Many pet dad and mom are turning to the most effective uncooked pet food manufacturers for his or her pet’s dietary wants. Kibble is likely to be the handy choice, nevertheless it usually lacks the protein and vitamins that canine profit from. Uncooked pet food is a weight-reduction plan that may assist preserve your canine in form whereas additionally interesting to choosy eaters.
Nonetheless, switching to uncooked pet food requires some analysis to be sure you select a recipe that’s supreme in your canine’s wants. Think about your canine’s weight, well being situations, allergic reactions, and preferences when deciding what sort of uncooked meals to get them.
What’s Uncooked Canine Meals?
“Uncooked pet food” often describes any kind of pet food that makes use of uncooked, raw components, comparable to meat, organs, bones, fruits, and greens. It’s designed to imitate the high-protein diets of your canine’s ancestors.
Within the wild, it’s widespread for canines to eat entire animals after searching them, bones and all. So, your canine’s ancestors ate meals that was excessive in protein with minimal carbohydrates. Canine have modified rather a lot since their time within the wild, however they nonetheless profit from a weight-reduction plan that incorporates numerous actual meat.
Most canine dad and mom feed their canine dry meals, which is excessive in carbohydrates to provide it a crunchy texture and enhance its shelf life. Kibble usually has extra carbs than canine are supposed to ingest, which might result in weight acquire and different well being issues in some instances. Thus, many canine dad and mom are actually attempting uncooked pet food to provide their pups meals which can be increased in actual, nutritious animal merchandise.
Uncooked pet food is often served in frozen or freeze-dried varieties.
Associated: 10 Greatest Pet Canine Meals
Uncooked Canine Meals vs. Contemporary Canine Meals
Contemporary pet food is one other kind of pet food that’s rising in recognition on account of its excessive protein and high quality components. Each uncooked and contemporary meals comprise entire components, together with meat, fruits, and greens. Nonetheless, the primary distinction is that contemporary meals goes via a cooking course of whereas uncooked meals doesn’t.
Should you’d quite serve your canine contemporary meals as an alternative of uncooked meals, take a look at the finest contemporary pet food manufacturers.
Can You Make Your Personal Uncooked Canine Meals Recipes?
Sure, many canine dad and mom select to create their very own uncooked pet food recipes versus shopping for a model. Nonetheless, this may be dangerous in the event you don’t know what you’re doing. You’ll want to make sure your canine will get a correct stability of protein, fats, carbs, and vitamins. Should you’re not assured you’ll be able to put together that in your canine, you’ll be able to discuss to a vet or canine nutritionist for recommendation.
Although creating uncooked pet food recipes is hard for freshmen, it will possibly enable you to really feel extra assured about your canine’s well being in the long term. You’ll know precisely what’s going into your canine’s meals, so you’ll be able to cater these components to suit your canine’s wants, comparable to together with their favourite meals and excluding their allergic reactions.
Nonetheless, uncooked pet food manufacturers are usually safer and extra handy for canine dad and mom utilizing uncooked meals for the primary time. They’ll already present a nutritionally-balanced meal in your furry buddy, so there are much less dangers concerned.
Uncooked Canine Meals Execs and Cons
Like all kinds of pet food, there are advantages and disadvantages to uncooked pet food. Listed below are some professionals and cons to think about.
Advantages of Uncooked Canine Meals
- Makes use of restricted, high-quality components
- Appeals to choosy eaters
- Improves digestion
- Reduces allergy signs
- Improves pores and skin and coat well being
- Results in firmer stools
- Assists with weight administration
- Will increase vitality ranges
Downsides of Uncooked Canine Meals
- It’s costly
- Has the next threat of spreading micro organism
- Might be more durable to retailer
- Takes extra time to organize and serve
Greatest Uncooked Canine Meals Manufacturers
Under are a few of the finest uncooked pet food manufacturers available on the market that will help you determine which one is your best option in your furry buddy.
1. We Feed Uncooked
We Feed Uncooked is one other pet food firm that creates meal plans that cater to your canine’s wants. All you need to do is reply some questions on your pet, after which the corporate will counsel the perfect meals for them. Through the questionnaire, the corporate takes into consideration your canine’s age, weight, breed, allergic reactions, and present weight-reduction plan.
