Hygiene Instructions: Safely Handle Raw Dog Food

At Paleo Ridge, we care about the safety and health of our customers, from humans to dogs, we do everything we can to ensure the safe feeding of raw food.

A common question we are asked is, 'is there any risk to my health if my dog eats raw food and then licks my face?'. There is always a risk if your dog licks your face whether they are raw fed or not. Dogs mouths are not the cleanest of places especially as they lick all sorts outside including dirty puddles, rubbish and other animals poop! To answer this question, we advise against your dog licking your face at any point, if possible.

It may seem obvious, but raw food must be treated just as any other raw meat: with care. Below are some great hygiene tips you can use to ensure you're being as safe and hygiene conscious as possible.

• Always use separate utensils for raw dog food
• Defrost all meat in a container in the fridge, do not defrost in a warm environment
• Keep raw food in a sealed container at the bottom of the fridge
• Open and dispose of packaging carefully
• Wear food safe gloves when handling raw dog food
• Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling
• Clean all work surfaces and utensils after use
• Wash your dogs bowl after every use
• Store in a freezer at -18 degrees
• Once defrosted, use within 3 days
• Do not refreeze food once fully defrosted

If you have any questions about the safe feeding and hygiene controls necessary for raw feeding, please don't hesitate to get in touch.