Raw feeding gets easier when the routine stops living in your head. Give every step a place: freezer, refrigerator, prep surface, bowl, cleanup. Then repeat it.
Read this before the first bowl. FDA and CDC advise against feeding raw pet food because uncooked animal proteins can carry germs that affect dogs and people. If you choose to feed raw, talk with your veterinarian, follow the current package directions, and review the current FDA guidance and current CDC guidance.
This is a household handling checklist. It does not replace the package in your box or advice from your veterinarian.
Start with the freezer, not the bowl
1. Clear the space before the box arrives
Make sure the sealed portions can stay frozen until you are ready to use them. Keep the package with the food so the current handling directions stay close.
2. Check the delivery before you put it away
Inspect the box and packaging when they arrive. If the package is damaged, the directions are unclear, or the food may have lost refrigeration, do not feed it. Keep the packaging and contact Raw Dawg through the support page.
3. Move the next serving to the refrigerator
Keep it frozen. Thaw it in the refrigerator. Do not cook it. Follow the storage and refrigerated-use directions on the package in your box. If the package and website differ, stop and ask Raw Dawg before feeding.
Place thawing food in a clean, sealed container and keep it separate from food prepared for people. Do not improvise a thawing method that is not listed on the package.
Give raw food one prep zone
4. Use a washable surface and dedicated tools
Choose a surface, bowl, and utensils that can be cleaned after every meal. Keep them away from food that people will eat. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after handling the food.
5. Follow the feeding plan, not a guess
Use the current product label and the feeding plan you have chosen with your veterinarian. This article does not set a portion for an individual dog. If an old note and the current package disagree, stop and ask Raw Dawg which instruction applies.
Reset the station after every bowl
6. Remove food that has been left out
CDC advises throwing away raw-food leftovers that have been sitting at room temperature. Follow the package for any other storage or disposal question. Do not guess about refreezing.
7. Clean and disinfect the bowl, tools, and contact surfaces
Wash the bowl and utensils with soap and hot water after each use. Clean and disinfect surfaces that touched raw food, following the directions on the cleaning products you use. Wash your hands again. Cleanup belongs to the meal, not to later.
Know when the household needs more guidance
CDC identifies children under 5, adults 65 and older, pregnant people, and people with weakened immune systems as more likely to become seriously ill from foodborne germs. Puppies and dogs with weakened immune systems or other health conditions may also face greater risk. Talk with a healthcare professional and veterinarian before choosing raw food in these situations.
The first-week checklist
- Keep unopened portions frozen.
- Thaw only in the refrigerator.
- Keep raw food separate from food prepared for people.
- Use a washable prep zone and clean tools.
- Follow the current package and feeding plan.
- Clean the bowl, tools, hands, and surfaces after every serving.
- Ask before you improvise.
Simple is the point. Build the routine once, then let repetition do the work.
Keep going
Next, build a freezer-to-bowl routine that fits your week. For product and household questions, read the Raw Dawg FAQ.
How it fits the bowl: Raw Dawg is intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only. Follow the nutritional-use statement on the package in your box and ask your veterinarian how Raw Dawg fits your dog's overall feeding plan.
Raw Dawg products are food, not medicine. This article does not provide veterinary or medical advice, a diagnosis, or a treatment plan.