If you are a fan of nature documentaries or are interested in animals, you have probably wondered: why can animals eat raw meat and humans can’t?
Read on to discover the interesting reasons why animals eat raw meat while humans can’t.
Table of Contents5 Reasons Why Animals Can Eat Raw MeatCan Humans Eat Raw Meat?Can You Feed Your Dog Raw Meat?Summary: Why Can Animals Eat Raw Meat and Humans Can’t?
Humans are generally advised against eating raw meat, except for small meals such as beef tartare, sushi, and rare steak.
Yet, how is it possible for animals to chow down raw meat and not get sick?
Have you ever wondered how an animal such as a vulture can eat carcasses and rotten meat and still live another day?
That’s because nature has created a sterile environment in the vulture’s stomach, a quality that we humans lack.
Many other animals, including the vulture, boast a stomach that is well lined with potent acids that can instantly kill harmful parasites and bacteria found in raw meat.
Because our stomach lining doesn’t contain such parasites and bacteria-fighting acids, we cannot safely eat raw meat.
I should note here that these special acids and enzymes are not present in all animals.
In fact, many animals do fall sick from eating raw meat.
It is common for young animals to die after consuming raw meat.
The immune system of animals evolved differently from ours, enabling these beasts of the wild to tolerate otherwise harmful bacteria and parasites better than humans can.
Animals’ immune system is not necessarily better than that of humans.
It just means that their system is better adapted to the wild environment where all sorts of dangerous parasites, bacteria, and viruses thrive.
Like humans, each animal has a unique immune system.
Some have a strong immunity that can fight off dangerous pathogens found in raw meat.
But, some animals’ immune system is not well-adapted to protect the body against harmful parasites and bacteria.
For example, vultures can eat rotten raw meat, and nothing happens to them.
3. Most Animals Eat Fresh Meat
Think about it for a minute, when you buy meat in the deli, those lamb chops or T-bone briskets are part of an animal that has been dead for a long time, probably a few days.
When the meat is lying at the deli, it has likely picked up bacteria, and eating that meat raw can be extremely dangerous for the human body.
On the other hand, animals mostly eat their meat fresh as soon as they hunt down and kill their prey.
This doesn’t mean fresh meat doesn’t have bacteria; it likely does, but not in the amount as when raw meat is stored for even a few hours.
Lions, cheetahs, tigers, and other wild carnivores cannot cook or store their meat safely.
As a survival mechanism, they end up eating their meat as soon as they kill their prey.
Humans have evolved and adapted to their environment over thousands of years and devised ways to store their food to prevent sickness that would otherwise wipe out our species.
As part of our endeavor to evolve and attain ultimate efficiency, humans moved away from chewing their meat raw to cooking it to save time and energy.
It is widely documented that early humans ate raw meat routinely.
But this also meant they spent hours scavenging for food, spent additional time tearing the meat off the bone, and chewing it enough to be safe for swallowing.
After eating your share of raw meat, you would then have to lie down for several hours for the body to work extra hard to digest the raw meat.
Breaking down raw meat takes much longer than digesting cooked meat.
As part of evolution, humans also developed a strong repulsion for raw meat.
Why should we spend so much time and energy eating and digesting raw meat, not to mention tolerate the repulsive smell and taste of bloodied raw meat when we can grill, fry, or bake meat?
From an evolutionary point of view, eating raw meat is simply not the most efficient use of our time.
5. Animals Have A Better Sense of Smell
Even though animals are not as evolved as humans, they score well on some qualities, such as smell.
When well-socialized, a dog can smell a harmful substance from many miles away.
The strong sense of smell is why they use canines, not humans, to sniff out banned substances at the airport or crime scenes.
Animals in the wild have an equally strong olfactory system compared to ours.
Interestingly, a tiger can quickly and easily sniff out contaminated meat and stay away from it.
Humans can also mostly tell when meat is unsafe for consumption, but this is not always the case.
Sometimes, a piece of meat might neither have molding nor a foul smell but still be unsafe for consumption.
