5 Best Raw Dog Food Brands
There is a lot to love about raw dog food, so which are some of the best 5 Brands?
Raw dog food enzymes and nutrients in it are more likely to remain intact than in other types of dog food, because it has never been exposed to heat or other damaging processing methods. It also tends to be higher in animal protein than many other commercial brands, which means more healthy fuel for your pup.
Plus, eating raw is what canines evolved to do! Their systems are better able to digest and utilize ingredients that are presented in this form.
Raw meat diets are great for maintaining canine health, but making your own can be time-consuming. Luckily, there are a number of great commercial raw diets now available.
But just because a food is advertised as being “raw” does not automatically make it the right choice for your dog.
Like with any other type of dog food, there are good raw brands and less good brands.
To help you navigate this quickly growing market, yourdogadvisor.com have picked and reviewed the top 5 best raw dog food brands to help you find the one that is right for your pet.
1 Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties
Pros:
High protein
95% animal-sourced ingredients
Multiple flavors and life-stages
Organic ingredients
Cons:
Pricey
Ingredients in Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties
This awesome freeze-dried raw dog food comes in a variety of flavors. Here are the first ten ingredients in the popular Duck Duck Goose recipe:
- Duck with ground bone
- Turkey
- Turkey Liver
- Goose
- Turkey Gizzard
- Pumpkin seeds
- Organic cranberries
- Organic spinach
- Organic broccoli
- Organic beets
Why we like Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties for dogs
The long list of fresh, healthy ingredients always includes a number of nutrient-dense organs and bone-meals to assure your pup is getting all the vitamins and minerals they need in a form they can easily digest with their food. This premier freeze-dried raw dog food is packed with meat and animal ingredients that dogs instinctively crave.
Raw bones are a great source of minerals for your pup.
What dogs should avoid Stella & Chewy’s Freeze-Dried Dinner Patties for Dogs?
All that protein and fat may be too calorie-heavy for older and less active dogs. But in most cases, cutting down on the portion size will allow dogs that need fewer calories to still enjoy the many benefits of this food without gaining too much weight.
However, this food may be too rich for dogs with certain digestive issues and pancreatic or kidney problems. If this is the case for your pup, it is best to talk to your veterinarian before switching to this raw dog food.
2 .TruDog: Feed Me: Freeze Dried Raw Superfood for dogs
Pros:
99% animal-based ingredients
41% protein
USA sourced ingredients
Cons:
Pricey
Limited to two recipes
TruDog Freeze-Dried Raw Superfood Ingredients
TruDog raw dog food comes in two flavors: Beef and Turkey. The ingredients for the beef flavor are:
- Beef
- Beef tripe
- Beef lung
- Ground beef bone
- Beef liver
- Beef heart
- Beef kidney
- Beef blood
- Beef fat
- Mixed tocopherols
- B-alpha tocopherols
- Herring oil
Why we like TruDog Freeze-Dried Raw Superfood
Like all carnivores, dogs have evolved to get all of their nutrients and calories from meat. But for them, eating a balanced diet that will help them thrive means getting plenty of organ meat, bone meal, and animal fat. Because these ingredients are more expensive than plant-based ingredients, most dog foods supplement their nutritional profile with vegetarian ingredients.
TruDog is different. Ninety-nine percent of their ingredients come from animals. Their nutrient-dense raw foods include things like muscle meat, tripe, and liver to assure your dog gets everything they need, without substituting in hard-to-digest plant ingredients.
What dogs should avoid TruDog Freeze-Dried Raw Superfood
Like with many foods on this list, the high protein and fat content could be troublesome to dogs with certain digestive conditions. If your pup struggles with kidney issues or pancreatitis, only transition to a high protein food like this with help from your veterinarian.
3. Primal Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food
Pros:
Organic ingredients
78% animal ingredients
High protein
Multiple recipes
Cons:
Large bricks take longer to soak
Pricey
Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food Ingredients
This brand offers multiple recipes. Here are the top ten ingredients in their popular chicken recipe:
- Chicken
- Chicken necks
- Chicken gizzards
- Organic Kale
- Organic Carrots
- Organic Yams
- Chicken livers
- Organic broccoli
- Organic apples
- Cranberries
Why we like Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food
This premier freeze-dried raw dog food is one of the best if having lots of options is important to you. With ten flavors, not only will you be able to find one your dog loves, but you will easily be able to switch between recipes to keep your pup interested.
What dogs will benefit from Primal Freeze-Dried Dog Food
At 37% protein, this food is well suited for a variety of dogs, from working pups to companion animals.
This brand is especially great for picky eaters. The meat-forward ingredients and variety of flavors mean that you are likely to find something your pup loves even if they turn their muzzle up at most other types of commercial food. The texture–something like thin wet food–also lends itself well to enticing picky pups to have a bite.
4. Sojos Complete Natural Freeze-Dried Natural Raw
Pros:
Affordable
Available in bulk
Quality ingredients
Cons:
Lower protein
More plant-based ingredients
Sojos Complete Freeze-Dried Ingredients
Sojos is available in six different flavors and three different life-stage recipes. Here are the first ten ingredients in their chicken formula:
- Chicken
- Yellow split peas
- Whole eggs
- Parsnips
- Cranberries
- Flaxseed
- Coconut
- Celery
- Tricalcium-phosphate
- Ginger root
Why we like Sojos Complete Freeze-Dried
We are all about high-meat content and quality ingredients, but those don’t matter if you can’t afford the food. Sojos provides higher-than-average animal protein and healthy, superfood ingredients in a package that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.
What dogs will benefit from Sojos Complete Freeze-Dried
At 28% protein and only 14% fat, this food is perfectly suited for the average companion dog. All recipes include meat-first ingredients and a plethora of antioxidant-rich superfoods, but because they contain less fat and more fiber, these recipes aren’t as rich as others on this list.
Dogs who struggle with weight gain and who are less active are more likely to maintain a fit weight on this food. Plus, Sojos makes formulas specifically for senior dogs who often struggle more with weight, and for puppies, who need more fat and protein to grow.
5. Stir & Boom Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food by “I and love and you”
Pros:
Affordable
Quality ingredients
Formulated for all life stages
Cons:
Lower in meat
Limited sizes available
I and Love and You Freeze-Dried Raw Ingredients
This raw diet from I and Love and You comes in four flavors. Here are the first ten ingredients in their popular beef recipe.
- Beef
- Sweet potatoes
- Yellow split peas
- Carrots
- Dried egg product
- Flaxseed
- Cabbage
- Bananas
- Tricalcium phosphate
- Dried kelp
Why we like I and Love and You Freeze-Dried Raw
Like Sojos, I and Love and You offers quality raw freeze-dried diets at a fraction of the price of others on the market. These meals include less meat than more expensive brands, but they still deliver all the nutrients your dog needs to thrive.
Plus, added superfoods like dried kelp and flaxseeds pack a lot of antioxidants and omegas to help keep your dog feeling their best. And the four available flavors–beef, chicken, turkey, and lamb–make it simple to find a flavor your dog will love.
What dogs will benefit from I and Love and You Freeze-Dried Raw
With 28% protein, this food offers more biologically appropriate energy than most dry foods and in a form that your dog is better able to utilize. This combined with an average amount of fat–15%–makes this food a great choice for the average dog.
What dogs should avoid I and Love and You Freeze-Dried Raw dog meals
An average amount of fat means this food has fewer calories overall than other choices. It also has more fiber due to the extra plant-based ingredients. These facts may make this food not the right choice for really active dogs or those in need of a lot of easy-to-digest energy.