Touted by many as the “miracle” diet for dogs, the raw dog food diet works because it’s the diet our four-legged friends evolved to eat. Raw feeding is the principle of feeding a diet composed of meats and greens that are fresh, uncooked and wild.
Even though raw feeding had intrigued me for quite some time, it was a daunting move to make the switch and ditch the kibble. Despite the many health benefits that come along with raw feeding, the biggest drawback is the risk of feeding an unbalanced meal. Thankfully, with the help from Darwin’s Natural Pet Products, there is no guesswork.
Darwin’s is a subscription-based raw dog food delivery service, offering pre-packaged frozen raw meals that are high quality, fresh and healthy. Darwin’s produces three raw dog food lines and each of their formulas are assured to be complete and balanced. Additionally, according to the brand’s website, “all meals are carefully formulated and tested to meet or exceed AAFCO canine nutritional profiles and the National Research Council’s guidelines for dog nutrition.” Unlike most pre-made raw food providers, Darwin’s offers a variety of options for pet parents depending on their budget and their dogs’ needs.
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Darwin’s Raw Dog Food Lines
Natural Selections™ Raw Dog Food
Premium Line
This grain-free mixture of free-range meats and organic vegetables will provide complete and balanced nutrition for your dog. All the meat used to produce Darwin’s Natural Selections™ were raised cage-free or pasture raised, were grass fed, and are free of steroids, antibiotics or artificial growth hormones.
BioLogics Raw Dog Food
Value Line
BioLogics is the more economical line of raw dog food, made with meats and vegetables from the same farms that supply your local supermarket. It uses the same formula as Darwin’s Natural Selections™ line (75% meat and 25% vegetables) and provides complete and balanced nutrition for your dog.
Intelligent Design™ Veterinary Meals
Prescription Line
These meals — available by prescription-only — are designed to provide extra support to dogs facing certain health issues. Highly palatable, the Intelligent Design™ line uses meats and organic vegetables free from hormones, antibiotics and pesticides, with no grains, fillers or preservatives.
The Ordering Process
One of the easiest, simplest things about Darwin’s is their ordering process. The first step is to create an account on their website along with a profile for each of your pets. In their online ‘pet portal,’ you have the ability to order food for your pet as either a one-time purchase or an automatic shipment, update your subscriptions, view previous and upcoming orders as well as adjust your order delivery times.
Darwin’s also has great customer service and offers a free pet food consultation with one of their menu experts to help answer any questions you may have or help you with your pet’s transition to raw food. Additionally, their team can help formulate a feeding plan suitable to your pet’s preferences, their health and your budget.
The Transition
Choosing Darwin’s was an easy choice. I went with their Natural Selections™ line because I wanted to stick with lamb during this transition, a protein that they eat pretty regularly in their kibble. Feeding Darwin’s does not require meal prep or ingredient sourcing — you just thaw, open and serve. The hardest part about feeding raw is the transition one has to make when their dogs first make the switch.
Some pet parents believe that the transition to raw dog food should happen immediately. Switching your dogs over cold turkey is a rapid switch that is both a simple and no-nonsense approach. Considering the risks that come along with a sudden change in diet, I decided that my dogs would be best suited for a gradual transition. My dogs have been eating a kibble diet their whole lives and raw food is quite different from what they’re used to. To avoid upset stomaches, I slowly introduced them to Darwin’s raw dog food. I decreased the amount of kibble and increased the amount of raw food with each passing day. I was initially worried how the dogs would take to their new food, and during the transition, they surprisingly scarfed down the Darwin’s before moving on to their kibble.
The Verdict
While any subscription-based service can be expensive, I think Darwin’s is comparable to other raw pet food companies. As far as quality goes, I personally believe Darwin’s is probably the best option since their meals are complete, balanced and formulated to meet AAFCO guidelines. If you are considering transitioning your pets to raw dog food, try Darwin’s out today for 50% off your entire first order plus receive free shipping anywhere in continental U.S. — but hurry, this offer won’t last long!
I consider Darwin’s to be a great option when first introducing and transitioning your pets to a raw diet. I have two labs, and boy, they LOVE their food. However, I can tell they prefer raw over kibble and look forward to eating their meals now that I’ve transitioned them to Darwin’s.
I love raw food! My Ma DIY my raw food but maybe when she gets lazy one day, she’ll try Darwins out! 🙂
That’s awesome! DIY raw is the best way to go as long as you have the time and are willing to make the effort to correctly balance your dog’s food. I am jealous 😉 definitely give Darwin’s a shot if you ever need to buy pre-made raw for some reason.