Raw Foods: A Second Look

While the pet food industry has been in a constant state of evolution since processed pet food became available commercially, the last 20 years have seen a sea change. This shift might be described as the minimally processed food uprising, and the industry has responded with enthusiasm. Veterinarians are accustomed to hearing that there is no evidence to support feeding raw, but this is no longer true. This review will cover the potentially detrimental changes wrought by cooking, the biochemical basis for the putative benefits of raw, and finally, the studies comparing raw versus processed foods in dogs and cats.