Yappily is excited to team up with Paleo Ridge, the UK’s top raw dog food provider, to bring you this blog. It’s amazing to have the opportunity to speak with the fantastic people behind such great brands. Together, we’re here to share the benefits of raw feeding and highlight the quality ingredients that make Paleo Ridge stand out!
How many dogs eat raw dog food in the UK?
As of 2024, it’s estimated that around 20% of dog owners in the UK feed their pets a raw diet. This number shows the growing popularity of raw feeding.
This also reflects a growing interest in more natural and health-focused feeding practices, aligning with broader trends in pet nutrition. The PAW Report by the PDSA provides a clear picture of how these feeding habits are evolving
Paleo Ridge: behind the brand
Paleo Ridge Raw is a family-run dog food business based in rural Hampshire, dedicated to producing high-quality raw dog food. Their products are distributed not only across the UK but also to Ireland and the Channel Islands, with plans to expand into European markets!
Leading the way in ethical and accredited raw dog food
Paleo Ridge is the most accredited raw dog food company in the UK, committed to promoting healthy dogs through a natural, species-appropriate diet since 2014. The company takes pride in sourcing ingredients ethically and sustainably, ensuring that your dog receives the best possible diet. If you’re new to raw feeding, we’re here to guide you through the benefits and the simple steps to transitioning your dog to an all-natural, life-enhancing diet.
Key facts about Paleo Ridge:
- All of the chicken used in their products comes from organic farms.
- Their game meat is wild and ethically sourced.
- They only source produce from farms with the highest welfare standards.
- Their product packaging is fully recyclable.
- They ship all customer orders in eco-friendly WoolCool boxes.
- They are one of the few raw dog food companies in the UK to hold Organic Accreditation.
- They are the only raw dog food company in the UK to hold ISO 9001 certification.
- They carry out independent nutritional analyses on all their products.
- They only use human-grade meat that has been inspected and passed by vets.
If you’re new to feeding your dog a raw diet and would like some information, look no further! We are here to give you all the guidance you need to understand the process and show you the benefits of feeding raw and how easy it is to switch your dog to this all-natural diet.
Now, we’re handing it over to the experts at Paleo Ridge to dive deeper into raw feeding and what makes their products truly exceptional. Enjoy!
What is raw dog food?
Raw dog food comprises raw meat, bones, and organ meat (also known as offal).
A raw diet is usually based on ‘the prey model’. The prey model is also known as 80/10/10 (80% meat, 10% bone and 10% offal). This model reflects small prey, such as rabbits and pheasants, that dogs would have consumed in the wild.
Good quality meat is packed full of essential vitamins and nutrients with no fillers, grains, or unnecessary ingredients. It’s 100% natural!
We recommend feeding a variety of different meats. Variety is important when raw feeding as different animals contain different levels of nutrients, which means feeding just one type of meat will have much fewer benefits than feeding a variety.
Dogs are carnivores and have the jaw and digestive tract to consume raw meat and bone, just like their ancestors have for tens of thousands of years. Their stomach acid is much stronger than ours, making it very easy for them to break down raw meat and bone safely.
Why should I feed my dog a raw diet?
There are many benefits to feeding your dog a natural, raw diet. Due to the food being unprocessed and with no unnecessary ingredients, your dog will only be consuming nutritious goodness. Some of the many benefits of feeding raw are:
- Glossy coat with zero or little odour
- Better oral hygiene and teeth
- Reduced itching, licking, and scratching
- Improved behaviour and vitality
- Reduced allergies and intolerances
- Fewer tummy upsets
- Fewer trips to the toilet and solid poops
Should I feed my dog fruit and vegetables?
Fruit and vegetables are not essential for a dog’s diet, but they do offer additional health benefits. The only time dogs in the wild would consume veggies or berries would be in the stomach of their prey. This would make up roughly, 5% of their meal. However recent studies suggest that feeding anywhere up to 20% is suitable for some dogs.
With dogs being carnivores, they do not produce amylase in their saliva. Amylase is an enzyme needed to break down cellulose in plant matter. Herbivores and omnivores produce amylase in their saliva, dogs do not.
If you do want to introduce some fruit and veg into your raw dog food diet, we would recommend 5% – 20% of their daily food amount. Some fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants and nutrients, as an example:
- Broccoli
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Kale
- Seaweed
- Carrots
- Apples
These can be added to your dog’s food or as a snack/treat. We offer complete meals both with and without to suit every dog as some cannot tolerate fruits and veggies.
Is feeding a raw diet safe?
One of the main questions we get asked by those who are new to raw feeding is, ‘Is it safe?’. The simple answer to this is yes! It is perfectly safe.
Handling raw dog food is the same as handling raw meat when cooking for yourself. Below are some points on how to safely handle the raw food:
- Always use separate utensils for raw dog food
- Wash your dog’s bowl after every use
- Open and dispose of packaging carefully
- Keep raw food in a sealed container at the bottom of the fridge
- Wash hands thoroughly before and after handling
- Clean all work surfaces and utensils after use
As you can see, these would be the same measures you would take when preparing food for your family.
The meat we source is of the highest quality and human grade too; we also have extensive testing and quality control processes in place to ensure your dog is consuming the best diet possible.
What Paleo Ridge offers
Paleo Ridge offers three ranges of raw dog food, so there is something for everyone. The ranges are:
- The Essentials range – meat, bone and offal with a 20% mix of seasonal vegetables.
- The Classic range – 80/10/10 with no fruit or vegetables.
- The Paleo Plus range – meat, bone and offal with a 5% mix of antioxidant superfoods.
There is also a selection of naturally dried healthy treats!
What protein sources do you use at Paleo Ridge?
Paleo Ridge uses a variety of high-quality protein sources in their raw dog food products. These include:
- Chicken: Sourced from organic farms.
- Lamb: Often paired with mint or other ingredients for added benefits.
- Beef: Used in various formulations, including bone broths.
- Pork: Combined with ingredients like apples for a balanced meal.
- Turkey: A lean protein option, raised under high-welfare conditions.
- Duck: Offered in single-protein meals.
- Fish: Often combined with other meats like turkey for additional nutritional value.
- Game meats: Ethically sourced wild game, providing a natural and varied diet.
How do I get started?
The best place to start is finding out, how much to feed your dog or puppy. You can use our online, raw dog food calculator.
Put your dog’s ideal adult weight into the calculator. This will bring up two amounts, one for a ‘Puppy’ and one for an ‘Adult’. If your dog is less than 12 months old, you should feed the puppy amount. For any dogs over 12 months, you should feed the adult amount.
Please note, this is just a guide and where every dog is different with different metabolism rates etc. you can tailor this to suit them. For puppies, the key thing to look out for is, they should be putting on weight every couple of weeks. If their weight stays the same or starts to drop, you will need to feed more.
We have a ‘Switch to Raw’ guide on our website which can be very helpful for those looking to switch over, check it out here.
If you need any help with this, please do get in touch with our customer support team, we are always happy to help you get started!
Email: info@paleoridge.co.uk
Phone: 02394210800
Making the right food choice for your dog.
Raw feeding can offer numerous potential benefits, Paleo Ridge offers a variety of raw dog food options, making it easier for you to choose if this diet suits your dog’s needs. As with any dietary change, consulting with your vet or a pet nutrition expert is recommended to ensure the best outcome for your dog’s health.
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