WHAT IS RAW?
Go Raw is a scientifically balanced diet of uncooked meat, bones, organs, and produce, with a few added supplements. Our complete and balanced raw dog food formulas have been audited by Jenny Ryoo, a Canine Nutritionist. Feeding raw is simple, it is feeding what nature intended. Our domestic dogs are 99% wolf in genetic makeup, a carnivore, and are uniquely designed to eat and thrive on raw meat and bones. Sadly, our dogs are not biologically designed to eat cooked kibble made of 40%-70% grains and carbohydrates. They have canine teeth to eat meat. Pet owners internationally have successfully switched and trusted a balanced raw diet for the last 30+ years. Raw is preventative medicine. It restores your pet's health by maximizing its microbiome, transforming your pet's health from the inside out.
Feeding raw is surprisingly simple. Feed 2-3% of a dog's ideal body weight daily depending on age and activity level. An estimate of $2.59 a day for a 15lb dog, or $5.19 a day for a 40lb dog. Go Raw can be exclusively fed, or in rotation with other nutritionally complete choices. Yes, you can feed raw once a day, or twice if you like.
Thaw the easy to feed 16oz raw tubs in the fridge, and serve. Frozen 2lb and 5lb chubs take 2-5 hours to thaw. We don't recommend microwaving the frozen raw because this can destroy the balance of nutrients. Please clean up thoroughly as you would when handling raw chicken. After thawing, our raw is safe to feed for 3-4 days when kept in the fridge.
WHAT WE'VE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY
Food is medicine. Feed real food. Feed balance and variety.
Eating processed foods may keep us alive each day, just as kibble can for your pet. A clean whole foods diet can radically change your life, just as a raw diet can change your pet's. We believe caring for your pets health on the front end prevents disease, allergies, chronic inflammation, degenerative diseases and ultimately cancer. Nature knows best. You may pay more each month to feed your pet, but honestly, sick doggies cost a whole lot more. If your pet has existing special dietary needs, please consult with your veterinarian as specific added nutrients could be needed. If you have any questions about specific nutrients, please contact us, we're happy to help.
How do I transition to raw? Introducing raw for the first time will be rich in flavor. The most reliable way to transition to a raw diet is a little at a time building up to a full portion over 5-10 days time. The most picky eaters may just surprise you! If your dog experiences tummy troubles, transition slower. Older pets may take more time. Be patient, it will be worth it. A radically healthier dog is only weeks away.
What fresh foods can I add? Nothing is needed nutritionally to make our raw complete, all of the essential nutrients have been included. A whole raw egg is recommended to feed along with our raw but not required. If you'd like to add fresh foods to your raw for variation and flavor, we recommend cooked sweet potatoes, oats, quinoa, kale, spinach, blueberries and seedless watermelon. Also sardines, venison, wild fish such as salmon and herring, oysters and muscles are healthy choices.
Why are their stools and daily water consumption so different? It is important to mention that when beginning a raw diet, their stools will change. Brown, smaller, and less frequent stools, up to 2/3 less, are to be expected. An upset tummy can occur in the first few days of switching to a raw diet. New digestive enzymes will be occurring within their system, adapting to the wholesome ingredients. And your dog will drink far less water because the moisture of the raw is so much higher compared to kibble.
What are raw meaty bones? Raw meaty bones are excellent for oral health. Research which ones will be appropriate, the age and size of your pet are to be considered. Our go-to raw meaty bones are chicken quarters, pork ribs, beef ribs, and deer ribs. Smaller and inexperienced dogs may spend 20 minutes on a raw meaty bone, while our experienced ridgebacks eat raw chicken quarters in less than a minute. Never feed smoked or cooked bones, they can splinter internally and cause bleeding.
What about bacteria in raw? Yes, it is true raw meats may contain bacteria, just as it does straight from the grocery store. However, your dog’s effective highly acidic digestive system can easily deal with it. From his ancestral ability to hunt and kill his own food, he was designed by nature to tolerate bacteria. Remember to always use safe handling and cleanliness with all raw.
Can I mix raw with kibble? The simple answer is yes. Some dog's stomachs may not tolerate this long term because of the varying digestibility of the two foods, but most are perfectly fine. Choose a quality kibble with real proteins listed as the first ingredient, use dogfoodadvisor.com to see how your kibble rates. We understand that every pet parent cannot afford to feed 100% raw, and adding even some raw into your mix daily will still provide fantastic health benefits.
What is wrong with kibble? Kibble was designed for convenience and long shelf life, not nutrition. Kibble is mostly made of inedible leftover meats, "meat meal," unsafe preservatives, inappropriate fillers and synthetic vitamins. Compare the benefits of switching from a fast-food diet to a whole-food one. Kibble vs raw is the same reality. The science behind raw is simple: feed real food raw, and balance the nutrients for optimal nutrition.
