Raw dog treats
Raw dog treats are usually air-dried or freeze-dried single-ingredient pieces — tripe, fish, or other named meat products — rather than raw meat handed over fresh. They give a dog a naturally textured, minimally processed chew or treat without the storage and handling that fully raw fresh meat needs, which is why most of what is sold as a raw treat is dried rather than actually raw at the point of sale.
What "raw treat" usually means on the shelf
Most products sold as raw dog treats are dried or freeze-dried, not fresh raw meat, because that is what allows them to be shelved and handled safely without refrigeration. Air-dried tripe sticks and freeze-dried meat pieces are typical examples, and the drying process is what makes them shelf-stable rather than something that needs to live in a freezer.
The appeal for most owners is a short, recognisable ingredients list — often a single named ingredient with nothing added — rather than any specific claim about the treat being uncooked. Read the label to confirm what you are actually buying, since the word "raw" is used fairly loosely across different products.
Feeding them safely
Treat any dried or freeze-dried raw-style treat as calorie-dense compared with a standard biscuit treat, and factor it into your dog's daily food rather than adding it entirely on top. A couple of pieces goes further than it looks, particularly with denser products like tripe sticks.
Wash your hands after handling any raw or minimally processed animal product, and store treats according to the pack instructions — most dried products keep well at room temperature once opened, but check rather than assume.
For genuinely fresh raw treats, follow the same hygiene practices you would for raw meat generally: keep refrigerated or frozen until use, avoid cross-contaminating other food surfaces, and supervise a dog eating anything that still needs proper chewing rather than being ready to swallow.
Who they suit, and who to be cautious with
Most adult dogs manage dried raw-style treats without issue, and many owners like them as a simpler, shorter-ingredient alternative to processed treats. A dog with a sensitive stomach may still react to a specific protein even in a minimally processed form, so introduce anything new gradually rather than all at once.
Puppies, older dogs with dental issues, and any dog who tends to gulp food rather than chew should be given a size and texture appropriate to them — a large dried tripe stick meant for an adult dog is not automatically suitable just because it is natural.
What we stock
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Calm the Eff Down Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured calming tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack and given as a treat for dogs who find fireworks, travel or being alone difficult.
£22.99
Stop Bloody Scratching Treats Chicken Flavour 90 Tablets
Chicken-flavoured tablets from Pets Calm Down, made in the UK, ninety to a pack, given daily as a treat to support skin and coat condition in itchy dogs.
£22.99
Forthglade Grain Free Soft Bites Fresh Breath Treats 8pk
Chicken soft dog treats with parsley and peppermint oil for fresh breath
£2.45
James Wellbeloved Adult Dry Cat Food Turkey
A single-source turkey dry food for adult cats, without the grain-free or joint-support extras
From£21.79
Catit Nibbly Jerky Chicken & Fish Treats
Soft chicken and fish jerky treats for cats, two named meats high on the list, grain free
£1.89
Whiskas 1+ Lamb Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete lamb dry food for adult cats in a practical 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Whiskas 1 Tuna Adult Dry Cat Food
Complete tuna dry food for adult cats, offered in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas Kitten Chicken Dry Cat Food
Complete chicken dry food for kittens, available in several bag sizes
From£3.19
Whiskas 7+ Senior Cat Complete Dry with Chicken
Complete chicken dry food for senior cats aged 7+ in a 1.9KG bag
£12.39
Catit Creamy Tuna Treats 4 Pk
Lickable 26% tuna purée tubes for cats, 4 x 10g, up to 3 a day in place of main meal
£1.89
Pedigree Dentastix Light Dog
Pedigree DentaStix Light dental chews across small, medium and large sizes
From£2.35
Common questions
- Are raw dog treats actually raw meat?
- Not usually. Most products sold as raw treats are air-dried or freeze-dried, which makes them shelf-stable, rather than fresh uncooked meat. Check the specific product's label if you want to know exactly how it has been prepared.
- Are raw treats safe for dogs?
- Dried and freeze-dried raw-style treats are widely fed and generally well tolerated by most dogs, provided they are given in sensible amounts and stored as instructed. As with any treat, introduce a new one gradually and watch how your dog gets on with it.
- How many raw treats can I give my dog?
- Treat them as calorie-dense and give only a couple of pieces at a time, factoring them into your dog's overall daily food rather than adding them entirely on top. Denser products such as tripe sticks go further than their size suggests.
- Do raw treats need to be refrigerated?
- Dried and freeze-dried raw-style treats usually do not, and typically keep at room temperature once opened — check the specific pack instructions. Genuinely fresh raw treats do need refrigerating or freezing, in the same way any raw meat product would.
Related
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.