Bloodwork in Raw-Fed Dogs and Cats:
Understanding Elevated Liver and Kidney Values Without Unnecessary Diet Changes
For many raw feeders, few things cause panic faster than routine bloodwork coming back with “abnormal” results.
A healthy dog or cat is thriving—bright eyes, healthy weight, strong appetite, excellent energy, beautiful coat, and normal digestion—yet a routine veterinary blood panel shows elevated liver enzymes, kidney markers, or protein values. Suddenly, the conversation shifts.
“Stop feeding raw.”
“Reduce protein.”
“Switch to a prescription diet.”
For pet owners committed to species-appropriate nutrition and biologically appropriate raw feeding, this moment can feel confusing and discouraging. You’ve invested in better ingredients, fresh food, balanced nutrition, and whole prey principles—yet the lab report seems to suggest something is wrong.
The reality is often far more nuanced.
In many cases, the issue is not the animal. It is the interpretation.
One of the biggest mistakes in veterinary nutrition is applying kibble-based reference ranges to raw-fed dogs and cats without considering how fresh food diets change metabolism, nutrient processing, and normal physiological markers.
Different does not always mean unhealthy.
Understanding bloodwork for raw-fed pets requires context, not panic.
Why Bloodwork Looks Different in Raw-Fed Dogs and Cats
Raw-fed dogs and cats process nutrients differently than kibble-fed animals.
A species-appropriate raw diet typically includes:
Higher levels of bioavailable animal protein
Natural animal fats instead of rendered fats
Fresh organs and secreting organs
Raw meaty bones for mineral balance
Lower carbohydrate intake
Fewer synthetic additives and preservatives
Less ultra-processed food overall
This creates a very different metabolic environment compared to commercial kibble or prescription diets.
When a veterinarian evaluates bloodwork using standard laboratory reference ranges—many of which are built around kibble-fed populations—it can create concern where none may actually exist.
This is especially common with:
ALT (alanine aminotransferase)
AST (aspartate aminotransferase)
ALP (alkaline phosphatase)
BUN (blood urea nitrogen)
Creatinine
Total protein
Albumin
Phosphorus
These values may look “elevated” while the animal remains clinically healthy.
That does not automatically indicate liver disease, kidney disease, or the need to abandon a fresh food diet.
It means interpretation must go deeper.
The Most Common Mistake: Misinterpreting Liver Enzymes
One of the most frequent concerns in raw-fed pets is elevated liver enzymes.
Pet owners are often told their dog or cat has liver problems based solely on mild increases in ALT, AST, or ALP. This can lead to unnecessary fear, expensive diagnostics, or immediate recommendations to stop feeding raw.
But liver enzymes do not automatically diagnose liver disease.
They are markers of activity—not necessarily damage.
Let’s break them down.
What ALT, AST, and ALP Actually Mean
ALT (Alanine Aminotransferase)
ALT is commonly called a “leakage enzyme.”
It is released when liver cells (hepatocytes) turn over or experience irritation.
This does not always mean liver damage. It can reflect:
Normal cellular turnover
Increased metabolic activity
Temporary irritation
Mild inflammation
Dietary adaptation during transition
A mild ALT elevation in an otherwise healthy raw-fed dog is not automatically cause for alarm.
AST (Aspartate Aminotransferase)
AST is found in both the liver and muscle tissue.
This is important because AST can rise from:
Exercise
Muscle development
Increased physical activity
Muscle repair
Tissue turnover
Many active dogs show mild AST elevations that have nothing to do with liver disease.
AST should never be interpreted in isolation.
ALP (Alkaline Phosphatase)
ALP is associated with:
Bile flow
Liver metabolism
Bone activity
Hormonal signaling
Growth in younger animals
ALP can rise for many reasons unrelated to liver pathology.
This is especially common in:
Growing puppies
Highly active dogs
Animals transitioning diets
Pets with increased metabolic demand
Again, elevated does not automatically mean diseased.
Why Raw-Fed Pets May Show Mild Elevations
There are several reasons raw-fed dogs and cats may show mildly elevated blood values while remaining completely healthy.
