FAQs

Why should I feed my dog raw foods?

In the wild, your dog’s cousins only eat the food they can catch or forage. A fox doesn’t catch a chicken and then roast it! Wild dogs are virtually identical to your family pet, sharing the almost the same teeth, jaw and stomach. Quite simply, your dog isn’t designed to eat the cooked meats, wheat and grains that make up most commercially available dog foods.

What is in Natural Instinct?

We use only the freshest ingredients for a start. These include chicken, lamb, bones, liver, apples, carrots, and pumpkin. In addition, we add kelp, Brewers' Yeast, cod liver oil and flaxseed oil to provide your dog with a balanced nutritional and delicious diet. Each portion of our Natural range is approximately 80% meat and 20% vegetables and fruits. We have also now introduced our Pure range, which as the name suggests is simply pure meat and ground bone. Whilst not nutritionally balanced like our Natural range, the Pure foods are a great alternative meal once or twice a week and can help keep down the cost of feeding a raw diet if you have a large number of dogs.
More about the ingredients of our dog foods

Do I need to wean my dog off his previous diet before trying Natural Instinct?

Some dogs take to a raw diet without any problems at all. However, we recommend starting by serving 3/4 of your dog’s usual food in the morning with 1/4 of the appropriate portion of Natural Instinct later in the day, building up over seven to ten days until you are feeding only Natural Instinct. You may initially notice bad breath, loose stools, and body odor but there is no cause for concern, as these will pass. These symptoms simply show that the dog’s body is shedding itself of the toxins that have built up, which will leave your dog healthier and happier.

Aren’t bones dangerous for my dog to eat?

The simple answer is no, provided they haven’t been cooked first. For example, never feed your dog cooked chicken bones as this makes them brittle and therefore sharp and likely to cause serious damage in the gut. However it is safe for your dog to eat the raw bones contained in Natural Instinct, as these are pliable and can be safely chewed. They also help clean a dog’s teeth! However, as when giving your dog anything small and hard, you should supervise it to ensure no problems. You may also want to practice removing the food from the dog from time to time, so that the dog gets used to you controlling its eating habits - this prevents the dog from gobbling down its food without breaking it down first, and minimizes any problems. Also, do not allow your dog to eat bones which have dried out, as these can also splinter and become dangerous.

How will my Natural Instinct order arrive?

As soon as your order is made, it is frozen and vacuum sealed to ensure maximum freshness and product life. It is then immediately packaged in expanded polystyrene (EPS) boxes to keep it frozen as long as possible whilst being delivered. It will be shipped to you (overnight for 90% of the UK), direct to an address of your choice, ready to be put in the freezer for use as required. We can only deliver Tuesday to Friday, and orders received on a Friday, over a weekend or on a Bank Holiday will usually be dispatched on the next working day.
More about Natural Instinct's packaging

Do I need to cook Natural Instinct before I feed it to my dog?

No! Your dog will be very happy to eat Natural Instinct raw, as intended. In any event, you should NOT cook bones such as those contained in Natural Instinct as these can splinter and cause injury to your dog.

Can Natural Instinct be re-frozen?

Your Natural Instinct order should arrive still frozen. If however it has partially defrosted by the time you are ready to put it in the freezer, you can refreeze it safely. BUT if it has reached room temperature it will still keep fresh in a fridge for up to three or four days, just like you would keep food purchased from a supermarket.

How long will Natural Instinct keep?

If frozen, Natural Instinct will keep for about 6 months, as it is vacuum sealed. Once opened, we do not recommend keeping it for more than three to four days in your fridge. Remember, as we use all fresh ingredients, if it smells good enough for you to eat, its good enough for your dog! You would not eat bad meat, and neither should your dog.

Can I feed Natural Instinct ready raw meals direct to my dog from the freezer?

Yes - although we recommend allowing it to sit out of the freezer for about 30 minutes first, or you can simply run the frozen meal under a cold tap before placing it in your dog’s bowl. On a hot day it can be a good way in which to cool your dog down. Your dog may also enjoy the different texture in the food if it is still partially frozen, and you may find that meal time becomes more of an enjoyable event if your dog has to take its time to break the food apart, rather than simply wolfing down what ever you put in its bowl.

How much should I feed my dog?

Click here for more information about how much your dog needs to eat.

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