For those who want to feed a more natural diet, but may be restricted or daunted by the preparation involved in a raw diet, or if you want to try it out and then move into making your own, here are a few companies who make prepackaged raw diets. The ingredients vary. You should always read up on raw diets before you embark on one to ensure safety!

http://www.bravorawdiet.com/
http://www.stevesrealfood.com/

Those are just a few. Please feel free to add more links!!

Here's another one posted by a member:

http://www.farmoredogfood.com/

Labracorn/Black as night... is there any way we could sticky this one? I've posted the info in other threads 3 times in the past week I think.

here is another
http://www.primalpetfoods.com/

And yet another!

http://www.naturesvariety.com/content.lasso?r=2139750&page=1308&-session=naturesvariety:4491FAC90a47b343B6KRG3DC1DC 8

I tried some "Steve's Real Food" last night. I mixed a few chunks in with their kibble. The dogs looked at me like, "What is this stuff, and where's our canned dog food?" They ate a few bites and walked away. Should I keep trying? Is there a better way to gradually introduce it?

Thanks!
Trina

Chicken necks were the key for us. Drum was very confused by raw food at first too (Grip took right to it). Mine also seemed more interested at first in "ground" types (I used Bravo!) at first.

I'd also feed kibble and raw food at separate meals (not mixed with kibble). Some people have no problem mixing them, but they digest them so differently I've always erred on the side of caution.

Here's a good one: Oma's Pride:

http://www.omaspride.com/products.htm#LOMAR

This is where I get my tripe.

FYI - Kenai and Tara seem to prefer the Steve's Real Food when it is still partially frozen, as opposed to air temperature which makes it mushy.

I also can't keep one of my darn cats out of it. She actually tried to guard the dog dish while she ate it. I had to remove her from the room because the dogs won't fight her for food...spoiled kitty.

the dogs won't fight her for food...spoiled kitty

That's so funny!! Drum used to let Turtle (our older cat) hop up on his platform and eat his food when we were feeding kibble/canned. I had to go chase her away. The cats don't even come in the kitchen now that they're eating raw though. The days of sharing are OVER!

what are the benefits of eating raw? hoiw much more expensive is it?

There are two good threads which should answer your questions in this section of the board,

http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/showthread.php?t=39005

and

http://www.lab-retriever.net/board/showthread.php?t=38298

Zen, your barfworld and simplyrawfoods links don't work.

I always have link issues :punch:

And I don't know why :( Anybody interested can google "barf world" and "simply raw food" and should get them.

While I'm here, I'll give a review of a prepackaged raw:

NATURE'S VARIETY Prairie Raw Frozen Diets

I got some for the cats over the weekend. They wouldn't touch it and seemed reluctant even to be on the same table as it. So I gave it to the dogs & ferret this morning. Drum ate it reluctantly and with hesitation. Brom left half of his in his bowl. Grip ate it all up (bless him, I've yet to find anything he didn't think was manna).

I won't buy it again. Its a shame, because it looked good in theory.

Prairie Brand Chicken + Turkey Raw Frozen Canine/Feline Diet

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS
CRUDE PROTEIN (min.) 13.0%
CRUDE FAT (min.) 6.0%
CRUDE FIBER (max.) 2.0%
MOISTURE (max.) 68.0%

OTHER MAJOR NUTRIENTS
CARBOHYDRATES (%) 2.05%

CALORIES
71 kcal / ounce

VITAMINS
VITAMIN A (IU/kg) 12161.55
THIAMIN (mg/kg) 1.60
RIBOFLAVIN/VITAMIN B2 (mg/kg) 2.39
NIACIN, VITAMIN B3 (mg/kg) 36.54
PANTOTHENIC ACID (mg/kg) 10.12
PYRIDOXINE/ VITAMIN B6 (mg/kg) 2.02
FOLATE (mg/kg) 408.85
VITAMIN B12 (mg/kg) 0.03
VITAMIN D (IU/kg) 240.00
VITAMIN E (IU/kg) 9.60

MINERALS
CALCIUM (%) 0.320%
COPPER (mg/kg) 1.60
IRON (mg/kg) 145.04
MAGNESIUM (%) 0.026%
MANGANESE (mg/kg) 2.40
PHOSPHORUS (%) 0.256%
POTASSIUM (%) 0.192%
SELENIUM (mg/kg) 0.127
SODIUM (%) 0.067%
ZINC (mg/kg) 24.00

