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Questions
Can dogs eat possum? Yes — a properly sourced and handled possum product can be fed as part of a raw diet. It is a distinctly New Zealand option, and it may also be a novel protein for a dog that has not eaten possum before.
The useful answer does not stop there, though.
“Possum” can mean a measured meat, bone and organ mince, a natural bone-in chunk, boneless meat, a mixed-protein product or a dried treat. Those foods are not interchangeable, and “novel” does not mean allergy-proof or automatically complete and balanced.
This guide explains the practical differences so you can choose a possum product that fits your dog’s wider diet.
Looking for the food rather than the background? Shop our Wild Possum 80:10:10 raw dog food, or explore our full Wild & Novel Protein collection.
The animal commonly called possum in New Zealand is the introduced Australian brushtail possum. It is not the same animal as the opossums found in the Americas.
Brushtail possums were introduced to New Zealand in the 1800s and are now widespread. The New Zealand Department of Conservation identifies possums as a significant threat to native forests and wildlife because they browse native vegetation and also eat eggs, chicks and invertebrates.
Using suitable possums harvested through managed wild-game supply chains can turn an introduced pest species into a useful food source.
For more information about possums in New Zealand, visit the Department of Conservation possum resource.
It can be — but “novel” depends on the individual dog, not simply the species.
A novel protein is a protein your dog has not eaten before.
Possum may be unfamiliar to many New Zealand dogs, which can make it a useful option when you want to introduce a less-common protein or simplify the proteins in your dog’s diet.
But if your dog has already eaten possum in meals, treats or mixed-protein foods, it is no longer novel for that dog.
It is also worth checking ingredient lists carefully. A product with possum on the front may still contain beef, lamb, chicken or another animal protein. That can be perfectly suitable for everyday feeding, but it is not a possum-only choice.
For a wider look at less-common proteins including goat, venison, kangaroo, rabbit, hare and possum, read our Novel Proteins for Dogs NZ guide.
No.
“Hypoallergenic” is used fairly loosely in pet-food marketing, but no animal protein can be guaranteed not to cause a reaction in every dog.
If your dog has persistent itching, recurring ear problems or ongoing digestive symptoms, it is worth speaking with your veterinarian rather than simply changing proteins repeatedly.
Diagnosing a genuine food allergy normally involves a carefully controlled elimination diet using a genuinely novel or hydrolysed protein, followed by a controlled reintroduction.
Treats, chews, flavoured medications and other foods can interfere with that process.
Possum may be considered as part of a veterinarian-guided diet trial if it is genuinely new to your dog, but possum itself should not be viewed as a treatment or cure.
You can read more about veterinary elimination diets through the Merck Veterinary Manual.
Possum provides animal protein along with naturally occurring nutrients from the tissues included in the product.
The exact nutritional profile will vary depending on the cut, season, amount of bone and organ included, processing method and individual batch.
A New Zealand study published in Meat Science found brushtail possum carcasses had a high proportion of lean tissue and relatively low levels of fat.
That is useful background information, but it should not be treated as a nutritional analysis of every raw possum product.
You can view the published study through PubMed.
The practical approach is simple: look at the nutritional analysis for the actual food you are feeding whenever one is available.
Possum chunks, boneless possum, an 80:10:10 possum mince and a mixed-protein meal will not necessarily contain the same levels of fat, minerals or energy.
You may also see possum promoted as being particularly rich in omega-3 or described as “anti-inflammatory”. Claims like these need to be supported by analysis of the particular food being sold.
We would rather focus on what is actually in the food than turn a general nutritional characteristic into a medical promise.
Choosing the right format is just as important as choosing the protein.
An 80:10:10 blend is made to a target ratio of approximately:
80% meat
10% bone
10% organ
It is easy to portion and provides more consistency than feeding random whole pieces.
Our Wild Possum 80:10:10 raw dog food is the straightforward option when you want possum in a convenient minced format.
There is one important distinction to understand:
80:10:10 describes the approximate proportions of meat, bone and organ. It does not automatically mean the food provides every nutrient every dog requires in the correct amount for long-term feeding.
The overall diet still matters.
Wild NZ Possum Bone-In Chunks provide natural variation and more chewing than a minced food.
A bag may contain meat, bone and organ, but every individual piece will naturally vary.
Rather than expecting each piece to contain an exact nutritional ratio, think about balance across your dog's wider diet.
