01Sep
TL:DR
Raw dog food does not cause liver problems in a healthy dog when the diet is properly formulated. The risk comes from unbalanced homemade diets, not from a well-made commercial raw feed.
THE OVERVIEW...
If this question has been sitting at the back of your mind, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common concerns we hear from new raw feeders in Christchurch. Here’s what the research actually shows, and what you genuinely need to watch out for.
Does raw dog food damage a dog’s liver?
No. In a peer-reviewed study published in Veterinary Clinical Pathology, raw-fed dogs showed significantly lower alkaline phosphatase (ALP) than dogs fed commercial dry food over 140 days. ALP is one of the main liver markers vets check in a blood panel.
The kibble-fed dogs in the same study showed increased ALP over the same period. Neither group showed changes large enough to indicate liver disease, but the direction matters: raw feeding did not stress the liver. The study followed 33 client-owned Staffordshire Bull Terriers over a median intervention of 140 days, measuring a full blood panel at regular intervals.
So where does the concern come from?
The worry about raw food and liver health is real, but it’s aimed at the wrong target. Liver problems linked to raw feeding in the veterinary literature almost always trace back to unbalanced homemade diets, not commercial formulated raw.
The two main culprits are excess vitamin A from organ meat and high copper from poorly sourced ingredients. Both can elevate liver enzymes, and both are problems of proportion and sourcing, not of raw feeding as a concept. A dog eating raw liver daily with no guidance on quantities is a very different situation from a dog on a nutritionally balanced commercial raw diet. The literature sometimes doesn’t distinguish between the two, which is where the confusion starts.
| Dietary cause | How it affects the liver | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Excess vitamin A | Accumulates in the liver when organ meat is fed in excess; causes hepatotoxicity over time | Use a formulated diet; follow guidelines if feeding organ meat separately |
| Excess copper | Causes copper-storage hepatopathy, particularly in susceptible breeds | Choose a diet with measured copper levels; note that some dry foods are higher in copper than raw |
| High-carbohydrate diet | Overloads the liver’s glucose regulation function | Limit ultra-processed, grain-heavy dry foods |
| Bacterial contamination | Systemic infection can place secondary pressure on the liver | Use human-grade ingredients and follow safe raw handling practices |
Is commercial raw the same as homemade raw for liver health?
No, and this distinction matters more than most people realise. Homemade raw diets are rarely nutritionally complete without professional guidance, and that’s where excess organ meat, vitamin A imbalances, and copper problems tend to originate.
Commercial raw diets formulated with qualified nutritional expertise are a different proposition. Kuri City’s raw range is developed in conjunction with experts who have over 40 years of experience in canine nutrition, specifically to avoid the imbalances that cause problems in homemade raw. In all the years Kuri has been supplying raw food to Christchurch dog owners, no customer’s dog has developed liver issues linked to the range.
That’s not a medical guarantee. But it is a track record worth knowing about.
Browse Kuri City’s raw dog food range for formulated options available for Christchurch delivery.
What do elevated liver enzymes actually mean for a raw-fed dog?
Elevated ALT or ALP in a blood test doesn’t automatically mean liver disease. These enzymes have normal reference ranges: ALT sits between 12 and 118 U/L, ALP between 20 and 200 U/L. Readings above these can come from many sources: medication (especially steroids and certain antibiotics), infection, age, and diet.
Context matters more than a single number. If your vet flags elevated liver enzymes, the next step is to look at the full clinical picture, including the trend over time, other blood markers, and your dog’s symptoms, rather than immediately blaming the food. If you’re raw feeding and get a borderline result, let your vet know your dog’s diet. The 2020 Anturaniemi study is useful context to bring to that conversation.
Should you get your dog’s liver tested if they eat raw food?
A routine blood panel every 12 to 18 months is sensible for any adult dog, regardless of what they eat. It gives your vet a baseline to compare against and catches changes early when there’s more you can do about them.
If your dog is switching to raw food for the first time, asking for a blood test before the change is a reasonable idea. It gives you a clear before-and-after picture and takes the guesswork out of any future results. There’s no specific liver-testing protocol for raw-fed dogs that differs from any other diet. Standard annual wellness bloodwork covers it.
Read the guide on how to switch your dog to raw food for a step-by-step approach.
Can a dog with existing liver disease eat raw food?
It depends on what’s causing the liver disease, and your vet needs to be part of this decision. But raw food is not automatically off the table.
A 2023 peer-reviewed case report examined a dog with copper-associated hepatitis and found its raw meat diet contained 4.5 mg of copper per 1,000 kcal, compared to 8.6 mg per 1,000 kcal in a commercial dry food the dog had also been eating. In this case, the raw diet was the lower-copper option.
Copper-associated hepatitis is a real condition, particularly in Labrador Retrievers, Dobermann Pinschers, and Bedlington Terriers. If copper is the issue, a carefully selected raw diet may be part of the management plan. Your vet or a veterinary nutritionist can advise on this.
For other causes of liver disease, the picture is more complex. High-fat raw diets are not suitable for dogs with certain types of liver dysfunction. Get a diagnosis first, then discuss diet with your vet.
For a broader overview, see the guide to raw feeding in New Zealand.
Frequently asked questions
Can I feed my dog raw liver without causing liver problems?
Yes, in appropriate amounts. Raw liver is nutritious and a good source of B vitamins, but feeding large quantities regularly raises vitamin A to levels that can cause problems over time. Use it as a component of a balanced diet, not as a daily staple.
What are the signs of liver stress in dogs?
Common signs include reduced appetite, increased thirst and urination, yellowing of the whites of the eyes or gums (jaundice), and lethargy. These symptoms have many possible causes, and a blood panel is the only way to confirm liver involvement.
Does Kuri City’s raw food contain organ meat?
Yes. Organ meat is a natural and nutritious component of a balanced raw diet. Kuri’s range includes organ meat in proportions that deliver its nutritional benefits without the risks that come from excess.
Is raw food safe for a puppy’s liver?
Yes, provided the diet is age-appropriate and nutritionally complete. Puppies have higher nutritional demands than adult dogs, so a puppy-specific formulation matters. Kuri’s range includes options suitable for puppies from 16 weeks.
