Ditching the Fillers: Getting Back to What Nature Intended
Walk through any dog park today and you'll hear pet parents talking about one thing: raw feeding.
What was once considered a niche approach has become one of the fastest-growing health trends in pet nutrition. Owners are questioning highly processed kibble, reading ingredient labels more carefully, and searching for ways to help their dogs live healthier, happier lives.
The question is simple: If we care about what goes into our own bodies, shouldn't we care just as much about what goes into our pets?
The Problem With Highly Processed Pet Food
Most commercial kibble is manufactured using high temperatures and multiple processing steps, commonly known as HPP or High Pressured Processing. While this creates a shelf-stable product, it can also alter the structure of proteins, fats, and certain nutrients.
Many kibble formulas contain:
• Highly processed ingredients
• Artificial preservatives
• Fillers and starches
• By-products of varying quality
• Ingredients that bear little resemblance to a dog's ancestral diet
Dogs evolved from carnivorous ancestors whose diets consisted primarily of meat, organs, bones, and other whole-food sources of nutrition. While modern dogs have adapted to digest a wider variety of foods, their biological foundation remains rooted in animal-based nutrition.
What Is a Raw Diet?
A raw diet typically consists of:
• Muscle meat
• Organ meat
• Ground bone or edible bone sources
• Natural fats
• Fresh vegetables and fruits (depending on the formulation)
The goal is to provide nutrition through minimally processed, biologically appropriate ingredients.
Rather than relying heavily on synthetic additives to replace nutrients lost during manufacturing, raw diets seek to preserve nutrients in their natural form. At BJ’s Raw Pet Food, we are able to keep our products in their purest form from our freezer to your home. All of our products are preservative and dye free. After the food is ground and mixed, it is packaged and frozen to maintain the integrity of its health benefits. We live by the motto “Feed Like Nature Intended” and provide many options for customers to choose from.
What Does the Science Say?
Raw feeding remains an active area of research. Several findings have generated significant interest among veterinarians and nutrition researchers.
Improved Digestibility
Animal proteins are generally highly digestible for dogs. Some studies suggest that fresh and minimally processed diets may allow dogs to utilize nutrients more efficiently than heavily processed alternatives.
When nutrients are more digestible, dogs may require less food to meet their nutritional needs.
Better Stool Quality
One of the most commonly reported benefits among raw feeders is smaller, firmer stools.
This makes biological sense. Diets that contain highly digestible animal ingredients often leave less waste behind because more nutrients are absorbed by the body.
Healthier Skin and Coat
Healthy skin and a shiny coat depend on adequate protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
Raw diets are often rich in naturally occurring omega fatty acids and high-quality animal proteins, which may support:
• Softer coats
• Reduced shedding
• Improved skin condition
• Better overall appearance
Many owners notice visible changes within the first few weeks of transitioning to a properly balanced raw diet.
Oral Health Benefits
Chewing meaty components and raw bones (when appropriately selected by size of bone/size of dog) helps to reduce plaque accumulation and encourage natural chewing behavior.
Dental disease is one of the most common health problems in dogs, making oral health an important consideration for long-term wellness.
Gut Health and Microbiome Diversity
The gut microbiome influences digestion, immune function, and overall health.
Emerging research suggests that diet composition can significantly affect microbial populations in the digestive tract.
Fresh-food diets, including raw diets, promote a different microbial profile than highly processed foods.
While scientists continue to study the effects of raw feeding on pets, there are two studies that have shown outcomes that are worth noting:
The Puppy Outcomes Study (Chronic Enteropathy) Published February 9, 2023
The study was published in the Journal of Scientific Reports by researchers at the University of Helsinki.
How it was done: Researchers analyzed long-term dietary data from thousands of dogs during their puppyhood (2-6 months) and adolescence (6-18 months).
The Findings: Puppies fed a non-processed, meat-based diet (including raw meat, raw bones, cartilage) had a significantly lower risk of developing chronic enteropathy (inflammatory bowel disease) later in life. Conversely, puppies raised predominantly on highly processed, carbohydrate-based dry kibble had a 29% higher risk of developing chronic gut issues.
• Gut Microbiome: Studies show that dogs fed raw diets have a more diverse gut microbiome and higher concentrations of protective enzymes (such as intestinal alkaline phosphatase), which are associated with a stronger defense against gastrointestinal
Scientists continue to investigate what these differences mean for long-term health outcomes.
The Digestibility & Gut Health Studies
Data regarding high nutrient digestibility, smaller stools, and protective enzymes like intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) comes from a mix of clinical feeding trials:
• The Oklahoma State University Study (2024):
Led by researchers like Dr. Lara Sypniewski, this study compared healthy dogs transitioned to either raw or kibble diets for 28 days. It found that dogs fed raw meat-based diets had significantly higher levels of fecal IAP, IgA, and IgG. These are local immune markers that protect the gut lining and neutralize toxins, indicating robust gastrointestinal health.
• The University of Illinois Study:
While evaluating fresh, human-grade diets, landmark trials from the University of Illinois College of ACES confirmed that un-processed, fresh food is significantly more digestible than standard kibble. Dogs absorb more nutrients from fresh formulations, which results in up to 66% less fecal volume and firmer, smaller stools.
A smaller, highly cited metagenomic trial published by Sandri et al. explicitly compared a raw beef diet against commercial kibble. It verified that the raw diet promoted a highly diverse fecal bacterial community alongside visibly improved stool
The Results Owners Notice Most
While laboratory data is important, many pet owners switch to raw feeding because of the healthier changes they see in their pet every day.
Commonly reported improvements include:
• Increased energy levels
• Better muscle tone
• Cleaner teeth
• Smaller stools
• Healthier skin
• Shinier coats
• Greater enthusiasm at mealtime
For many owners, feeding time transforms from a routine chore into an exciting experience their dog genuinely looks forward to.