Choose appropriately sized pieces for your dog, supervise them while eating and avoid pieces that could simply be swallowed whole.
Never feed cooked bones.
Cooking changes the structure of bone and can make it more prone to splintering.
Boneless possum can be useful for adding protein and variety to a raw diet.
However, boneless meat does not provide the calcium that edible bone contributes, so it needs to be considered as part of the wider diet rather than simply replacing a balanced food without adjustment.
Dried possum can make a high-value treat for many dogs.
Treats are still treats, though — they should not replace a balanced meal.
If you are deliberately keeping your dog on a single protein, check the ingredients and make sure the treat really is possum only.
Some raw foods combine possum with beef, lamb, chicken or other proteins.
There is nothing inherently wrong with that. Mixed-protein foods can be a convenient way of adding variety.
But always read the full ingredient list.
A mixed-protein possum food is not the same thing as a possum-only food and would not normally be suitable if you were carrying out a strict single-protein elimination diet.
Not automatically.
An 80:10:10 blend provides a useful meat, bone and organ structure, but a ratio is not the same thing as evidence that every essential nutrient is present in the appropriate amount over time.
Nutritional adequacy depends on the entire diet, the recipe, feeding pattern and the needs of the individual dog.
This becomes particularly important for:
puppies;
pregnant or lactating dogs;
dogs with medical conditions; and
dogs eating one food exclusively for long periods.
Growing puppies, in particular, require careful energy and mineral balance.
For practical advice on building a raw diet, read our complete Raw Dog Feeding Guide.
For a healthy adult dog, a commonly used raw-feeding starting point is around 2–3% of ideal adult body weight per day.
It is only a starting point.
The right amount will vary depending on:
age;
activity;
body condition;
metabolism;
neuter status; and
the energy density of the food being fed.
You can use our Raw Dog Food Feeding Calculator to get an initial estimate.
Then use your dog in front of you as the guide.
You should generally be able to feel your dog's ribs without pushing through a heavy layer of fat, while still seeing a defined waist when looking from above.
Puppies should not simply be treated as smaller adult dogs. Their nutritional requirements change as they grow, so they require an age-appropriate feeding plan.
If your dog is new to possum, keep things simple.
Introduce a small amount alongside food your dog already handles well.
Increase the possum portion gradually over several meals if stools and appetite remain normal.
Change one main thing at a time so it is easier to see what agrees with your dog.
Keep an eye on stool quality, appetite, comfort and body condition.
If your dog develops persistent vomiting, diarrhoea, pain, lethargy or other concerning signs, stop and speak with your veterinarian.
If you are conducting a formal food-allergy investigation, follow your veterinarian's elimination-diet instructions instead.
A normal food transition and a diagnostic elimination diet are not the same thing.
Wild-sourced food needs a traceable supply chain.
New Zealand has requirements around wild mammal material entering the pet-food supply chain, including information relating to harvest areas, poison-use status and handling.
When comparing possum dog foods, useful questions include:
Where was the possum harvested?
How is poison-use status controlled and documented?
How quickly is the meat chilled or frozen?
Where is it processed?
What food-safety controls apply?
Is it genuinely a possum-only product?
Is there a nutritional analysis available for the finished product?
The Ministry for Primary Industries provides further information about requirements for wild mammal material used in pet food:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/7194-Wild-Mammal-Material-Supplier-Statement
We would not recommend feeding an untraceable found or road-killed possum carcass.
You generally cannot establish from appearance alone whether the animal may have been exposed to poison, how long it has been dead, whether it has been stored safely or what other contamination may have occurred.
Commercial sourcing gives you a much more controlled and traceable supply chain.
As with any raw meat, good handling and kitchen hygiene matter.
A few sensible habits go a long way:
Keep raw food frozen until required.
Thaw it in the refrigerator in a covered container.
Keep raw pet food separate from food intended for people.
Wash your hands with soap and water after handling raw food.
Wash bowls and utensils after use.
Clean food-preparation surfaces thoroughly.
Do not allow children to handle raw pet food or lick food bowls.
Do not leave raw food sitting somewhere warm for long periods.
Extra care may be appropriate in households containing young children, elderly people, pregnant people or anybody with reduced immunity.