This firm affords uncooked pet food in a number of proteins, together with hen, beef, turkey, duck, lamb, and venison. All of the formulation are created by a PhD animal nutritionist who has over 30 years of expertise within the trade. The meals is at all times excessive in protein, so the primary 4 to 5 components come from actual animal merchandise. All of the meat comes from animals raised on farms in the USA and New Zealand.
This firm solely makes use of USDA-certified and human-grade meats for its merchandise. The meals is shipped to your door at no extra value. It may be shipped to any of the 48 contiguous states. The meals ships chilly, and it will possibly keep contemporary within the fridge for as much as 4 days. Within the freezer, it will possibly final for as much as six months.
Advantages:
- Provides customized feeding plans
- Free transport to your door
- Good for canine with allergic reactions
- Solely makes use of human-grade meats
- Formulated by PhD animal nutritionist
- iHeartDogs Supply: Save 25% off now with subscription utilizing code IHEARTDOGS25!
2. Darwin’s Pure Pet Merchandise
Darwin’s is a subscription-based uncooked pet food model, making it among the finest uncooked pet food supply companies. Clients begin by filling out a questionnaire about their canine, after which, the corporate will counsel the most effective uncooked meals to suit their pup’s wants. The meals is auto-shipped to your door frozen for no extra value. So, you’ll have to thaw it within the fridge in a single day earlier than serving it to your canine.
There are three essential kinds of uncooked formulation: Pure Choices, BioLogics, and Clever Design. Pure Choices are made utilizing free-range meats and natural greens, whereas BioLogic makes use of conventionally-sourced components at a extra inexpensive worth. Then, Clever Design has formulation catered to particular well being situations. There are lots of protein choices out there, together with hen, duck, turkey, beef, and lamb. Canine nutritionists helped formulate the recipes.
All of Darwin’s meals is excessive in animal protein, with over 70% protein in every meal. This meals can ship nationwide in the USA, however you gained’t discover it in any pet shops. Many canine dad and mom love this model as a result of it affords balanced uncooked diets in easy-to-open packages. The one draw back is that this meals is pricier than different fashionable uncooked meals manufacturers.
Advantages:
- Provides customized feeding plans
- Number of meal choices
- You possibly can select between completely different ingredient-sourcing choices
- Free transport to your door
- Good for canine with allergic reactions
- Recipes formulated with the assistance of canine nutritionists
Associated: Nom Nom vs Farmer’s Canine Contemporary Canine Meals Comparability
3. Maev Uncooked Canine Meals
Maev is a model that makes a speciality of offering uncooked pet food, specializing in providing nutritionally balanced and species-appropriate meals for canine. Their merchandise sometimes embrace a combination of uncooked meats, bones, fruits, and greens. The components are flash-frozen for optimum nutrient absorption, making them as tasty and wholesome as potential in your furry buddy.
The model solely makes use of human-grade components, making certain the exclusion of fillers, synthetic preservatives, and components. Thus, the recipes intently mimic a canine’s ancestral weight-reduction plan, offering canines with a spread of important vitamins in a type that’s biologically acceptable for them. Canine can expertise numerous advantages from Maev’s weight-reduction plan, together with improved digestion, extra vitality, and more healthy pores and skin and coat.
When buying Maev’s meals, you’ll be able to select between hen, beef, or a mixture of each. Should you’re unsure how a lot to feed your canine, you may get personalized parts based mostly in your canine’s info. You can too select if there are specific areas you need the meals to assist with, comparable to weight, joints, nervousness, or hip and joint. The nutrient-rich meals is at all times shipped proper to your door to remove the necessity to get pet food from the shop.
Advantages:
- Flash-frozen for optimum nutrient absorption
- Arrives at your door able to eat
- Provides some customizable choices
- Made with human-grade components that mimic an ancestral weight-reduction plan
- Advantages digestion, vitality, pores and skin, coat, and extra
4. Stella & Chewy’s Freeze Dried Uncooked Dinner Patties
Should you’re not seeking to decide to a questionnaire or subscription to get uncooked pet food, Stella & Chewy’s is a extra handy choice. Their uncooked meals comes within the type of freeze-dried uncooked patties, which helps give it an extended shelf life whereas nonetheless preserving the vitamins of uncooked meals. The corporate affords all kinds of protein choices, together with hen, lamb, pork, rabbit, beef, turkey, and venison.
