Best Raw Dog Foods: Reviews & Top Picks

Is it really possible to mimic a dog’s natural ancestral menu? According to some manufacturers of dog food you can.

For dogs to experience (or return) their natural diet they just need to experience a regular raw food diet.

The whole concept of raw feeding isn’t something that is new, nor it is something that is globally popular, but it is definitely something that engages people to discuss.

Is your dog already on raw food diet? Or you are just thinking about switching from dry or wet dog food to more natural options? Or maybe you are just exploring for some new information?

No matter what the ‘why’ might be, one is for sure – on this page, you will find the best raw food that you may serve to your dog today. Not only that but we will provide the answers to some of the most burning questions about the raw food diet, such as if this diet is really beneficial for dogs or not.

How we chose

Because choosing the right food for your dog can be confusing and overwhelming, we reviewed all dog foods.

Every product on our list has been vetted to ensure that it aligns with Barking Royalty’s brand integrity standards and approach to well-being. Each product in this article:

• adheres to allowable health claims and labeling requirements
• is manufactured in facilities that adhere to current good manufacturing practices (CGMPs)
• is produced by a medically credible company that follows ethical, legal, and industry best standards
• is made by a company that provides objective measures of trust

Additional factors we considered included:

• Ingredients. We looked for supplements that are free of unnecessary ingredients such as fillers and artificial
• sweeteners and colors.
• AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profile. We checked if the food meets the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO.
• Price. We included products to suit a range of budgets.

Best Overall

1. Instinct Frozen Grain-Free Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef spleen, carrots

• Price: $$
• Energy: 1,523 kcal/kg, 183 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Beef is the first ingredient in this raw formula, followed by beef liver, beef kidney, beef spleen, and carrots.

Each ingredient is carefully mixed and cold-pressured to create a soft texture that every dog will enjoy.

Raw ingredients in this formula are frozen in their prime to preserve the highest level of nutrients and to provide a fair amount of vitamins and minerals once consumed.

This meal includes 85% meat and organs, while the rest of 15% is packed with vitamins and minerals from real fruit and vegetable including apples, sweet potatoes, blueberries, and spinach.

Salmon oil is added to enhance the dog’s skin and coat, making the coat shiny.

The raw nutrition in this meal aims to provide strong and lean muscles while keeping the dog energized.

Raw bites should help dogs with their dental health and digestion, while every recipe of this meal is always frozen and never cooked.

Shop Now At Chewy

Best Budget

2. Bravo! Homestyle Complete Grain-Free Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Turkey, turkey liver, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, turkey hearts

• Price: $$
• Energy: 3,730 kcal/kg, 106 kcal/oz, 187 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

When dog food contains turkey as the first ingredient you can be sure that that specific formula comes with high-quality protein that helps dogs build muscle.

As the first ingredient in this formula, turkey not only keeps dogs full but also helps them have a better coat and healthier skin.

Turkey is also a great source of zinc and magnesium, making it suitable for dogs of different health ranges.

This protein-first ingredient (turkey) is followed by turkey liver, sweet potatoes, chickpeas, and turkey hearts.

Bravo! Homestyle Complete Turkey Dinner formula features raw and freeze-dried meat, as well as vegetables and cranberries that offer vitamins and minerals.

As a formula created to mimic a dog’s natural diet, this formula does not contain grains, gluten, or any sort of fillers or artificial preservatives.

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Best Grain-Free

3. Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Salmon, turkey necks, turkey liver, turkey heart, strawberries

• Price: $$
• Energy: 4,408 kcal/kg, 198 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Salmon is the first ingredient in this formula, to serve as a great protein source and omega fatty acids, source, followed by turkey necks, turkey liver, turkey heart, and strawberries.

As a gluten-free formula, this formula is high in protein and is packed with fiber-rich fruit and vegetable such as apples, carrots, and spinach.

Apple cider vinegar is added to help dogs have a healthier gastrointestinal (GI) system, better coat quality, and fewer allergies while sunflower oil supports dogs’ healthy coats.

Made in a USDA-inspected facility this formula is minimally processed and easy to serve. It can be served on its own or mixed with dry kibble.

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4. K9 Natural Grain-Free Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken, eggs, flaxseed flakes, hoki oil, brown kelp

• Price: $$
• Energy: 4986 kcal/kg, 174 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

As lean meat that provides many nutritional benefits and great taste, chicken is the first ingredient in this formula.

Not only chicken is great to be mixed with other ingredients, but it is also a great protein and energy source that doesn’t come with a big calorie count.

Next to chicken this formula contains eggs, flaxseed flakes, hoki oil, and brown kelp to provide a strong protein base and enough fiber.

For dogs to thrive they need a strong intestinal tract which can be achieved with the proper fiber amount.

Cabbage is added to this formula to provide antioxidants, while cauliflower provides calcium, potassium, and folate.

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5. Nature’s Logic All-Natural Grain-Free Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Chicken, chicken liver, chicken heart, montmorillonite clay, herring oil

• Price: $$
• Energy: 1200 kcal/kg, 109 kcal/3.2-oz patty; 273 kcal/8-oz patty
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Chicken is the first ingredient in this formula for better taste and stronger nutrition, followed by chicken liver, chicken heart, montmorillonite clay, and herring oil.

