If you’re the parent of a fur baby, there’s no doubt that you’ve heard about a raw food diet, but before you make the switch, you probably have a lot of questions: What is raw dog food? What are the benefits?
Based on our assessments, we were able to narrow down the choices to the five mentioned above, which we believe to be the very best raw dog food options available. Which one should you choose? Read through the in-depth reviews before, which include an analysis of the ingredients and mention what we and other pet parents like about them.
Best Raw Dog Foods
| Image | Raw Dog Food | Rating |
|---|---|---|
 | 1. Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dog Food | 99% |
 | 2. Wellness Core Rawrev Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food | 96% |
 | 3. CANIDAE Grain-Free PURE Ancestral Dog Food | 93% |
 | 4. Nature's Logic Raw Dog Food | 89% |
 | 5. I and Love and You Raw Dog Food | 85% |
1. Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dog Food
The first option on our list of the best raw food for dogs is Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dog Food. Merrick dog food is hailed as one of the best options because they use premium quality ingredients in all of their recipes – and their Backcountry Raw Infused formulas are no different.
Merrick Backcountry offers a variety of different kinds of raw-infused formulas to bring your pet an all-natural, protein-rich, grain free dog food. Every piece of dry kibble is infused with real pieces of meat, fish, or poultry that has been carefully freeze dried to preserve the freshness and the taste. Recipes include unique sources of animal protein, such as venison, rabbit, and salmon, and every formula also contains fresh fruits and vegetables, and everything is mixed in gravy to create a savory flavor that your pet will surely find palatable.
When you offer your pet Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused dog food, he’ll be receiving optimal levels of protein, glucosamine, and chondroitin, which makes this brand a great choice for canines that are suffering from or predisposed to joint issues, such as German shepherds, Great Danes, Golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Newfoundlands, Pugs, or Chesapeake Bay retrievers. Based on the reviews that we read, most pet parents seem to be very pleased with this brand of raw infused dog food; users said that their dogs love the taste and that they noticed a definite difference in their overall health.
What We Like About It
- Offers a variety of recipes made with premium sources of animal protein
- Raw proteins are freeze dried to lock in the nutrients and taste
- Made with fresh fruits and vegetables
- Grain free
- Free of harsh fillers and additives
- Supports healthy bones and joints
- Made in the USA
Reasons to Complain
- Some customers said that it had a strong odor
- Others said that they think it’s different than what they purchased at the pet store
Final Verdict: Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dog Food offers a variety of formulas, all of which are made with premium sources of protein, fruits, and vegetables. All recipes are grain free, too.
2. Wellness Core Rawrev Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food
Wellness dog food is another highly reputable manufacturer of pet food products that comes highly recommended by veterinarians, animal nutritionists, and pet parents. Given their outstanding reputation for making a wide variety of formulas (senior dog food, food for large dogs, and food for small dogs, for example), it comes as no surprise that they are also one of the best makers of raw food recipes. Their Rawrev Natural Grain Free dog was designed specifically to enable pet parents who are interested in offering their dogs a raw food diet a safe and easy solution.
Wellness Core Rawrev offers two primary recipes: turkey, which is infused with prime cuts of raw freeze dried turkey, in addition to chicken; and lamb, which features premium cuts of freeze dried raw lamb, as well as wild game duck, wild boar, and rabbit. Due to the high protein content, you can rest assured that your pet will receive the vital nutrition that he needs to support healthy joints.
Their recipes are grain free. Instead of using corn, wheat, or soy, they use flaxseed, which is an excellent source of omega 3 fatty acids, which will strengthen the health of your dog’s skin and coat. Other wholesome ingredients include carrots, broccoli, apples, blueberries, kale, and sweet potatoes. With Wellness Core Rawrev, you can have confidence knowing that your pet will be receiving the balanced nutrition that he needs to promote a healthy, life; and a taste that he’ll love! Users of this raw dog food say that they have experienced excellent results.
What We Like About It
- Made with premium cuts of raw, freeze dried turkey or lamb
- Features other animal proteins, such as venison, rabbit, duck, and chicken
- Grain free
- Made with flaxseed, and wholesome fruits and veggies
- Offers a palatable flavor
Reasons to Complain
- Some reviewers indicated that the food has a strong odor
Final Verdict: If your pet needs a dog food for sensitive stomachs and you want to offer him a raw food diet, Wellness Core Rawrev Natural Grain Free Dry Dog Food is an excellent choice. It’s a safe and easy way to feed your pet raw food without causing tummy troubles.