Because the meals is in patties, it’s straightforward to portion out your canine’s meals. You possibly can serve the freeze-dried patties as-is, however Stella & Chewy’s recommends rehydrating them to provide your canine some added moisture. To rehydrate, you’ll be able to crumble the meals and add a 1/4 cup of water for each two patties. These patties can be utilized as full meals, however many pet dad and mom use them as meals toppers as an alternative.
95% of the system consists of meat, organs, and bones. The recipes even have natural vegatables and fruits in them. The components used can profit pores and skin and coat well being, coronary heart well being, and digestion. The patties are additionally grain-free to cater to canine with allergic reactions. This firm’s merchandise are offered in pet provide shops throughout the USA, and the meals is formulated in USA services.
Advantages:
- Straightforward to portion
- Straightforward to retailer
- A number of methods to serve
- Good for canine with allergic reactions
- Number of choices
5. Intuition Freeze Dried Uncooked Meals
Intuition affords one other among the finest uncooked freeze dried canine meals on account of its comfort. It is available in small, freeze dried pellets which can be in regards to the measurement of kibble items. You possibly can feed the items as-is or you’ll be able to combine them with heat water, which is good for ensuring your pup will get sufficient moisture. These freeze dried items could be served as full meals or meals toppers.
85% of the system consists of meat, organs, and bones. Then, the remaining incorporates non-GMO fruits, greens, nutritional vitamins, and minerals. Regardless of trying like kibble, this pet food has by no means been cooked and it’s minimally processed to protect the vitamins. All of the pet food is made in USA kitchens. This meals comes with both beef, hen, or lamb as the first protein.
The freeze dried uncooked meals are the extra fashionable alternative, however there are additionally frozen uncooked meals out there. Should you’re not prepared to change fully to uncooked, Intuition additionally affords “Uncooked Increase” recipes, that are kibble combined with freeze dried uncooked items.
Advantages:
- Handy to retailer
- A number of methods to serve
- Good for canine with allergic reactions
- Different kinds of uncooked meals are additionally out there
6. Open Farm Freeze Dried Uncooked
Open Farm affords all kinds of pet food, together with dry, moist, contemporary, and uncooked. Their uncooked pet food is freeze dried to make it simpler to retailer and serve to your pup. Like different freeze dried choices, it may be used as a full meal or a topper. Freeze dried uncooked meals could be pricy, so many pet dad and mom get monetary savings by mixing it’ll kibble.
The freeze dried items are in regards to the measurement of kibble, so that they’re able to serve whenever you pour them out of the bag. Should you’re apprehensive your canine isn’t ingesting sufficient liquid, you’ll be able to combine heat water with the meals. In any other case, ensure that clear water is accessible to your canine whereas they’re consuming.
There are six formulation out there: surf & turf, grass-fed beef, pasture-raised lamb, homestead turkey, harvest hen, and farmer’s desk pork. Every recipe incorporates meat from humanely-raised animals, together with natural vegatables and fruits. On Open Farm’s web site, the supply of each ingredient is listed.
Advantages:
- Handy to retailer
- Might be served in a number of methods
- Good for canine with allergic reactions
- Plenty of protein choices
- Lists ingredient sourcing on the web site
7. Sojos Freeze Dried Uncooked Canine Meals
Sojos’ uncooked pet food is designed to supply full uncooked meals in a handy type. Their recipes are perfect for canine of all ages, sizes, and breeds. They at present have 5 formulation: turkey, beef, lamb, hen, and senior turkey & salmon. Additionally they have “Combine-a-Meal” recipes which can be uncooked pet food toppers.
To serve this meals, it’s worthwhile to combine and measure the right amount of meals and water as directed on the bag. Then, you’ll let the meals soak within the water for quarter-hour earlier than feeding it to your canine. The preparation time is a bit longer than it’s for different manufacturers, however the further soaking helps activate the vitamins and enzymes within the meals. Each pound of Sojos pet food makes as much as 5 kilos of meals when rehydrated.
Sojos makes use of ingredient lists which can be “quick and candy” to keep away from allergic reactions in canine. The USDA-approved animal protein is paired with human-grade, air-dried vegatables and fruits. All of the formulation are made in kitchens in the USA.
