If you are defrosting your dogs food then you can either let it defrost in the fridge overnight or at room temperature. Defrosting in the fridge you need to allow approximately 12 hours for a meal size portion to full defrost. If you are defrosting the food at room temperate then make sure it is in a clean covered container.
With raw food bacteria can multiply very quickly when it has the right environment and some dangerous bacteria can also be spread through the air. These bacterias can cause disease in both humans and dogs. You should not leave raw meat out of the fridge for more than 2 hours. After 2 hours, the meat will begin to spoil and bacteria will start to develop.
You store raw dog food the same way you store your own raw foods, such as hamburgers and chicken. Once it is defrosted then it should be kept in the fridge in a container with a lid and consumed within 24-48 hours. If raw dog food is left out for long periods of time, especially during the hot summer months or in warmer temperature climates, it can result in spoiled food and bacteria growth, which can cause digestive upsets for your dog.
It is less likely that spoiled food will make your dog sick, but depending on the pathogens present, it may make you seriously ill. Fresh foods are always the preferred choice as they contain maximum levels of nutrients. However preserved foods are definitely a better option for your dog than the processed and heat-treated foods.
If your dog is more of a grazer and does not eat all of their meal straight away, then don't leave the food out. Cover their food dish and place it in the fridge so you can give it to them later in the day. Any uneaten food should be disposed of at the end of the day. This will help to keep your dogs Barf Diet at its peak of freshness and avoid any digestive upsets for your dog.
Freeze-dried foods help you transition your pet to a raw food diet, as the consistency is similar to that of kibble. Keep your new raw pet food as fresh as possible by storing it in the refrigerator or freezer, and be sure to serve them on a clean plate. Some owners who switch to raw may find that gently heating food in a baking dish will improve palatability. For this reason, the preferred methods for preserving food (especially raw meat and fish) are freezing and freeze-drying processes.
For the health and well-being of your pet, it is important that we support it in its first steps with raw food.
