# my dog just ate raw meat **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 25, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044 "2010-09-25T21:59:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/1 "2010-09-25T21:59:35Z")
My dog, an 18-pound Jack Russell Terrier, just at @ 2.5 raw hamburger patties. (left unattended, ready to be grilled) Can I expect her to get sick? This happened once before, but she didn’t get that much before we caught her. I must add that I was not the person who left meat unattended. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/2 "2010-09-25T22:06:18Z")
I’m confused. Dogs are fine with raw meat. Honestly, what do you think feral or wild dogs live on? They have a massively robust digestive system. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/3 "2010-09-25T22:07:25Z")
How fatty were the burgers? If they were fit for human consumption there shouldn’t be anything there that would bother a dog’s iron constitution, but too much fat can cause pancreatitus. That’s why pork is not good for them. I’d bet the dog is pretty happy now. ---
**Author:** ![Lillith\_Fair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bb73d2/32.png) [@Lillith\_Fair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lillith_Fair)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/4 "2010-09-25T22:23:42Z")
Okay, thanks. The meat was probably 85% lean–we usually don’t buy the highest % lean when we are grilling. She seems fine. My husband is really mad at her, but oh well. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/5 "2010-09-25T22:25:34Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > I’m confused. Dogs are fine with raw meat. > > Honestly, what do you think feral or wild dogs live on? They have a massively robust digestive system. It’s not the fact that it’s raw, it’s that pre-ground meat can come from sources that have records of poor sanitary processes. like how most of the cases of e. coli contamination of “human grade” meat was via pre-formed ground beef patties. > [@](#): > > How fatty were the burgers? If they were fit for human consumption there shouldn’t be anything there that would bother a dog’s iron constitution, but too much fat can cause pancreatitus. That’s why pork is not good for them. you honestly think that a carnivorous animal can’t handle eating fat? Seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/6 "2010-09-25T22:29:03Z")
Have you seen what else dogs put in their mouths? ---
**Author:** ![fruitbat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/58f4c7/32.png) [@fruitbat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fruitbat)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/7 "2010-09-25T22:32:25Z")
The real hard core dog people feed their dogs a raw diet. It is de rigeur for a certain subset of dog owners who want their animals to have a ‘natural’ experience. Not to mention that some people eat raw meat on a regular basis and our digestive systems are wusses next to dogs. The dog will be fine. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/8 "2010-09-25T22:33:28Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > you honestly think that a carnivorous animal can’t handle eating fat? Seriously? [Seriously.](http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2103&aid=335) > [@](#): > > Multiple factors can contribute to the development of pancreatitis. Certain medications, infections; metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia (high amounts of lipid in the blood) and hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood); obesity; and trauma and shock can be associated with the development of pancreatitis. Middle-aged dogs appear to be at increased risk of developing pancreatitis; as a breed, Schnauzers and Yorkshire terriers appear to be more prone to pancreatitis.\*\* Nutrition also plays a role. Dogs with diets high in fat, dogs who have recently gotten in to the trash or have been fed table scraps, or dogs who ‘steal’ or are fed greasy ‘people food’ seem to have a higher incidence of the disease. \*\*In addition, dogs who have previously had pancreatitis or abdominal surgery appear to be more at risk. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/9 "2010-09-25T22:33:52Z")
**Things My Mom’s Miniature Dachshund Heat Eaten:** 36 uncooked homemade sour cream crescent rolls Shoes, sundry A hairbrush A box of safety pins 70 sticks of Wrigley’s Doublemint Gum Rabbit carcass, ripe A cell phone A skein of yarn A set of keys A fountain pen A fish. From the aquarium. 1/2 cup of Crisco vegetable shortening A whole pineapple etc. You know how many times that little bastard has been in the vet’s office with a bowel perforation, choking, explosive diarrhea, etc.? None, that’s how many. Doggy dude’s got an iron lined GI tract. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/10 "2010-09-25T22:34:39Z")
Now that he’s tasted raw meat…well…I’d sleep with one eye open if you know what I’m sayin’. He’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/11 "2010-09-25T22:40:03Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > [@jz78817](#): > > > > you honestly think that a carnivorous animal can’t handle eating fat? Seriously? > > [Seriously.](http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2103&aid=335) > > > [@](#): > > > > Multiple factors can contribute to the development of pancreatitis. Certain medications, infections; metabolic disorders including hyperlipidemia (high amounts of lipid in the blood) and hypercalcemia (high amounts of calcium in the blood); obesity; and trauma and shock can be associated with the development of pancreatitis. Middle-aged dogs appear to be at increased risk of developing pancreatitis; as a breed, Schnauzers and Yorkshire terriers appear to be more prone to pancreatitis.