Raw Feeding Made Easier with These 9 Must Have Tools

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I feed homemade dog food because I believe it contributes to improved health for my dogs. There are nine tools that make DIY raw feeding easier and affordable.

More pet parents are looking into feeding their dogs a diet of fresh food. When I was new to raw feeding, I quickly became overwhelmed by the cost of commercial raw for a multi-dog home, which is why I make dog food. In this article, I will share the benefits of DIY raw feeding, how to easily transition to raw, and the tools I use that make raw feeding easier and affordable.

Benefits of DIY Raw Feeding

I feed my dogs a raw food diet, which falls in the category of fresh food, which includes raw, cooked, freeze-dried, dehydrated, and air-dried. Feeding fresh food comes with many benefits, including:

strengthened immune system
reduced inflammation
boosts skin and coat health; raw fed dogs have shiny coats
promotes healthy joints and bones
supports a healthy metabolism, weight, and muscle mass
teeth and gums are cleaner; fresh breath
reduced doggy odor
smaller, less smelly stool
raw fed dogs are more hydrated

I switched my dogs to a raw food diet in 2013 after a veterinarian told me one of our dogs wouldn't live long past his third birthday. Rodrigo lived for 13-1/2 years with few health issues.

I chose to make my dogs food because it allows me to control the ingredients, which is excellent when you have a dog with food sensitivities, save money by buying in bulk, and I think it's fun.

Easiest Way to Transition to Raw Feeding

I initially transitioned my dogs to commercial raw delivered to my door by a local company. When the cost became too much, I transitioned to DIY raw feeding, joined a local raw food co-op, and soaked up as much information as I could about canine nutrition.

After transitioning several dogs to a raw food diet, I think cold turkey is the most straightforward transition for healthy dogs. Other ways to transition dogs to a fresh food diet include:

Fast your dog for a day and start with a quality commercial raw brand after the fast.
Start with a hybrid diet, feeding kibble for one meal and raw for the second meal, slowly reducing kibble and increasing raw. I do not recommend mixing raw and kibble as this can result in tummy distress (vomiting or diarrhea) with some dogs.
Work with a professional meal formulator who will create customized recipes for your dog and guide you through the transition.

Some dogs may experience signs of detox when transitioned to raw. These sides include loose stool, diarrhea, mucousy poop, dull coat, and increased shedding. There weren't any noticeable signs of detox with any of my dogs, but this is something dog owners should know.

Tools that Make DIY Raw Feeding Easier

Making raw dog food is easier and more affordable for my multi-dog home. I use the following tools regularly when doing meal prep for my dogs. Please remember that these tools made raw feeding easier for me; they are not required, especially if you plan to feed commercial raw to your dog.

1 – Dedicated Freezer

I have two freezers and one refrigerator for my dogs. I bought them from a local company that refurbishes appliances, and each piece of equipment was a fraction of the retail cost. Dog owners can also find used appliances on the Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist and new (smaller) appliances at Costco. I prefer stand-up freezers because I can see everything and quickly determine what I need to order. When I had a chest freezer, the food at the bottom was forgotten soon.

2 – Meat Grinder

A meat grinder isn't a necessary tool for raw feeding. I prefer ground raw because it's less messy, easy to mix in supplements, and easy to store in the freezer.

I use a 3/4 horsepower meat grinder I picked up from Cabela's. But this isn't my first meat grinder. I purchased a $100 meat grinder online when I started feeding DIY. It worked, but very slowly. When it was time to be replaced, I treated myself to a Cabela's Carnivore meat grinder. It was on sale, but the price was significantly more than my first grinder and worth every penny. With the cheaper meat grinder, it took a full day (10 to 12 hours) to do meal prep. I reduced my meal prep to one to two hours with a quality meat grinder.

I rarely use my meat grinder today because most of the meat I purchase from a local raw food co-op is already ground.

Shopping for a Meat Grinder

When shopping for a meat grinder, search the reviews for experiences by other raw feeders. And keep in mind that the warranty on many meat grinders will be void once you grind bones. I only grind poultry and rabbit bones in my grinder to reduce wear and tear. I haven't had any issues with my meat grinder.

3 – Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls or Stockpots

Raising multiple dogs, I've found it easier to mix up raw food using a 20-gallon stockpot rather than various bowls. However, I still use 8-quart stainless steel bowls to capture ground meat, organs, and bones. A bowl or stockpot isn't necessary if you plan to feed whole raw instead of ground.

4 – Quality Knives

I didn't need a complete set of knives for raw feeding. Instead, I regularly use two knives and have learned that quality is better. gunter WIlhelm used to have a vendor stand at Costco, offering knives at a discounted price. Today, Cutco is often featured at Costco. The knives I recommend are:

Meat Cleaver
7″ Santoku Knife
Knife Sharpener

Beware of buying a knife with two parts: the blade and the handle. I went through two of these, snapping them in half as I chopped through meat and bone before I invested in the knives I currently use, which I've had for years.

5 – Large Cutting Board

A large cutting board is helpful. I use mine to butcher cornish game hens and quail. I also use it when making dog treats.

When deciding between wood and plastic cutting boards, many prefer wood because it's gentler on blades, helping to maintain knife sharpness. Plastic boards are known for being lightweight and easy to clean, but they can develop deep scratches that may harbor harmful bacteria over time. High-quality wood cutting boards have natural antimicrobial properties that make them more sanitary than plastic, as long as they are properly cared for.

I alternate between both wood and plastic. I wash my wood cutting boards thoroughly and run the plastic cutting boards through the dishwasher.

6 – Reusable Kitchen Gloves

Mixing ingredients by hand is a lot easier than using a spoon. The meat is heavy, and many spoons can't adequately mix my meal preps. Another raw feeder advised me to use my hands, and it was a game changer. I prefer reusable kitchen gloves long enough to cover my permanent bracelets.

7 – Dehydrator

I source organs from local farms and am fortunate to get too much for raw dog food alone. I turn the excess into dog treats – primarily liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and lung. You can find affordable dehydrators on the Facebook Marketplace or Craiglist. I purchased two new dehydrators for a fraction of the retail price.

I dehydrate everything outside because it's a very aromatic process. But it's worth the time and smell because I rarely purchase dog treats other than my subscription with Real Dog Box.

8 – Pressure Cooker

Bone broth is an essential part of my dog's diet as it supports the gut, joints, and skin/coat, while promoting a healthy immune system. It's easy and affordable to make, and I pour a small amount of warmed bone broth over each of my dogs' meals to take the chill away.

I started by making bone broth in a slow cooker over 24 hours. A pressure cooker is a faster process, and I can make 15 or more jars of bone broth over a weekend.

I've also used my pressure cooker to make dog food and yogurt.

You can find a used pressure cooker on the Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist. They also go on sale during the holidays.

9 – Food Processor

I feed vegetables because for the fiber to promote gut health, and antioxidants to prevent disease. Vegetables are also high in antioxidants. I love gardening but can't eat what I grow fast enough. Pureeing excess vegetables for my dogs offers a natural supplement and helps me save money. I purchased a great food processor on sale during the holidays that grinds the vegetables into a smoothie for my dogs, which I add to my meal preps with a base mix.

Final Thoughts on DIY Raw Feeding

Reading this article can seem daunting if you think you must buy everything I use to feed your dogs. I purchased everything over several years as I came across helpful tools at an affordable price. Not every raw feeder uses everything I use. For example, you can use your oven to make dog treats. You can make bone broth on the stove. You can feed it whole (or chopped) raw instead of ground.

Don't spend money unnecessarily. Do what works for you and your dog.