Raw Feeding FAQs: Food, Feeding & Your First Order

Begin with one suitable raw blend, measured portions, and a simple introduction. You can start with part of your dog’s meals or work toward a fully raw routine.

1. Note your dog’s weight, age, activity, and current food.
2. Choose a protein they already tolerate and review the blend’s full ingredient list.
3. Use our Raw Feeding Planner to compare 25%, 50%, 75%, or 100% raw feeding, with estimated quantities and costs for 7, 14, or 30 days.
4. Make freezer space and introduce one blend before adding several new treats or toppers.
5. Track appetite, stool, and how much your dog eats as you establish the routine.

Build your first feeding plan and follow our step-by-step raw transition guide.

Start with a protein your pet already enjoys and tolerates. A familiar flavour can make the new texture easier to introduce.

If beef suits your pet, compare beef-based blends. If poultry is familiar, look at our poultry recipes. Read the entire ingredient list: a blend can include organs or other ingredients from an animal different from the main protein named on the label.

Choose one recipe for the introduction. Once that is established, you can explore more variety through protein rotation.

Compare our recipe ingredients. If you are avoiding an ingredient, use our guide to choosing for sensitivities.

Yes. Raw feeding can begin as part of your dog’s existing routine, making it easier to find a plan that fits your budget, freezer, and household.

Plan the day’s food as a whole. As you introduce raw, replace an appropriate share of the existing food and include treats and toppers in the total. Work out portions using the foods’ feeding guidance and calorie information rather than swapping different foods pound for pound.

Our planner compares 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% raw feeding, including estimated quantities and costs. For a pet on a prescribed diet, check the proposed combination with the veterinarian managing that diet.

Compare partial raw feeding plans.

Daily portions depend on your dog’s weight, age, activity, and body condition. Our Raw Feeding Planner helps estimate a starting amount and the quantity to buy for 7, 14, or 30 days.

Weigh servings with a kitchen scale so you know what your dog receives. Include other meals, treats, and toppers when reviewing the day’s food. Then watch weight and body condition: a portion estimate is a starting point you can adjust as your dog’s needs change.

Calculate daily portions and order quantities. See when to adjust portions for the changes worth tracking.

Review portions when growth, weight, activity, or health changes. The right amount can change even when you keep feeding the same recipe.

For puppies and kittens, revisit amounts frequently as they grow. For adults, changes in exercise, weight, pregnancy, nursing, or a move into senior years are reasons to review the plan.

Keep a simple record of current weight, food offered, food eaten, and activity. That gives you something useful to compare instead of guessing from an unfinished bowl. Unexplained weight loss or appetite changes deserve veterinary attention.

Recheck your dog’s portion estimate. For life-stage guidance, see puppies, kittens, or senior pets.

Yes. Once your pet is comfortable with a starting blend, rotation lets you include different animal ingredients and their naturally occurring nutrients.

Introduce another suitable recipe while keeping the rest of the routine familiar. Note the ingredients and your pet’s response. Some families rotate through the week; others use a slower schedule.

Different meats, organs, and fish offer different nutrient profiles. Variety also makes it easier to adapt when preferences or product availability change. Choose the next blend by its full ingredient list, introducing it at a pace that suits your pet.

Compare blends by their full ingredient lists.

Raw Instincts is a faith-led, family-run raw pet food business preparing small-batch meals for families who want to know more about what goes into their pets’ bowls.

We believe Jesus is our healer and that God created real food to nourish His creatures. We pray over every meal, asking Him to bless the pets and families we serve.

Our work also means being available for everyday questions about ingredients, portions, and getting started. Behind your order is a family you can talk to, with five years of hands-on experience preparing food and helping pet parents build their routines.

Meet our family and read our story.

Our approach combines small-batch preparation, openly shared ingredients, non-HPP raw meals, and direct help from our family.

You can see which meats, organs, and other ingredients are in a blend before choosing it. You can learn how we prepare our non-HPP meals, compare quantities and costs with our feeding planner, and ask us about the recipe you are considering.

Our faith shapes the care we bring to the work, from preparing the food to praying over every meal. We want your purchase to come with understanding and a plan you can use at home.

Explore our raw meal ingredients.

Pet parents choose raw feeding for recognizable animal ingredients, moisture-rich meals, and a closer connection to how their pet’s food is prepared.

Our approach brings muscle meat, nutrient-rich organs, and raw meaty bones into the bowl, with fish or produce in select blends. These ingredients contribute animal protein, fats, naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, and moisture through food.

