Not necessarily, allergies or intolerances to chicken do not always mean all poultry. Through evolution, poultry species have developed different genetics and muscle composition for diverse purposes like swimming or flying; making their meat quite different from one another (Dodds, 2014). Additionally, in Chinese Herbal Medicine, chicken is thought to be a warming (inflammatory) protein where turkey and duck are cooling proteins (Chi Institute, 2007).

To de-thaw any of our raw food brands, leave desired portion in your fridge over night and it will be ready to serve in the morning. Never use a microwave to de-thaw the meat as there is finely ground bone in, and when cooked, makes it a hazard to your dog. If you are in a bit of a hurry soaking it in a sink of cold water is another method (Tollden Farms, 2005). The thawed food should last in the fridge for up to 5 days. If your pet did not eat it after 15 minutes take it away, put it back in the fridge and try again at the next meal. Handle the meat as you would when preparing any meat for yourself; be sure to wash your hands and all surfaces after feeding.

In general, adult dogs at an ideal body weight need 2% of their body weight per day in food. Where as cats need about 3%. If you are starting a puppy under 12 months on raw, feeding up to 6% of their body weight is suggested to aid in growth and development. When needing to gain or lose a couple pounds, add or subtract 0.5-1% of their body weight until back to their breeds ideal weight.
Iron Will Raw website has a great calculator under “Our Menu” tab that can help you measure how much to feed per day and meal in lbs. or oz.

Gastrointestinal parasites are a common concern of pet parents when feeding raw food. However, pets only really get this disease from eating poop or the gut contents of their prey. You can be assured that none of our raw recipes contains the gut contents from any of the protein species. In regards to salmonella, dogs and cats have very high levels of acid in their stomach and short digestive tract, keeping the bad bacteria from staying for long. Surprisingly, majority of the pet food recalls for salmonella are all kibble brands and not due to fear for dogs health but humans (Becker, 2013). Our systems are quite different than theirs, which is why we cannot handle raw meat (Tollden, 2005). So, as long as safe handling practices are used, both you and your pet should be happy and healthy!

Yes! Starting them at a young age is one of the best ways to ensure they do not develop any intolerances in the future and develop into a strong healthy dogs. The best way to start is cold turkey, cut the kibble and just feed raw. It is a good idea to start with just one protein source like chicken or turkey, and as long as there are no tummy upsets or loose stool, you can add new protein sources after a week or so. Giving meaty bones is a great way to balance their calcium and phosphorus. Your puppy should be fed 3 small meals a day until about 6 months of age then twice or once if you prefer. Although raw is considered a complete meal, supplements are still recommended like fish oil (for omega-3’s and cognitive development) and probiotics to aid in digestion (Dogs Naturally, 2016).

Kelp is a great source of many vitamins (A, C, K, B12, E) and minerals (calcium, iodine, magnesium, potassium and iron), omega-3 fatty acids and fiber to help balance raw food for a complete meal (Dogs Naturally, 2016a). Kelp has been seen to help promote a healthy and shiny coat, discourage fleas to land and keep your pet strong and healthy (Can I give my dog, 2011).

Products made in the same plant where human food is made can be defined as “Human Grade” (The Honest Kitchen, 2013). With raw food, this may also be labeled “Not for Human Consumption” if there are bones in it. Since there are bones ground in, you cannot cook it and our digestive systems are not built to handle raw meat like with cats and dogs.

Dogs will have smaller pops because there are no fillers in the food so the dog can digest and use everything he eats. With high bone contents you can see the poop becoming whiter. With no bone and more organs you may see darker and looser stool. Probiotics are a great addition to keep poops regular (Iron Will, 2016)