How to Feed Raw Pet Food

The extreme processing that most commercial pet food goes through to make it shelf stable takes away most of the original beneficial nutrients and flavor. Artificial flavor and synthetic vitamins and minerals are then added back in. Just like a fast food diet for humans, an improper diet for pets that lacks fresh, quality ingredients leaves them with less energy and feeling less satisfied. Whole, fresh ingredients from a raw pet food diet provide pet owners with the assurance of natural vitamins and nutrients for ideal health and smaller portions! However, it's important to handle and prepare it properly. This guide will show you how to prepare and feed your pet raw food safely and easily.

How Do I Feed Frozen Raw Pet Food?

Frozen raw food needs to be defrosted before being served to pets. Start with a clean, airtight container and portion your pet’s daily meals into it. Place the airtight container of raw food in the fridge overnight to thaw. Remove the thawed food from the fridge and serve it to your pet on a clean dish. Thawed food is good in the fridge for up to three days, so you can thaw multiple portions at a time for convenience. 

Q: Can I feed it frozen?

A: While some pets may do fine with cold meals, we highly recommend thawing the food as feeding raw food frozen may be more difficult to digest for small or older pets.

Q: Can I cook or heat up the food?

A: You should never cook or microwave raw pet food. Steve’s Real Food should be fed thawed or slightly warm. Cooking the food defeats the purpose of feeding raw as heat harms or destroys valuable enzymes and nutrients. You can mix in hot water or bone broth for a warmer meal.

How Do I Feed Freeze-Dried Raw Pet Food?

The freeze-drying process removes the moisture from the food to create a shelf-stable product. Freeze-dried raw food needs to be rehydrated before being served to add that moisture back in. Start with a clean dish, and portion just the amount that you are going to feed right then. Add ¾ cup of warm water per every 1 cup of food. Stir to ensure even hydration. Let the liquid absorb into the food for a minimum of 10 minutes. Crumbling the nuggets will speed up rehydration. Once rehydrated, serve it to your pet.

Q: Can I store rehydrated food?

A: Once rehydrated, we recommend picking up any uneaten food after an hour. You can store rehydrated food in the refrigerator for up to three days.

How Much Raw Food Should I Feed My Pet?

Each pet will metabolize food differently based on their activity level, breed, age, etc. Use our feeding calculator as a starting point for your pet, and adjust the feeding amount as necessary to help your pet achieve an ideal body weight.

Another thing to keep in mind is that things change! “Feeding guidelines” are just that...guidelines. Every animal is different and changes happen throughout the course of their lives. Get to know your pet’s habits, and watch for changes in their body condition.  

• Age: Your pet won’t need the same amount of food as an adult as they did when they were going through their growth stages. Later, as they move toward their senior years, their metabolism may slow down, making meal adjustments necessary.  
• Activity level: This is especially true for dogs, as their lifestyles are more diverse. For dogs that are extremely active, you’ll likely have to adjust their normal portions up from the recommended amount because they are regularly burning so many calories. You might also have to seasonally adjust your dog’s diet. If you have a hunting dog, he will certainly use up more energy during hunting season! Dogs that enjoy hibernating by the fireplace all winter may actually need a calorie reduction since they aren’t getting out as much (just like us!)

Always Practice Safe Handling and Proper Food Safety Measures

Preparing and feeding raw pet food is no different than preparing raw meat for your own consumption! Wash your hands before and after handling the food, ensure the food is kept at safe temperatures, and feed the food in a clean dish.