3. CANIDAE Grain Free PURE Ancestral Dog Food
Next up is grain free raw food that comes from the makers of CANIDAE dog food. This manufacturer is also beloved by many pet parents because of their commitment to providing pets with the best possible nutrition. Their Grain Free Pure Ancestral Dry Dog Food was designed to mimic a canine’s ancestral diet to ensure that your pooch is getting the vital nutrition that he needs and the taste that he craves.
Ingredients include ample amounts of meats, including deboned goat, lamb, bison, venison, and wild boar; according to the manufacturer, there’s about 14 pounds of red meat in every 20 pound bag of kibble. To further increase the protein content and the flavor, their kibble is coated with raw, freeze dried lamb. All proteins are sourced from ranch- or farm-raised, or wild-caught animals.
Other ingredients include locally sourced and responsibly grown carrots, potatoes, peas, lentils, sweet potatoes, sage, squash, and parsley, which further enhances the nutrient content and taste. This recipe is completely free of gluten-based ingredients, it’s packed with protein, and it’s infused with essential nutrients, such as vitamin B12, vitamin D3, riboflavin, folic acid, niacin, vitamin A, vitamin E, niacin, and so much more! Pet parents seem to be thrilled with this recipe. Some even stated that the pickiest of eaters gobble this food right up.
What We Like About It
- Contains ample amounts of pure animal protein
- The kibble is coated with freeze dried lamb
- Made with a bevy of fruits and vegetables
- Fortified with essential nutrients
- Grain free
- All ingredients are locally sourced and responsibly grown
- Free of artificial flavors, colors, and preservatives
Reasons to Complain
- There were complaints about the cost of this dog food
Final Verdict: CANIDAE Grain Free Pure Ancestral Dog Food is packed with pure animal protein, fruits, and vegetables, as well as freeze dried raw lamb to provide your pet with a nutritious and delicious meal.
4. Nature’s Logic Raw Dog Food
Nature’s Logic produces a line of outstanding of dog food that is infused with raw, freeze dried animal protein. The makers of this pet food are dedicated to offering dogs the safest and best quality food possible. In fact, Nature’s Logic is the first and only manufacturer of a full line of wet dog food, dry kibble, and raw frozen dog food that is completely free of altered ingredients. In other words, it’s a completely natural, organic dog food.
Nature’s Logic offers several different recipes, including chicken, beef, pork, and venison, as well as easy to digest fruits and vegetables, such as apples, apricots, alfalfa, artichokes, blueberries, broccoli, carrots, chicory root, cranberry, kelp, parsley, pumpkin, spinach, and tomato.
It isn’t a dried kibble or a wet food, but rather, the ingredients are packed into a 3.2 ounce patty, and each 6 pound package contains about 30 patties and each 8 ounce package has about 12 patties.
It really is a unique and safe way to offer your pet the benefits of a raw food diet. Users of this raw dog food rave about it! They say that their pets love the taste and they they’ve noticed a marked improvement in their health.
What We Like About It
- Made with prime cuts of raw frozen animal protein
- Contains a variety of healthful fruits and vegetables
- Completely free of synthetic ingredients
- Grain free
- Easy to eat patties that your dog will love the taste and texture of
- Easy to digest
- Packed with essential nutrients
- Offers a variety of formulas
Reasons to Complain
- The price is a bit on the high side
Final Verdict: With Nature’s Logic Raw Dog Food, you can have peace of mind knowing that your furry pal will be receiving the most healthful food possible. We highly recommend it.
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5. I and Love and You Raw Dog Food
The last option on our list is an option that comes from I and Love and You dog food. This manufacturer is also highly recommended by pet parents, animal nutritionists, and veterinarians, as they go above and beyond to make sure that the animals they feed are getting the best possible ingredients and the most healthful nutrition.
You’ll find a nice selection of different raw dog food formulas from I and Love and You, all of which have some pretty clever names, like Raw Raw Beef Boom Ba, Raw Raw Chick Boom B, and Raw Raw, Lamb Boom Ba. Whichever recipe you choose, real meat is the first ingredient; for example, in their Lamb Boom Ba formula, prime cuts of free-free range lamb is the first ingredient.