The first five ingredients are carefully selected and mixed to provide enough protein, and rich taste flavor while keeping a dog’s gut strong.

Dried apple is added into this formula to serve as a good source of fiber and vitamins A, C, and K.

Know that dried apples are regular apples that have been dried out, which is why they are higher in calories per serving.

This raw diet is made of 90% poultry and does not contain potatoes, wheat, corn, or any soy percentage.

Nature’s Logic Chicken Feast Patties Raw Frozen Dog Food formula is complete and balanced for all life stages.

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6. Nulo Freestyle Grain-Free Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Turkey, turkey necks, turkey heart, turkey liver, cranberries

• Price: $$
• Energy: 4,619 kcal/kg, 208 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

When a dog food formula contains turkey, your dog can expect to experience real protein heaven.

This formula offers turkey as the first ingredient making it a great source of protein that helps dogs build muscle.

Turkey is followed by turkey necks, turkey heart, turkey liver, and cranberries creating a nutrient-dense raw formula.

Raw protein, real fruit, and vegetables are carefully mixed to provide not only a high-protein diet but also a fat-balanced diet that is minimally processed.

This formula is fast-frozen to preserve flavor and nutrition whit zero corn, wheat, or soy.

Spinach, broccoli, carrots, and kale are added to provide fiber and make gut health stronger.

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7. Primal Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Beef hearts, beef livers, ground beef bones, organic carrots, organic squash

• Price: $$
• Energy: 144 kcal/oz
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Beef hearts are the first ingredient in this formula to provide enough protein and enough B vitamins, iron, and essential fatty acids, followed by beef livers, ground beef bones, organic carrots, and organic squash.

Top fine ingredients are selected to provide not only enough protein and essential nutrients, but also enough fiber.

To support healthy and easy digestion this formula contains organic pumpkin seeds and organic sunflower seeds to provide healthy and essential fatty acids.

These fatty acids should make a dog’s coat stronger and healthier, and the coat shinier.

Primal Beef Formula Nuggets Grain-Free Raw Freeze-Dried Dog Food formula is gluten-free making it suitable for dogs with more sensitive stomachs. Overall, this food is easy to serve, just add water and your Fido will have a great meal in a matter of seconds.

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8. BIXBI Rawbble Grain-Free Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Beef, beef liver, beef kidney, beef bone, pumpkin

• Price: $$
• Energy: 4,700kcal/kg, 213 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Beef is the first ingredient in this formula to provide enough protein and a better taste, followed by beef liver, beef kidney, beef bone, and pumpkin.

This formula is hormone-free and often recommend as a corn, wheat, or soy-free formula.

Up to 95% of this formula is carefully mixed to provide enough nutrients to keep the dog’s muscle meat, organs, and bones healthy and strong.

The rest of the 2% contains oils, vitamins, and minerals to support the dog’s overall well-being.

Thanks to herring oil this formula is rich in fatty acids, making the dog’s skin and coat healthy, strong, and shiny.

Salmon oil is added to this formula to provide enough fatty acids and make digestion easier.

Whenever you want to make a dog’s coat shinier and richer in texture adding salmon oil to his meal should help in a matter of few weeks.

Another option is to consistently feed your Fido with food that is rich in salmon oil. Beef used in this formula is raised without any antibiotics or added hormones, while the formula itself never contains any soy, corn, wheat, or artificial preservatives.

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9. Nature’s Diet Raw Dog Food

Top five ingredients in this formula: Freeze-dried raw beef, freeze-dried raw beef liver, beef bone broth, whole egg, carrots

• Price: $$
• Energy: 4000 kcal/kg, 320 kcal/cup
• AAFCO Profile: Maintenance
• Grain-free: Yes

Freeze-dried raw beef is the number one ingredient in this formula, followed by freeze-dried raw beef liver, beef bone broth, whole egg, and carrots.

Real fruit and vegetables are added to this formula to provide enough fiber, minerals, and vitamins.

Chia seed is also included to enable enough fiber while cinnamon lovers’ blood sugar levels.

Basil serves as anti-inflammatory ingredients, while ginger promotes healthy blood circulation and increases heart health.

Made in small batches, this foss is easy to handle, fast to serve, and freeze-dried to prolong the quality.

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The Benefits Of A Raw Diet For Dogs

If you are just thinking about feeding your Fido with raw food, make sure that you consider both pros and cons of this diet.

That being said, let’s check the most common benefits of this diet for dogs:

• Easier and improved digestion
• Healthier skin
• Stronger coat
• Shinier hair
• Better weight management
• Firmer stools
• Better dental health
• Reduced allergy symptoms

Are there any concerns? Every diet comes with certain benefits and downsides. A war food diet is no exception and there are things to think about.

The biggest concern when it comes to switching to raw food diet is bacterial contamination.

With raw meat Salmonella and E. coli, germs are always a possibility, although this is really rare and quite low.

Still, it cannot harm to know about these food-borne diseases. It helps to know that these diseases are low risk for dogs, but not for humans.

The main reason for this is that a dog’s digestive system is shorter and more acidic.

To avoid any issues, store the food as recommended on the label and feed your Fido as advised.