Frozen Raw Diet for Dogs

The Frozen Raw Dog Food Business

• In her article on the dietary concerns, benefits, and risks of raw dog food, nutrition writer Elizabeth Lee says, "raw dog food diets are controversial. But the popularity of the diets--which emphasize raw meat, bones, fruits, and vegetables--is rising." Since the book, "Give Your Dog a Bone," by veterinarian Ian Billinghurst, was published in the 1990s, several other types of raw dog food diets have emerged.

  In response to a growing interest in healthy alternatives to commercial dry and canned pet foods, small businesses are evolving that offer fast and simple ways to prepare and feed raw meals to dogs. Some of these companies formulate their ingredients according to the B.A.R.F. (biologically appropriate raw foods) system, which attempts to mimic the diet of dogs in the wild. They package the foods into easy-to-use frozen portions so pet owners only have to defrost the appropriate portion and serve. Many of the businesses that produce raw frozen dog food are small, and you can call them directly to speak to someone who will answer your questions and even suggest a proper diet plan for your individual dog.

Complete Raw Food Diets

• Complete frozen raw food diets contain raw meats, organs, raw bones, dairy products, eggs, fruits, vegetables and few, if any, grains. These diets may include tripe, kelp, alfalfa, oils such as fish, flaxseed, olive, coconut and cod liver oils, and supplemental vitamins and natural sources of minerals. Most companies formulate their complete frozen raw diets for dogs to meet nutrient levels suggested by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO).

  Because they require nothing to be added, these complete meals are as easy to use as commercial dry or canned dog foods. According to an article published in Dog Aware by Mary Straus of the Whole Dog Journal, "just as with other commercial diets, it's best to rotate between different brands and protein sources, and it's fine to add some fresh food as well."

  Complete commercial frozen raw diets are usually very expensive, costing between $3 and $5 a day, so they are probably not a viable option for people with limited finances or large dogs.

Incomplete Raw Food Diets

• The second type of commercial raw frozen diets provide a variety of different parts, including include meat, bone, organs and sometimes vegetables, but usually nothing else. These foods should be included in your dog's diet but not fed alone and can be combined, along with other foods, to create complete diets.

  If you use incomplete blends or mixes as the basis for the raw diet you feed your dog, you should add muscle meat, organ meat such as liver, and other healthy foods, including eggs, dairy, canned fish with bones, green tripe and fresh food supplements. Fish oil or sardines and vitamin E may also be good supplements to include in the diet.

Complete Frozen Meals

• Some available raw dog food diets you can buy at local pet food stores or online include Aunt Jeni's Home Made, Bravo! Balance Raw Food Diet, Dr. Billinghurst's BARF Diet, Nature's Variety, Northwest Naturals, Paw Naturaw,
  Pets 4 Life Home Made Pet Cuisine, Primal Pet Food Formulas, Stella &Chewy's frozen meals, and Steve's Real Food for Dogs.

Partial Frozen Meal Mixes

• Some companies manufacture raw dog food products that are meant to be mixed with other foods to create complete meals. Some of these products are Bravo! Original Formula, Dr. Billinghurst's BARF Diet Mix and Match Minces, Oma's Pride mixtures, and Primal Pet Food Grinds and Mixes.