I’ve fed my Dachshunds Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals on and off for years.
I feel it’s prime quality, I really like that I can have it delivered, firm is predicated right here in Western Washington so I can be ok with supporting a small, native firm.
On this article, I share my expertise with the Darwin’s uncooked food regimen to assist folks which may be contemplating it for his or her canine.
About Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals
Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals is made out of high-quality, human-grade meats and greens.
Darwin’s uncooked meal method is:
- 75% meat
- 25% greens
- Gluten-free & grain-free
- Freed from steroids, hormones, and antibiotics
- A nutritionally balanced full meal
- Excessive in protein, reasonable in fat, and low in carbohydrates
With that being stated, there are three completely different meal sorts out there on their web site.
Darwin’s Pure Picks™
Darwin’s Pure Picks™ is their premium recipe line of uncooked pet food made out of cage free (free-roaming), pasture raised, or grass fed (relying on the proteins) meats and natural greens.
Darwin’s BioLogics™
Darwin’s BioLogics is their worth line.
It makes use of the identical full and balanced method as Pure Picks, however the method is made out of recent, conventionally-raised and grown meats and greens.
Though the meats aren’t free vary or grass fed, they’re nonetheless hormone and steroid-free.
The greens used are from the identical farms that provide supermarkets.
Darwin’s Clever Design™
For canines with particular wants, additionally they have an Clever Design™ line (out there by prescription solely) which features a kidney, liver, most cancers, and joint & musculoskeletal help formulation.
From what I can inform on their web site, this meals is predicated on the Pure Picks formulation, however could have much less of 1 ingredient, or a further one, to deal with particular well being points.
What Makes Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals Totally different?
Darwin’s uncooked pet food was one of many first that I heard of and undoubtedly the primary I used to be conscious of that delivered.
Immediately, there are various uncooked canine meals available on the market and not less than a dozen of corporations that may ship the meals on to you.
So what makes Darwin’s stand out to me?
- Gary, the corporate’s founder, began in his personal kitchen making uncooked meals to deal with his personal canine’s well being points. He refined his formulation by years of expertise.
- Darwin’s provides a free menu session (for each new and current clients) if you’re unsure what or how a lot to feed your canine.
- You’ll be able to place an introductory 10 lb order for $14.95 to check out the meals earlier than absolutely committing to a subscription.
- Delivery is free for orders which might be 20 or extra kilos, besides to Hawaii and Alaska. Orders beneath this quantity are charged a $10.00 flat fee transport charge.
My Expertise With Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals
I attempted Darwin’s for the primary time round 2014. I signed up with their introductory supply for brand spanking new clients, however went again to getting my Dachshund’s frozen uncooked pet food in individual from the pet retailer after virtually a yr.
Nevertheless, after making an attempt a number of completely different manufacturers of uncooked pet food, I got here again to Darwin’s.
Be aware: When you’ve been following us you understand I wish to rotate canine’s meals usually.
To at the present time, Darwin’s meals continues to be one of many uncooked meals in our rotation.
My favourite occasions to make use of Darwin’s meals are:
- Once I wish to feed a uncooked meal with out including organs and greens myself
- In a Kong or on a lick mat in order that I do know my canines will go nuts and they’re getting balanced diet as a substitute of junk meals
- Once I get uninterested in having to run to the pet retailer all the time
The meals is available in particular person pouches. I neither like or dislike this.
The largest plus for Darwin’s is that the pouches are straightforward to open, even with moist fingers.
I don’t use one full pouch, even to feed two miniature Dachshunds one meal, so there may be all the time {a partially} opened pouch within the fridge.
It will be good if there was an choice to purchase a bulk container so much less packaging is used, however the person pouches assist forestall the meals from being contaminated by micro organism, so I’m not optimistic I would love one massive container.
Shipments have all the time arrived in a well timed method, with out harm, and the meals was nonetheless frozen.
Have There Been Any Remembers for Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals?
When you don’t find out about them already, sooner or later, you’ll in all probability uncover that there have been voluntary recollects of Darwin’s uncooked meals, and a pair Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings, prior to now.
Darwin’s pet meals is monitored for probably unsafe micro organism each by the corporate and by the FDA.
The FDA maintains a zero-tolerance coverage which disallows any presence of Salmonella, even in portions too low to trigger hurt to both people or pets, in pet meals.
In keeping with my data and DogFoodAdvisor, that is the recall historical past.
2017 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s because of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella contamination. No pet diseases have been reported to the corporate.
2018 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s because of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella contamination in a single case of pet food. No pet diseases have been reported to the corporate.
2018 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s because of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella and/or E. Coli contamination. No pet diseases have been reported to the corporate.
2019 – the FDA issued a public warning after testing indicated Salmonella contamination. No pet diseases have been reported to the corporate.
Necessary word: Darwin’s had already contacted clients who indicated the meals had already been consumed with no points. The FDA issued the warning after Darwin’s refused to show over non-public buyer information.
2023 – the FDA issued a public warning after testing indicated Salmonella contamination. No pet diseases have been reported to the corporate.
You’ll be able to learn the official assertion by Darwin’s made after the latest FDA warning HERE.
I feel it’s related to say a few factors right here:
- The digestive system of most canines is ready to course of pathogens reminiscent of Salmonella or E. coli with out hurt, except they’re already sick with another situation.
- Likewise, people are sometimes unaffected by low ranges of bacterial contamination except they’ve an underlying well being subject or compromised immune system.
- Remembers aren’t one thing that solely occurs with uncooked meals. Voluntary recollects have been made on all types of meals prior to now – kibble, canned, and uncooked.
Personally, I’m zero fearful about these voluntary recollects and warnings.
In reality, voluntary recollects inform me that they firm is monitoring their meals for security and all the time erring on the facet of warning.
Neither my canines or I’ve vital well being points or compromised immune techniques although.
Disclosure: I really like Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals and purchase it myself. Nevertheless, they’ve despatched me a pair shipments prior to now without charge in alternate for sharing my ideas with you.