FAQ Page

We have always found that a healthy pet should be able to make the transition "cold turkey".

For those that feel more comfortable with a slower switch we recommend feeding one meal of your kibble and feeding the second meal of raw.

When the poops are good and consistent, switch the second feeding to raw and observe the poop for consistency. Let the pet's body tell you when it is ready.

For seniors, immune compromised and pets suffering from illness, you may need a slower transition. This is a suggested transition offered by raw feeders.

• Day 1 and 2: Feed 25% raw and 75% current food.
• Day 3 and 4: Feed 50% raw and 50% current food.
• Day 5 and 6: Feed 75% raw and 25% current food.
• Day 7: 100% raw

The very best way to do this is in the fridge overnight. Always serve the liquid/juice/blood with the meat, as many vital nutrients are contained in this juice. Once you become accustomed to raw feeding, you will easily keep a rotation going in the fridge, thawing and ready for the next day. Manufacturers suggest the human-grade raw food is good for up to three to four days from thaw, as per the manufacturer's suggestion.

Gnawing on raw bones is very natural and enjoyable for dogs, but not every bone is safe. The benefits of raw bones are not the same for all bones. Some edible bones are rich in nutrients and can aid in dental care and digestion.

Fresh meat on the bone in natural proportions can be given as an occasional meal. An occasional chew bone or play bone can also be given in addition to a meal. 

*Cooked bones should NEVER be given, and all dogs should be closely supervised with all bones!

A natural, biologically appropriate diet would consist of eating and fasting. A wild canine would naturally fast to give its immune system a chance to look after itself. It gives the immune system a break and a chance to detoxify any toxic build-up and restore balance. It is quite healthy, and some dogs still need to do this despite being fed regularly. I have noticed Huskies and Shepherds to be most prone to natural fasting.

Your pet will consume most of the moisture from the raw food and therefore does not need to drink what it used to when it consumed kibble.

Let us clear this up. Raw feeding is generally the same price as vet food or sometimes even less than vet food. As an example, a 50lb dog generally eats 1 pound of raw food a day. Rawsome sells a pack of raw food that has four different proteins (15 x 2lb tubs) for a total of 30 lbs.

This pack would last a 50lb dog 30 days and is $103.99 for the month. 

Our raw suppliers only source human-grade proteins.

There is a chance your pet may already carry Salmonella bacteria as part of their GI flora. It is found in up to 36% of healthy dogs. Dogs have amazing immune systems specifically designed to eat all manner of bacteria. These pathogens are found in your fridge, your sink, your backyard, at the park, and many other places already. A healthy raw-fed pet manages those without problems. Carnivores' short digestive tracts are designed for processing raw meat, and their pH value stops the pathogens from colonizing. Any bacteria left in your pet are shed through the feces. 

PLEASE NOTE: The majority of human and pet salmonella recalls come from handling or ingesting dry-processed foods and treats. 

Raw feeders tend to be much more cognizant of safety practices when dealing with raw products. Wash your hands, disinfect surfaces thoroughly clean your pets dish and keep away from small children. Just like you would do when preparing your own food.

In short, you don't shy away from eating fresh foods because we need to practice safe handling, nor should our pets be deprived

Optimal health and development.
Reduction/elimination of allergies.
Better weight control.
Improved digestion.
Better stamina and more energy.
Increased mobility in aging dogs.
Healthier, shinier skin and coat.
Cleaner teeth and fresher breath.
Smaller, less smelly, and better-formed stools.
Improved liver, bowel, and pancreatic health.
Strengthened immune system.
Fewer appointments with the vet.

First and most important, cooked or smoked bones are dangerous and should never be given! When cooked or smoked bones become brittle the chance of them splintering into sharp shards are very high and dangerous. These hard cooked bones also increased the risk of cracking or breaking a tooth.