Kibble is generally cooked and dried into a shelf-stable food. At Raw Instincts, we prepare our raw meals in small batches without conventional cooking or HPP. You can see the recipe and choose proteins with a clear understanding of what you are feeding.

If you are ready for a different approach, start with one recipe and a workable introduction. Our five years of experience helping families with those everyday decisions shape the guidance we share.

Discover our raw feeding philosophy or plan your first introduction.

Prey-model raw feeding centres on muscle meat, raw meaty bones, and secreting organs. A traditional PMR framework is often described as 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organs, including liver.

• Muscle meat contributes protein and other naturally occurring nutrients.
• Organs supply concentrated vitamins and minerals.
• Raw meaty bones contribute minerals, including calcium and phosphorus.

Raw Instincts takes a prey-model-inspired approach with recipe-specific combinations. Select blends also contain fish, vegetables, or fruit, so check the published ingredients and proportions for the blend you choose.

A ratio explains the recipe framework; complete-diet planning considers the full range of your pet’s nutritional needs.

See the ingredients in each blend.

Raw Instincts blends provide a prey-model-inspired foundation for a raw feeding plan. They are not represented as AAFCO complete-and-balanced diets; additional foods or nutrients may be needed to complete the overall diet for your pet.

Every ingredient has a purpose. Muscle meat supplies protein and essential amino acids; organs provide concentrated nutrients; raw meaty bones contribute minerals. Select recipes include other ingredients such as fish or produce.

Start with what your chosen blend contains, then plan the rest of the bowl. Review the ingredients and intended use, account for everything else you feed, and get help checking that the overall diet meets your pet’s needs—particularly during growth or when managing a health condition.

Compare recipe ingredients and proportions and explore additions and supplements.

HPP stands for high-pressure processing, a method some raw pet food manufacturers use to reduce microorganisms by exposing food to very high pressure. Its primary processing effect comes from pressure rather than conventional high-temperature cooking.

Raw Instincts does not use HPP on our raw meals. We choose to prepare uncooked ingredients without adding a high-pressure treatment step, consistent with our commitment to minimal processing and small-batch preparation.

For us, transparency means knowing both what is in the food and how it is prepared. If you are looking for non-HPP raw dog food, you can compare our recipes with that processing choice clearly explained.

Explore our raw meal ingredients. For the everyday feeding routine, see thawing, storage, and serving.

The beef we source is grass-fed, but not grass-finished. Our meals do not use denatured animal ingredients.

We make that distinction so you know exactly what we mean when describing our beef. Each blend also has its own combination of muscle meats, organs, bone, and any additional ingredients.

Review our recipe ingredients. If you want more detail about a particular ingredient or its sourcing, ask our family before choosing your blend.

Choose a blend by its full ingredient list and the proteins your pet tolerates. A transparent recipe makes it easier to compare foods when you are avoiding a specific ingredient.

List the ingredients that suit your pet and those you need to exclude, then check every meat, organ, and other component. A recipe’s main protein name may not describe every animal ingredient it contains.

Keep the introduction simple: one suitable blend, measured portions, and a record of your pet’s response. If you are following an elimination diet, match treats, chews, and toppers to that plan too.

Compare our ingredients or tell us which ingredient you are avoiding.

Yes, dogs with sensitive stomachs can eat raw food when the ingredients and feeding plan suit them. Our approach starts with a recipe you can understand and an introduction you can track.

If you have tried several foods, seeing exactly what changes in the next bowl can be valuable. Our raw blends offer recognizable animal ingredients, naturally occurring moisture, and preparation without conventional cooking or HPP.

Start with a protein your dog tolerates, check the entire recipe, measure portions, and introduce one blend before adding several extras. Keep a record of appetite and stool so you can see how your dog responds. If digestive symptoms persist, involve your veterinarian while we help you review the recipe ingredients and introduction.

Compare ingredients for sensitivities and follow our raw feeding transition guide. If you need help narrowing the choices, tell us what your dog eats now.

Yes. Puppies can begin raw feeding with a plan that supports their growth. Our blends bring together whole-food ingredients to build around; the overall diet needs to meet puppy growth requirements.

Muscle meat, organs, raw meaty bones, and other ingredients in select recipes contribute naturally occurring protein, fats, vitamins, and minerals. See how our blends fit into the whole diet when choosing a recipe for your puppy.

