I’ve fed my Dachshunds Darwin’s Uncooked Canine Meals on and off for years.
I believe it’s top 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 food 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 created from high-quality, human-grade meats and greens.
Darwin’s uncooked meal system 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 sorts out there on their web site.
Darwin’s Pure Picks™
Darwin’s Pure Picks™ 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 system as Pure Picks, however the system 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 canines with particular wants, in addition they have an Clever Design™ line (out there 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 Picks formulation, however might have much less of 1 ingredient, or an extra one, to deal with 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.
At present, there are lots of uncooked canine meals in the marketplace and no 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 deal with his personal canine’s well being points. He refined his formulation by years of expertise.
- Darwin’s gives a free menu session (for each new and current prospects) in case you are undecided 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 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 price 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 supply for brand spanking new prospects, however went again to getting my Dachshund’s frozen uncooked pet food in individual from the pet retailer after nearly a 12 months.
Nevertheless, after attempting a number of completely different manufacturers of uncooked pet food, I got here again to Darwin’s.
Be aware: In case you’ve been following us you already know I prefer to rotate canine’s meals usually.
To this present day, Darwin’s meals remains 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 wish 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 canines will go nuts and they’re getting balanced vitamin as an alternative of junk meals
- After I get uninterested in 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 most important plus for Darwin’s is that the pouches are simple to open, even with moist palms.
I don’t use a whole pouch, even to feed two miniature Dachshunds one meal, so there’s 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 stop 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 bundle is made up of 4 half pound smaller packages joined collectively.
The plastic is properly perforated so every portion might 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.
Whenever you place a full order (not introductory), you’ll take a quiz and enter particulars about your pet like gender, age, and very best weight.
Darwin’s will then use this info to recommend a supply quantity and frequency.
Shipments have at all times arrived in a well timed method, with out harm, 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 accommodates plenty of moisture, and the elements are floor into small items.
Nevertheless, in contrast to some uncooked meals that’s floor so wonderful you’ll be able to now not see the person elements, 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 most likely questioning if there have been been any remembers for Darwin’s frozen uncooked pet food.
In case you don’t find out about them already, sooner or later, you’ll most likely 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 diseases 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 secure meals, however make that judgement your self.
In keeping with my information and DogFoodAdvisor (which provides Darwin’s uncooked meals 5/5 stars), that is the recall historical past:
- 2017 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s on account of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella contamination. No pet diseases had been reported to the corporate.
- 2018 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s on account of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella contamination in a single case of pet food. No pet diseases had been reported to the corporate.
- 2018 – voluntary recall by Darwin’s on account of inside testing that detected potential Salmonella and/or E. Coli contamination. No pet diseases had been reported to the corporate.
- 2019 – the FDA issued a public warning after testing indicated Salmonella contamination. No pet diseases had been reported to the corporate.
Essential 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 non-public buyer knowledge.
- 2023 – the FDA issued a public warning after testing indicated Salmonella contamination. No pet diseases had been reported to the corporate.
You’ll be able to 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 canines is ready to course of pathogens similar to Salmonella or E. coli with out hurt, until they’re already in poor health with another situation.
- Likewise, people are sometimes unaffected by low ranges of bacterial contamination until they’ve an underlying well being difficulty 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.
Actually, 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 canines or I’ve important well being points or compromised immune techniques 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.
