Frequently Asked Questions

There are several ways to transition to raw, and the best approach depends on your pet.

1. Gradually mix raw food with their current food, increasing the amount of raw over time.
2. Feed one meal of raw and one meal of their current food for 5–7 days, then phase out the current food.
3. Some pet parents choose to fast their dog for 24 hours from their current food and then begin with raw.

For many pets, a gradual transition is the easiest and most predictable option.

As a starting point, adult dogs and cats are generally fed about ¼ lb of raw food per 10 lbs of body weight daily.

A more flexible guideline is to feed about 2–3% of ideal body weight daily, then adjust based on activity level, metabolism, age, and body condition. Puppies typically need more, while many senior pets need slightly less.

Yes. In partnership with holistic pet nutritionist Lucy Jabrayan of Thrive4Life Holistic Pet Food, our recipes are crafted to be nutritionally balanced for all life stages.

• Naturally raised proteins
• Lightly roasted, organically farmed vegetables
• About 85–90% meat, organs, and bone with 10–15% fruits and cooked vegetables
• Enhanced with antioxidants
• Grain-free, gluten-free, and free from peas, lentils, and potatoes
• Proudly made in Ontario, Canada

Yes. Starting young can help support a strong immune system, a healthy gut microbiome, and a species-appropriate foundation. Feeding a variety of proteins over time can also help create broader nutritional variety with less need for supplementation.

For many dogs, starting with a balanced poultry recipe is one of the easiest ways to begin. Poultry is often a practical first protein because it is easier for many dogs to digest.

If your dog is new to raw, we usually recommend using one protein throughout the transition to a fully raw diet. This keeps the ingredient profile simple and makes it easier to monitor how your dog is adjusting before expanding into protein rotation.

Yes. If you are unsure where to begin, we can help you choose a starting recipe, feeding amount, and transition approach based on your pet’s age, weight, lifestyle, and goals.

Some pets need a very simple starting point. Others may do better with a more structured rotation plan. The right plan depends on the individual pet.

Many pet parents do incorporate raw into a kibble-fed diet. Even adding a portion of fresh or raw food to an otherwise ultra-processed diet can improve ingredient quality and freshness.

That said, many people prefer transitioning fully to raw over time for a more consistent feeding routine.

Raw-fed pets often produce smaller, firmer, and less odorous stools. That is usually because raw meals are more digestible and contain fewer indigestible fillers than heavily processed diets.

Slight changes in colour or consistency are usually not a reason for concern, but stool quality can still be a useful way to monitor how your pet is adjusting.

You do not need to completely change the treats you feed just because your pet is eating raw. That said, we encourage healthy choices and usually recommend 1–3 ingredient treats made from whole foods that are minimally processed.

Many pets adjust within the first week, while others need more time. Digestion, stool quality, appetite, and energy can all shift slightly during transition. Most of the time, a thoughtful, steady approach works best.

Once your pet is transitioning well, rotating proteins is usually a smart next step. Rotation can help provide more variety over time and gives pet parents more flexibility in building a well-rounded raw routine.

That said, during the first transition period, many people prefer starting with one simpler recipe before introducing additional proteins gradually.

There is no single perfect number, but once your pet is doing well on raw, rotating through a few different proteins over time is often a practical approach. The goal is variety without creating unnecessary complexity.

A thoughtful rotation can help support nutritional breadth while also giving you flexibility if your pet prefers certain recipes more than others.

Yes. Raw feeding can also be a strong fit for cats when the recipes are built appropriately and handled correctly. Because cats have different nutritional needs than dogs, it is important to choose recipes specifically suited to them rather than assuming all raw meals are interchangeable.

If you are feeding both dogs and cats, we are happy to help point you in the right direction.

Pregnancy and nursing are stages where nutritional demands change significantly, so feeding should be approached more carefully. Raw can absolutely be part of that plan, but the key is making sure the meals are balanced and the feeding amount is appropriate for that stage.

If your pet is pregnant or nursing, we recommend reaching out so the feeding approach can be considered more carefully.

There are two reliable options:

• Refrigerator thawing: Place the food in the fridge for about 24 hours.
• Quick thawing: Submerge the sealed package in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes until thawed.

Use designated raw pet food utensils such as a knife, spoon, cutting board, or plate for portioning. Transfer the food to your pet’s bowl, then wash all surfaces, utensils, and bowls with soap and warm water after use.

In general, it is not recommended to refreeze thawed raw pet food. Refreezing can affect both quality and safety, and once thawed, bacteria can begin multiplying. Refreezing does not eliminate that risk.

Once thawed, raw food is generally best used within a few days. Keep it refrigerated, sealed, and handled the same way you would handle other raw foods in your kitchen.

We do not recommend thawing raw food in the microwave. Uneven heating can affect food quality and may begin to cook parts of the meal, which is not the goal when feeding raw.

For best results, thaw in the refrigerator or use the sealed cold-water method when you need to speed things up.

Our meals are designed to be fed raw. Cooking changes the product from what it was formulated to be, and in recipes that include bone, cooking is not appropriate.

If you are looking for a cooked feeding option instead, it is better to choose a product specifically designed for that purpose rather than changing a raw formula at home.

Our meals are built around high-quality proteins, organically farmed produce, and a thoughtful formulation approach developed with Lucy Jabrayan. We focus on better sourcing, balanced nutrition, and less processing — not shortcuts.

Yes. Carnevore Mountain uses ingredients approved for human consumption and produces meals in Ontario under tightly controlled standards.

No. Our recipes are grain-free, gluten-free, and free from peas, lentils, and potatoes.

Yes. Our recipes are sent for lab testing to help verify nutritional values and support balanced formulation. Alongside our ingredient standards and controlled production process, this helps us maintain consistency, transparency, and confidence in the meals we make.

Yes. Because our food is frozen, shipping and delivery are handled with temperature control in mind. Orders are packed to help maintain product integrity and delivered in refrigerated trucks and arrive frozen.

When your order arrives, it should be placed into the freezer or refrigerator promptly based on when you plan to feed it.