Keep up with a growing puppy. Review portions every couple of weeks through the first year as weight, activity, and development change. Expected adult size matters too. Our planner helps you estimate portions and purchasing quantities as the routine develops.

Explore recipe ingredients and estimate your puppy’s food quantities.

Yes. Kittens can eat raw food as part of a diet planned for feline growth. Animal-based nutrition supplies nutrients their developing bodies need, including protein, essential fats, and taurine.

Cats are obligate carnivores, and their feeding plan should reflect those needs from the beginning. Calcium, phosphorus, and the balance of other nutrients matter during growth too. Use our explanation of the blends’ role in a complete diet to plan the whole bowl.

Build a routine that grows with your kitten. Younger kittens generally benefit from smaller, more frequent meals. Revisit quantities every couple of weeks as weight, appetite, and development change.

Review our recipe ingredients. Let us know your kitten’s age, current food, and the blend you are considering so we can help with ingredient questions.

Yes. Our raw blends can be used in an adult cat’s feeding plan, with the whole diet planned around feline nutritional needs. Cats are obligate carnivores with specific requirements, including taurine; our complete-diet guidance explains the role of the blends.

Make the new texture familiar. For a cat accustomed to kibble or one usual food, offer a small amount alongside accepted food and introduce one blend at a time. Patient, repeated introductions give your cat time to explore. Keep their familiar food available while you build acceptance of the new texture.

Choose a first protein or get practical help with a cat who refuses a new meal.

No. Senior pets can begin a new feeding routine; start with their current health, appetite, usual food, and preferred texture.

In our experience, introducing a little pet-appropriate bone broth to a familiar bowl can help bridge the change. Some families use goat milk or kefir when tolerated. Then introduce a small raw portion, using one recipe and measured amounts before adding more variety.

Track appetite, weight, and body condition as the routine develops. For a pet with a diagnosed condition or prescribed diet, coordinate the change with the veterinarian managing that condition.

Follow our transition guide and review when portions need adjusting.

Choose additions for a clear purpose: more variety, moisture, enjoyment, or a nutritional need in the overall diet.

For dogs, ingredients we have enjoyed using include eggs, beef green tripe, fish, and pet-appropriate bone broth. Goat milk or kefir may suit pets that tolerate them. Introduce one addition at a time and count it in the day’s food.

Start with what your chosen recipe already supplies, then work out whether the rest of the diet needs any measured additions. Toppers and protein rotation bring variety; supplements serve specific nutritional needs. For cats, include taurine and mineral balance when checking the whole feeding plan.

Check what is already in your blend and browse treats and toppers.

Choose the product by the job you want it to do:

• Raw meal blends provide meat, bone, organs, and other recipe ingredients as a base in a planned raw diet.
• Treats are smaller rewards for training, enrichment, or an everyday moment with your pet.
• Toppers add flavour, texture, moisture, or ingredient variety to a meal.

Some items work as either a treat or a topper when served as directed. Include additions in the day’s food, and check whether the product needs frozen storage or is shelf-stable.

Shop raw meals or explore treats and toppers. For the role of additions in nutrition, see toppers and supplements.

Single-ingredient treats contain one ingredient, such as beef heart, chicken heart, or a particular fish. You know what you are offering without working through a long ingredient list.

They make straightforward rewards for training, a small meal addition, or a treat your pet looks forward to. That simplicity also helps when you are keeping track of proteins or avoiding a particular ingredient.

Choose a size and texture your pet can manage, and follow the product’s serving directions. A small training reward and a longer-lasting chew serve different purposes.

Browse single-ingredient options or see our suggestions for a first treat.

They are different product types. Dehydrated treats have moisture removed during preparation; frozen raw meals retain their moisture and need cold storage.

Our dehydrated treats are shelf-stable when stored as directed, making them convenient for training, travel, and rewards on the go. Frozen meals and toppers stay in the freezer until you are ready to thaw them.

Check each product’s ingredients, preparation, and serving directions to choose the right format for your routine.

See how to store dehydrated treats or how to thaw and serve frozen food.

Start with an ingredient your pet enjoys in a manageable size and texture. A small first selection is enough to begin learning their favourites.

Fish and heart treats have been frequent suggestions in our experience, especially for cats. Options we have recommended include chicken hearts, beef heart, pork loin, smelts, silversides, salmon, and sardines. Check our current collection for availability.

