If you're considering switching to raw dog food, here's my straightforward take: it can be one of the most powerful upgrades you make to your dog’s health—when done right.
Needs proper nutritional balance (not all DIY diets are complete)
Not always convenient for busy pet owners
Final Score: 8.7 / 10
What Is Raw Dog Food? 🥩
Raw dog food typically consists of uncooked meat, bones, organs, and sometimes fruits and vegetables. It aims to mimic a dog’s ancestral diet—something closer to what wolves eat in the wild.
Highly processed, which can reduce nutrient quality
👉 My Verdict: Raw dog food stands out as the healthier choice, especially for dogs with sensitivities, allergies, or low energy. However, it demands more effort and responsibility from the owner.
Commercial Raw Dog Food
If you don’t have time or the inclination to prepare raw food yourself, you can also buy pre-made raw dog food. We’re not talking about freeze-dried raw or frozen raw. Some people sell fresh raw food for dogs.
In New York and San Francisco, for example, you can go to some butchers or raw dog food specialists and ask for a pre-made raw dog food. It’s expensive but it’s good quality raw food. Walk in or place an order and buy the fresh raw food for your dog, already prepared.
You can also order raw meat and blends from Blue Ridge Beef and similar establishments. They have Premium Blue Ridge Beef, a 100 percent natural raw food for pets. They use Sojos as a mix with their beef. Along with their raw beef dog food, you can also order green tripe or other raw foods from their site.
If you don’t happen to live in an area that has raw pet food on demand or an obliging butcher, it’s hard to find companies that make raw fresh pet food. Most raw dog food companies make their raw foods in raw frozen or freeze-dried form. That’s the most logical way for them to handle the food for shipping and storage purposes.
Primal has raw frozen and freeze-dried diets, as well as raw meaty bones. They also have frozen meat mix rolls. Steve’s has raw frozen and freeze-dried diets, along with beef marrow bones for recreational chewing. Bravo has raw frozen diets, freeze dried foods, pre-mixes for raw diets, and blends. These companies are all well-known and they have good reputations with people who feed raw.
Darwin’s, BARFWorld, K-9 Kraving, Pets 4 Life Pet Cuisin, Raw Bistro, and Stella & Chewy’s all offer complete and balanced raw frozen food and/or freeze-dried raw food diets.
Freshpet can be found in the refrigerated section of grocery stores and pet stores. They have slice and serve rolls. This company appears to be growing quickly. A few years ago they had just three refrigerator products and now they have an entire line-up of products. “In 2013, Freshpet opened a new manufacturing facility, the Freshpet Kitchens, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.
This new $25 million facility was built to resemble human-grade manufacturing standards. All Freshpet food recipes are manufactured in this facility.” According to Freshpet, their foods are cooked at lower temperatures so they are not truly raw but they don’t really fit in any other category at this time.
These are low-processed foods. In figuring the dry matter basis for these rolls, we suggest treating them like canned dog food. The guaranteed analysis for the rolls resembles canned food.
From my experience, raw dog food aligns more closely with a dog’s biological needs. Dogs thrive on real, whole foods—not heavily processed pellets.
Key Health Advantages:
Supports better digestion and gut health
Promotes healthier skin and coat naturally
Reduces exposure to artificial additives
Helps manage food sensitivities and allergies
For dogs needing a dietary reset or improved health, raw feeding can be a game-changer.
What you need to know
Most raw dog foods today are conveniently available in raw frozen or freeze-dried form. There are several good companies making these foods and you can buy from them with safety. Raw dog food companies do have occasional recalls but you should be able to buy these foods with confidence.
Any company can have a recall once in a while. It should not discourage you from ever feeding your dog any raw dog food from a company. Check the company, the food, and their overall reputation. If you like what you hear about them, give it a try.
It can be more difficult to find raw fresh dog food locally unless you live in a big city with a butcher or specialist raw food maker nearby. You may want to try making your own raw food for your dog. It’s not as hard as you might think.
There are some benefits to feeding raw and many dogs love a raw diet. If you’re interested in feeding a raw food diet to your dog, we suggest checking out some of the good online groups dedicated to raw feeding. Their members can provide you with plenty of information and tips on getting started.
Technical Considerations
Before switching, here are some important factors:
Storage: Requires freezer space
Handling: Must follow safe food handling practices
Yes—for many dog owners, the health benefits justify the cost. Improved coat, digestion, and energy can lead to fewer vet visits over time.
Is raw dog food AAFCO certified?
Some commercial raw dog food brands meet AAFCO standards, but not all. Always check labels or choose brands that state “complete and balanced.”
How do you transition a picky eater?
Start slow and be patient:
Mix raw food with current food gradually (over 7–10 days)
Begin with a single protein (like chicken)
Slightly warm the food to enhance aroma
Stick to a consistent feeding schedule
Do Vets Recommend Raw Diet?
The American Kennel Club (AKC), American Veterinary Medical Association and other groups discourage pet owners from feeding dogs raw or unprocessed meat, eggs and milk. Raw meat and dairy can carry pathogens, like E. coli, listeria and salmonella, which can make pets and people sick or even cause death.
Final Thoughts
Switching to raw dog food was one of the most impactful decisions I’ve made for my dog’s health. While it’s not the easiest route, the visible improvements—from coat quality to digestion—make it incredibly rewarding.
If you're looking for a healthier, more natural way to feed your dog, raw dog food is absolutely worth considering—as long as you’re committed to doing it properly.
For more information about raw dog food resources, we recommend the Dogaware.com site.
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An individual with a profound affection for animals, who was brought up in an environment surrounded by dogs, cats, and chickens. A self-taught enthusiast in the realm of pet care. At present, the proud caretaker of two rescued felines and two lovely mixed-breed canines.