The Ministry for Primary Industries has published further information on the microbiological safety of raw meat pet food:
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/69573-Microbiological-Safety-and-Suitability-of-Raw-Meat-Petfood
Possum may be worth considering if you want:
a less-common protein that is genuinely new to your dog;
a New Zealand wild-protein option;
a choice between convenient mince and natural bone-in pieces; or
greater variety within an already well-planned raw diet.
It may not be the right option if:
your dog has already eaten possum and you require a genuinely novel protein;
a mixed product would interfere with a strict elimination diet;
you require a food with a particular complete-and-balanced nutritional statement;
the fat, bone or energy content is unsuitable for your dog; or
your veterinarian has recommended a different diet for a medical reason.
The protein name is only one part of the decision.
The format, full ingredient list, nutritional balance, sourcing and your individual dog all matter too.
Yes. Dogs can eat properly sourced, processed and handled possum products.
Choose a format suited to your dog and account for it within the wider diet.
We would not recommend feeding an untraceable found possum carcass.
Possum is a novel protein only if your dog has not eaten it before.
Check previous meals, treats and mixed-protein foods before relying on possum as a novel protein.
No protein is guaranteed to be hypoallergenic.
A genuinely new protein may form part of a veterinarian-guided elimination diet, but possum itself is not a cure for skin, ear or digestive conditions.
Research on New Zealand brushtail possum has found a high proportion of lean tissue and relatively low fat levels.
However, the composition of finished pet foods varies considerably depending on whether you are feeding mince, bone-in chunks, boneless meat, treats or blends.
Always use the nutritional information for the actual product where available.
Possum can form part of a regular diet, but the whole diet needs to provide appropriate nutrition for the individual dog.
An 80:10:10 ratio on its own does not establish that a food provides every nutrient required for long-term sole feeding.
Raw bone has both benefits and risks.
Choose an appropriate size for your dog, supervise them while eating and never feed cooked bone.
Dogs that gulp food, have damaged teeth or have certain gastrointestinal or medical conditions may require a different feeding format.
Possum can be used as an ingredient in a puppy diet, but growing dogs have specific energy and mineral requirements.
Do not assume an adult-style 80:10:10 blend is automatically nutritionally complete for a growing puppy.
This is one of the reasons traceable commercial sourcing matters.
New Zealand's wild pet-food supply requirements include controls relating to where animals are harvested and poison-use information.
Avoid feeding possums from unknown or untraceable sources.
A measured possum mince provides more consistent proportions of meat, bone and organ and is easy to portion.
Natural possum chunks provide more chewing and texture, but every individual piece will vary.
Neither approach is automatically “better” — they simply play different roles in a raw diet.
If possum sounds like a useful addition to your dog's diet, start with the format that best suits them.
Shop Wild Possum 80:10:10 Raw Dog Food
Shop Wild NZ Possum Bone-In Chunks
Browse our Wild & Novel Protein Collection
Read our Novel Proteins for Dogs NZ Guide
Use our Raw Dog Food Feeding Calculator
Read our Complete Raw Dog Feeding Guide
If you are investigating a suspected food allergy, feeding a growing puppy or managing a medical condition, talk with your veterinarian before making major changes to your dog's diet.
New Zealand Department of Conservation — Possums
https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/pests-and-threats/animal-pests-and-threats/possums/
Ministry for Primary Industries — Wild Mammal Material Supplier Statement
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/7194-Wild-Mammal-Material-Supplier-Statement
Ministry for Primary Industries — Microbiological Safety and Suitability of Raw Meat Petfood
https://www.mpi.govt.nz/dmsdocument/69573-Microbiological-Safety-and-Suitability-of-Raw-Meat-Petfood
Hogg, Mercer & Mortimer — Brushtail possum carcass and meat composition, Meat Science
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22060212/
Merck Veterinary Manual — Food Allergy in Dogs and Cats
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/digestive-system/diseases-of-the-stomach-and-intestines-in-small-animals/food-allergy-in-dogs-and-cats
an dogs eat hare? Our NZ guide explains wild hare for dogs, hare vs rabbit, novel proteins, whole-hare raw food, meat, bone and organ, plus practical feeding, sourcing and safety advice.
Can dogs eat goat? Our NZ guide explains wild goat for dogs, novel proteins, raw goat mince, boneless meat, bones and organs, plus practical feeding, sourcing and safety advice.
Has your dog been diagnosed with pancreatitis? We look at what pancreatitis means, why low-fat feeding is often recommended, how to compare dog foods properly and why getting the diagnosis right matters before making long-term dietary changes.
