Bacteria and Parasites
Bacteria is an obvious risk with raw, although healthy dogs are physically built to handle it, usually without issue. That's not to say that dogs have never gotten sick or couldn't, but the likely hood is in my opinion small.
**Raw feeders should be careful and mindful of the local area they live in and their countries meat inspections. In the USA raw feeders should NOT feed wild caught pacific salmon (due to a deadly parasite), wild boar or wild bear (due to trichinosis), USDA inspected raw pork for human consumption is usually very safe to feed.***
Some links for bacteria/parasite concerns and dogs. . .
http://rawfed.com/myths/bacteria.html
http://www.thewholedog.org/salmonella.pdf
http://rawfed.com/myths/parasites.html
Vet Dr. Karen Becker discusses feeding raw and dogs
Vet Dr. Karen Becker Videos on Raw diet Myths and Truths
Raw feeding myths and truths Part 1
Raw feeding myths and truths Part 2
Raw feeding myths and truths Part 3
http://vitalanimal.com/food-safety-and-raw-meat/
Vet Dr. Peter Dobias
http://www.peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/11017341-celebration-of-bacterial-superheroes
Vet Dr. Nick Thompson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yloWoUkvjY
Vet Dr. Jean Hofve
http://www.littlebigcat.com/blog/avma-vs-raw-food/
Bacteria risks for humans from feeding raw, it would be foolish to say it never happens, but in my 4 years of feeding raw and having my dogs lick me, and everything, I've haven't gotten sick (yet). A little common sense I think goes a long way here with proper handling of the raw food and cleaning, the same as when someone handles and prepares raw meat for cooking their own meals.
Some links for bacteria concerns and humans. . .
http://rawfed.com/myths/zoonotic.html
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FACTSheets/Cleanliness_Helps_Prevent_Foodborne_Illness/index.asp
I admit I was concerned about bacteria when I first started raw feeding, so scared in fact I washed the raw meat with GSE (grapefruit seed extract) before feeding, which was a pain and makes no sense now, but at the time it made me feel more secure about it I guess.
We don't live in a sterile environment by any means, bacteria is everywhere, on lots surfaces indoor and outdoor.
CBS news Top household spots for bacteria
Also kibble certainly isn't bacteria free and sterile either, hence a lot of the recalls due to salmonella and the more recent incidents linked to human illnesses. You can look up several pet food recalls over the years due to salmonella contamination.
http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/dog-food-05-12/index.html
According to the FDA. . .
"On average in the fiscal years 2007, 2008 and 2009, 9.8 percent of pet foods and 4.8 percent of pet treats tested were positive for Salmonella. Summary data for survey results in fiscal years 2010 and 2011 aren’t yet available."
http://news.vin.com/VINNews.aspx?articleId=20432
Bones
Feeding raw bones is another risk associated with feeding raw and rightfully so, just like anything else a dog puts in its mouth to chew, there can be risks. Raw bones can be a very important part of a raw diet because they provide a good highly digestible source of calcium, phosphorus, and fiber. To minimize the risk with bones, it's important to feed them properly. You only should feed raw bones, never cooked, and feed appropriate sized bones for your individual dog.
More info on raw bones and dogs
http://rawfed.com/myths/bones.html
http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/05/19/caution-bones-can-kill-your-dog-find-out-which-ones-are-safe.aspx
Nutritional Deficiencies
This a risk for home prepared diets, cooked or raw. Raw diets usually have less of a chance of deficiency because the food in theory should be more nutritionally complete, no nutrients destroyed by the cooking process. If someone doesn't feed enough of a variety of foods, or organs, or a calcium source (raw bones, bone meal, egg shells, etc.) you could end up having some serious nutritional deficiencies that can result in serious health problems. This is why if you're considering doing a home prepared diet (raw or cooked) that you research it well, so you understand how to feed it properly. Some Raw feeding nutritional data information
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/bone-food-values-for-raw-feeding-dogs/
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/raw-diets-for-dogs-getting-enough-vitamins-and-minerals/
http://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/why-organ-meat-is-important-for-the-raw-fed-dog/