Advantages:
- Makes use of USDA-approved and human-grade components
- Rehydrating prompts the vitamins
- Number of choices
- Good for canine with allergic reactions
- Straightforward to retailer
8. Wysong Uncooked Canine Meals
Wysong affords a couple of several types of uncooked pet food diets. Their authentic uncooked weight-reduction plan is known as Archetype, which is a bag of freeze dried uncooked pet food that must be rehydrated earlier than serving. Some recipes of the Archetype meals additionally come within the type of burgers for patrons that need bigger portions. Additionally they promote “UnCanny” moist meals recipes, that are designed to be combined with the Archetype formulation.
This model’s uncooked meals is available in hen, rabbit, quail, and beef. All choices are excessive in pure protein and fats. Additionally they comprise plant vitamins, prebiotics, probiotics, nutritional vitamins, and minerals. These “Non-Thermal” uncooked pet food choices are designed to imitate your canine’s ancestral weight-reduction plan by specializing in excessive protein. The meals is just offered in small packages that protect vitamins, so it will possibly make an important meals topper in the event you don’t need to use it as a meal.
Should you like this model, however your canine isn’t a fan of their uncooked meals, in addition they have dry and moist meals formulation. All of the merchandise could be ordered on-line or bought at choose pet provide shops.
Advantages:
- A wide range of uncooked pet food choices
- Accommodates numerous vitamins
- Packaging preserves vitamins
- Good for canine with allergic reactions
- A number of methods to serve it
- iHeartDogs Supply: 10% off wholesome meals with the code 10OFFWYSONG
9. Primal Freeze Dried Uncooked Nuggets
Primal’s freeze dried uncooked pet food comes within the type of delicate nuggets. The nuggets make it straightforward to portion out meals in your canine based mostly on their weight. To show the freeze dried items into wholesome meals, you’ll be able to crumble up the nuggets as soon as they’re portioned and add heat water, broth, or goat milk to it. You’ll combine the chosen liquid with the meals to rehydrate it, making it extra nutritious and flavorful in your canine.
These freeze dried nuggets make nice full meals or meals toppers. They arrive in quite a lot of protein choices, together with beef, lamb, pork, duck, venison, and rabbit. This firm additionally affords some frozen uncooked choices.
All of the components utilized in primal meals are sourced from sustainable ranchers and inspected by the USDA. Along with high quality animal protein, in addition they have natural vegatables and fruits, together with non-synthetic nutritional vitamins and minerals. Total, it is a handy alternative for canine dad and mom who’re new to uncooked pet food. Nonetheless, some prospects complained that the nuggets had been crumbled after they obtained them.
Advantages:
- Is available in quite a lot of proteins
- Straightforward to portion
- Might be served in a number of methods
- Filled with vitamins
- Straightforward to retailer and journey with
10. Uncooked Wild LLC
Uncooked Wild is a web based uncooked pet food subscription service. The meals will ship to your door in a Styrofoam cooler, and it needs to be saved within the freezer to protect its freshness. When making ready to serve the meals to your canine, you need to thaw it within the fridge in a single day. You may get a reduction in the event you order the trial for the primary time.
All of Uncooked Wild’s meals is constructed from wild elk and deer. Over 99% of the meals consists of meat and bones from wild animals. The corporate selected to not embrace organs as a result of they didn’t need to add organs that might probably contaminate the wild meals. The remainder of the meals is made up of important nutritional vitamins and minerals.
Uncooked Wild is a bit pricier than many different uncooked pet food manufacturers as a result of they’ve a restricted inventory since all of the meat comes from wild animals. They hand-pack and hand-inspect each product to make sure it’s the perfect high quality. All of the merchandise meet AAFCO requirements, and the meat is processed in a facility that additionally processes elk and deer for human consumption. So, the requirements and stage of high quality are at all times excessive with this model.
