Sounds like a lot of work to me. My three dogs (female Australian Shepard/German Shepard mutt, male Golden Labrador, female Siberian Husky) lived on dry dog food. Two died of old age (17 years), the Siberian Husky developed liver cancer, but I doubt it was the dog food. My current four cats (one from the shelter, three ferals I caught in the back yard) are doing just fine on Frieskes Surf and Turf, and Seafood Sensations. I do give them a taste of raw hamburger and tuna when I make it.
I have had two dogs a Doberman and Shepard three cats one of which is a Bengal on this diet only problems have been old age. I would not go back to dog or cat food the only time the get it is kibble if I am out of town. I have only two cats at the present time they eat better than I do.
Hehe . There is quite a cult out there to feed dogs raw food by purchasing cheaper meats from butcher and such. Our vet doesn't have a problem with the dog eating it but says we might get sick from it. I have been researching it and people say it is a myth. And that dog's saliva is antibacterial and that it is liable to lick its you know what anyway. So chances of picking up disease from the dog licking you and such does not increase.
Zoonoses are certainly possible, but viral diseases are less likely than bacterial infections from species to species.
As far as getting an infection from raw food you would feed your dog or cat food is concerned, it is about the same as getting an infection from raw food you are preparing to eat for yourself.
Noonan, my 5 year old 70 lb. boxer mix gets 2 cups Kirkland (Costco) Adult dry food, either the Lamb or Chicken/Vegetable/Rice mix 2x/day. Evening meal he gets 2 raw eggs (our own free range fertile) mixed in. He is extremely healthy, athletic, and abounds with energy. Living on a ranch, he finds free range cattle bones, and brings them home to chew. His teeth are totally self cleaned, and spotless.
With a minimum of 45 minutes/day intensive off leash steep trail hiking, both he and I (at least reasonably so for a 70 y/o)
are extremely fit. He runs like a deer and probably covers twice the mileage I do!
If feeding raw, one thing to take note of, is that in the wild, cats (and I presume doggy ancestors too) would not only eat the muscle meat but the organs as well. Back when I had dogs as a kid, we fed them "butcher odds and ends" including liver, kidney, lung, etc. etc.
The organs provide the essential nutrients that are not found in the muscle meat.
I realize this is an older thread, but I researched pet food options for a family member not too long ago and found that Nature's Variety offers a raw food option. I believe they are the only pet food company to do so. You get the benefits of raw without as much of the hassle.