So, animals can eat raw meat and still be fine because they have become good at separating good meat from the bad type by smelling.
Can Humans Eat Raw Meat?
Technically, humans can eat raw meat.
There are still many communities that devour raw meat routinely, but such tribes are few and far between.
Even in those communities that eat raw meat, they have ways of ensuring the meat is safe for consumption.
That said, you can go to some modern restaurants to enjoy a meal of raw meats.
Popular delicacies constituting raw meats include tartar, carpaccio, sushi, basashi, and raw steaks.
Many of these delicacies are made from beef or fish, which are pretty safe to eat.
As a general rule, the poor handling of meat and meat products can result in contamination and a serious risk of disease.
While we humans can eat raw meat, you should avoid eating raw chicken and pork.
These meats are easily contaminated and can contain large amounts of salmonella bacteria.
It is important to thoroughly cook your chicken and pork dishes to avoid potentially fatal bacterial infections from undercooked meat.
Can You Feed Your Dog Raw Meat?
Most people believe dogs love raw meat and have no qualms throwing their canines chunks of fleshy, uncooked meat.
Dogs are descendants of wolves, which have no problem chowing down any meat.
However, domestic dogs lack the same immunity and digestive system as wolves to tolerate raw meat.
This doesn’t mean dogs can’t eat raw meat.
But, you must be very careful with feeding your canine pet raw meat regularly.
Raw meat, and especially chicken and pork, contain harmful bacteria such as listeria and salmonella.
Like in humans, these bacteria can make your canine buddy very sick.
Some dogs can eat raw meat, and nothing would happen to them.
Others, especially puppies and younger dogs, might be allergic to chicken meat.
If you really must feed your dog with raw meat, start with a small quantity and increase while keeping a close eye on Fido.
Aside from the risk of bacterial infection, feeding your dog with raw chicken can result in fatal choking.
But if you want to treat your pup to a homemade meal of meat, the safest bet is to cook the meat thoroughly.
If you opt for chicken, be sure to debone it before feeding your canine buddy.
Summary: Why Can Animals Eat Raw Meat and Humans Can’t?
This is a curious question, and as you can see, there are many plausible reasons why animals can eat raw meat while we cannot.
The bottom line is, animals, with the special acid and enzymes in their stomach, well-adapted immune system, and strong sense of smell, are evolutionarily suited to eat raw meat without succumbing to life-threatening diseases.
For humans, eating raw meat is really not in our best interest.
Not only does cooked meat smell and taste better, we simply do not have the time and energy to sit around struggling to bite into and then digest raw meat.
One of my friends in the military reported about his friend eating a raw piece of chicken in order to save some time in the field.
But why can animals eat raw meat when humans can’t?
Let’s take a closer look at the question because it’s not a simple question to ask.
Why can animals eat raw meat?
Wild animals will typically eat fresh meat and that is not as hard on the system as rotten meat.
Other animals like Vultures can even eat rotten meat because they have a special set of acids and enzymes in their digestive system.
They also have developed stronger immune systems in order to process the bacteria.
5 Reasons Why Animals Can Eat Raw Meat1) They eat the meat while it is fresh2) Wild animals have more acid in the stomach3) They have stronger immune systems4) They have a better sense of smell5) They don’t have a choiceCan A Dog Eat Raw Meat?Should I feed my dog raw or cooked meat?Can HUMANS Eat Rat Meat?The meat you should NOT eat rawWhat is the risk of eating raw meat?Why can Animals Eat Rotten Meat?
You might also get surprised to find out that sometimes the wild animals will actually get after eating bad meat.
5 Reasons Why Animals Can Eat Raw Meat
5 Reasons Why Animals Can Eat Raw Meat
Let’s start by looking into why a lot of animals can get away with eating raw meat.
You have probably seen the predators on the Savannah eat a Zebra or a Gazelle and maybe you were thinking why in the world did they not get sick from eating the animal.
1) They eat the meat while it is fresh
The first reason the wild animals can get away with eating raw meat is that they tend to eat the prey just after they killed it.
This is not very different from you eating fresh tartar at a restaurant.