Advantages:
- Solely makes use of meat from wild animals
- Over 99% of the meals is meat and bones
- Avoids organs to scale back the chance of contamination
- Subscription ships to your door
- Makes use of uncommon kinds of human-grade meat
11. Halo Meal Bites Freeze Dried Uncooked
Halo Freeze Dried Uncooked Meal Bites was referred to as TruDog Feed Me Freeze Dried Canine Meals. The branding modified in July 2022. Although the identify and packaging are completely different, the meals nonetheless has the identical nice recipe and style. The corporate freeze-dries uncooked components into crunchy pellets to lock within the pure vitamins and flavors.
The meals could be served as-is, however the firm recommends rehydrating it to provide your canine further moisture. Should you don’t rehydrate the meals, ensure that your pup has entry to wash water. The primary a number of components of the meals are animal meat and organs, together with nutritional vitamins and vitamins. Trying on the ingredient listing won’t sound interesting to you, nevertheless it’s wholesome and mouth-watering for canine.
You possibly can select between beef, turkey, whitefish, or turkey & duck recipes. Some canine dad and mom aren’t keen on this meals as a result of it has sturdy odors, however that signifies that it often pursuits choosy eaters.
Advantages:
- Handy to retailer
- Locks in pure vitamins and flavors
- A number of methods to serve
- Appeals to choosy canine
- Good for canine with delicate stomachs
12. Uncooked Paws Pet Meals
Uncooked Paws has the most effective selection in terms of uncooked pet food. They provide uncooked meals recipes in patties or ground-up. They’ve merchandise with and with out vegatables and fruits, they usually even provide uncooked meat by itself. So, you’ll be able to both order pre-made uncooked recipes or you’ll be able to order easier merchandise and add components to them to create customizable meals in your canine.
They provide hen, beef, turkey, salmon, lamb, goat, and venison merchandise. So, there are many merchandise to select from no matter your canine’s preferences. A lot of the meals must be saved within the freezer, after which you’ll be able to thaw it within the fridge whenever you put together in your canine’s upcoming meals. There are a number of uncooked deal with choices too. The meals can all be ordered on-line and shipped to your door. It’s not out there in any pet provide shops.
The broad choice of uncooked pet food merchandise could be overwhelming for brand spanking new prospects, nevertheless it means that you can select the one that’s finest in your canine. All of the merchandise use components sourced from “accountable and moral farms.” Probably the greatest elements of this firm is that they ship the merchandise shortly so that they don’t thaw throughout transport. US orders positioned on weekdays ship out on the identical day, and weekend orders ship out the next Monday.
Advantages:
- Vast number of merchandise can be found
- Quick transport
- Full meals, elements of uncooked meals, and treats out there
- Good for choosy eaters
- Provides free meal plans
Transitioning to Uncooked Canine Meals
It’s at all times a good suggestion to do a gradual transition when switching your canine to a brand new meals as a result of it helps stop tummy troubles. Transitioning is particularly necessary when there’s a drastic change in weight-reduction plan, comparable to from kibble to uncooked pet food.
Right here’s our advisable transitioning course of:
- Days 1 to three: Serve 80% previous meals with 20% new uncooked meals
- Days 4 to 7: Serve 50% previous meals with 50% new meals
- Days 7 to 14: Serve 20% previous meals with 80% new meals
- Day 15: 100% new meals
Since uncooked meals is far completely different than dry pet food, it’s finest to have a gradual transition. It ought to take at the very least one to 2 weeks earlier than you feed your canine a 100% uncooked weight-reduction plan. If you understand your canine is delicate to new meals, you could need to make the transition much more gradual. It’s higher to be secure than sorry in terms of your canine’s well being.
Associated: 9 Greatest Dry Canine Meals
Steadily Requested Questions
Under are some widespread questions canine dad and mom switching to uncooked meals ask.
Are Uncooked Canine Meals Diets Protected?
Sure, uncooked diets are secure for canine, so long as they supply a balanced weight-reduction plan. Canine have shorter digestive tracts and better acidity of their digestive programs, permitting them to tolerate micro organism higher than people. So, so long as you select a model with an excellent stability of components and observe via with a gradual transition, your canine can be unlikely to face points.
How Will Uncooked Meals Change My Canine’s Stool?
As soon as a canine will get used to a uncooked weight-reduction plan, their stool will doubtless be smaller and firmer. Nonetheless, in the course of the transition interval, you could discover unfastened stool as their physique adjusts to the brand new weight-reduction plan.
Can Canine Get Salmonella From Uncooked Hen?
