Not All Raw Dog Food Is Created Equal!

There’s no doubt that feeding dogs fresh, whole-food has ‘officially’ made it into the dog bowl!

With a significant shift in human’s embracing healthy eating as a lifestyle choice, understanding the value of nutrient dense ingredients as contributing to overall wellness.  It’s no coincidence that pet parents want the same for their pets.

Back in the day, I remember being labelled as: ‘A raw food feeder’ as though I was someone belonging to a weird cult! In contrast to today, when thankfully feeding raw is aligned to optimum health and wellness for dogs.

I feel so lucky to have never fed my dogs on ultra-processed options.  I couldn’t believe it when in circa 2000 I looked after a friend’s bull terrier. Following instructions, I fed him a scoop of biscuits for his meals. My friend explained this was: ‘the new way of feeding dogs’. I did what I was told, but it didn’t feel right at all.

Needless to say, in 2002 when Molly, my first miniature bull terrier, arrived, I followed her breeder’s advice to feed raw. Using our excellent local butcher meant, like we’d fed our family dogs, feeding Molly meat, raw bones, adding leafy greens and berries was easy.

Crufts 2009 marked a shift when three brave brands exhibited for the first time. Entering a space that was dominated by large ultra-processed brands.

Sparking a big conversation on offering raw balanced and complete options, smartly packaged, highlighting the ingredients and their health benefits. Making feeding raw more accessible as a lifestyle choice compared to DIY options or guess work. 

When I qualified from the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies in 2015 as a canine nutritionist, the balanced and complete options clearly mirrored the emerging science confirming that feeding dogs as nature intended supported optimum health.

Around 16% of UK dog owners now choose raw feeding, reflected in healthier eating habits being transferred from owner to dog in line with burgeoning science, not least on gut health and the microbiome.

But with growth comes complexity. Not all raw Is created equal. As demand has surged, so too has the number of brands entering the market.

Not all of whom are like Naturaw. Built on deep nutritional knowledge, ethical sourcing and total transparency.

Others rely on white-label manufacturing, anonymous meat supply chains and clever marketing.

For pet parents, it’s becoming harder to tell the difference. Naturaw understands that the quality and provenance of the main ingredient – meat - really matters!

By supporting British farmers, Naturaw sources their meat only with the highest welfare standards.  Allowing total transparency with its quality and strong local supply chains.

Making everything at their Yorkshire based HQ, allows full control over their chef standard recipes, hygiene, handling and nutritional integrity. Unlike other brands, Naturaw doesn’t rely heavily on ‘cheap’ cuts like tripe or heart in its recipes and does not use any lung at all!

While some brands talk green, the reality doesn’t always match the claims. From vague environmental promises to outdated packaging choices like polystyrene insulation.

In contrast, Naturaw prides itself on its 100% plastic free, home compostable packaging, using solar power for production, and by planting over 23,000 trees to date, Naturaw genuinely minimises the impact it has on our environment.

Additionally, as a certified B Corp, one of Naturaw ‘s many claims to fame was meeting the King, and being honoured with the King’s award for sustainable development!

In a market where it’s increasingly hard to tell substance from spin, Naturaw’s level of transparency offers something rare: peace of mind in the bowl.

We’ve joined the Rawvolution at Naturaw, have you?