Can Jack Russells Eat Raw Meat? Truth + Tips & Guide

Jack Russell is a small terrier where many people select as their pets. They are hunting dogs with more strength. You can follow many things like; cutting nails, brushing teeth, and regular baths to keep your dog healthy, but their food plays a major role here.

It is very important to consider their diet because most of the nutrition and energy is taken by dogs through their food.

So, whether Jack Russells can eat raw meat or not is very important for all Jack Russell owners. Therefore, this article is all about the feeding habits of Jack Russells with special reference to raw meat. 

So, can Jack Russells eat raw meat? Although Jack Russells are hunting dogs that enjoy raw meat, you should know that it is not necessary to feed them raw meat. However, you can give small pieces of raw meat from time to time. Feeding them with raw meat can affect their health due to bacteria and other parasites. So, it is better to feed them with well-cooked, boiled or prepared meat.

Accordingly, in this article, I have covered can you feed your Jack Russell with raw meat, the reasons to consider that raw meat isn’t good for your Jack Russell, what are the nutrients that your Jack Russell should be provided.

Finally, I have discussed what types of meat and raw food can you give for your Jack Russell despite raw meat. Let’s get started!

Can you feed your Jack Russell with raw meat?

Many people think that there is no issue with feeding a Jack Russell with raw meat as they have their origin as hunting dogs.

What do you think as an owner of a Jack Russell? Can Jack Russells eat raw meat? We can give a simple answer as; yes they can, but it is not necessary to give raw meat for your Jack Russell. 

It is not a secret that any terrier can eat some raw meat. Also, any terrier has no issues with getting some cooked meat. But when feeding your Jack Russell, you should focus on providing the necessary nutrients and take care of their health by giving a safe diet for them.

When it comes to raw meat, Jack Russells love them a lot, but you should understand that they are not wild animals like wolves. They are small terriers with a small digestive system.

Although we can save our time and effort by providing raw meat for the dog, it presents various parasites and bacteria. So, it will affect the health of your Jack Russell. Therefore, you should not give them raw meat. 

Here, it is very important to identify the difference between cooked and raw meat. Accordingly, there are many risks with raw meat that may result in health issues like diarrhea, vomiting, etc.

It presents various germs, bacteria, and pathogens if not cooked well under the necessary temperature. 

Therefore, take care to provide only cooked meat for the dog. But you also have to make sure that you are not offering them even cooked meat in excessive quantities or meat covered with many spices because it will also make them sick.

Although meat provides a large number of proteins and amino acids, if you do not cook them well, the same source of nutrients would cause stomach problems and digestive issues for your dog. 

The reasons to consider that the raw meat isn’t good for your Jack Russell

‘Can Jack Russells eat raw meat?’ is a commonly asked question by JRT owners. It is not good to feed them with raw meat for many reasons.

So, I will provide some such reasons for you to have a clear idea of why we do not recommend raw meat for Jack Russells.  

1. Harmful bacterial presence

Raw meat is full of harmful bacteria like; Salmonella, Listeria, and E-coli. They will result in creating many long-term physical problems or maybe dangerously sick the dog if you do not much care about him.

You give them raw meat means; you drag your dog to digestive problems by yourself. So, you should care about its health and well-being when providing food. 

2. There will be bones in it

The dogs do not separate bones from meat when they are eating.

So, if there are bones in the raw meat you provided, it will increase the risk for them because the bones may get stuck in your dog’s throat or stomach. It will be very painful and even may be fatal for them. 

3. The raw meat may include various chemicals

At present, most animals are injected with hormones and various chemicals to make them increase fat within a short period.

So, if you provide raw meat from a farm where there are injected animals, for sure the dog may receive hormone and chemical injected meat.

They are not good for their health and may be very harmful if you do not care for them.

4. There may be parasites

If your dog eats the raw meat of an infected animal, there will be parasites in it. It will result in creating stomach and intestinal problems for Jack Russell.

Also, there is a possibility that the parasites may catch you. So, you should be very careful on this issue. 

5. The dog may not receive enough nutrients 

If you give raw meat to your dog, there is a possibility of not providing any other things.

So, the dog may not receive the other vitamins and minerals other than the nutrients present in meat.  

6. It can be very expensive

If you continuously provide raw meat for your dog, the dog will always need it, not anything else.

So, most of the time, the meat will be received from a farm or a butcher’s shop. Then they will be so expensive. And it will be a problem as you may want to feed your dog often. 

What are the nutrients that Jack Russells should be provided?

When considering about; can Jack Russells eat raw meat, we should have a clear idea about the nutritional needs of the dog.

Then we can decide, as raw meat isn’t always good for the dog, what meals should be provided to fulfill nutritional needs. 

Accordingly, mainly they want macronutrients and micronutrients.