Less inflammation, more flexibility are common identifiers in pets that are fed a raw diet. Many pet parents comment how their pet has returned to their livelier, more youthful selves again.
Safety Matters
Raw feeding is not simply a matter of throwing raw meat into a bowl.
A nutritionally complete raw diet requires proper balance and careful formulation. Like any pet food, quality and handling standards are critical.
Pet owners should:
• Choose reputable raw food manufacturers
• Follow safe storage guidelines
• Practice proper hygiene when handling food
• Ensure diets meet nutritional requirements for their pet's life stage
The best raw diets are formulated with both nutritional science and food safety in mind.
Why More Pet Parents Are Making the Switch and Valid Reasons to Switch to Raw
At the heart of the raw feeding movement is a simple belief that Dogs and Cats deserve food that looks like food. Pets deserve to live their best lives.
When owners see recognizable ingredients, fewer unnecessary fillers, and meals built around high-quality animal nutrition, they feel more confident about what they're putting in their pet’s bowl.
Raw feeding isn't about following a trend.
It's about asking whether a fresh, minimally processed diet may be a better nutritional choice for the animals we love. Growing interest in fresh and raw nutrition reflects a broader shift toward whole-food feeding and ingredient transparency.
For pet owners seeking a more natural approach to nutrition, a properly balanced raw diet offers a compelling alternative to highly processed foods.
Your dog may not be able to tell you what's in their bowl. But they can show you the difference. More energy. Better condition. Greater vitality. Sometimes, the best nutrition is simply getting back to basics.
Reasons Why People Wait To Make The Switch and Why You Don’t Have To Wait Any Longer
Finding a Premier Pet Food Provider:
BJ’s Raw Pet Food is a Lancaster, PA based raw food provider for customers in all 50 states. We source locally from trusted farms and suppliers and package everything at our facility.
We are celebrating 10 years of business this year and have been a trusted, reliable, premier manufacturer of human-grade quality products for pets. We take great pride in walking beside you to provide the best food for your pets.
Ease of Use: We provide many options for complete and balanced mixes, to protein only blends, raw organs and parts, toppers such as raw goat milk, and more.
Our product is available in store or is shipped to your home. It will arrive frozen. We offer 2lb, 10lb, and 38lb containers. The food can be defrosted and then frozen again one time. Many customers will purchase larger quantities, defrost, and pre- package the meals based on the serving size of their pet(s). We recommend keeping meals in the refrigerator up to 5 days. When a five day supply is in the refrigerator, you can take the next 5 day supply from the freezer and either defrost for a few days in the refrigerator or defrost on the countertop before moving to the refrigerator.
Exclusive Offers For You🎉
We have current sales to help customers try raw feeding!
✅40% off on our Introductory Packages
✅Buy 2, Get 1 Free on our Raw Goat Milk (flavored goat milk is not included in the sale), Raw Kefir, Raw Colostrum and Freeze-Dried Goat Milk Powder.
*the 2 items must be of the same in order to get the 1 free of the same
Ready to Try Raw Feeding?
How to Transition Your Pet to a Raw Diet: A Simple Step-by-Step
| Transition Phase | Timeline | Current Food (Kibble) | BJ's Raw Pet Food Mix |
| Phase 1 | Days 1–3 | 75% | 25% |
| Phase 2 | Days 4–6 | 50% | 50% |
| Phase 3 | Days 7–9 | 25% | 75% |
| Phase 4 | Days 10–14 | 0% | 100% |
Start Slowly. For most pets, a gradual transition over 7-14 days works well.
A common schedule looks like this:
Days 1-3
75% current food
25% raw food
Days 4-6
50% current food
50% raw food
Days 7-9
25% current food
75% raw food
Days 10-14
100% raw food
If your pet has a sensitive stomach, extend each stage and transition more slowly. Monitor Your Pet's Response During the transition, pay attention to:
• Stool consistency
• Energy levels
• Appetite
• Skin and coat condition
• Overall comfort
Some temporary changes are normal as the digestive system adjusts. Feed Appropriate Portions. Overfeeding can create digestive issues regardless of the food type.
Most adult dogs generally require about 2-3% of their ideal body weight per day, though activity level, age, metabolism, and individual needs vary.
Cats and puppies have different requirements and often need more food relative to their body weight.
We offer a Feeding Calculator on our website, allowing you to put more specific information in about your pet. If your dog will be more active over the summer months, you may need to increase their portion sizes.
Keep Food Handling Safe
Raw food should be handled with the same care you would use when preparing raw meat for your family.
Best practices include:
• Keeping food frozen until needed
• Thawing in the refrigerator
• Washing bowls after meals
• Cleaning preparation surfaces
• Washing hands thoroughly after handling
Safe handling protects both pets and people.
🚨Transitioning to raw doesn't have to be stressful. By avoiding these common mistakes and choosing a trusted partner like BJ’s Raw Pet Food, you are giving your pet the gift of a longer, healthier life.
Ready to start? 👉 [Shop our Beginner-Friendly Introductory Packages] 👉 [Talk to our Lancaster Team: (717) 745-8899]
Real Food, Real People - Raw, Unprocessed Food for your Pet and Live Customer Support 🚘 Live close by? Visit us Mon - Fri 8am-5:30pm EST, Saturday 9am - 3:00 pm EST. 📍1518 Millport Road, Lancaster, PA. 📲(717) 745-8899
OUR MISSION is to feed pets the way nature intended—keeping them healthy with fresh, raw foods made only from whole ingredients, free from preservatives, synthetic vitamins and minerals, and unnecessary processing.
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