 1 year improves health markers in dogs compared to kibble-fed dogs.
• Some of the reasons that owners and vets are worried about raw feeding include pathogens that they perceive to be more prominent with this type of feeding. This study shows that raw pet food only accounted for 0.3% of all bacteria recalls in all pet foods from 2003 to 2022.

Digestion

• This study involved puppies at various stages of development being fed a raw diet or a processed diet to check the effects of feeding non-processed meats on Irritable Bowel Disease in later life.
• This research article shows that feeding a raw meat diet promotes a more balanced growth of bacteria in the gut microbiome.
• Research was carried out into the link between a high carbohydrate diet and obesity in cats. 
• An owner reported study shows body condition scores are higher in dogs fed a dry food diet.
• AGEs (advanced glycation end products) are created by the intense processing and heat used to make commercial pet foods and have been linked to various health issues in dogs such as autoimmune disorders, diabetes and inflammation. This paper shows that antibodies are higher in patients fed cooked foods than those fed on a raw diet.

Dental health

• You can read a study into how raw bones reduced dental plaque in Beagle dogs here

Puppy research

• A 2020 research study from the University of Helsinki confirmed that mums and pups fed on raw have fewer issues with itchy skin than those fed on processed food. 
• This study showed that feeding an ultra-processed carbohydrate-based diet, namely dry dog food or “kibble” during puppyhood and adolescence, and rawhides during puppyhood were significant risk factors for chronic enteropathy (ongoing digestive and tummy issues) later in life https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-27866-z
• This group of researchers found that diet changes in early life can play a role in reducing the risk of dogs developing otitis later in life. You can read more here.
• The same university carried out a study on the Influence of Nutrition at Young Age on Canine Hip Dysplasia in German Shepherd Dogs.

Cancer dog research & raw diets

• This study of a dog with a mast cell tumour shows that switching to a raw food diet may have helped put the cancer into remission 
• Dogs Naturally magazine have a really good article explaining more about the links found between kibble and cancer. 

Skin conditions

• This study shows the profound effect that a raw diet can have on improving skin conditions in Staffordshire Bull Terriers

Dog food ingredients

Resources which drive our mission to ensure every ingredient in our food supports your dog’s health and happiness.

• A blog article from Sept 2020 by Julia Henriques for Dogs Naturally about ‘why your dog should eat more liver’
• A 2019 blog looking at the benefits of Kale for dogs from Raw Bistro in the US 
• Dogs Naturally look into the health benefits of Kelp and other sea vegetables for dogs  

Dog behaviour research

• The BVA have provided a statement on animal welfare that you can read here. 
• Here is a study indicating that adolescent dogs show the same characteristics as adolescent humans. 
• This is a fascinating study to show personality changes that dogs go through throughout their life stages.
• This video is called “How do dogs “see” with their noses” by Alexandra Horowitz has loads of easy to understand information. 
• An article on canine aggression called Canine Calming signals and do they work? by Prof Stanley Coren of psychology today can be read here.

Our customer dog research results

What better way to look at the benefits of raw feeding than by conducting our own dog research with our members?

In a 2022 survey of 3,157 Bella & Duke customers, 92% saw improvements in their dog within 8 weeks and 99% of our customers reported improvements in their dog’s bowel movements.