\*\* Nutrition also plays a role. Dogs with diets high in fat, dogs who have recently gotten in to the trash or have been fed table scraps, or dogs who ‘steal’ or are fed greasy ‘people food’ seem to have a higher incidence of the disease. \*\*In addition, dogs who have previously had pancreatitis or abdominal surgery appear to be more at risk. yeah, I read the same thing. but consider the absolute shitty garbage that most people feed their dogs as “pet food” before you blame animal fat. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/12 "2010-09-25T22:42:07Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > It’s not the fact that it’s raw, it’s that pre-ground meat can come from sources that have records of poor sanitary processes. Squished dead pheasants at the side of the road probably have a poor sanitary record. A dog will at least have a go at one though. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/13 "2010-09-25T22:46:59Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > > [@jz78817](#): > > > > It’s not the fact that it’s raw, it’s that pre-ground meat can come from sources that have records of poor sanitary processes. > > Squished dead pheasants at the side of the road probably have a poor sanitary record. A dog will at least have a go at one though. the OP’s dog didn’t eat rotting roadkill. So what? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/14 "2010-09-25T22:50:19Z")
> [@jz78817](#): > > > [@Contrapuntal](#): > > > > [Seriously.](http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=2+2103&aid=335) > > yeah, I read the same thing. but consider the absolute shitty garbage that most people feed their dogs as “pet food” before you blame animal fat. I personally know of three dogs that developed pancreatitis after eating foods high in fat. In the cases where I was familiar with the vet she stated unequivocally that the fat ( chicken skin, liver mush) was the precipitating cause. So unless you share similar credentials I’ll consider her opinion over yours, if you don’t mind. [QUOTE=Baron Greenback] Squished dead pheasants at the side of the road probably have a poor sanitary record. A dog will at least have a go at one though. [/QUOTE] So it’s your opinion that a dog won’t eat anything that’s bad for it? Have you ever spent any time around dogs? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/15 "2010-09-25T22:50:49Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Things My Mom’s Miniature Dachshund Has Eaten: Doxies are legendary consumers of the inedible. Here’s a list of things my standard dachshund ate when I was a kid: A hairnet A plastic water pistol An entire roll of gummed stamps The feet off a dead chicken An entire bag of Halloween candy, include the wrappers A bottle of my grandfather’s blood pressure medicine The only thing he ever went to the vet for was the last one. That got him his stomach pumped. But the little guy managed to successfully digest and/or pass the rest with no apparent harm – even the huge dose of chocolate from the Halloween candy. ---
**Author:** ![Suburban\_Plankton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suburban_plankton/32/219_2.png) [@Suburban\_Plankton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Suburban_Plankton)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/16 "2010-09-25T22:53:58Z")
> [@fruitbat](#): > > The real hard core dog people feed their dogs a raw diet. It is de rigeur for a certain subset of dog owners who want their animals to have a ‘natural’ experience. Not to mention that some people eat raw meat on a regular basis and our digestive systems are wusses next to dogs. The dog will be fine. We’re some of those ‘hardcore people’. Raw hamburger isn’t going to harm your pup. Ours get beef, pork, or poultry, depending on what’s available. We generally feed meat and bones (raw chicken bones are not dangerous to dogs; cooked ones are). Dogs are scavengers and their digestive systems have adapted to the point that they can safely eat a lot of things that would make us sick. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/17 "2010-09-25T23:02:27Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > So it’s your opinion that a dog won’t eat anything that’s bad for it? Of course not, chocolate being one example. Point is a dog will be able to eat a lot of things a human can’t or won’t. To worry about a couple of human-fitness raw burgers just seems a bit dumb, that’s all. > [@](#): > > Have you ever spent any time around dogs? No, I’ve never even seen a dog. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/18 "2010-09-25T23:04:55Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > ]Of course, chocolate being one example. Point is a dog will be able to eat a lot of things a human can’t or won’t. To worry about a couple of human-fitness raw burgers just seems a bit dumb, that’s all. Unless you are concerned about pancreatitis. > [@](#): > > No, I’ve never even seen a dog. Please keep it that way. And for goodness’ sake don’t acquire one. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/19 "2010-09-25T23:10:14Z")
> [@Contrapuntal](#): > > So it’s your opinion that a dog won’t eat anything that’s bad for it? Have you ever spent any time around dogs? My dog ate a 1kg bar of milk chocolate! It was touch and go whether he’d survive, but the experience did not put him off chocolate :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2010, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044/20 "2010-09-25T23:14:28Z")
Seriously, do people really worry about dogs eating meat contaminated with an animal’s poop tract? You are aware that in the wild they eat the _whole_ creature, which means also the poopy parts? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-dog-just-ate-raw-meat/555044.md?page=2)