AMINO ACIDS
ARGININE (%) 0.802%
CYSTINE (%) 0.352%
HISTIDINE (%) 0.322%
ISOLEUCINE (%) 0.557%
LEUCINE (%) 0.867%
LYSINE (%) 0.929%
METHIONINE (%) 0.300%
PHENYLALANINE (%) 0.467%
THREONINE (%) 0.490%
TYROSINE (%) 0.375%
TRYPTOPHAN (%) 0.129%
VALINE (%) 0.589%
TAURINE (%) 0.064%

FATTY ACIDS
LINOLEIC ACID/OMEGA 6 (%) 0.999%
LINOLENIC ACID/OMEGA 3 (%) 0.249%
ARACHIDONIC (%) 0.115%

Prairie Brand Chicken +Turkey is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog and Cat Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages.

INGREDIENTS
Chicken, Turkey, Turkey Liver, Turkey Heart, Ground Chicken Bone, Ground Turkey Bone, Apples, Carrots, Sweet Potatoes, Broccoli, Lettuce, Spinach, Ground Flax Seeds, Chicken Eggs, Montmorillonite, Dried Kelp, Salmon Oil, Cold Pressed Olive Oil, Apple Cider Vinegar, Parsley, Honey, Persimmons, Blueberries, Duck Eggs, Pheasant Eggs, Quail Eggs, Garlic, Alfalfa Sprouts, Barley Sprouts, Millet Sprouts, Quinoa Sprouts, Wheat Sprouts, Inulin, Grapefruit Seed Extract, Rosemary, Sage, Clove.

Huh. I wonder what the problem was.

The problem is they are cats...stubborn creatures! :D

Just found this big page of links for raw feeding products & suppliers in both the US and Canada. There may be duplicates among them already posted but I'm just cutting and pasting the whole thing here.:

Raw Food Diet Suppliers

All these companies usually offer supplements, books, natural treats and other products. Most of these web sites give information on raw food diets and very good quality links to related subjects. Please take the time to look around. Also note that the diets offered by a company may vary with time and new retailers can be added regularly. If you are interested in the raw food diet, visit these sites often.

Aunt Jeni Home Made (MD) 877-254-6123
http://www.auntjeni.com
A very complete diet of chicken, lamb, beef or rabbit in a 50:50 ratio of meat to vegetables. The chicken diet is made of organic chicken muscle meat, minced organ meat and finely ground raw bones. The lamb diet contains organic lamb muscle meat, minced organ meat and finely ground raw bones. The beef diet contains beef muscle meat, beef heart and liver. The rabbit formula contains rabbit meat and bones, rabbit heart and liver. All diet contains pureed vegetables, apples, whole eggs, ground flax seeds, honey, apple cider vinegar, alfalfa, kelp, garlic, parsley, and grapefruit seed extract. Canadian retailers in Alberta, British Columbia and Ontario. US Retailers in California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Virginia and Washington DC. Ships everywhere in Canada and the USA.

Animal Food Services (WI) 800-743-0322
http://www.animalfood.com
Offer meat patties of organ, muscle and bone. Available frozen or freeze-dried. No artificial flavors or colors, no preservatives, no grains. Balanced and complete in vitamin, mineral, fat, carbohydrate and protein content--balancing the all-important calcium/phospherous ratio. AFS also manufactures the same meat diets under the "Carnique" brand label. Dealers in 22 states.

Canique Pet Food (see above)
Manufactured by Animal Food Service. Please see this company's web site for description.

Celestial Pets (CA) 888-235-7387
http://www/celestialpets.com/
Offers a home recipe but does not sell raw foods.

Fargo Farmore (Canada, BC)
http://www.fargoresearch.com
Mix of ground meat, organ meat, carrots, grains and supplements. Only the beef variety contains bones. Canadian distributors in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. US distributors in California, Oregon, Washington, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois and Texas.

Feed This (CA)
http://www.feedthis.com
Offers complete meals of chicken necks, lamb necks, pork necks, turkey necks or chicken backs. Also caries duck and rabbit meaty bones. Their bogie balls are made of beef, turkey, eggs, veggies, herbal supplements and organs. No grains. Delivers in Sonoma, Napa, Marin, Mendocino, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco Counties

Golden Choice (GA) 770-425-5412
http://www.goldenchoice.20m.com/
Offers a beef, turkey, rabbit, offal, goat or fish diet. Diet contains eggs, yogurt, whole rolled oats, fresh fruit & vegetables, oils, honey, garlic, kelp, alfalfa, vitamins and minerals. Also carries meaty bones, chicken backs, turkey necks, turkey wings and goat bones. Delivery is free in the North metro Atlanta area. Call for other areas.

