Do you have to freeze meat before giving to dogs? A Step-by-Step Guide

What Is Frozen Raw Dog Food?

Raw dog food is a type of diet consisting of raw ingredients like meat, vegetables, fruits and sometimes ingredients like bones, Dr. Satchu says.

“This type of diet can be stored frozen,” Dr. Satchu says, “which increases the shelf life and helps with food safety, just as you might store raw meat in the freezer for your own meals.”

Many companies offer packaged, frozen raw dog food diets that you can store in your freezer and thaw before serving. Raw dog food also comes in shelf-stable options, including freeze-dried and raw-boosted kibble.

For a dog, frozen raw food may seem like a treat, but is it safe?

Some dogs can do well with raw food, Dr. Satchu says.

“Unfortunately, the diets can carry serious risks to your dog’s health, too,” she notes. “That includes food poisoning from salmonella or other pathogens carried in raw meat—a risk to humans who handle the food, too—and broken teeth or intestinal punctures due to the inclusion of bones.”

Freezing a food doesn’t guarantee its safety.

“It does not eliminate the bacteria responsible for most foodborne illnesses,” says Dr. Jennifer Coates, a veterinary writer, editor and consultant based in Fort Collins, Colorado. “If raw dog food is contaminated before it’s frozen, it will still be contaminated after it is frozen. Cooking is the best way to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.”

Raw foods especially can be harmful for animals (and people) who are very old, very young or immunocompromised, adds Dr. Coates.

Raw diets are not always suitable for puppies, Dr. Satchu says, because they can result in dangerous electrolyte abnormalities that lead to bone deformities.

“Therefore, pay attention to labels, and only commit to a raw diet for your puppy if it specifically mentions it’s tailored for growing puppies,” she says.

“The principal here is that freezing the food helps to maintain the full nutritional value when compared to foods that are processed to have a longer shelf life out of the fridge,” says Dr. Satchu.

Some dogs can do well on frozen cooked foods without some of the risks linked to raw diets, Dr. Satchu says.

“So, if you like the idea of a raw food but want something with fewer health risks and less clean-up time, this might be a good option for you and your furry friend,” she says.

Proponents of raw diets believe they’re closer to what our dogs’ ancestors ate and, thus, more natural.

“It’s like Paleo for pups,” says Dr. Satchu, referring to the trendy Paleolithic diet, which includes foods early humans ate during the Paleolithic era. “It’s also thought that the lack of processing may help the food retain more nutrients for the dog.”

Is frozen raw meat good for dogs?

Once frozen meats are defrosted, they must be consumed by your pet within 24 hours and never re-frozen. Remember that your pet’s saliva and poop can contain lots more potentially dangerous bacteria if they are fed raw food.

Raw dog food should be stored the exact same way you would store ground beef or chicken breasts: in a freezer, securely packaged. Keeping raw food frozen will prevent bacteria from growing and ensure your dog’s food remains safe to thaw, spoon and serve.

Many owners think that feeding raw dog food is a messy affair that requires time-consuming weighing, mixing and sanitation practices. The truth is that handling raw dog food is similar to handling raw human food: concerns can be mitigated with proper handling and storage. If you think about it, this makes sense, since the raw food you’re serving your dog should be meeting the same standards as the raw food you purchase for the humans in your family.

A key element is temperature control. Some bacteria can start to grow around 8 degrees celsius or 46.5 degrees fahrenheit. There are types of bacteria that can cause illness before the smell or look of the food is altered. Best practice is to discard food if your freezer has broken down or it has been left out at warm temperatures for an extended period of time.

One of our favourite things about feeding our own dogs Iron Will Raw Dog food is the simplicity of it. Thaw, spoon, serve. It’s that simple.

To serve raw dog food, remove it from the freezer and thaw until defrosted. This can be done by placing in the refrigerator or in your sink over night in cold water. When it is defrosted, simply use a spoon to place in your dog’s dish and watch Rover enjoy!

RQW: When Feeding Raw Dog Food, Do We Need to Freeze Meat First?

Bones are a great treat for your dog as they contain a bunch of nutrients and minerals, plus they love chewing them! The thing is, they don’t keep fresh for long and you might be tempted to put them in the freezer. So, can you freeze raw bones for dogs?

Yes, you can freeze raw bones for dogs. They are suitable to feed your dog as a snack, especially on a hot day where it acts like a popsicle packed with amazing flavors.

In this post, you will learn more about how you can do this safely and some key points you need to avoid.

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