Sure, canine can get Salmonella from uncooked meals, however canine can deal with the next stage of micro organism than people can. So, uncooked pet food poses an even bigger threat for people than it does for canine. To forestall the unfold of micro organism, at all times wash your fingers and anything the uncooked meals touched after making ready your canine’s meals.
Are Bones in Uncooked Canine Meals Harmful?
No, uncooked bones are useful in your canine’s well being. They don’t splinter the best way cooked bones do, so that they’re safer to eat. Nonetheless, uncooked bones aren’t advisable for puppies beneath six months as a result of their enamel aren’t sturdy sufficient to chew them.
Can Canine With Allergic reactions Eat Uncooked Meals?
Sure, uncooked pet food is mostly higher for canine with allergic reactions as a result of it has fewer components. So, it’s simpler to maintain observe of what components your canine is consuming so you’ll be able to keep away from potential allergens.
Can You Swap Between Meat Sources When Serving Uncooked Canine Meals?
Sure, as soon as your canine has transitioned to a uncooked weight-reduction plan, you’ll be able to change between meat sources frequently. Utilizing quite a lot of meat sources is nice in your canine’s well being and retains them within the meals, so long as you don’t use meat they’re allergic to.
Is Uncooked Canine Meals Grain-Free?
Sure, most uncooked pet food recipes are grain-free as a result of uncooked meals naturally doesn’t have grains. So, it may be nice for canine who’ve difficulties digesting grains.
Can a Canine Be Fed Each Uncooked Meals and Dry Meals (Kibble)?
Sure, canine could be fed each uncooked and dry meals, often known as “mixture feeding.” Nonetheless, guarantee every weight-reduction plan is full and balanced for correct diet. Whereas uncooked and kibble digest at completely different charges, most canine can deal with this combine. Transition between diets regularly to keep away from abdomen upset. Seek the advice of a veterinarian or canine nutritionist when contemplating important dietary adjustments. Monitor your canine for adjustments in urge for food, conduct, or digestion when introducing new meals. Every canine’s dietary wants can range.
The place Can You Purchase Uncooked Canine Meals?
Relying on the model, most uncooked pet food could be ordered on-line or bought at a pet provide retailer. Dehydrated uncooked meals is less complicated to seek out at native shops than frozen or refrigerated meals.
How Ought to You Defrost Uncooked Canine Meals?
One of the best ways to thaw frozen uncooked pet food is to transfer it to the fridge 12 to 24 hours earlier than you propose to serve it.
Can Uncooked Canine Meals Be Cooked?
Sure, you’ll be able to prepare dinner uncooked pet food, however it’s not supposed to be cooked. Cooking it’ll take away a few of the further vitamins that uncooked meals is thought for. If there are uncooked bones within the meals, cooking them may trigger them to splinter and develop into harmful.
Why Isn’t Uncooked Canine Meals Extra Widespread?
The variety of canine dad and mom utilizing uncooked diets is rising, nevertheless it’s not very talked-about for a couple of causes. The most important cause is value. Quite a lot of pet dad and mom aren’t in a position to commit further time and cash to making ready pet food, so sticking to kibble is the better alternative. Additionally, many pet dad and mom are unaware of the advantages and the number of choices in terms of uncooked pet food.
Canine dad and mom seeking to strive uncooked meals with out wanting to change the meal fully can strive uncooked meals toppers.
Is Uncooked Canine Meals Proper for Your Pup?
Should you’re searching for a more healthy weight-reduction plan in your canine, the most effective uncooked pet food manufacturers needs to be thought-about. Uncooked pet food could be nice for choosy eaters or canine who aren’t getting sufficient vitamins of their present diets. Nonetheless, uncooked meals could be pricy and will take extra time to organize in your canine, so it’s not for everybody. Should you don’t need to must preserve your canine’s meals chilly, you’ll be able to go for a few of the finest freeze dried uncooked pet food for simpler storage.
It doesn’t matter what model you select, the most effective uncooked pet food weight-reduction plan may help your pup have a more healthy way of life. Any of the manufacturers on this listing are nice choices to change to, so long as you present a gradual transition.
Undecided if uncooked pet food is best for you? Try our listing of Greatest Canine Meals to see a few of the different choices out there to you and your pup.