Grandad's Pet Foods (CA) 408-727-6160
http://www.grandadspetfoods.com
Offers a chicken, a beef and a chicken & beef diet. The chicken diet contains chicken meat and bones, neck, back, and frame and 3% beef organ meat for flavor. Also available in a double-ground form for puppies and toy breeds. The all beef diet contains 100% beef organ meat and denaturing charcoal. The beef & chicken diet contains 60% beef heart and 40% chicken. No grains, vegetables or supplements. Ships throughout California and the Western States. Distributors in California, Oregon and Washington.

Halshan Premium Raw Food (CA) 888-766-9725
http://www.halshan.com
A line of various diets, all without grains, including meat and veggies (70% meat, 30% veggies, no bones), organ meat and veggies, meat only, and ground whole turkey or chicken necks. Meat types include chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, venison, ostrich, buffalo, duck and fish. Organ meats are chicken, beef, turkey and lamb. Green tripe is also available. Shipping to California, Utah and Nevada is very affordable, but will ship to all other states for a higher price.

Healthy Hound (British Colombia, Canada) 604-925-3647
http://www.thehealthyhound.com
Offer a various diet of chicken, turkey, lamb or beef. Also offers an ostrich, venison, lamb tripe, wild muskox or wild fish diet. An anti-inflammatory diet for dogs with arthritis, skin irritations, allergies and even chronic ear problems is also available, as well as a gastro diet. 75% ground muscle meat, organ and bone with 25% organic seasonal veggies. Free shipping in Vancouver. Call for quotes if from elsewhere.

Natural Kravings, formely Holesome Natural K9 Pet Foods (British Colombia Canada) 604-826-6242
http://www.holesome.com/naturalkravings/
Offers an extensive meat diet with/without organs with separate vegetables (Mix 'n Match Meal system) or the two combined in a complete meal. The Meat diet is available in chicken, beef, turkey or lamb. The meat & organ diet is available in chicken, beef or lamb. A Meaty bones & organ meat diet is available with lamb necks and lamb neck slices. You can also buy bulk meats, like chicken backs & necks. The veggie packs come in 6 flavors. The complete meal diet has a ratio of 75% meat and 25% veggies, and is available in chicken, turkey, beef or lamb. They also offer finely pulverized eggshells and a salmon & bones product. Ships in British Colombia every two weeks. Delivery outside of British Colombia is also possible. Please visit web site for details.

Home Made 4 Life (Canada) 905-729-2727
http://www.homemade4life.com/
Canadian distributor of Aunt Jeni's Home Made diets. Please see this company's entry for description.

mOrigins (OH)
http://d21c.com/buddyx2/MORIGINS/mORIGINS.html
Ground beef muscle meat, organ meat and bones, plus vitamins and minerals. No grains or vegetables. Apparently there is a freeze-dried version also. Available at: A Place for Paws (800) 354-4216 Columbiana, OH Western Reserve Healthcare Services (216) 228-3656 Cleveland, OH

Mountain Dog Food (Alberta, Canada) 780-662-2242
http://mountaindogfood.com/
Offers ground chicken and ground turkey, with or without veggies & fruits. Also carry turkey necks and chicken backs. Delivery to your home has to be arranged by phone but they have several retailers in British Colombia and Alberta.

Nature's Link (Canada)
http://www.natureslink.ca/home.htm
Mix of meat, liver, grains, fruits, carrots and supplements in a sausage form. Does not include bones. Contains unusual but healthy ingredients like buttermilk, citrus fruits and yeast. Available in most of Canada and the Western US, including Alaska. Send email for a dealer near you.

Nature's Menu (WI) 414-248-9256
Email: catsdogs@genevaonline.com

Oma's Pride from Miller Foods, Inc. (CT) 860-673-3256
http://www.omaspride.com/index.htm
Offers a complete list of diets with or without vegetables. Meat, bones and organs only. No grains, no added vitamins or minerals. Diets with vegetables & bones offer a ratio of 70% meat/bones, 10% organs and 20% vegetables. They include chicken, turkey, beef and lamb. A beef & vegetables mix is available without bones. Diets without vegetables include chicken necks/frames, turkey necks/frames, ultra fine ground chicken necks and lamb. Meat is also available without bones in ground turkey, turkey breast, turkey thigh, chicken breast, ground beef, ground ostrich, ground venison, beef top rounds. Organ meat is available in ground beef heart/liver/kidney, beef heart, beef liver, beef kidney, chicken liver, green tripe. They also offer a wide variety of whole raw meaty bones. Please check web site for details. Delivery anywhere in CT. Retailers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Vermont.

