Our Raw food Guide

In recent years, there has been a growing trend among pet owners towards providing their canine companions with a diet that closely mimics what their wild ancestors would have eaten. This trend is commonly known as the raw dog food diet. Advocates of raw feeding argue that it can lead to a myriad of health benefits for dogs, including improved coat condition, enhanced dental health, increased energy levels, and better digestion. In this blog, we'll delve into the fundamentals of raw dog food, exploring its benefits, potential risks, and tips for transitioning your furry friend to this natural and ancestral diet.

Understanding Raw Dog Food:

The raw dog food diet consists of uncooked and minimally processed ingredients, typically including raw meat, bones, organs, and sometimes vegetables. Proponents of this diet believe that it mirrors what dogs would eat in the wild, promoting overall health and well-being.

Benefits of Raw Dog Food:

Improved Coat and Skin Health: Raw diets are often rich in essential fatty acids, promoting a shiny and healthy coat. Additionally, the natural oils in raw meat can contribute to moisturized skin.
Enhanced Dental Health: Gnawing on raw meaty bones provides a natural way for dogs to clean their teeth, reducing the risk of dental issues such as plaque and tartar buildup.
Optimal Weight and Muscle Mass: The high protein content in raw diets supports muscle development and maintenance, helping dogs maintain an ideal weight.
Better Digestion: Raw diets are thought to be easier for dogs to digest compared to processed commercial dog foods. This can lead to smaller, firmer stools and reduced gastrointestinal issues.
Increased Energy Levels: Many dog owners report that their pets on a raw diet exhibit increased energy and vitality.

Potential Risks:

While there are numerous benefits associated with raw dog food, it's crucial to be aware of potential risks:

Bacterial Contamination: Raw meat can harbor harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, posing a risk to both dogs and their human caretakers. Proper handling, storage, and hygiene are paramount.
Nutritional Imbalance: It can be challenging to achieve a well-balanced diet without careful planning. Dogs may miss out on essential nutrients if the raw diet is not adequately varied.
Choking Hazard: Bones, particularly cooked bones, can splinter and pose a choking hazard or cause gastrointestinal blockages.

Transitioning to a Raw Diet:

Raw food is a natural source of nutrients for dogs, if you are considering changing your dog diet to raw it’s important to keep in mind the following:

Age of your dog – Older dogs will require a slower introduction to raw with a lighter protein such as fish and chicken to start.

Current meal – if fed on a kibble diet, some dogs will easily make the transition. Other dogs you may find there is an initial change and see signs of a stomach upset or loose stool (this is a result of kibble being a slow release of nutrients compared to raw). These signs will be temporary while the stomach adjusts. If you see signs, consider slowing the transitioning period further to assist your dog’s stomach to adjust to a natural raw diet. The benefits of raw will show in time.

Allergies – if your dog has shown an allergy to a protein in the past, we recommend you avoid the protein to start. Once your dog is on a full raw dog diet it’s up to you to consider if you want to try the protein again in its raw form.

Prescribed medications - We ask that you complete your own research and connect with a dog nutritionist and vet to help with your dog's diet decisions.

Younger dogs have been known to be able to make the switch immediately but the cautious dog owner or feeding older dogs we recommend that you introduce raw food gradually by replacing 10% of the current meal with raw for 1-4 days. On days 4-14 increase the raw food in the bowl gradually until you have a 100% raw dog food bowl. Continue to observe your dog and adjust based on any signs of stomach sensitivities. Once fully onto a raw food, you can then start mixing up the proteins (so, they get the benefits of each protein)

Adult dog feeding:

When it comes to adult dogs, there are other considerations and needs you should factor in. An adult dog’s diet is based on maintenance instead of the growth support that they needed as a puppy.

Just like humans, a dog’s portion depends on their weight, metabolism and their activity level. Of course, you should talk to your vet if your dog has any special dietary needs or medical requirements that affect her food intake.

Here are some general guidelines for feeding your adult dog raw food:

Active, underweight adult dogs should eat 3% of their current weight in kilos per day. Senior, less active, overweight adult dogs should eat 1.5% of their current weight in kilos per day. Adult dogs at an ideal weight should eat 2-3% of their current weight in kilos per day.

Puppy Feeding:

If you’ve ever owned a puppy before, you know how fast they grow. It seems like every time you turn around they get bigger and bigger, no matter how badly you wish they’d stay little. As a result of this growth, puppies need the right portion of raw food to provide them with the nutrients to keep them going.

Age % of weight needed

2 - 4 months 7.5% - 8.5%

4 - 6 months 5.5% - 7.5%

6 - 8 months 4.5% - 7.5%

8 - 10 months 3.5% - 4.5%

10 - 12 months 3.5%

If you are wondering how often you should feed your dog, we recommend 2-4 times per day for puppies and 1-2 times per day for adult dogs. Again, this will depend on if your dog has any specific requirements set out by your vet.

Storage and Preparation

Keep your frozen food in the freezer, and just bring out enough for approximately 2 days at a time, storing them in the fridge in a sealed container where they will thaw slowly.

We recommend having 3 containers going at a time – each containing a single meal portion. This way you can have one defrosting, one part thawed, and one fully thawed in the fridge at any point in time. Once thawed, they will keep in the fridge in a sealed container for 2-3 days.

You can also thaw them on the bench at room temperature, then transfer to the fridge once defrosted.