Steve’s Real Food Frequently Asked Questions
Most dogs are able to switch to without any adverse effects, especially when allowed to do so gradually over the course of a few weeks. More sensitive dogs/cats or those with digestive issues should start with our gentle Goat Milk Yogurt to wake up and heal their digestive system before introducing the meat. After a few meals with that then start adding the raw food to the meals in small amounts. Read more on transitioning here.
Nutrition and Disease
Ingredients
We get beef, pork, and poultry from the Pacific Northwest here in the United States. The lamb comes from New Zealand. Our emu comes from a farm in Tennessee. The fish are wild-caught and sustainably sourced for Pacific waters. The produce comes from the Pacific Northwest and California. We do not source any ingredients from China and you can view all our ingredient sources here.
Besides being the first nationally distributed complete and balanced raw food for pets, Steve’s Real Food stands out from the competition because of our:
- Convenient Packaging – Easy to Open – Easy To Serve
- Transparent Ingredient Sourcing
- Bulk Sizes to Make Feeding Every Day Easier
- Quick Defrosting Nuggets
- Affordable Price
- Nutrition expertise backed by over 20 years of R&D
Many of our customers mix Steve’s with a premium grain-based food. Some people believe that you should not mix meat with grain because they are digested differently. These people feed Steve’s one day, and a premium grain-based food the next day. Others believe that the dog or cat should receive some of the thousands of enzymes, phytochemicals and antioxidants that are only in properly prepared raw meat-based diets every day. These people will mix 25% to 75% Steve’s in with the kibble daily.
We think both points-of-view make sense. We’ve also seen wonderful results either way. Our advice is to use whichever system works for you.
The fresher any food is, the better tasting and more nutritious it is. Quick freezing, which is done in our plant, and keeping the food frozen are the best ways to preserve nutrition and taste. Steve’s Real Food frozen varieties, as long as it remains frozen, can remain in your freezer for up to a year. (Please check our best if used by date). Once the raw food has defrosted in the refrigerator it will last for about 3 – 4 days. When given in a bowl at feeding time, it should be fed within four hours.
Yes, the original 5 diets (Beef, Chicken, Turkey, Turducken, and Pork) are the complete and balanced for both dogs and cats. Steve's Real Food has developed a frozen raw cat food and a freeze-dried raw cat food line to cater to our feline friends. Both options are complete and balanced for all stages of life.
Safety
It is not recommended to let dogs or cats lick you just after feeding. Bacteria can be transferred, but the risk is incredibly low, and it is unlikely that you will become ill. From a behavioral standpoint face-licking is not recommended, as it is a form of begging. Many dry and canned pet foods have tested positive for bacteria as well, so regardless of what diet you feed, licking can carry the same risks. The two main points of contamination risk from your pet is through their tongue and their feces. Practice basic habits of cleanliness and safety and it is unlikely you or your child will get ill.
Manufacturing
We have decided to use HPP for all our formulas after two years of rigorous research, and it has shown to be the best solution to manage the microbial environment without synthetic preservatives. We conducted testing of 95 nutrients and saw no significant change in nutrient value. HPP inactivates food borne pathogens such as Salmonella, E Coli & Listeria without changing the nutritional value of the food. It offers a safer option for consumers who are worried about food safety, who have small children, are immune-compromised, or who have a pet who is immune-compromised. Please read this bog about our decision and to view the results of our extensive testing.