Raw pet food FAQ
Is raw food just for dogs?
No, cats thrive on a raw food diet as well. As natural carnivores, cats and dogs both need what a raw diet provides. Our blends of muscle meat, organs and bones meet all the nutritional needs of both cats and dogs
Transitioning your dog to a raw diet
As you’ve done your research, you probably noticed there are several options when transitioning your dog to raw. Don’t let it overwhelm you.
At Born Wild, we suggest you transition gradually. Don’t try to rush the process. While some dogs take to a raw diet easily, others may need more time. Use this time to gauge your dog’s personal preference on certain flavors and determine whether he/she has any food intolerances.
Start with adding a small amount of raw food to your dog’s kibble. Then over the course of a few days, gradually increase the amount of raw while decreasing the amount of dry food. Make sure to monitor your dog’s stool throughout this process. If the stool is normal, continue the gradual switch until you are feeding raw 100% of the time.
Transitioning your cat to a raw diet
Step 1: Stop Free Feeding. This is the most important step. Set feeding times and stick with it. Cats will quickly learn food won’t always be out.
Once a feeding schedule is established, you can move to step 2.
Step 2: Slowly start to replace your cat’s dry food with wet food. Every day feed a little less dry, a little more wet. Use this transition time to learn what your cat prefers with flavors and textures.
Once you figure out what your cat likes and have your cat eating a fully wet diet, now move on to step 3.
Step 3: At this point have established a feeding schedule and have done away with all dry food. Now you’re going to start adding raw food to the wet food.
Mix it in well so your cat is less likely to notice and pick it out.
Don’t increase the amount of raw you are feeding until it is all getting eaten.
Step 4: Be patient! Association has to happen over and over for a lot of cats before they will successfully eat it. Don’t give up!
Once you cat has successfully taken to the raw food, gradually start to increase the amount of raw food and decrease the amount of wet food. Do this until your cat is eating a fully raw diet.
Raw feeding guidelines
Adult dogs should consume 2-2.5% of their ideal body weight in raw food per day. Puppies should consume 5-6% of their body weight in raw food per day.
Adult cats, typically around 10 pounds, should consume around 3 oz in raw food twice a day. Kittens should consume 4.5 oz a day fed in small quantities over several meals.
How should I store raw pet food?
After grinding, we freeze our blends for sale. They should be thawed before feeding to a dog or cat and are good for four or five days in the refrigerator. Please use safe handling procedures as with all raw meat, while keeping in mind that dogs and cats have a different digestive tract from humans that is designed to be able to handle raw meat.
Our dehydrated treats require no refrigeration.
Do I need to supplement your product with any other food?
Born Wild blends provide a complete meal that simulates what an animal would eat in the wild. You don’t need to add anything to provide full nutritional benefits for your pet. Some of our customers like to add fruits and vegetables, but that’s a matter of individual preference and completely optional. Variety is key to keeping a good balance when feeding raw.
What if my pet has allergies?
All our creations are animal-specific – meaning we only use one type of meat in them. This helps isolate the animal product for pets who may have sensitivities to certain meats.
My pet has difficulty chewing. How can he eat a food that has bone in it?
Bone is an important part of what a dog or cat would get in a natural raw diet.
All the bones we include are non-weight baring bones which have been very finely ground before being added to our blends. This eliminates any chance that there are bone chunks which could pose a choking hazard.
We also offer two different textures: fine and coarse grind. Coarse ground blends are chunkier and require a bit more chewing, while the fine ground blends are smaller and easier for any pets with chewing difficulties or dental issues.
What kind of changes do pet owners notice after feeding their pets Born Wild products?
Our customers like that their pets have better coats, skin, teeth and breath – and less stool, since raw food is digested better and provides more nutrition than a typical pet diet.
Some of our customers have turned to a raw food diet after their pet has been diagnosed with Lyme disease, cancer or other ailments. They have reported happier, healthier animals after switching their pet to Born Wild products.
Other customers have had pets near the end of life who have finished out their days in better-than-expected health on a raw diet. Their pets have been able to move more easily with more energy than before.
Our own pet, a 140-pound cane corso Italian mastiff, was having problems with her leg and difficulty walking. After many expensive veterinarian visits and tests, she was diagnosed with Lyme disease. Since starting a raw food diet, she has had no issues – even with stairs – and requires no medication. She enjoys walking, running and playing with our family.