NDN - Nu Dimensions Nutrition (NC) 919-848-4071
http://www.nudimensionsnutrition.com/index.htm
Offers a diet of meaty bones and vegetables in a ratio of 50%-50%. No grains. Available diets are chicken, chicken liver & heart, turkey, duck, salmon and beef (without bones). Retailers in North Carolina, Florida and Virginia. The company will ship to all locations that don't have a local retail outlet via UPS.

Pat McKay Inc. (CA) 800-975-7555
http://www.patmckay.com/
No information found about the menus on her web site, but they are composed of 75% raw meat and 25% raw vegetables. Call for a list of retailers. No information on shipping.

Purely Primitives from Teddy's Freezer (WA) 206-542-9300
http://www.teddysfreezer.com/
Various diets available of meat/vegetables, organ/vegetables and organ/meat/vegetables. No grain or additive. The meat/vegetables diets include chicken, turkey, beef, lamb, venison and duck. The organ/vegetables diets include chicken, turkey, beef and lamb. The organ/meat/vegetable diets include chicken, turkey, duck and lamb. Also offers whole chicken necks, whole chicken backs, whole chicken wings, whole turkey necks and whole duck necks. Retailers in California, Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Virginia and Washington.

Raw Connections (Canada, ON) 613-623-3830
http://www.raw-connections.com
Offers a diet of ground chicken, ground meaty chicken bones, ground flaxseed or flaxseed oil, carrots, lettuce, ground kelp, ground alfalfa leaves, vitamins C, A & D. Available from several locations around the Ottawa Valley. Call or send email for a distributor near you.

Steve's Real Food (OR) 888-526-1900
http://www.realdogfood.com
A complete diet consisting of ground meat and bones, organ meat, vegetables, and a variety of supplements. Has a tiny amount of rice bran, but no other grains. Chicken and Turkey varieties available. Comes in bags of cubes or in a freeze-dried version. Retailers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington State and Wisconsin.

Three Cheers Raw! Raw! Raw!
http://www.aplaceforpaws.com
Complete diet consisting of whole chicken pieces (including bone), seasonal vegetables, chicken giblets, flaxseed, kelp and garlic, all finely ground. No grains. They also carry Chicken Backs & Necks, Turkey Necks and Beef Bones. Available at A Place for Paws (800) 354-4216 Columbiana, OH

Ultimate Diet (canada, ON) 416-469-0324
http://www.theultimatediet.com
Offers three diets in beef, venison and chicken. All diets contain organic whole oats (less than 10%), un-pasteurized honey, organic garlic, organic alfalfa sprouts, organic fresh carrots, sea kelp, nutritional yeast, wheat germ, carob powder, cold pressed virgin olive oil, organic apple cider vinegar, calcium carbonate, vitamin C, filtered water and ground bone. Chicken diet also contains mint powder. Retailers in Ontario, New Hampshire and Michigan.

Waggin' Tails (MA) 800-946-8245
http://www.waggintails.com
Carries these specific frozen raw diets: Abady, Animal Food Services, Bill Jac Frozen, Steve's Real Food and Oma's Pride. Please visit web site for details. Will ship from Massachusetts to everywhere they can reach in 2 days via UPS.

These links seem to be a great alternative for those who are overwhelmed by the idea of feeding raw! I have not made the switch to feeding raw because I am not sure what exactly to feed and what to buy. But pre-packaged raw food is a great idea.

Has anyone tried one of the listed links yet? I'm leaning toward Bravo Raw Diet or Aunt Jenni's. Can someone point us in the right direction?

Thanks!!!

I was at the local pet shop and i saw a product by Redbarn. It was in a sausage roll package. It was called rolled meat. The label stated it was fresh high quality hand picked meat, corn/soy free. Once you open it, you have to treat it like real meat and refridgerate. I was wondering if anyone has ever used anything like it and if it is considered a raw meat diet?

Here's another!
http://www.excelk9diet.com/home.htm

The Ultimate diet is great! Not as good as completely raw, but WAY better than kibble!