1. Macronutrients

• Protein

Protein has a major role to play when balancing the nutritional needs of the dog. It works out like an umbrella for different amino acids that help in creating new cells.

As cells are born and always die, dogs need protein for this ongoing process. Leucine, isoleucine, and valine are the three main amino acids which are known as branched-chain amino acids that decide the quality of the protein source.

• Carbohydrates

The molecules that the body uses for the immediate release of energy are carbohydrates. It includes simple sugars like dextrose, lactose, and fructose, and the complex carbohydrates included in sweet potatoes and carrots.

As Jack Russells are hyper-energetic dogs, they need to release more energy from their body. So, carbohydrates are essential for them. 

• Fat

Fat helps for the general healthy function of the cells and along with supporting the breaking of protein and some other nutrients in the digestive system. So, fat is also essential for the healthy body function of the dog. 

So, you should make sure to provide these nutrients in the right amount, and both less or excessive providence of them will affect the health condition of your Jack Russell. 

2. Micronutrients

When we pay our attention to the micronutrients, many of the chemical reactions of the body are done with the help of them which includes the fat-soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E, and K, water-soluble vitamins like vitamin B, the helpful vitamins for the body like vitamin C, etc.

It also includes minerals that help for the chemical reactions and the structural building of the body. 

These micronutrients should also be provided only for the due amount. If it exceeds, it will affect the health condition of the dog. 

What types of meat and raw food can you give for your Jack Russell despite raw meat?

Jack Russell owners often ask us whether Jack Russells can eat raw meat or not. The short answer for this is that they can but it is unhealthy and not necessary to provide.

So, they will think about the other options. That means they want to know about the other types of meat to be provided and what is the food that can be provided for Jack Russells without cooking.

I will discuss various types of meat that you can provide for your Jack Russell as;

1. Cooked or boiled beef

Beef is rich in iron, which helps produce Red Blood Cells with less fat content. So, there is no need for the dog’s body to work much to regulate the nutrients to energy.

Accordingly, beef is the best meat rich in healthy nutrients for your dog.

2. Cooked or boiled chicken

Chicken is rich in healthy fats and lots of proteins. And there is a fewer amount of calories which may not affect the dog’s weight much.

So, chicken also will be the best source of nutrients for your Jack Russell instead of raw meat.

3. Cooked or boiled / Canned fish

Fish contains a lot of vitamins that help to make your dog healthy with nice and shiny fur.

They also help with the brain function of the dog. So, fish will be a nice option rather than raw meat.

4. Cooked Turkey

There are a lot of vitamins and minerals in Turkey that help Jack Russell lead a healthy life. 

So, there are many more ideal types of cooked meat for the Jack Russells than raw meat. Further, when we talk about the raw food that can be provided for the Jack Russells, there are;

• Vegetables

You can include raw vegetables for a healthy diet of your Jack Russell. It includes vegetables like; potato, spinach, broccoli, and carrot. 

• Eggs

Eggs are rich in protein. So, if you can provide raw eggs for your dog, it will be the best source of protein for it. 

• Fruits

Vitamins like; vitamin A which are essential for the well-being of your dog, can be fulfilled through raw fruits. It also offers them a clearer digestive system.

So, you can include; apples, blueberries, oranges, etc., for the diet of your Jack Russell as the best source of nutrients for it. 

• Dairy Products

Dairy products are rich in protein and calcium. So, you can fulfill your dog’s protein and calcium needs through dairy products like yogurt and milk. 

Conclusion – Can Jack Russells eat raw meat?

I have discussed; can Jack Russells eat raw meat with more details. I think this article will effectively work out for all the Jack Russell owners as I have covered all the related information like; can you feed your Jack Russell with raw meat, the reasons to consider that raw meat isn’t good for your Jack Russell, what are the nutrients that your Jack Russell should be provided and finally I have discussed about what types of meat and raw food can you give for your Jack Russell despite raw meat.

Jack Russell is a small terrier which many people choose as their pets. But you should be very careful when feeding a Jack Russell because your carelessness may affect their health.

Accordingly, as Jack Russells are hunting dogs, many people think there is no problem with giving them raw meat.

But really, can Jack Russells eat raw meat? Yes, they can, and they like it. Still, you should know that it is not necessary to provide them with raw meat as they may include various bacteria and parasites.

So, your dog will be sick if you do not give them clean and well-prepared food. Of course, a dog needs to fulfill its nutritional needs like; protein, fat, carbohydrates, etc., but you have to find healthy meals for that. There you can give eggs, dairy products, cooked fish, etc.

So, be careful when feeding your Jack Russell with raw meat. Do not take risks with its food and health.

Thank you for reading this post. Stay tuned with Jack Russell Owner for more interesting posts about your favorite dog breed.