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Raw Feeding FAQ's

How and where do I start with raw feeding?

We advise setting a start date and feeding only raw food from that day. Visit the Learning Centre for step by step guidance!

What about organs?

Secreting organs should make up 10% of the overall diet – half of which should be liver (5% of overall diet). Organs can be fed daily, or less frequently in larger portions - if it suits your pet. Secreting organs include liver, kidney, testicles, brain and spleen. Heart and lung should be fed as muscle/meat, not as organ. Heart should be limited to 20% of overall diet.

Our INTERACTIVE Raw Feeding Calculator will tell you the correct amounts and ratios to feed your pet based on their age and weight.

Do I need to add any fruit, veg or other supplements?

If you are feeding a balanced and varied raw diet at the correct ratios of 80% meat/muscle (which should include some heart, oily fish and tripe), 10% bone and 10% organ, there should be no need to supplement the diet. Veg, fruit and herbs and seeds can be added as an option and offer benefits to some pets, but these aren't seen as an essential part for those following a “Prey Model” raw diet, which mimics the ratios of the small prey a carnivore would hunt and kill to survive.

I’m worried about feeding bones, are they dangerous?

Your pet is designed to eat meat and bone (prey). Their jaws and digestive tract are more than capable of managing them efficiently - with some practice required for some. Poultry bones are super soft and a great staple to include. They can help maintain great oral health, along with meaty ribs and necks.

Weight bearing bones from larger animals should be avoided since these bones are so dense, they are able to break the teeth of intense chompers!

My vet says raw feeding isn’t safe/is difficult to get right/can cause problems. Why would my vet say that?

In our experience, we find vets with these opinions usually have first hand experience and knowledge of raw feeding/bone feeding horror stories. Some vets take these opinions without doing any independent research about what responsible raw feeding is all about. Many vets receive limited nutritional training which is usually provided by commercial pet food manufacturers such as Royal Canin, Purina, and Science Plan. We feel it realistic to say the training provided is likely biased towards feeding from the product range which these manufacturers offer. These companies are never going to train vets that a natural, unprocessed diet is better, because that is not what they are selling.

With all things considered, we also accept that even with the very best of intentions, a poorly executed raw diet can have worse consequences than feeding processed foods. With the growing popularity of raw feeding, vets are seeing an increasing number of cases where raw/natural feeding isn’t being done correctly.

For pro-raw vets, please visit the Raw Feeding Vets Society (Yes, this actually exists!)

Can I refreeze after defrosting?

Yes, due to many raw feeders having to divide packs into smaller portions, this is quite a common practice amongst raw feeders. We advise to always defrost in the fridge so products are kept at a chilled temperature and not allowed to reach room temperature to keep bacteria growth to a minimum.

I forgot to defrost food for today, what can I do?

Don’t panic and never use a microwave! Place frozen packs into a bowl of tepid water for half an hour or so. Alternatively, feed frozen – it’s perfectly fine and a lovely treat during warmer weather!

I’m a bit overwhelmed with all the information I need to understand before raw feeding. Can I just give my dog some raw mince along with his/her regular dried food to make it more interesting?

We do not advise this way of feeding. We do not recommend mixing a raw diet with processed foods – what is the point? To achieve the full benefit of feeding a raw diet, processed foods should be avoided.

Without doubt, the best choice you can make for the long term health of your pet is to not feed processed foods. This is not about raw feeding – this is about excluding processed foods so your pet can lead a healthier, and hopefully a much longer life with you. You do not need to become an expert in nutrition. There are so many great products available that take the guesswork out of successful raw feeding. Many raw brands now offer balanced raw meals in a single pack - we've made them easy to find in our online store, click here to go right there!

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