I’ve fed my Dachshunds Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals on and off for years.
I believe it’s prime quality, I really like that I can have it delivered, and the corporate is predicated right here in Western Washington so I can be ok with supporting a small, native firm.
On this article, I share my expertise with the Darwin’s uncooked food plan to assist folks that could be contemplating it for his or her canine.
About Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals
Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals is created from high-quality, human-grade meats and greens.
Darwin’s uncooked meal formulation is:
- 75% meat
- 25% greens
- Gluten-free & grain-free
- Freed from steroids, hormones, and antibiotics
- A nutritionally balanced full meal
- Excessive in protein, average in fat, and low in carbohydrates
With that being stated, there are three totally different meal varieties accessible on their web site.
Darwin’s Pure Choices™
Darwin’s Pure Choices™ is their premium recipe line of uncooked pet food created from cage free (free-roaming), pasture raised, or grass fed (relying on the proteins) meats and natural greens.
Darwin’s BioLogics™
Darwin’s BioLogics is their worth line.
It makes use of the identical full and balanced formulation as Pure Choices, however the formulation is created from contemporary, conventionally-raised and grown meats and greens.
Though the meats usually are not free vary or grass fed, they’re nonetheless hormone and steroid-free.
The greens used are from the identical farms that offer supermarkets.
Darwin’s Clever Design™
For canine with particular wants, in addition they have an Clever Design™ line (accessible by prescription solely) which features a kidney, liver, most cancers, and joint & musculoskeletal assist formulation.
From what I can inform on their web site, this meals is predicated on the Pure Choices formulation, however might have much less of 1 ingredient, or an extra one, to handle particular well being points.
What Makes Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals Completely different?
Darwin’s uncooked pet food was one of many first that I heard of and positively the primary I used to be conscious of that delivered.
In the present day, there are lots of uncooked canine meals available on the market and not less than a dozen of firms that may ship the meals on to you.
So what makes Darwin’s stand out to me?
- Gary, the corporate’s founder, began in his personal kitchen making uncooked meals to handle his personal canine’s well being points. He refined his formulation by way of years of expertise.
- Darwin’s affords a free menu session (for each new and current clients) in case you are unsure what or how a lot to feed your canine.
- You’ll be able to place an introductory 10 lb order for $14.95 to check out the meals earlier than absolutely committing to a subscription.
- Delivery is free for orders which can be 20 or extra kilos, besides to Hawaii and Alaska. Orders beneath this quantity are charged a $10.00 flat fee delivery price.
My Expertise With Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals
I attempted Darwin’s for the primary time round 2014.
I signed up with their introductory provide for brand new clients, however went again to getting my Dachshund’s frozen uncooked pet food in particular person from the pet retailer after virtually a 12 months.
Nevertheless, after making an attempt a number of totally different manufacturers of uncooked pet food, I got here again to Darwin’s.
Observe: When you’ve been following us I wish to rotate canine’s meals frequently.
To at the present time, Darwin’s meals continues to be one of many uncooked meals in our rotation.
My favourite methods to make use of Darwin’s meals are:
- As a whole meal after I need to feed a uncooked meal with out including organs and greens myself
- In a Kong or on a lick mat in order that I do know my canine will go nuts and they’re getting balanced diet as a substitute of junk meals
- Once I get bored with having to run to the pet retailer the entire time
The meals is available in particular person pouches. I neither like or dislike this.
The largest plus for Darwin’s is that the pouches are simple to open, even with moist arms.
I don’t use a whole pouch, even to feed two miniature Dachshunds one meal, so there may be at all times {a partially} opened pouch within the fridge.
It will be good if there was an possibility to purchase a bulk container so much less packaging is used, however the person pouches assist forestall the meals from being contaminated by micro organism.
On condition that they particular person packages usually are not a problem to open, I’ll take the tradeoff.
The meals is available in 2 lb packages and every package deal is made up of 4 half pound smaller packages joined collectively.
The plastic is properly perforated so every portion may be separated with out utilizing scissors.
The price of every 2 lb package deal varies by meat taste, however ranges from $13.64 for rooster to $22.41 for lamb.
If you place a full order (not introductory), you’ll take a quiz and enter particulars about your pet like gender, age, and best weight.
Darwin’s will then use this info to counsel a supply quantity and frequency.
Shipments have at all times arrived in a well timed method, with out injury, and the meals was nonetheless frozen It’s shipped with dry ice).
I’d describe consistency of the meals as a meat and veggie mash.
The meals incorporates quite a lot of moisture, and the substances are floor into small items.
Nevertheless, not like some uncooked meals that’s floor so fantastic you may not see the person substances, they’re considerably identifiable in Darwin’s uncooked meals.
Is Darwin’s Uncooked Pet Meals Secure? Have There Been any Recollects?
As a involved pet proprietor, you might be in all probability questioning if there have been been any remembers for Darwin’s frozen uncooked pet food.
When you don’t learn about them already, sooner or later, you’ll in all probability uncover that there have been voluntary remembers of Darwin’s uncooked meals, and a pair Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings, up to now.
Darwin’s pet meals is monitored for doubtlessly unsafe micro organism each by the corporate and by the FDA.
The FDA maintains a zero-tolerance coverage which disallows any presence of Salmonella, even in portions too low to trigger hurt to both people or pets, in pet meals.
Backside line: there have been no sicknesses reported from consuming Darwin’s uncooked meals however there have been a pair voluntary remembers and warnings about alleged bacterial contamination. I really feel it’s a protected meals, however make that judgement your self.
Based on my information and DogFoodAdvisor (which supplies Darwin’s uncooked meals 5/5 stars), that is the recall historical past:
- 2017 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s because of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella contamination. No pet sicknesses had been reported to the corporate.
- 2018 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s because of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella contamination in a single case of pet food. No pet sicknesses had been reported to the corporate.
- 2018 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s because of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella and/or E. Coli contamination. No pet sicknesses had been reported to the corporate.
- 2019 – the FDA issued a public warning after testing indicated Salmonella contamination. No pet sicknesses had been reported to the corporate.
Vital be aware: Darwin’s had already contacted clients who indicated the meals had already been consumed with no points. The FDA issued the warning after Darwin’s refused to show over non-public buyer knowledge.
- 2023 – the FDA issued a public warning after testing indicated Salmonella contamination. No pet sicknesses had been reported to the corporate.
You’ll be able to learn the official assertion by Darwin’s made after the newest FDA warning HERE.
I believe it’s related to say a few factors right here:
- The digestive system of most canine is ready to course of pathogens equivalent to Salmonella or E. coli with out hurt, except they’re already ailing with another situation.
- Likewise, people are usually unaffected by low ranges of bacterial contamination except they’ve an underlying well being situation or compromised immune system.
- Recollects usually are not one thing that solely occurs with uncooked meals. Voluntary remembers have been made on all types of meals up to now – kibble, canned, and uncooked.
Personally, I’m zero anxious about these voluntary remembers and warnings.
In reality, voluntary remembers inform me that they firm is monitoring their meals for security and at all times erring on the facet of warning.
Neither my canine or I’ve important well being points or compromised immune techniques although.
Disclosure: I really like Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals and purchase it myself. Nevertheless, they’ve despatched me a pair shipments up to now without charge in change for sharing my ideas with you.
