Feeding raw food to my dog has been limited to vegetables and fruit. I’ve always been reticent and![4397448206_e52aacc2e0_m[1]DancingDogBlog](http://www.dancingdogblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/4397448206_e52aacc2e0_m11.JPG "4397448206_e52aacc2e0_m[1]DancingDogBlog")
somewhat squeamish about raw food, even dog treats, given the perceived dangers. I had written briefly about Stella & Chewy’s brand when the proprietor of a neighborhood store gave me the lowdown on how Stella & Chewy’s lead the raw food industry in safety. They have a lot number on each package that you can call in to check that the product has remained cleared for safety.
Recently Stella & Chewy’s added a new flavor to their dehydrated line of freeze-dried raw food dog treats, and my dog got a taste of the Wild Alaskan Salmon Carnivore Kisses. Since I left the now sealed dog treats on the coffee table, and he watches where all his things go, he stood by the table and sniffed and when I said “what?” he barked for more! This was a strong favorable reaction – my dog doesn’t bark much or sniff around the table as a matter of course. Salmon is one of his favorite things, and now it’s Stella & Chewy’s dog treats of Wild Alaskan Salmon that’s his target.
Stella & Chewy’s is the first line of raw food and dog treats that is Certified Pathogen Safe, so that takes a lot of worry out of the whole idea of feeding your dog a raw diet. They are very lightweight dog treats, like foam packing peanuts, and dry, but once your dog bites into one you can see it melt. It doesn’t take a lot of work for your dog to eat it, and it doesn’t seem to stick anywhere in his mouth. You can check their website for more. It’s not an inexpensive choice, however. Treats start at $10.99.
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How do the treats become "Certified Pathogen Safe"? Seems the only way to guarantee that is to super-heat the food to kill any bacteria – and would that kill the nutrients that were in the original raw food source to begin with?
There's a page of information on their website link on just the process, but I can say they don't use high heat, because of the reason you cite. Part of it is high pressure, but I think this quote says enough to make people want to go read what these folks are doing:
”The food safety programs in place at Stella & Chewy’s would be in the forefront of human food manufacturers and are years ahead of the pet food industry.”
Dr. James Marsden, Regents Distinguished Professor of Food Safety, Kansas State University
I understand being squeamish about raw foods. I've been doing a bit of research on cats and raw food, and it seems that they can benefit from a raw diet too–that's if it is of high quality of course. I wish Stella & Chewy made cat food!
Freezing is as effective as heating in getting rid of pathogens. Frankie doesn't like fish (!) but he does love Stella & Chewy's other dehydrated treats.
Looks like a good treat for the doggies and I'll have to try & find some, but I'm not sure that I can get these in Ontario. If a food is dehydrated it does kill all bacteria, essentially they are making salmon jerky.
That's a good call Rod. That statement didn't click with me in the first read.
Guaranteeing that their products are "Certified Pathogen Safe" is definitely a bold statement, you don't even see that statement on human foods.
That said, at least from the information on their website it sounds like they really go the extra mile to ensure their operation is as clean as possible.
This sounds a little bit scary though, "…we use a series of devices that emit low levels of safe, pathogen-fighting gases such as ozone and hydrogen peroxide." Hydrogen peroxide?!
My dog loves these treats and I feel safe knowing they have things in place to make sure that the raw food is safe for me to handle! Especially after another food recall last week from a raw company.
I agree Cody, the certified pathogen safe process is what sold me on the Stella & Chewy's brand and I'll be interested to see how may companies fall into line with this method of processing. Thanks for stopping by!
Stella & Chewy does make cat food!
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Dogs should not eat CARBS, FRUIT!!!! RAW meat, veggies, that’s it!!! It took me a year to realize and after spending over $8, 000 at many different vets, many foods, and then I met my Nutritionist. By chance I found her. And if it wasn’t for her , I don’t think my awesome Papillon would be alive today! PLEASE–keep reading….if you want your companion's around a long time! Don’t buy into all the hype! Use YOUR brain, its all your pets have to count on!!! YOU!!!
get food from a good place, butcher, grass fed. Ck out Pat McKay's raw diet for dogs and cats.
My Papillon is on it and love it and has done a complete turn around from all her issues…
Raw Food is BEST for all Carnivores ad cats!!! That’s how the fed first and that’s how they remain feeding. I've done over a year of research on raw food. There are minimal risks, even so, if its contaminated, dogs digestive system can handle it. My Papillon eats human grade ground meats from Whole Foods. Her many many issues has done a complete turn around. DOGS are meant to eat raw. I have an awesome Homeopathic Nutritionist, and she has been doing this for over 40 years…-MEANING no heart worming crap–chemicals, frontline–VERY BAD!!!!
How do you all think wolves, coyotes survive? No one brushes their teeth, as mine wont get a tooth brush. Their are many reasons why these dog food companies want YOU to be brain washed, vets–oh, huge kick backs, from the frontline, heartguard, crappy dog food they sell…ALL OF IT!!!
I emailed their customer service of Stella and Chewy'sabout feeding the food to cats too. Even though it says for dogs on the package, I was told by them that all of the Stella and Chewy's products are for both cats and dogs. And as a side note, the Nature's Variety Instinct canned food is the same way, formualted exactly the same for both dogs and cats, and so is the NV raw. I wish that Stella and Chewy's would simply say for dogs and cats on their bags. It would make me feel beter about feeding it to my cats, but it really is fine for both cats and dogs.
Both Stella and Chewy's and Nature's Variety use hydro high pressure (not heat) to make their raw products pathogen safe. You can read about hydro high pressure on the Nature's Variety web site. There is also a link on the Stella and Chewy's website about this but their is more info on how it's actually done on the NV website.
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