For cats, choose a suitable piece or topper form. For dogs, decide whether you want a small training reward, a meal addition, or a chew. Introduce a small amount first and keep any ingredient restrictions consistent with the main meals.

Explore the current treats and toppers. For chewing options, see choosing bones and natural chews.

Choose by your pet’s size, teeth, chewing style, and experience. The right texture and format make chewing a more enjoyable part of the routine.

Our collection has included meaty bones, trachea, tendons, pizzle, feet, and necks. Their textures differ, so use the specific product’s guidance to match the item to your pet. A determined chewer and a pet who tends to gulp need different choices.

Choose a format your pet works on by chewing, and switch options if they try to gulp it. Stay with them throughout the session and remove pieces small enough to swallow whole. Do not feed cooked bones. Hard items can damage teeth, and swallowed pieces can cause injury or blockage.

Tell us your pet’s size and chewing habits so we can help compare the available options.

No. Our dehydrated treats are shelf-stable when stored as directed.

Keep them in the original resealable packaging or an airtight container in a cool, dry place. Protect them from moisture, direct sunlight, and excessive heat, and reseal after each use. Avoid storing a bag in a hot car.

This guidance applies to dehydrated treats. For raw meals and frozen toppers, use our frozen-food storage guidance and the directions on the product.

Keep raw food in the freezer until you are ready to use it. Move the food you plan to serve into the refrigerator one day before feeding to thaw. It can stay in the refrigerator for up to four days.

1. One day before feeding, move the food from the freezer to a covered, leak-resistant container in the refrigerator, separate from ready-to-eat household food.
2. Weigh servings with clean utensils and promptly refrigerate food reserved for later.
3. Discard food left in the bowl after the meal.
4. Wash hands, bowls, utensils, and preparation surfaces.

Keep the refrigerator at 40°F/4°C or below. Thaw in the refrigerator rather than on the counter or in hot water; do not microwave the packaging.

Our raw blends are intended to be served raw and appropriately thawed. Do not cook blends containing bone.

Estimate your dog’s portions so you can thaw the amount you need.

Start with a small introduction and a familiar protein. A pet accustomed to one food may need time to accept a different texture.

Offer a little alongside accepted food in a calm place, giving your pet space to investigate. A small amount of pet-appropriate broth or tripe can help when those ingredients suit them. Change one thing at a time so you can see what works.

If your pet eats some but leaves the rest, weigh the serving and account for treats and other meals before adjusting portions. An unfinished bowl can reflect appetite, preference, or the amount offered.

Keep accepted food available during the transition. Refusing familiar food, repeatedly missing meals, or seeming unwell calls for prompt veterinary advice, especially for cats and young pets.

Follow our transition steps or ask our family for mealtime help.

Review the new recipe, portions, and any additions, then keep the introduction simple. A clear record helps you understand the change instead of repeatedly switching foods.

Note what your pet ate, how much, and when the stool changed. If you introduced several treats or toppers together, avoid adding more unfamiliar extras while reviewing the response. Track appetite, energy, and hydration too.

Persistent or frequent diarrhea, blood, vomiting, lethargy, or reduced appetite calls for veterinary advice. Puppies, kittens, and pets with existing conditions may need attention sooner.

Review our transition guide. If you contact us, include the exact blend, portion, and additions so we can help with the ingredient and feeding questions.

If your dog or cat vomits after a food change, review the meal, timing, and any other symptoms. Vomiting should not simply be treated as a normal transition step.

Note the recipe, amount served, eating speed, and when it happened. Ingredients, portion size, eating habits, and unrelated illness can all be relevant. Keep the introduction simple while seeking advice.

Repeated vomiting, blood, weakness, reduced appetite, or difficulty keeping water down needs prompt veterinary attention, especially in cats and young pets.

Our family can help you identify recipe ingredients and review the introduction you followed. For a new feeding routine, use our step-by-step transition guide.

We deliver to eligible Miami-Dade addresses on Tuesdays, between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Order by Monday at 11:59 PM Eastern Time for the upcoming Tuesday; later orders move to the following Tuesday.

• Orders of $60 or more: free local delivery.
• Orders under $60: $8.99 local delivery fee.

You do not need to be home. Leave an insulated cooler in a safe, accessible location if you will be away, and bring the food into cold storage promptly.

Local delivery covers eligible raw meals, frozen toppers, and mixed meal-and-treat orders. Treat-only orders ship. Checkout confirms the options for your address and basket.