1. Higher Metabolic Throughput
Fresh, bioavailable protein and fat require active digestion, transport, and nutrient utilization.
The liver is heavily involved in these processes.
A more metabolically active liver is not a failing liver—it is often a functioning one.
2. Natural Fat Processing
Raw diets often contain species-appropriate animal fats that support:
Hormone production
Skin and coat health
Brain function
Cellular repair
Energy production
The liver plays a major role in processing and transporting these fats.
This increased workload can influence liver markers without indicating disease.
3. Transition Away From Processed Foods
When pets move from kibble to raw feeding, temporary shifts in lab values are common.
This adjustment period may reflect:
Changes in digestion
Shifts in detoxification pathways
Microbiome adaptation
Metabolic recalibration
Short-term elevations during transition are often physiological, not pathological.
4. Muscle Turnover
Because AST can reflect muscle activity, athletic dogs or highly active pets may show elevated values unrelated to liver health.
Even routine exercise can influence results.
5. Diet Formulation Matters
Not every raw diet is balanced.
Excessive:
Organ content
Fat levels
Mineral imbalance
Improper calcium-to-phosphorus ratios
can absolutely influence bloodwork.
This is why professionally formulated raw feeding matters.
A balanced raw diet and an unbalanced homemade raw diet are not the same thing.
Kidney Values and Raw Feeding
Another major concern is elevated kidney markers, especially:
BUN
Creatinine
Phosphorus
Many veterinarians see elevated BUN and immediately recommend protein restriction.
This is especially problematic for cats.
Cats are obligate carnivores. Restricting protein unnecessarily can be deeply harmful to muscle mass, organ function, immune health, and long-term vitality.
Higher protein intake often naturally increases BUN.
This does not automatically mean kidney failure.
What matters most is:
Hydration status
Urine concentration
SDMA trends
Creatinine patterns
Clinical symptoms
Long-term progression
Protein should not be restricted based on one isolated number.
Especially not in cats.
When You Should Pay Attention
Context matters—but that does not mean every elevation should be ignored.
There are times when deeper investigation is absolutely appropriate.
Pay closer attention when:
ALT continues rising over time
Liver values are 2–3x above reference range
Multiple markers worsen together
Clinical signs are present
Appetite decreases
Vomiting becomes frequent
Weight loss occurs
Lethargy develops
Water intake changes significantly
Urination patterns change
Trends matter more than single lab values.
Symptoms matter more than isolated numbers.
The goal is not to dismiss bloodwork.
The goal is to interpret it correctly.
The Right Way to Evaluate Bloodwork in Raw-Fed Pets
The best approach is always whole-animal assessment.
Ask:
How do they look?
How do they act?
How do they eat?
How do they thrive?
Bloodwork should be interpreted alongside:
Body condition
Muscle tone
Coat quality
Energy levels
Appetite
Stool quality
Hydration
Long-term trends
Diet history
A thriving animal with slightly “off” labs is not the same as a sick animal with “normal” labs.
This distinction matters.
A lot.
Always Tell Your Veterinarian You Raw Feed
One of the most important things pet owners can do is communicate clearly.
This changes how bloodwork should be interpreted.
Veterinarians need context to evaluate properly.
Labs should support the animal—not override how they eat.
The goal should never be chasing perfect numbers on paper.
The goal is long-term health, vitality, resilience, and species-appropriate nourishment.
Raw Feeding Requires Better Interpretation, Not Fear
Fresh food nutrition is not the problem.
Poor interpretation often is.
Raw-fed dogs and cats frequently show bloodwork patterns that differ from kibble-fed animals because they are metabolically different.
That does not mean unhealthy.
It means veterinary medicine must evolve beyond one-size-fits-all interpretation.
As advocates for fresh feeding, whole prey balance, and functional nutrition, we must protect pets from unnecessary diet changes driven by fear instead of understanding.
Because the healthiest animals do not always fit perfectly inside standard lab ranges.
And the goal should never be normal-looking paperwork.
The goal is a thriving animal.
Final Thought
You know your animal best.
You see their energy.
You see their appetite.
You see their strength.
You see their vitality.
Let labs guide understanding—not dictate panic.
Support the animal.
Don’t chase the lab.