How a Raw Diet Is More Digestible for Your Pet

Digestive health is the cornerstone of overall wellness for cats and dogs. A poorly digestible diet can lead to gastrointestinal upset, nutrient deficiencies, and long-term health issues. Raw diets, which mimic the natural diets of cats and dogs, provide nutrients in a form that is biologically easier for their bodies to process, absorb, and utilise.

How Digestion Works in Cats and Dogs

When your pet eats, digestion begins in the mouth with chewing and saliva, continues in the stomach with strong gastric acids, and is completed in the small and large intestines with enzymes and gut bacteria. Cats and dogs evolved as carnivores (cats as obligate, dogs as facultative) with short, highly acidic digestive tracts designed to efficiently process raw meat, bones, and organs.

Processed kibble, on the other hand, is often high in carbohydrates, heat-treated proteins, and preservatives. These factors can alter stomach pH, impair enzymatic activity, and slow nutrient absorption, putting extra strain on your pet’s digestive system.

Why Raw Diets Are More Digestible

1. High-Quality Animal Proteins – Raw diets use whole meat, organs, and bones, providing protein in its natural form. This protein is easily broken down by stomach acids and digestive enzymes, leading to efficient absorption of amino acids.

2. Minimal Processing – Heat and extrusion processes in commercial pet foods can denature proteins and reduce nutrient bioavailability. Raw diets preserve natural nutrients, making them more digestible and bioavailable.

3. Natural Fats – Cats and dogs rely on fats as a primary energy source. Raw diets provide natural, unprocessed fats that are easy to digest and convert into energy without overloading the pancreas or liver.

4. Optimised Enzyme Activity – Raw foods contain naturally occurring enzymes that help break down proteins and fats, reducing the burden on your pet’s own digestive system.

5. Supports Gut Microbiome – Studies show that raw meat-based diets increase the abundance of beneficial gut bacteria and improve fermentation byproducts like short-chain fatty acids, supporting nutrient absorption and overall gut health (Middelbos et al., 2010; Schmitz & Suchodolski, 2016; Sandri et al., 2017).

6. Reduces Digestive Stress – Pets fed raw diets often have smaller, firmer stools and fewer gastrointestinal upsets. This is because the food is digested more completely and efficiently, leaving less undigested matter for the gut to process.

Conclusion

Feeding your cat or dog a raw, species-appropriate diet provides nutrients in their most digestible form. From protein and fat to natural enzymes and gut-friendly microbes, raw feeding supports digestion, nutrient absorption, and overall health. At Raw Essentials, we’ve been perfecting raw feeding in New Zealand for over 18 years, with expert guidance available in-store and online. Raw Means Raw—and better digestion is just the start.

References

• Schmitz, S., & Suchodolski, J. S. (2016). Understanding the canine intestinal microbiota and its influence on health and disease. Veterinary Clinics: Small Animal Practice, 46(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cvsm.2015.09.006

• Middelbos, I. S., Vester Boler, B. M., Qu, A., White, B. A., Swanson, K. S. (2010). Phylogenetic characterization of fecal microbial communities of dogs fed raw meat-based diets versus commercial diets. Journal of Animal Science, 88(6), 2143–2151. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2009-2431

• Sandri, M., Dal Monego, S., Conte, G., Sgorlon, S., & Cozzolino, A. (2017). Raw meat-based diet influences faecal microbiome and end products of fermentation in healthy dogs. BMC Veterinary Research, 13, 65. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-017-0981-6