Making the switch to a new dog food can be a daunting decision, especially when you’re unsure how long to commit to the change before seeing results. For many owners, the realization that their dog’s current diet is no longer sufficient dawns gradually. This was the case for me about three months ago, as I noticed both Danny and Chris seemed less enthusiastic about their meals, their skin appeared drier, and Chris was experiencing infrequent bowel movements. It became clear that this wasn’t just a temporary phase, prompting a deep dive into suitable dietary options for two energetic young adult dogs. While I had explored raw dog food previously, and Chris had even thrived on it as a puppy, I had never committed to it long-term, primarily due to freezer space limitations. However, I decided it was time to take the plunge and transition to a raw diet. This decision proved to be incredibly beneficial, especially for Mia, my 12-year-old Rottweiler, who was recently diagnosed with Inflammatory Bowel Disease. While Mia wasn’t initially part of this review, she unexpectedly discovered something remarkable that could potentially help many other dogs.
The Quest for the Right Raw Dog Food
Embarking on the research for raw dog food, I identified three crucial requirements: large pack sizes, a preference for white meat, and, of course, more freezer space.
The necessity for big packs stemmed from the considerable amount of food two large dogs would consume daily, meaning smaller packs would be depleted rapidly.
Opting for white meat was a strategic choice, particularly for Chris, who has always been a picky eater with a sensitive stomach. I believed white meat would be the gentlest option to start with.
Finally, the need for more freezer space was paramount. I aimed to store approximately a month’s worth of food at any given time, and frankly, I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice too much of our own ice cream space.
Natures Menu Review: Country Hunter Raw Nuggets
I reached out to Natures Menu, providing detailed information about the boys, their activity levels, and Chris’s specific eating habits, including instances where he would experience sickness in the early morning if his system processed his food too quickly, leaving him feeling empty.
Natures Menu recommended their 1kg bags of Country Hunter Superfood Raw Nuggets, priced at £4.25 per kg. We specifically focused on the rabbit variety, which comprises 80% rabbit and about 20% from fruits, vegetables, and extracts of yucca, green tea, and grape seed. Importantly, it is also grain and gluten-free.
Rabbit raw nuggets for dogs
After calculating their daily intake, we estimated needing around 34 nuggets per dog for each meal (breakfast and dinner), with the possibility of adding more if necessary.
Dogs eating raw nuggets
Our dogs have been accustomed to a predominantly meat-based diet for years and are already quite lean. However, Natures Menu advised that some dogs may experience weight loss when transitioning to raw food due to its higher protein content compared to dry foods, which often contain more carbohydrates. Therefore, although the nuggets are a complete food on their own, we decided to initially supplement both boys’ meals with a handful of Seriously Mighty Mixer Biscuits (£4.99/700g). This was to help Chris feel fuller and introduce a few more carbohydrates to mitigate potential weight loss during the transition phase.
Mixer biscuits for dogs
Natures Menu also mentioned that some owners incorporate other carbohydrate sources, such as cooked sweet potato, cooked brown rice, or rolled oats, gradually reducing these additions as the dog adjusts.
Once we decided to proceed with the Country Hunter raw rabbit nuggets for at least a two-month trial period, we prioritized acquiring a freezer that could accommodate the required volume of food.
Freezer for dog food storage
We opted for a 99-litre freezer. For anyone considering switching to raw feeding, this is a relatively compact size, and it comfortably stores about 85% of our boys’ monthly food supply.
You have the option to defrost a whole bag and keep it in the refrigerator for 24 hours, or just take out the portion needed for a meal and refreeze the remainder. If refrigerating, it’s essential to place the food bag inside a container to prevent any potential leaks from spilling into your fridge.
Defrosting raw dog food
We consume approximately 3kg of food daily and have two bags defrosting for each meal, meaning we go through it quite quickly. On warmer days, I sometimes mixed frozen nuggets with defrosted ones for a bit of variety and as a cool treat.
We gradually transitioned the dogs to the raw nuggets over a few days. They adapted quite rapidly, so unlike the typical 7-10 day transition period, we allowed the boys to set the pace of their adjustment.
Dogs enjoying raw food
The most significant change was observed in their toilet habits – the size and frequency were remarkable, though perhaps a bit too much information for some! For Chris, this has been a game-changer. He previously only “went” once a day and would often get distracted in the garden, not completing his business. With this new diet, the moment the boys touched the grass, they were ready to go.
Natures Menu explains that this is a common occurrence because their food, and likely most raw foods, are less processed. This means the dog’s body has less to break down, allowing for better utilization of the ingredients.
Melanie Sainsbury, their veterinary education manager, further elaborated: “With the majority of our complete foods containing a small bone content, this helps to firm the faeces and encourages natural emptying of the anal glands – something which many dogs suffer from by having too soft faeces (but can also be anatomical) and require manual emptying by their vet or vet nurse.”
Coinciding with these digestive improvements – which honestly became a frequent topic of discussion in our household – Mia was undergoing treatment for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). Her diagnosis followed a period of stomach upset, lethargy, a need for rehabilitation to regain mobility, and the appearance of a couple of lumps.
At the end of her first course of IBD treatment, we needed to wait a couple of days before conducting new blood tests to assess any progress in repairing her intestinal damage, which we hoped might shed light on the root cause of her condition.
Within 24 hours, her stomach upset returned, prompting us to seek a fast-acting solution to manage the diarrhea. We decided to give her some of the raw nuggets from the boys’ Natures Menu supply.
Within hours, literally by the morning, the diarrhea had stopped. With the weather being extremely hot and the risk of dehydration from heat and stomach issues a serious concern, this felt nothing short of miraculous.
Conclusion
The raw nuggets themselves are visually appealing. I appreciated being able to see the natural ingredients, including the fruits and vegetables, embedded within the nuggets, which gave me confidence that I was providing a genuinely beneficial food.
Close-up of Natures Menu raw nuggets
Furthermore, I value the minimal and recyclable nature of the packaging.
Our dogs took to the food immediately, including Chris, who is, to be frank, the fussiest dog I’ve ever encountered. Typically, when presented with something new, he would inspect it cautiously, often rolling it around in his mouth before retreating to a rug or bed to deliberate before finally deciding to eat.
Fussy dog eating Natures Menu
While we do feed a considerable amount, which can make the diet quite pricey for owners of large or multiple dogs, the positive impact on our dogs has been undeniable. I have since recommended Natures Menu to friends whose dogs faced similar digestive issues or conditions like Mia’s, as this diet was a true lifesaver for her IBD.
She now enjoys a mixed diet of carbohydrates, such as rice or pasta, with the tinned version of the raw food. This tinned variety contains essentially the same ingredients but is cooked. While it feels slightly richer and is too intense for the boys in their daily portions, it’s perfectly suited for Mia.
Mia enjoying her tailored diet
As for the boys, they have continued to thrive throughout the two-month review period.
Chris has remained satiated, minimizing instances of sickness. While it’s difficult to definitively attribute their improved skin condition solely to the diet, their drier skin does seem to have lessened. Similarly, although eye issues cannot be exclusively linked to diet, many owners who have transitioned to natural or raw feeding have reported a reduction or complete cessation of eye discharge and tear staining.
Overall, this has been a highly successful review period for the boys, and most significantly, for Mia.
Happy and healthy dogs after diet change
We extend our sincere gratitude to Natures Menu for their invaluable assistance in preparing for this review and for their ongoing guidance. Discover more about their complete raw and dry food offerings online at www.naturesmenu.co.uk.