Gnawing on raw meaty bones is very natural and extremely enjoyable for dogs. The shearing, biting, and crushing action of chewing meat and cartilage on the bone will massage and naturally clean the dog's teeth and gums. This naturally clears any residual food and tartar. Marx et al, 2016 found that adult dogs given beef bones as chews reduce dental calculus by 57% after 3 days and 82% after 12 days, with no complications such as tooth fractures or intestinal obstructions observed.

Edible bones are rich in nutrients and aid in dental care, digestion, mental stimulation, and growth. Dogs can digest edible bones. Chicken necks for puppy's and turkey necks for larger dogs, they are a great choice to start new raw dogs on.

Fresh meat on the bone in natural proportions can be given as an occasional meal replacement.

There rarely exists a raw-fed diabetic dog. Kibble-fed pets that make the switch do phenomenally well on raw diets. When transitioning the dog to raw, the dog absolutely needs to be monitored by a Veterinarian. When a kibble-fed pet switches to raw, this automatically reduces the total amount of carbohydrates in the diet and therefore immediately reduces the amount of insulin required. This again can be done, but needs to be monitored by your Veterinarian.

Pets can vomit if the food is too cold or if they ate too quickly. Make sure it is fully thawed.

When switching your pet from over-processed synthetic food to a live raw diet, the pet can go through a detox process. The pH balance needs to be adjusted, the gut biome has to re-establish, and they need to mobilize the toxins that have been stored in the cells of their bodies. This can show up as an upset tummy, runny eyes, itchy skin, smelly breath, and pimples when detoxifying. A healthier balance takes time for dogs that have poor gut health, and a slower transition can help these dogs. A good pre- and probiotic with digestive enzymes can often help with this transition issue. Adored Beast Healthy Gut or our raw fermented goat's milk is quite helpful if you have these issues.

No.

Yes absolutely, they thrive on raw and the transition can take place at any time. More and more breeders are seeing the healthy benefits of raw and are weaning their puppies straight to raw, just like the wolf pups would experience in the wild.

Cats are obligate carnivores which means they need a higher protein requirement than other mammals. Cats also hate change and seem to imprint on the food that they were first fed as a kitten.

For best results when trying to transition a cat, feed 1/4 of the new food and mix with 3/4 of the old food. Slowly increase the percentage of new food until you are feeding on full raw. Remember to go slow, or the cat will let you know this is not acceptable. If you still have issues, you can slightly cook the raw food (only those proteins with calcium carbonate, NOT with bone). Then slowly decrease the cook until raw.

Another transition trick is to mix tuna in with the raw and decrease until straight raw. If your cat is healthy you can safely fast your cat for a day and then offer raw (always have fresh water available for your cat).

If the butcher has more blood, it will get added back, and the meat will be darker. If the butcher has less blood, it will be lighter. The moisture content can also change if the ingredients naturally have extra moisture; there is no way to remove that, nor do you want that, as nutrients reside in that moisture.

No food colouring or preservatives are used in the meat to change the natural look of the meat.

All the ingredients for our raw companies come from federally or provincially inspected slaughterhouses.

Raw dog food is human-grade, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free. Any pet food meat not meeting human-grade standards goes to pet feed. The rendered pet feed (meat meal) can be made from rancid, dirty, adulterated, road kill, dead, diseased, decaying, or dying animals. The most disturbing of all ... we can't even locate any regulation forbidding the use of euthanized pets in commercial dog food. The FDA said "they were shocked that pentobarbital, a drug used to euthanize animals, has been found in many major pet foods (such as Purina, ProPlan and Hills)".

As per the v-dog.com article, the FDA stated, "they assume it was from rendered cattle or horses, even though the drug is used to euthanize dogs and cats". Either way, that is not what I want my dog or cat consuming.

Sanimal Inc., here in Quebec, Canada, before 2001 used to process 18200kg of dead cats and dogs every week. They stopped accepting the carcasses of cats, dogs, sheep, and roadkill animals to make their meat meal used in their kibble due to "public image". This was a huge concern for veterinarians and pet shelters that would send these animals to the rendering plants for a small fee.

We are always right here to answer your questions and concerns. We really do care about your pets and see this as our mission.