Check Miami & Homestead delivery details or choose your meals.

Our local delivery route runs on Tuesdays, with orders scheduled in advance. If you need food sooner, arranged Homestead pickup may be an option once your order is ready.

Contact us first if timing is urgent; same-day pickup is not guaranteed. For future orders, use your daily feeding amount to estimate when you will need the next supply and allow for the delivery cutoff.

Ask about pickup timing.

Eligible frozen raw meals and bones ship within the United States. Eligible dried treats and toppers can ship within the United States and Canada.

Enter your address at checkout to see the services and rates available for your selected products. Frozen and shelf-stable items have different shipping requirements, so Canadian treat eligibility does not include frozen meals. Shipping charges are separate from Miami local delivery fees.

Read our shipping policy or ask about a product and destination.

Orders dispatch on Tuesdays. Order by Monday at 11:59 PM Eastern Time for the upcoming dispatch; later orders move to the following Tuesday.

Arrival depends on the destination and carrier service. Use the checkout estimate and tracking information to plan for receiving your box, with freezer space ready and someone able to inspect and store the food promptly.

Review our shipping policy. If you are nearby, compare Miami local delivery or Homestead pickup.

There is no minimum local delivery order amount and no mandatory minimum frozen shipment weight.

For frozen shipping, we recommend approximately 10 pounds or more to help support temperature stability during transit. Choose an amount that fits your feeding plan and freezer, and compare the full checkout total including shipping.

For local delivery, $60 is the threshold for free delivery; smaller orders are welcome with the published delivery fee.

Estimate how much food to order.

Place your order and wait for our ready-for-pickup text. We will arrange a collection time with you; Raw Instincts is not a walk-in storefront.

Orders are normally ready within 24 hours and may be ready sooner. Please wait for confirmation before travelling. If you need a particular day or time, ask first so we can confirm what is possible.

Bring suitable cold storage for the trip and put frozen purchases away promptly at home.

Contact our family about Homestead pickup.

We pack frozen orders in insulated shipping boxes with coolant to help keep the food cold during transit.

Our recommendation of approximately 10 pounds or more helps with frozen-shipment planning. Arrival condition can vary with transit time, weather, and destination, so follow tracking and open the box promptly.

Inspect each package and move acceptable food into cold storage. If some food has softened, use our partially thawed arrival checklist to assess it and contact us with any concerns.

Partly thawed food is not automatically spoiled. Open the box promptly and check each package so you can store the food with confidence.

• Check temperature: food that still contains ice crystals or is at 40°F/4°C or below may be suitable for refrigeration or refreezing when properly handled. Use a thermometer rather than relying on touch or smell alone.
• Check packaging: look for damaged seals, leakage, or other damage. Assess each package individually.
• Store or contact us: move acceptable food into cold storage promptly. If food arrives above refrigerator temperature, packaging is damaged, or its condition is uncertain, set it aside and do not feed it. Contact us with your order number, arrival details, and clear photos; retain the packaging for review.

If temperature or handling is uncertain, contact us before feeding; refreezing alone does not resolve that uncertainty.

Get help with an arrival concern. For claims, see damaged or lost shipments.

Choose a one-time order for a single purchase or a subscription for recurring orders at the frequency and price selected at checkout.

A one-time order gives you a way to learn your pet’s preferences and portion routine. Once you know how quickly you use the food, a subscription can make repeat purchases easier to plan.

Base the schedule on daily portions, freezer space, and the fulfillment options for your address. Available prices, frequencies, and any discount appear when you select the product and check out; our published delivery schedule still applies.

Explore raw meals. For an existing subscription, see changes and cancellation.

Yes, you can request changes. Contact us promptly with your order number and the correction needed; the options depend on whether preparation, processing, or dispatch has begun.

For subscriptions, use the management portal or email info@rawinstinctsmia.com. Depending on the available settings, you may be able to update details, change frequency, pause, skip, or cancel future orders.

Cancel before the next scheduled recurring payment to prevent the next renewal. Already charged or processed orders remain subject to fulfillment and refund policies.

Check your address before checkout and after a move, including recurring orders. Wait for confirmation that a requested correction can be made.

We will replace/refund customers for lost/damaged boxes/products caused by the carrier or us.

We DO NOT refund/replace orders if the customer has moved and has not provided us with a change of address.

Due to the perishable nature of the product, we DO NOT accept returns.

For help with your order, email info@rawinstinctsmia.com. Read our Refund Policy.