When humans eat meat we will typically go to the supermarket and buy a piece of meat that has been dead for a while.
This also means that the piece of meat had time to pick up bacteria.
But even though humans can in many cases eat raw meat you will have a much harder time doing so than a lion or tiger.
2) Wild animals have more acid in the stomach
Over time, the stomachs of animals have evolved differently than human stomachs.
The big cats on the Savannah will eat fresh and raw meat constantly so they have developed a different set of enzymes in their stomach.
They also have more and stronger acids in their digestion system which will kill more bacteria than your stomach.
Biologists have also found some animals to be resistant to several bacteria while other animals (eating the same diet) will get infected and ill.
So it depends on the species and not all animals can get away with eating an infected piece of meat.
Actually, many animals will die from a young age because they got infected with parasites or bacteria.
Wild animals are exposed to other bacteria than humans.
This also means that their immune systems have developed differently over time.
Each animal has its own unique immune system just like you and me.
Not all wild animals can get away with eating raw meat.
Lions might not be able to eat rotten meat to the extend Vultures do it.
Some biologists have suggested that dogs will eat grass in order to start vomiting whenever they eat something that’s bad for them.
So they might have a built-in mechanism to get the bad meat out of their system again.
According to scientists, scavengers like rats use their sense of smell in order to judge what type of meat is good and what type of meat they should not eat.
Scavengers will typically use small to find the food and it might not come as a surprise that they have a much better smell than humans.
So there’s a very good possibility that they are able to judge whether the meat is good for their system or if it has turned bad.
The last reason we could find is that animals don’t really have a choice.
They will eventually get sick from eating poisonous food and they are good hiding it.
Animals are exceptionally good at hiding their weaknesses and sicknesses.
This is because nobody in the animal kingdom wants to be the next prey because they look weak.
They will typically not show weaknesses like humans.
Ever wondered if dogs get sick from eating raw meat?
Many people will feed their dogs’ raw meat because they think this is closer and more similar to what dogs would eat in the wild.
When wild dogs eat meat they will typically eat an animal that has recently died where the flesh is still fresh.
This is why we are always heating up and cooking the meat from the supermarket before we eat it.
Should I feed my dog raw or cooked meat?
According to the FDA, you should be very careful about giving your dog raw meat.
If you keep raw meat in the house for your pets you should freeze it down until you are using it.
Don’t handle the raw meat in the kitchen around other food as bacteria can easily spread.
TipNatural bully sticks and dental chews are great for dogs in order to keep the teeth clean and healthy.
Can HUMANS Eat Rat Meat?
There are very good reasons why you should cook your meat before you set your teeth in it.
Let’s start by looking at what types of meat you can eat raw and when you should cook your meat before eating it.
Whenever you visit a restaurant serving these types of meals you need to make sure they have a high standard when it comes to hygiene.
But as long as they treat the meat well you can definitely eat the raw meat in these meals.
A lot of people think that humans can’t or shouldn’t eat rare meat but this is not true.
Humans can easily eat rare meat as long as you make sure it’s fresh and good.
The meat you should NOT eat raw
You shouldn’t eat rare chicken meat.
The reason why we never eat rare chicken is that there sometimes are salmonella in them.
Chicken is a type of meat that easily gets poisoned so we always need to heat up chicken meat really well before we start eating it.
What is the risk of eating raw meat?
If you eat raw meat that is poisonous or maybe a piece of chicken with salmonella you will get really sick for a couple of days.
Why can Animals Eat Rotten Meat?
Ever wondered why Vultures, Hyenas, and other scavengers can eat rotten meat and not die?
Let’s take a closer look at the scavengers of wild nature and why they do not get infected and die when they eat other dead animals.
Vultures will even let the dead animal be for a couple of days in order for it to rot.
According to the Danish microbiology scientist Michael Roggenbuck from the University of Copenhagen, the Vultures have some very special skills when it comes to dealing with toxic bacteria.
