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Raw Dog Food Resources

Photo of Boxer with huge bone

As the popularity of raw diets has grown, so have the number of products. Choices range from complete diets, to mixtures of meat, bone, organs and veggies that you can use as the base of a complete diet, to parts of the diet, such as ground or whole raw meaty bones, which you would need to combine with other foods at home in order to create a complete diet (see Homemade Diets for more information on how to ensure that you're feeding a complete diet). Most frozen raw foods are expensive, especially if you have to pay shipping, but they may be feasible if you can find a local source (or have small dogs!).

Note that commercial raw diets are often quite high in fat. If possible, look for foods where the percentage of protein is twice that of fat.

Also see these related articles:

See Also:

Complete raw diets (meeting AAFCO guidelines):

Complete Raw Diets
Product Description Available from
Aunt Jeni's Home Made Offers six complete diets consisting of ground meat and bones, organ meat, vegetables, and a variety of other healthy ingredients, with no grains. Chicken, Lamb, Beef and Rabbit varieties have a ratio of 65% meat to 35% veggies and other ingredients; Turkey and Goat are 75:25. All ingredients are human grade, grass-fed or free-range, hormone- and antibiotic-free. Jennifer Boniface (Aunt Jeni), MS, is an Animal Nutritionist and quite knowledgeable about canine diets. "Home Made 4 Life has been formulated and analyzed by qualified, degreed, experienced Animal Nutritionists not only to meet but to exceed CVMA, NRC, and AAFCO requirements." However, the goat variety is not appropriate for large-breed puppies due to high calcium content. Lamb variety is extremely high and chicken variety is high in fat (the rest are relatively low in fat). Located in Maryland. Retailers in many states, see Store Locator
Bravo! Balance Raw Food Diet Bravo!, a company that has long made high-quality incomplete mixes, is now offering a Bravo! Balance, which "meets the AAFCO standard for 100% complete and balanced nutrition for all life stages." Chicken, Beef and Turkey varieties, made with human-grade antibiotic-free poultry, hormone-free, grass-fed red meats, organ meats and bones combined with Grade A vegetables and fortified vitamins and minerals. Bravo! also offers a wide variety of incomplete products (see below). Distributors in many states.
Darwin's Natural Pet Products Darwin's offers two lines of food: Natural Selections and Zoologic Meals. Both use human-grade ingredients; Natural Selections uses free-range, antibiotic- and hormone-free meats, and organic vegetables. Both offer beef, chicken, turkey, duck, and buffalo (limited availability) varieties with approximately 70% meat and 30% vegetables. "Our meals are formulated to meet or exceed all AAFCO nutritional guidelines for All Life Stages and all state and federal requirements." Located in in Seattle, Washington. Darwin's offers free delivery to greater Seattle and Portland areas, can be shipped elsewhere.
Dr. Billinghurst's BARF Diet Offers complete diets (BARF Diet), as well as mix and match minces (BARF Mates -- see Guidelines for Feeding Incomplete Diets for how to use these as a basis for a homemade diet). Chicken, Beef, Lamb and Combination varieties. "These commercially prepared diets are balanced and complete portions (based on AAFCO’S feeding protocols) that are designed to give your dog an adequate amount of nutrition at every meal. We still advocate that a variety of several different choices be given to offer your dog the best opportunity to gain maximum nutritional value."
Note that the calories listed appear to be too high. Fat may be much higher than the minimum shown on the label. The Beef variety, for example, would have to be at least 26% fat to provide 1308 calories per pound.		 Available through distributors in the US and Canada, or can be ordered online, shipping charge is $25 minimum.
K-9 Kraving

Offers a number of complete diets, including duck and mackerel. Food is made in a USDA certified plant. "Formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) Dog Food Nutrient Profiles 'For All Life Stages'." Located in in Baltimore, Maryland.

