• Never serve the raw food frozen. The food must be thawed completely prior to feeding. Do not microwave. Do not combine canned or kibble pet food with raw food. Do not thaw the product on the counter top. Keep raw pet food products cold at all times. Thaw in the refrigerator or in cold water.
• Thoroughly wash your hands and all surfaces after handling the raw pet food.
• Use stainless steel dishes, as they are easier to clean and do not hold any toxins within the material.
• If any food is left over after the dog has finished eating, dispose of it. Wash your pet’s dish; do not allow the dish to sit overnight.
• After thawing, the raw food should be used within 2-3 days and kept in the refrigerator.
• Raw pet food should be stored in the freezer between 4 months to a maximum of 6 months.
• Never refreeze the thawed product.
• Simply thaw the food in the refrigerator, determine the amount to serve based upon your pet’s weight, and supply the food along with fresh, pure water.

If you feel that your pet needs time to adjust, because of digestive sensitivity or poor response to change, one of the following options can help ease the transition:

Option A: Cold Food

Some pets do not like to eat cold food. To take the chill off of the food, wash your pet’s stainless steel bowl in hot water until the bowl is hot or warm to the touch. Then, place the pet’s required feeding amount in the bowl and mix it around to distribute some of the warmth from the bowl into the food. Feed immediately.

Option B: Three-Day Approach (dogs only)

Day 1: The first day of your dog’s introduction to the raw food should be a day of partial fasting. Supply your dog with fresh, pure water, a small amount of well-ripened raw fruits and raw vegetables with 1 Cup (8 oz) plain yogurt. (Note: Make sure the bacterial source in the yogurt is active).

Day 2: Give your dog approximately half of what its normal serving of dog food along with 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt per 15 pounds of body weight.

Day 3: Serve your dog the full amount of dog food for its body weight with 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt for 15 pounds of body weight. You may discontinue the yogurt after two weeks of continuous feeding.

Option C: Reverse Cooking (dogs or cats)

Using thawed food from the refrigerator, select the required feeding amount and place into a frying pan on low heat. Cook lightly for 10 minutes and then serve. For each consecutive meal, reduce the cooking time by one (1) minute until no cooking time is required. For dogs, this option can be used in conjunction with yogurt/probiotics and a partial fasting day if desired. Do not heat the yogurt or probiotics.

Option D: Frequent Smaller Feedings

Feed smaller amounts more frequently for the first week. For example, if your pet’s recommended feeding amount is 1 pound per day, split into four 1/4 pound meals. For dogs, yogurt or probiotics can be used in conjunction with this option.

Option E: Digestive Enzymes

Under the supervision of a qualified health care provider, digestive enzymes can be added to the raw dog food for the first few weeks to help improve digestion.