Other ingredients include whole eggs for even more protein, as well as peas, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach, bananas, cabbage, ginger root, kelp, flaxseed, and other wholesome ingredients. All recipes gluten-free and are fortified with essential nutrients, such as vitamin D3, folic acid, copper, calcium, and zinc sulfate. Users of this raw dog food say that they have noticed definite improvements in their pets’ energy levels, coats, and overall health and happiness.
What We Like About It
- Real, raw, frozen animal protein is the first ingredient
- Features a variety of wholesome fruits and veggies
- Fortified with essential minerals and vitamins
- Grain free
- Free of harsh additives
- Offers a variety of recipes
- Palatable flavor
Reasons to Complain
- Some users noted that it had a strong smell
Final Verdict: If you’re looking for a wholesome, nutritious, and delicious raw dog food for your four-legged friend, then you’re going to love the options available from I and Love and You.
The Best Raw Dog Food: A Buyer’s Guide
Just like humans, canines need to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet that is full of the essential vitamins, minerals, and nutrients that they need to thrive. While there are many different dog foods on the market that do offer balanced nutrition, if you want to really ensure your pet is getting what he needs and that his food appeals to his cravings, then you should seriously consider offering him a raw food diet.
What is Raw Dog Food?
Raw dog food is meant to mimic the natural foods that your furry friend’s canine ancestors ate in the wild. You see, while it might be hard to believe that your cuddle and friendly French Bulldog, Beagle, Boxer, or Australian Shepherd – or even your pure-bred mutt – who would harm a fly would ever hunt for his food, the fact of the matter is this: all canines are carnivores. While your domesticated dog may not hunt for his food, his ancestors did, and those ancestral instincts are still very much alive and well in your pooch (even if it doesn’t appear to be so while he’s lounging out in his dog bed or chasing after balls that are being launched by automatic fetch machines and then rolling over for a good belly rub).
As hard as it may be to believe, if your pup was in the wild, he would still hunt for his food and then eat every morsel. That’s exactly what a raw food diet is meant to do; appeal to those natural instincts in your pup. Instead of featuring large slabs of meat, manufactured raw dog food is made of raw animal proteins that have been freeze dried and mixed in with other healthful ingredients, including fruits and vegetables, and it’s fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. In other words, raw dog food offers your pup everything that he needs to thrive.
The Benefits of Raw Dog Food
Why should you consider feeding your furry friend raw dog food? Here’s a look at some of the benefits of this type of diet:
- More convenient. Feeding your dog manufactured raw dog food is a lot more convenient than feeding him raw cuts of meat. Not only is it cleaner, but it’s also a lot safer, too. Raw meat can only last so long, and it must be stored properly in order to avoid spoiling. You don’t have to worry about the mess and the potential hazards that are associated with raw meat.
- It lasts longer. Freeze dried raw dog food actually last a lot longer than traditional dog food. Freeze drying removes all of the moisture content, thereby preserving the food.
- It’s healthier. Since freeze drying naturally preserves the food, there’s no need for artificial preservatives, which means that your pet won’t be exposed to ingredients that could potentially harm him. Plus, it’s packed with the valuable nutrients that your dog needs to maintain his overall health and well being.
- It’s tastier. You’ll find that your pooch will like the savory taste of raw dog food a whole lot better than dry kibble or canned food. Even the pickiest of eaters gobble this stuff up!
Given all of these benefits, it’s no wonder why animal nutritionists and veterinarians highly recommend raw food diets for canines. Pet parents also agree that it’s a better option than traditional dog food. In many of the reviews that we read, pet parents indicated that their dogs were much happier and healthier when they switched them over to a raw food diet.
Summing It Up
As a pet parent, you want to provide your canine companion with the very best of everything because he’s not just a pet; he’s a member of your family. In order to ensure that your pup is as happy and healthy as possible, feeding him a well-balanced, highly nutritious diet of premium quality dog food is essential.
It goes without saying that you want the very best for your dog, and that means feeding him the highest quality, most nutritious, and most delicious food possible. By offering your pet raw dog food, you’ll notice that your four-legged family member will enjoy his meal time even more – and that he’ll be a lot healthier and even more energetic, too.
If you are considering a raw food diet, all of the options featured in this review really are the best of the best. In fact, you will be hard-pressed to find a better option than any of the five raw dog foods listed above! So, what are you waiting for? See for yourself what a huge difference a raw food diet will make!
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