When it comes to raw feeding our dogs, of course we want to feed them as closely to their ancestral diet as possible, however we do have to recognise that they have come to be domesticated by humans so we as pet guardians must take health and safety advice onboard too in order to protect our dogs all we can.
Can I give my dog fresh meat, bone & offal?
If you do, you do so at your own risk. Fresh produce has not been tested to the high standards that raw pet food is, as it is designed for us humans to cook not eat raw.
RFFDMSUK recommends you follow the government freezing advice for raw pet food as this will kill some parasites (such as in pork) and will stop the growth of bacteria. If you are feeding fresh game such as venison, freezing it will also help any tick’s to fall off naturally.
See our blog on fresh produce for more information
I'm immunocompromised / I have young children at home / I am worried about germs & bacteria - how can I safely feed my dog / dogs raw?
Preparing your dog's food, regardless of the type of food fed, should be no different than preparing any other food in the home.
Check out our blog on Raw Feeding with Children in the Home where we list out basic actions you can take to protect yourself or others in the home.
How should raw pet food be packaged?
Raw pet food should be sold in a sealed plastic wrap (usually as a chub or block) or in a plastic container. Some brands are still using cardboard or other packaging types but any plastic wrap packaging should always be a sealed unit.
What should I do if I see raw pet food being sold in a plastic bag / unsealed plastic wrap / by a company without a DEFRA licence?
Take a picture of it & report it to your local trading standards office & to the Food Standards Agency
How should raw pet food be labelled?
Raw pet food should follow pet food labelling legislations.
UK Pet Food (previous PFMA) sets out industry guidance on labelling here
There is a grey area which means many lower cost brands of raw pet food do not list much about the composition of the food. Most common is not mentioning the type of offal or bone used which can mean you have no way of knowing from the label if the product is solely sourced from a single protein or not.
Other scenarios may be that a dog has a tripe intolerance and the product doesn't always state if it contains tripe or not. This can be difficult for those who are trying to avoid a certain protein or food type due to a proven reaction. We therefore recommend contacting the manufacturer concerned directly or via your supplier to ask for this information.
What is the RFVS? Why are they so commonly recommended by RFFDMSUK?
The RFVS (Raw Feeding Veterinary Society) “is a group of motivated vets, vet nurses and other paraprofessionals with a common interest in promoting the principles and practical aspects of species-appropriate nutrition, through support and education of veterinary, other professionals and the pet-owning public”
They have professionals worldwide on their “ find a professional '' link who can help pet guardians in a range of areas to provide additional care, advice and support where needed.
How can I help RFVS to educate vets on fresh feeding?
You can help the RFVS on their mission “To promote the principles and practical aspects of species-appropriate nutrition, through education of veterinary and other professionals and the pet-owning public” by becoming a supporter for a small monthly fee via the “membership” link on their website.
What is UK Pet Food?
UK Pet Food (formally know as the Pet Food Manufacturers Association) are an association working to raise standards. They have a fairly recent Raw Food Certification Scheme for Pet Food Manufacturers. The scope of the scheme includes plant design and maintenance, supplier assurance, safe product formulation, full traceability systems, safe handling, quality checks, microbiological testing, a programme of internal auditing, HACCP, staff training and labelling compliance.
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