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.
Raw Feeding Advice
At Paleo Ridge we want all our customers to have the best, most up-to-date advice. This will ensure you can raw feed with ease, and that your dog can thrive on a natural raw diet.
Switching to a raw, species appropriate diet has incredible benefits for your dog’s immune system and general health. In this section, we will give you scientific and evidence-based facts that support the importance of feeding raw.
Why Feed Raw?
By feeding a natural species appropriate diet, your dog will thrive. Raw food is packed full of all the essential nutrients needed for a balanced diet. With no nasty additives or preservatives, you can be sure your dog is eating the healthiest and best diet possible.
Feeding raw offers many great benefits, some of which are;
- glossy coat with zero or little odour
- reduced itching, licking and scratching
- optimum immune system
- better oral hygiene and teeth
- improved behaviour and vitality
- reduced allergies and intolerances
- less tummy upsets
- healthy digestion and much smaller stools
- last but not least fussy dogs become very unfussy dogs
By feeding raw, you are making the best decision to ensure a happy, healthy life for your four-legged companion.
95%* of those who switch to raw, say they would never go back! Make the switch today and change your dog's life forever.
In a poll carried out on social media, *95.5% of 600 dog owners voted that they would never go back to feeding a processed diet after switching their dog to raw.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, we most definitely can! Please read all the info on our website. Give yourself some time to absorb the information.
Make sure you read our detailed Switch to Raw Guide
Use our raw Dog Food Calculator to work out how much you need to feed.
If you still need help please do not hesitate to contact us, we are always very happy to help and advise.
We recommend a straight switch to raw, there is no need to gradually introduce. Pick your day and make the switch to a totally healthy and natural diet.
However, if you wish to add raw in increasing amounts, while decreasing the old food over 3-5 days, that is fine too. There are no hard and fast rules here, so do what you feel is right for your dog and his or her needs. The most important thing is that you have chosen to make the switch, and whether you do right away or over a few days, you will be doing the best thing you could do for your doggo!
Please read our Switch to Raw guide for detailed information on how to switch.
A balanced and nutritious raw diet must include variety. You should be aiming to feed at least 5-6 different species ie lamb, beef, duck, chicken, pork, venison, turkey, fish, kangaroo etc over a 2-month period.
When feeding raw, variety is essential. Dogs will gain different levels of nutrients from different animals so the more variety the better.
To ensure your dog is getting everything they need, we recommend choosing a variety from our Classic Range of 80-10-10 complete meals, and our Paleo Plus complete meals.
- Classic Range 80-10-10 complete meals come in 1kg packs
- Paleo Plus complete meals come in 500g packs
- Classic Mini complete meals come is 250g pouches
Classic mini pouches are very convenient and ideal for small breeds, holidays, day trips etc.
If your dog has allergies or intolerances, just make sure the products you buy do not contain what they cannot have.
No. We do not recommend refreezing the food once it has fully defrosted. Once fully defrosted, it will last in the fridge for 3 days.
Due to the biodegradable and compostable packaging keeping our products very well insulated, it can take around 48 hours to defrost a pack in the fridge.
We advise only using raw manufacturers that can prove they have high standards. This will ensure the raw food you buy has been sourced, handled, prepared and stored correctly and is safe to feed. Call and question companies before you purchase. Find a company you can trust and check independent feedback like Google and Feefo.
Paleo Ridge is currently the most accredited UK manufacturer in our industry. We have sought and gained, independent globally recognised accreditation:
- OF&G Organic approved
- ISO 9001 approved
- Ethical pet award approved
- DEFRA approved (Defra licence no 15/103/8003/ABP/PTF)
Independent unannounced audits are mandatory for these extra accreditations. This ensures we meet their very high standards, every single day. The standards laid down by DEFRA are very basic compared to our other accreditations.
Please see our hygiene instructions on how to safely handle and store raw food in the home.
See our customer reviews here
For further information, please see FAQ's - How Can We Help?
"Switching to raw meant that I lived for another 7 years after being diagnosed with terminal cancer."
Raw Feeding Advice By Topic
Switch to Raw Guide
We recommend a straight switch to raw, there is no need to gradually introduce. Pick your day and make the switch to a totally healthy and natural diet!
A Stronger Immune System
If your dog is currently suffering with a health condition, switching to a natural, unprocessed diet can see symptoms lessen and become easily manageable. Some conditions can even disappear altogether!
Reduced Allergies and Intolerances
Allergies and intolerances in dogs and humans have soared since the introduction of processed foods. Cheap grains are mass produced with the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals.
Improved General Wellbeing
It’s no coincidence that in both humans and dogs, an explosion in cancer, along with other diseases has appeared since the introduction of processed food over 80 years ago.
Optimum Digestion and Metabolism
Feeding dogs as though they were omnivores strains the pancreas as it must work harder as the body tries to deal with indigestible carbohydrate-filled food.
Improved Oral Hygiene and Teeth
Our complete meals contain 10% bone, the perfect amount for a healthy diet. Bone is one of the most essential parts of their diet, this provides healthy doses of calcium and phosphorous whilst keeping their teeth free of plaque and tartar.
Improved Behaviour and Hyperactivity
Studies have shown that dogs who have switched to a raw diet, have almost instantly changed their form to become more focused in training and more relaxed after mealtimes.
Further Reading
5 Ways Raw Dog food Makes Puppies Healthier
Guest Blog: Robert Thomas
Many pet owners love raw diets and their benefits, including shiner coats, reduced dental plaque, higher energy levels, and healthier skin. Through raw feeding, your dog’s diet can be personalized to their breed, age, and size. This can be particularly useful if your dog is a breed prone to various genetic illnesses.
10 Tricks for Encouraging your Fussy Dog to Eat
Guest Blog: Smart Bark
There are two kinds of dogs. The first kind lives to eat, you know the type, they devour anything you put in front of them and quite a few things which you don’t. The second kind of dog eats to live. These dogs are the fussy eaters, they pick and choose what they eat, take forever to finish meals, and sometimes don’t finish them at all.
50 Shades of Dog Poo: Deciphering Your Dogs Poo
Guest Blog: Dr. Conor Brady
Many raw feeders are borderline obsessed with their dogs' stool and for good reason. You're most likely to come to fresh feeding for one of two reasons – either someone you know and trust recommended you look into it, or you have a dog with a recurring skin or gut condition. If you're in the gut-sick group a solid stool can bring a tear of joy to the hardiest of folk. These people have been through it.
Helpful Sites On Raw Feeeding Dogs
Some useful links for those looking to learn more on raw feeding
Jo Good Paleo Ridge's Newest Ambassador
Guest Blog: Jo Good
Jo Good talks about her experience of feeding her 13 year old Bulldog Matilda a raw diet, talking dogs with Robbie Williams and her hugely successful BBC Radio series "Bark at the Moon" and becoming a Paleo Ridge ambassador.
Benefits of Feeding Dogs a Variety of Raw Meat
Guest Blog: Dr Conor Brady
Your pet needs a great variety of nutrients on a daily basis. The problem is, we're not quite sure exactly what and when. Many things affect that need – quality of food items used, exercise levels, stress, disease and various environmental factors.
Open Letter to The Guardian
An open letter to The Guardian regarding raw feeding by Tyler Daly, CEO of Paleo Ridge
RFVS Respond to the Guardian July 2021 Article
The Raw Feeding Veterinary Society Ltd (RFVS) would like to reassure its members and followers and, in particular, its colleagues in first opinion veterinary practices, that the article published in the media on Saturday 10th July should not give undue cause for alarm.