Questions about commercial raw

nerdrock · Jan 1, 2012

white cat lover said:
I've been in both those places. *If* I'm remembering right the doggie daycare was about $13/bag for NV medallions, which is $5 cheaper than I'm paying. Granted I don't get there often, but I remember making note of the price difference in case I'm ever in the area again.

On the note of small bags of NV freeze dried, it's been awhile since I got one but I think there was around a dozen medallions in it. My cats won't eat the freeze dried rehydrated, but they did take it as snacks tonight when I offered it un-rehydrated (I know that's not a word).

The freeze dried bags are small - not many in them. They are, or have recently, come out with a larger size.

ldg · Jan 1, 2012

The NV dehydrated food isn't meant to be meals though. Not regularly, anyway. The site says, "Nature's Variety Instinct Freeze Dried Raw is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only."

Willowy · Jan 1, 2012

Well, it would be only "intermittent or supplemental feeding" at this point. But I don't know that they'd like rehydrated freeze-dried food. . .I'm not sure about that kind of texture. But I may try them for treats. I think frozen would be better accepted for meals.

Thanks for the links to the other brands! I'll have to look at those.

goingpostal · Jan 2, 2012

There's also http://www.darwinspet.com/our-cat-food/ and vital essentials has frozen/freezedried cat food. Personally I have had no luck getting my cat to eat freeze dried, either mixed in canned or rehydrated on it's own or dry. I've started breading raw chicken/turkey in the powder from the freeze dried bags and she ate some yesterday. We'll see. I'd like to try a frozen option but can't get any locally and not paying shipping.

auntie crazy · Jan 2, 2012

Pet Food Direct also has regular sales and discounts for auto shipping; currently, they're offering 15% off any order over $49. In addition, they ship to more locations than you see on their website. I just called them and they ship to both Hawaii and Puerto Rico... you just have to place the order over the phone.

This is an awesome thread - I love having these options all listed together like this!

Here another one, K9 Natural from New Zealand, that just expanded into making cat food: Christchurch’s K9 Natural Food named top NZ manufacturer. Geoff Bowers, the owner of K9 Natural, was interviewed for PetFoodIndustry.com, and had some interesting observations to make: Raw petfood and the industry part of the same team.

AC

Willowy · Jan 2, 2012

Haha, I just ran a "theoretical order" on PFD, to see what the shipping would be. For 5 6-pound bags of NV frozen patties, it would be $135.30 for shipping!

For just one bag it would be $43.06 for shipping. That's about the same as the order I ran on NPP as well. Perhaps if you made a large enough order eventually the shipping would be cost-effective (ETA: nope, I ran a few more orders--up to 100 bags--and the shipping is still about the same cost as the food), but otherwise it just basically doubles the cost of the food.

So ordering online is out for frozen. I wonder what other brands Precious Pets might have. I ran the Bravo store locator and they don't have a dealer anywhere closer than Omaha.

auntie crazy · Jan 2, 2012

And another raw pet food manufacturer: Paw Naturaw.

Just in case folks are not aware - ALL raw pet foods fall under USDA raw meat handling / manufacturing laws, and that means those companies are required to use USDA approved for human consumption meats.

Therefore, we know right up front there won't be any of the funky ingredients - no rendered meals, by-products, or misc. agricultural waste - found in canned and kibble products. The meats that raw pet food manufacturers base their foods upon are of precisely the same quality as those we purchase for our own use.

That works for me! ;-}

AC

carolina · Jan 2, 2012

I know nothing about this Brand.... It is from New Zealand..... It ships from Free from Pet Food Direct, but you have to Buy 16 Chubs of 1.5lbs - so this is definitely for those with a large fur-family. The cost is $94, for the 24lbs..... Which brings the cost to $4.00/lb, Shipping and handling included.

