Is raw dog food safe?

Raw feeding can be done safely with proper hygiene and storage, the same care you would take handling raw meat for yourself. Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling, and store and thaw it the way the packaging instructs.

Do I need to mix Nature's Menu with anything else?

Check the specific product's packaging, since some raw mince and nuggets are formulated as complete meals, while others may be intended as part of a varied diet. This varies by product, so it's worth checking rather than assuming.

How do I store Nature's Menu raw food?

It needs to be kept frozen until you are ready to use it, then thawed in the fridge in advance rather than at room temperature, in the same way you would handle raw meat for yourself. Follow the specific storage guidance on the packaging.

Are the Nature's Menu treats the same as the frozen raw range?

No, the treats and freeze-dried bars are shelf-stable products that don't need freezer storage, unlike the mince and nuggets. They are a much easier way to try the brand without committing to raw feeding.

Can I feed Nature's Menu alongside a dry kibble diet?

Some owners do combine raw and dry feeding, though it's generally recommended to feed them as separate meals rather than mixed together, since they digest at different rates. If you're unsure what suits your dog, it's worth discussing with your vet.

Nature's Menu reviews: what the range actually offers

Nature's Menu is a well-established raw and natural pet food brand, best known for frozen mince and nuggets alongside a range of natural treats. It suits owners who are comfortable with raw feeding — including the freezer space and handling it involves — more than it suits someone looking for a simple tinned or dry alternative.

What Nature's Menu actually offers

The core of the range is frozen raw mince and nuggets in various proteins, designed to be thawed before feeding as part of a raw diet. Alongside this sits a range of natural treats and freeze-dried bars, which are shelf-stable and far more convenient day to day than the frozen products.

Raw feeding is a genuinely different way of feeding a dog compared with a tinned or dry diet, involving freezer storage, defrosting in advance, and being careful about hygiene when handling raw meat, in the same way you would with raw meat for your own cooking.

Who the range suits

It suits owners who already feed raw, or who are interested in trying it and have the freezer space and routine to manage thawing portions in advance. It is less suited to anyone looking for something to keep in a cupboard and use without planning ahead.

The treats and freeze-dried bars are a much lower-commitment way to try the brand, since they need no freezer space or thawing and can be given the same way as any other dog treat.

Anyone new to raw feeding is generally better off starting with a smaller quantity than they think they need, since transitioning a dog onto raw from a cooked or dry diet is usually done gradually rather than as a straight swap, and it helps to see how your own dog gets on with it first.

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Common questions

Is raw dog food safe?: Raw feeding can be done safely with proper hygiene and storage, the same care you would take handling raw meat for yourself. Wash hands and surfaces thoroughly after handling, and store and thaw it the way the packaging instructs.
Do I need to mix Nature's Menu with anything else?: Check the specific product's packaging, since some raw mince and nuggets are formulated as complete meals, while others may be intended as part of a varied diet. This varies by product, so it's worth checking rather than assuming.
How do I store Nature's Menu raw food?: It needs to be kept frozen until you are ready to use it, then thawed in the fridge in advance rather than at room temperature, in the same way you would handle raw meat for yourself. Follow the specific storage guidance on the packaging.
Are the Nature's Menu treats the same as the frozen raw range?: No, the treats and freeze-dried bars are shelf-stable products that don't need freezer storage, unlike the mince and nuggets. They are a much easier way to try the brand without committing to raw feeding.
Can I feed Nature's Menu alongside a dry kibble diet?: Some owners do combine raw and dry feeding, though it's generally recommended to feed them as separate meals rather than mixed together, since they digest at different rates. If you're unsure what suits your dog, it's worth discussing with your vet.

Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.

Nature's Menu reviews: what the range actually offers

What Nature's Menu actually offers

Who the range suits

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