 Retailers in many states.
Nature's Variety Nature's Variety uses 95% fresh meat ingredients including ground raw bones. Varieties include Organic Chicken, Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Venison and Rabbit. Freeze-dried version and whole raw meaty bones also available. Note that rabbit meat is sourced from China. All varieties are "formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog & Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages." However, the Rabbit variety should not be fed to large-breed puppies due to high calcium content.
Nature's Variety is much higher in calories than the other frozen foods listed above. It appears to have much more fat than the minimum amounts listed in their nutritional analyses, based on the calories they show. For example, the Chicken variety would have to be at least 20% fat to provide 65 calories per ounce.		 Distributors in many states. Freeze-dried version available from Amazon.
Northwest Naturals
 Offers complete raw diets. Mixes are about 78-80% meat and include ground meat and bone, organ meat, vegetables, and a variety of supplements, no grains. Chicken, Turkey, Beef, Bison, and Chicken with Salmon varieties. Available in the form of both nuggets and "dinner bars", for easy storage and feeding. Meat is human grade. "All Northwest Naturals Diets are complete, balanced and formulated to meet the nutritional levels established and recommended by the AAFCO Food Nutrient Profiles For All Life Stages." Calcium percentages are not given, so unsure whether they're OK for large-breed puppies. Located in Portland, OR. Retailers in many states, see Where to Buy
Pepperdogz Complete diets "formulated to meet the nutritional profiles set by AAFCO for all life stages." Chicken, turkey, beef, and buffalo varieties. Meats are human-grade; most are grass-fed or cage-free, hormone & antibiotic free. 70% Meat and organs, 30% Vegetables, Fruits & Organic Supplements. Located in in Bellevue, Washington. Distributors in California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington.
Pets 4 Life Home Made Pet Cuisine Offers lamb, chicken, turkey, beef, rabbit, duck and wild salmon varieties. "Home Made Pet Cuisine has been carefully formulated and analyzed by qualified, degreed, experienced animal nutritionists not only to meet but to exceed CVMA, NRC, and AAFCO requirements." Available throughout Canada, see Store Locator
Primal Pet Foods Primal makes both complete diets (Formulas) and blends that are not complete (Grinds and Mixes, see below). All use heart to supply muscle meat, liver as their organ meat. 100% human grade, hormone, antibiotic and steroid free meats, poultry and game, certified organic produce, certified organic minerals and unrefined vitamins. Formulas are available in chicken, duck, beef, lamb, pheasant and venison varieties. The beef, duck, lamb and venison formulas have an appropriate amount of calcium for  large-breed puppies, but the rest should not be fed due to high calcium content. Located in San Francisco, CA. Available at retailers around the country, including Whole Foods. Also available online from Only Natural Pet Store.
Raw Advantage Offers complete chicken and turkey "Dinners" that meet AAFCO requirements for all life stages. Dinners are about 50% meat and bone, 35% grains, and the rest veggies and whole food supplements. Human-grade ingredients, most organic or antibiotic- and hormone-free. Also offers incomplete Recipes (meat with organs, bone, grains, and/or veggies) in beef, turkey, chicken, and lamb varieties (see Guidelines for Feeding Incomplete Diets for foods to add to help ensure you are feeding a complete diet). Two "Formulas" are also available: Turkey Formula adds herbs to the Turkey Dinner and is a complete diet, but the Vegetarian Formula is not complete and not recommended. Located in in Kettle Falls, Washington. Available in many states and online from Only Natural Pet Store.
Stella & Chewy's Offers frozen and freeze-dried Chicken, Beef, Lamb, and Duck products. "Steaks" are about 95% human-grade, naturally raised, hormone- and antibiotic-free meat, bone, and organs, and 5% organic fruits and vegetables. "All food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages." Opened their own processing plant in May, 2007, and they have a documented food safety and testing program. Calcium percentages range from 1.5-1.7%, which should be OK for large-breed puppies. Located in Wisconsin. Retailers around the country and available online from Amazon and PetFoodDirect (freeze-dried only). Also marketed as Only Natural Pet Freeze Dried Patties (see Shopping page for coupons).
Steve's Real Food for Dogs Steve's is a complete diet consisting of ground meat and bones, organ meat, vegetables, and a variety of supplements. All ingredients are human-grade. Has a tiny amount of rice bran, but no other grains. Chicken, Turkey, Beef and "Turducken" varieties available. Now available in patties as well as nuggets, which are bulkier and more expensive to ship. Freeze-dried version is also available, but very expensive. "All formulas of Steve's Real Food for Pets are formulated using the AAFCO nutrient profiles to meet the nutritional requirements for all stages of your dogs life from weaned puppy through seniors."
Retailers across the country in most states. Also available from RawPetFood.com.
Wagalicious Natural Pet Foods Offers blends of meat (turkey, lamb and chicken) and veggies, some with liver. Uses eggshell calcium rather than bones. Meats are human-grade, antibiotic- and hormone-free, vegetables are organic, and foods are produced at a human-grade facility using locally sourced ingredients. "Wagalicious formulas meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced meals for cats and dogs at all life stages." Calcium percentages range from 1.8-1.9% on a dry matter basis, so they're OK for large-breed puppies. Located in Mar Vista (Los Angeles), California. Will deliver to Los Angeles area, will ship elsewhere.

See Also:

Not recommended:

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Widely Available Incomplete Blends

See Homemade Diets: Guidelines for feeding incomplete blends for more information on how to use these products as the basis for a complete homemade diet.