Here it is: http://www.petfooddirect.com/Produc...ew-Zealand-Lamb-And-Chicken-Frozen-Cat-Food-#

Willowy · Jan 2, 2012

Carolina said:
I know nothing about this Brand.... It is from New Zealand..... It ships from Free from Pet Food Direct, but you have to Buy 16 Chubs of 1.5lbs - so this is definitely for those with a large fur-family. The cost is $94, for the 24lbs..... Which brings the cost to $4.00/lb, Shipping and handling included.

Here it is: http://www.petfooddirect.com/Produc...ew-Zealand-Lamb-And-Chicken-Frozen-Cat-Food-#

Well, if anybody has a large fur family, it's me! :lol3: But sadly, no, it doesn't ship for free. . .I ran the order (I proceed with the order but stop just before clicking "place order", that way all the charges show up) and a case would be $173.16 after shipping. Which would make it around $7.25 a pound. . .and that's not too bad, not much different than other brands (before shipping). Could be an option. I just wish they had a way to try it before buying a whole case!

carolina · Jan 2, 2012

Willowy said:
Well, if anybody has a large fur family, it's me! :lol3: But sadly, no, it doesn't ship for free. . .I ran the order (I proceed with the order but stop just before clicking "place order", that way all the charges show up) and a case would be $173.16 after shipping. Which would make it around $7.25 a pound. . .and that's not too bad, not much different than other brands (before shipping). Could be an option. I just wish they had a way to try it before buying a whole case!

I would call them to make this stand:

This product includes shipping and handling charges. Please note that we are unable to accept returns on frozen items.

Willowy · Jan 2, 2012

Hmm, that's oddly worded. I think they may be saying that it doesn't qualify for the free shipping, not that shipping charges are included in the price. They really should say "this product requires extra shipping charges" or something like that so it's not confusing.

ldg · Jan 3, 2012

I suspect they mean that there are NO extra charges for shipping and handling, just as it is worded. But when ordering, the shipping calculator automatically calculates. Seems to me you'd need to call PetFoodDirect. I've seen this happen before, and it just needs to be ordered over the phone.

ldg · Jan 4, 2012

OK, needed to add another one to the list. I'm not sure if it's appropriate for cats. It's listed for Dogs only (as some are: Stella & Chewy's raw frozen, for instance, is listed for dogs only, but has added taurine), and the mix is 90% meat, 10% veggies & other, though it has very few supplements. And the meat mix is typically 60% meat, 30% organs, and 10% bones. The Frankenprey diet follows an 80%-87% meat, fat, skin, sinew, connective tissue and heart / 5%-10% edible bone / 3%-5% liver / and 5% other secreting organ (the "80/10/5/5 rule") ( http://catcentric.org/raw-feeding/a-frankenprey-and-whole-prey-feeding-guide/ ). But here's the link to the company, Answers Pet Food: http://www.answerspetfood.com/

Interestingly, unlike other commercial raw diets, they tell us what the meat/bone/organs mix is. :nod:

ldg · Jan 4, 2012

Oh - and it needs to be noted that Primal Pet Foods' raw poultry products as of June 2011 now use the HPP (high pressure) process to ensure the meat is pathogen free: http://www.primalpetfoods.com/education/foodsafety

HPP Products

Canine Formulas: Chicken, Duck, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey & Sardine

Feline Formulas: Chicken & Salmon, Pheasant, Quail, Turkey

Mixes and Grinds: Chicken, Turkey

All Raw Meaty Bones: Chicken Backs, Chicken Necks, Chicken Wings, Turkey Necks

auntie crazy · Jan 4, 2012

I called Stella and Chewy's today. Their raw frozen canine products are suitable for cats and contain 95% meat, 5% fruits and veggies.

AC

feralvr · Jan 4, 2012

Auntie Crazy said:
I called Stella and Chewy's today. Their raw frozen canine products are suitable for cats and contain 95% meat, 5% fruits and veggies.

