I’ve fed my Dachshunds Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals on and off for years.
I believe it’s prime quality, I 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 eating regimen to assist individuals that could be contemplating it for his or her canine.
About Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals
Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals is constructed from high-quality, human-grade meats and greens.
Darwin’s uncooked meal components is:
- 75% meat
- 25% greens
- Gluten-free & grain-free
- Freed from steroids, hormones, and antibiotics
- A nutritionally balanced full meal
- Excessive in protein, reasonable in fat, and low in carbohydrates
With that being stated, there are three completely different meal varieties obtainable on their web site.
Darwin’s Pure Alternatives™
Darwin’s Pure Alternatives™ is their premium recipe line of uncooked pet food constructed 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 components as Pure Alternatives, however the components is constructed from contemporary, conventionally-raised and grown meats and greens.
Though the meats should 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 (obtainable by prescription solely) which features a kidney, liver, most cancers, and joint & musculoskeletal help formulation.
From what I can inform on their web site, this meals is predicated on the Pure Alternatives formulation, however might have much less of 1 ingredient, or a further one, to handle particular well being points.
What Makes Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals Totally 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.
As we speak, there are numerous uncooked canine meals in the marketplace and not less than a dozen of corporations that can 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 means of years of expertise.
- Darwin’s gives a free menu session (for each new and current prospects) if you’re undecided what or how a lot to feed your canine.
- You possibly can place an introductory 10 lb order for $14.95 to check out the meals earlier than totally committing to a subscription.
- Transport is free for orders which are 20 or extra kilos, besides to Hawaii and Alaska. Orders underneath this quantity are charged a $10.00 flat fee delivery payment.
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 prospects, however went again to getting my Dachshund’s frozen uncooked pet food in individual from the pet retailer after nearly a yr.
Nevertheless, after making an attempt a number of completely different manufacturers of uncooked pet food, I got here again to Darwin’s.
Observe: When you’ve been following us you already know I wish to rotate canine’s meals commonly.
To this present day, 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 an entire meal once 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 vitamin as a substitute of junk meals
- After I get uninterested in having to run to the pet retailer all the time
The meals is available in particular person pouches. I neither like or dislike this.
The most important plus for Darwin’s is that the pouches are simple to open, even with moist fingers.
I don’t use a whole pouch, even to feed two miniature Dachshunds one meal, so there may be all the time {a partially} opened pouch within the fridge.
It might 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 should not a trouble to open, I’ll take the tradeoff.
The meals is available in 2 lb packages and every bundle is made up of 4 half pound smaller packages joined collectively.
The plastic is effectively perforated so every portion will be separated with out utilizing scissors.
The price of every 2 lb bundle varies by meat taste, however ranges from $13.64 for rooster to $22.41 for lamb.
Once you place a full order (not introductory), you’ll take a quiz and enter particulars about your pet like gender, age, and superb weight.
Darwin’s will then use this data to counsel a supply quantity and frequency.
Shipments have all the time arrived in a well timed method, with out injury, and the meals was nonetheless frozen It’s shipped with dry ice).
I might describe consistency of the meals as a meat and veggie mash.
The meals accommodates quite a lot of moisture, and the elements are floor into small items.
Nevertheless, not like some uncooked meals that’s floor so fantastic you possibly can now not see the person elements, they’re considerably identifiable in Darwin’s uncooked meals.
Is Darwin’s Uncooked Pet Meals Protected? Have There Been any Recollects?
As a involved pet proprietor, you’re most likely questioning if there have been been any recollects for Darwin’s frozen uncooked pet food.
When you don’t find out about them already, sooner or later, you’ll most likely uncover that there have been voluntary recollects of Darwin’s uncooked meals, and a pair Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) warnings, up to now.
Darwin’s pet meals is monitored for probably 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 recollects and warnings about alleged bacterial contamination. I really feel it’s a protected meals, however make that judgement your self.
In accordance with my data 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 inner testing that detected potential Salmonella contamination. No pet sicknesses have been reported to the corporate.
- 2018 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s because of inner testing that detected potential Salmonella contamination in a single case of pet food. No pet sicknesses have been reported to the corporate.
- 2018 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s because of inner testing that detected potential Salmonella and/or E. Coli contamination. No pet sicknesses have been reported to the corporate.
- 2019 – the FDA issued a public warning after testing indicated Salmonella contamination. No pet sicknesses have been reported to the corporate.
Vital be aware: Darwin’s had already contacted prospects who indicated the meals had already been consumed with no points. The FDA issued the warning after Darwin’s refused to show over personal buyer knowledge.
- 2023 – the FDA issued a public warning after testing indicated Salmonella contamination. No pet sicknesses have been reported to the corporate.
You possibly can learn the official assertion by Darwin’s made after the latest 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 akin to Salmonella or E. coli with out hurt, except they’re already sick with another situation.
- Likewise, people are sometimes unaffected by low ranges of bacterial contamination except they’ve an underlying well being situation or compromised immune system.
- Recollects should not one thing that solely occurs with uncooked meals. Voluntary recollects have been made on all types of meals up to now – kibble, canned, and uncooked.
Personally, I’m zero nervous about these voluntary recollects and warnings.
The truth is, voluntary recollects inform me that they firm is monitoring their meals for security and all the time erring on the aspect of warning.
Neither my canine or I’ve vital well being points or compromised immune methods although.
Disclosure: I like Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals and purchase it myself. Nevertheless, they’ve despatched me a pair shipments up to now for free of charge in change for sharing my ideas with you.