“On one hand, vultures have developed an extremely tough digestive system, which simply acts to destroy the majority of the dangerous bacteria they ingest,”
“On the other hand, vultures also appear to have developed a tolerance toward some of the deadly bacteria — species that would kill other animals actively seem to flourish in the vulture lower intestine.”
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Contents Do cats prefer cooked or raw meat?Is cooked food good for animals?Do dogs prefer cooked meat or raw meat?Do animals like the taste of raw meat?Can my cat eat raw chicken?Can I give my cat raw chicken breast?Is cooked meat bad for animals?Why do humans have to cook their food?Is cooked food better than raw for dogs?Can I feed my dog raw ground beef?Which raw meat is best for dogs?What raw meats can dogs eat?Do animals get sick from raw meat?Does raw meat taste bad?Why can’t humans eat raw meat?
Several animals that have never eaten cooked food show a marked preference for a nice roast or stir-fry.
Do cats prefer cooked or raw meat?
While it’s perfectly acceptable to feed your cat a commercial dry or wet food, you can offer variety in your feline’s diet by feeding it cooked or raw, fresh meat.
Many cat’s love fish; however, it is not an acceptable food for daily feeding.
Is cooked food good for animals?
Contrary to some thoughts, cooked meat isn’t radically easier to digest than raw meat: plants are where digestibility can be radically improved.
Still, we as a species started Cooking meat early for a very simple reason.
Raw, lean, fresh meat doesn’t taste like much.
Do dogs prefer cooked meat or raw meat?
Cooked meats smell better and stronger than raw, so often they will pick cooked meat first as it has higher sensory appeal, but they still eat the raw meat.
All of my dogs are like this, as are my cats.
Do animals like the taste of raw meat?
How come animals seem to really enjoy eating raw stuff and people don’t?
Animals have different taste buds than ours for one, but ever since we discovered fire, the need for raw meat has diminished, and thus our tolerance of it.
Can my cat eat raw chicken?
“Raw chicken is a perfectly balanced protein for cats to eat,” homeopathic vet Dr. Charles Loops says.
Raw meat is the perfect food for carnivores and cats are carnivores.” Can I give my cat raw chicken breast?
What kinds of meat can we feed our cats?
Any kind of meat is OK: beef, pork, chicken, turkey.
Is cooked meat bad for animals?
While the natural diet of dogs is raw meat and vegetables, raw meats may contain bacteria, such as salmonella and e.
By thoroughly cooking meats, you rid the meat of these dangers and still provide your pet with the benefits of an all-natural diet.
Why do humans have to cook their food?
The cooking process helps to break down tough proteins, making it easier for humans to eat and process.
Some scientists believe eating cooked meat was an important step in the evolution of the big, complex human brain.
Is cooked food better than raw for dogs?
A fresh cooked food diet typically consists of human-grade meat (that has been gently cooked), fresh fruits and vegetables.
This type of diet is much healthier for your dog and lowers there risk of being malnourished or exposed to food pathogens like with raw diets.
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While beef is a great source of protein and healthy fats, there are some risks when your dog consumes raw beef.
Raw ground beef puts your dog at risk for salmonella, a bacterial contamination.
… Raw meat is not recommended for puppies, dogs with liver or kidney failure, or dogs with cancer.
Which raw meat is best for dogs?
If you switch your dog’s diet to a raw meat diet, ensure that you buy lean muscle meat, internal organs and delicious juicy bones from beef, lamb, pork, chicken and rabbit.
It is also very healthy to include food like oily fish and eggs.
What raw meats can dogs eat?
What raw meats can dogs eat?
A raw dog food diet typically consists of: Muscle meat, often still on the bone.
Do animals get sick from raw meat?
Animals cannot eat raw meat without problems.
They do get sick and contract diseases and parasites by eating flesh of other animals.
Does raw meat taste bad?
The texture of the raw meat is incomparable—and unbeatable.
IT IS INTERESTING: How can I watch the Cooking Channel without cable?Why can’t humans eat raw meat?
We can digest raw meat (think steak tartare), but we get less nutrients from raw than cooked meats.
Raw meat can make people ill if the meat is contaminated with bacteria.