AC

I heard from a little mouse that you were going to call them today :flail:

YAY - I was wondering if it was alright that I was offering taste's of their raw frozen to my cat's while I am hand-feeding Wilbur !! Thanks a BUNCH, Auntie :heart4: :clap:

feralvr · Jan 4, 2012

LDG said:
Oh - and it needs to be noted that Primal Pet Foods' raw poultry products as of June 2011 now use the HPP (high pressure) process to ensure the meat is pathogen free: http://www.primalpetfoods.com/education/foodsafety

Excellent

Another one to add to the list. I have not tried Primal - yet!!!! Thank's, Laurie :hugs:

:sun:

ldg · Jan 4, 2012

Auntie Crazy said:
I called Stella and Chewy's today. Their raw frozen canine products are suitable for cats and contain 95% meat, 5% fruits and veggies.

AC

THANK YOU for calling! That's great to know. :nod: :clap:

carolina · Jan 4, 2012

Hi All, I sent an email to Nature's Variety, questioning their levels of Taurine, as they do not list in the ingredients...... but have a percentage listed on their nutrient profile - Here is my email, and here is the response I got:

Hi There - First, let me clarify.... there is nothing wrong with the product I purchased, but I do have a question/concerned about it since I am transitioning my three cats to your raw diet.... My concern is about Taurine. I know that in grind meat there is a high level of Taurine degradation, which is why home made raw diets, when made of ground meat, should be Taurine supplemented. Not the case with a Frankerprey diet. I do not see that Taurine has been added to your diet, and that's a concern to me, since it is related to so many major health problems, from heart issues, to blindness. Your diet is, of course, a grind meat diet. I do not care much for the AAFCO, and I do understand they regulate Taurine levels, and your food do passes their standards - however I am looking for more than that, if you can help me.... I see that each batch is sent for analysis prior to the food being released to the market.... Correct? Is that when the Taurine levels are tested? Is the fact that the food is going to be thawed and further degradation during the thaw process and while thawed taken in consideration? Basically - do you have sufficient Taurine in the food to allow that degradation process? I see that the levels are 0.04% for Rabbit, and 0.064% for the rest of the diets - is that at serving, or as frozen, as shipped to the stores? How is that level ensured? Should I be supplementing this diet with Taurine, or can I be absolutely confident my kitties will be ok? Thank you so much, I am very very excited about this, and can't wait for all the health benefits that will bring to my pets - I am actually documenting all the process, the transition and successes in here: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/239771/...lucky-bugsy-and-hope-to-raw-challenges-galore Feel Free to follow it if you wish My cat Bugsy has a plethora of issues - he has had diarrhea for the last 1 YEAR and 2 months - due to clavamox, has stomatitis, is way overweight, and has a VERY sensitive system. He needs help, and your diet seems to be just the ticket Appreciate your response, Carolina -

Here is their response:

Dear Carolina,

Thank you for e-mailing!

All Nature's Variety Diets, including our Instinct Raw Frozen Diets, provide complete and balanced nutrition for dogs and cats, all life stages and all breeds. Complete and balanced means the diet contains all of the necessary vitamins and minerals that your pets needs for daily health and well-being.

All nutrients degrade over time, not just taurine. Likewise the rate at which they degrade plummets as the temperature decreases. If you kill a chicken with a body temperature of about 107 F (about average for chickens) the taurine would degrade at a certain rate and as the temperature drops the rate at which it degrades would significantly decrease. As an illustration the amount of taurine degradation that would occur in 1 day at 107 F would take 525 days at 0 F.

The values listed in the Guaranteed Analysis, including taurine content, are "as fed" and calculate for all factors before the food is actually fed.

We would not recommend adding supplements unless they are specifically recommended by your veterinarian.

Thanks for supporting our products!
Sincerely,
************

Customer Service
Nature's Variety
1-888-519-7387
www.naturesvariety.com

ldg · Jan 4, 2012

Very interesting, Carolina. Thank you for sharing that! (And good to know!)

Questions about commercial raw

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

Thread starter

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member

TCS Member