Incomplete Raw Blends
Product Description Available from
Answers Raw Pet Food Available in chicken, beef, and pork varieties. "Straight" varieties are ground mixes that include meat, bone, and organs only. "Detailed" varieties add eggs, vegetables, and supplements, but are not complete diets (no AAFCO statement, nutritional analysis shows they are all low in zinc and vitamin E; all but beef are low in potassium and copper; pork variety is low in calcium/phosphorus; not all nutrients are listed, so other deficiencies, such as iodine, are likely). All diets (including beef) are high in fat (like most commercial raw food diets), with 31% to 47% fat on a dry matter basis. Also offers raw goat's milk. Made in Fleetwood, Pennsylvania. Available at retailers around the country, including Pet Food Express. Also available online from The Pet Health and Nutrition Center.
Bravo! Original Formula Bravo! offers a wide variety of incomplete products, including Original Formula Blends (ground meat, bone, organs and veggies), Basic Formula (ground meat and bone, some with organs), Boneless Meat, and specialty products (organs only, vegetables only, and salmon oil). They offer a number of exotic proteins (rabbit, buffalo, venison, elk, ostrich, duck, quail), plus green tripe (which is not listed on their web site). Blends are not complete and do not meet AAFCO guidelines, with the exception of Bravo! Balance (see above). You can formulate a complete diet from their products, but don't just feed the blends with nothing added (eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese, and canned fish other than tuna are good to add). See Homemade Diets for more info on how to ensure that you're feeding a complete diet. See the booklet Bravo Beginnings for good information on how to put together a complete diet for your dog from Bravo products. Also see the How-2 web page put together by a Bravo distributor who is also a friend of mine. Distributors in many states.
Dr. Billinghurst's BARF Diet Offers mix and match minces (BARF Mates -- see Homemade Diets for how to use these as a basis for a homemade diet). Varieties include Chicken (with bone), Beef Offal (organs only), Tripe, and Fruit and Veggies Nuggets. Also offers complete diets (see above). Available through distributors in the US and Canada, or can be ordered online, shipping charge is $25 minimum.
K9 Natural "Feasts" combine meat, bone, organs, vegetables, and sometimes eggs. Chicken, Lamb, and Venison Feasts are a little high in fat, as most commercial raw foods are, but the Beef Feast and Lamb & King Salmon Feast are extremely high in fat and would be dangerous to feed, as they would be likely to cause stomach upset or pancreatitis. Green tripe variety is tripe only.
Ingredients appear to be very high-quality, but these are not complete diets, despite what they say. I do not recommend feeding half raw meaty bones with this food, as they tell you to do, as that would be way too much bone and would increase the amount of fat even further.		 Made in New Zealand. Available in the U.S., Canada, and other countries.
Oma's Pride
 Oma's Pride offers unusual meats (emu, rabbit, ostrich, duck, venison), tripe (not from USDA approved source), whole raw meaty bones, as well as mixtures of ground meat and bones, organ meat and veggies. Mixes are not complete and do not meet AAFCO guidelines. The mixes are high in bone (70-80% meat/bone at a 50/50 ratio) and low in muscle and organ meat. You can formulate a complete diet from their products, but don't just feed the mixes with nothing added (additional muscle meat and organ meat, as well as eggs, yogurt, cottage cheese and canned fish other than tuna are good to add). See Homemade Diets for more info on how to ensure that you're feeding a complete diet.
From Miller Foods, Inc. in Avon, Connecticut		 Distributors in many states, also available at WagginTails.
Primal Pet Foods Primal makes both complete diets (Formulas) and blends that are not complete (Grinds and Mixes, see Homemade Diets for more information on how to use these products as the basis for a homemade diet). Grinds are meat, bone and organs only (82% meat, 8-9% bone, 7-8% organs); Mixes add fruits and vegetables as well (same proportion of meat, bone and organs, plus 20% produce). All use heart to supply muscle meat, liver as their organ meat. 100% human grade, hormone, antibiotic and steroid free meats, poultry and game, certified organic produce, certified organic minerals and unrefined vitamins. Grinds and mixes come in turkey, chicken, beef, lamb, buffalo and sardine varieties. Only the venison formula has an appropriate amount of calcium for  large-breed puppies, the rest should not be fed due to high calcium content.
Located in San Francisco, CA.		 Available at retailers around the country, including Whole Foods. Also available online from Only Natural Pet Store.

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Local and Limited Availability Products

Local or limited availability products, including specialty products

There are a number of other products available which you may want to look into, particularly if they are in your area (many can be shipped, but shipping is costly for frozen foods). Some of these companies offer ground mixes in addition to just parts. Note that very few of these mixes are certified to meet AAFCO nutritional standards -- in other words, most are not complete diets. You will need to balance out the ratio of meat, bone and organs yourself, and preferably add some additional fresh foods as well, such as eggs, dairy and canned fish with bones. See Homemade Diets for more information.

Following are commercial raw food products in the US, listed by state. See below for suppliers in Canada, Australia and Europe, as well as Specialty Products and Grass Fed and Organic Products.

US (listed alphabetically by state):

See my Kidney Page for a list of more tripe suppliers.

See RestaurantDepot.com for a national chain of restaurant suppliers (source of wholesale meats by the case)

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Grass-fed and Organic Suppliers

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Canadian Suppliers

Canadian suppliers of raw food products (listed alphabetically by province):

See http://lepusreg.tripod.com/NRS.html for even more sources, particularly in Canada.

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Australian Suppliers

See Aussie RMB Food Sources

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European Suppliers

 

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If you have any questions or comments, please contact me. My name is Mary Straus and you can email me at either or

   


Rocky is a Yorkie-Poodle mix who had suffered from digestive problems his whole life. Click on his image to read about the diet his owner finally found to help him.
Pashoshe Fisher, a Chihuahua, was a wonderful, joyful companion to his owner for 19 & a half years. He was on a high quality raw diet for over half his life.
This is Ella, my Norwich Terrier.