Getting Started
How do I transition my pet to a raw diet?
You have two options for the transition, and we suggest starting with a poultry meal for the first couple of days. Next, we recommend a rotation of three or more proteins including red and white meat.
- Feed the last kibble meal and the first raw meal 8-12 hours apart, it’s just that simple!
- Start adding progressively more raw to the kibble meal during a week.
- Day 1-2 : 25% raw, 75% kibble
- Day 3-4 : 50% raw, 50% kibble
- Day 5-6 : 75% raw, 25% kibble
- Day 7: 100% raw
You can also add Big Country Raw Fermented Goat Milk for probiotics and Thrive Pumpkin Powder (dogs only) for extra fiber to help with the transition for the first couple of days, or up to two weeks.
How much food does my pet need?
We recommend to feed your dog 2% of its ideal body weight, and puppies 2% of their anticipated adult body weight in food per day. Cats usually need 2.5% of their ideal weight and kittens up to 3% of their anticipated adult body weight (most adult cats average 10lbs).
Another quick way to determine how much to feed is by using our cost and portion calculator.
Portioning Tools
We offer a kitchen scale that is perfect for portioning your pet’s Big Country Raw meal. it has a 10 lb capacity – large enough for any breed. It’s easy to use and even easier to clean!
Raw to Dry Conversion
Another handy tip to remember is that 1/2 lb of raw is approximately 1 cup of high-quality, grain-free dry food. So if you were feeding 2 cups of dry food your dog is likely going to eat 1 lb of raw per day.
Can I feed Big Country Raw to my puppy or kitten?
Yes! It’s never too early to start your puppy or kitten on Big Country Raw. Optimal, species appropriate nutrition is imporant for all the growing they have yet to do.
Big Country Raw Dinner and XL meals are balanced with the correct nutrient amounts and ratios as recommended by NRC for all life stages for dogs, and Fare Game recipes are fully balanced for cats. All of our meals are packed with naturally occurring, bioavailable minerals and vitamins to ensure your young pet will mature into a healthy adult.
It is important to note that we do not recommend feeding Chicken Dinner or XL Chicken exclusively to large-giant breed dogs. It can be fed in rotation with 3 or more other proteins for optimal growth and development.
Can you recommend a menu plan for my dog or cat?
Yes! Our Pet Nutrition Experts are happy to help provide a complimentary meal plan just for your pet.
Can I feed Big Country Raw to my pregnant dog or cat?
Yes! Pregnancy and lactation place a high demand on your dog or cat’s dietary needs. Ensuring all essential nutrients to maintain optimal health during pregnancy is best achieved with a high quality, nutritionally balanced raw diet. For more information on raw feeding during pregnancy please visit our blog posts for dogs and cats.
Common Questions
Can you feed raw and kibble together?
Yes, you can feed both kibble and raw. Fresh food ingredients like Big Country Raw recipes or side dishes make great kibble toppers.
We have studied the various research and also conducted our own customer polling and trials to determine that every dog is unique and individual needs vary. What may work well for one, may not be the best choice for your dog or cat. In the end, some fresh food for your pet is better than none at all.
If you choose to feed both dry and raw together may we make the following suggestions:
- Choose the best high quality dry dog food you can find.
- Do a trial of feeding exclusively 100% raw food first. This will help strengthen the digestive system and make it more capable of deriving the full nutrients out of a raw food diet.
- The true benefits of feeding raw are not as noticeable when feeding raw less than 20% of the entire diet. If you want better results, such as smaller stools, less shedding, fresher breath and no odours, it may be necessary to switch to 100% raw.
- If your dog or cat starts to experience digestive upset including vomiting or diarrhea, we would suggest feeding the meals alternatively e.g. morning raw and evening dry food. You can also alternate days, 1 day dry and 1 day raw.
Can I thaw and refreeze food?
Yes. To thaw food safely we recommend the following:
- Thaw in the refrigerator. If you thaw food at room temperature or in a sink with cold water, you must use thawed food within 3 days. Do not re-freeze. Only food thawed in a refrigerator can be re-frozen.
- Portion into individual servings.
- Re-freeze immediately.
- Once thawed for the second time, use the food within 24 hours.
Thawing, refreezing and re-thawing meat can result in some lost of moisture and product quality.
Can I cook your raw meals?
We do not recommend cooking any of our raw meals (i.e. Dinners, XL, Pure Formula, Signature Blends or Fare Game). Our raw recipes contain bone that is highly digestible when raw. However, once cooked these bones can become less digestible, posing a safety concern to pets when consumed.
If you are looking for a cooked meal alternative, please check out Caravan Country Cookhouse.
Can I thaw food in a microwave?
No, we do not recommend thawing in the microwave as this can create hot spots and potentially cook the bone. If you have forgotten to thaw food, often sitting the food in some lukewarm water will help thaw it quickly. Many dogs will also eat their raw food frozen.
Can I feed just one recipe or should I switch it up?
Offering varying proteins (both poultry and red meats) is helpful in keeping consistent stools. Poultry proteins will firm stools whereas red meats will soften them being naturally higher in fat. A variety will also help reduce the risk of developing allergies, food fussiness and balancing caloric intake - we recommend 3-5 different proteins per month.
When introducing a raw diet to your pet, during the time of transition, it is best to stick to one protein for the first 5 to 7 days to ensure everything is fine with stools and appetite before rotating more proteins into the diet.
Are Big Country Raw diets endorsed by veterinarians?
Yes! Our products are widely recommended by veterinarians in clinics across Canada and are proudly sold at several veterinarian offices as well.
Feeding The Feline
What menu items do you suggest for cats?
Fare Game formulas are complete and balanced meals for cats and are the number one recommended option. Blends and Pures are our second recommended options to feed cats, as they require additional supplementation with Thrive FortifyRX. Many smaller bones are also a great meal replacement such as: Sardines, Chicken Necks and Chicken Feet. Goat Milk is also a very popular menu item for our feline friends! Nearly all the Thrive supplements are suitable for cats too.
Can I feed Big Country Raw to my kitten?
Yes! It’s never too early to start your kitten on Big Country Raw, and for cats the earlier the better. They will experience a tremendous growth spurt in the next several months and providing them with optimal nutrients is very important.
Big Country Raw Fare Game meals are balanced with the correct nutrient amounts and ratios as recommended by NRC for all life stages. All of our meals are packed with naturally occurring bioavailable minerals and vitamins to ensure your kittens will mature into a healthy adult.
My cat seems to be constipated on the raw diet? What can I do to help?
Constipation can happen more quickly with cats that have eaten processed high carbohydrate based dry food diets. Over time, your cat may have lost elasticity in the bowel, which can lead to constipation quickly on a raw food diet. We recommend offering the Fare Game or the red meat Pure Formulas which have a lower % of calcium (beef, pork, lamb, kangaroo). You can also add some Pure Beef Tripe or Beef Organ Blend to your cat’s diet to help soften stools.
Raw Bones
What is the difference between Meal Replacement Bones and Recreational Bones?
Meal replacement bones are usually non-weight bearing bones that can be eaten entirely. The total weight of the bone counts towards your pet’s total daily food intake as well. Good examples of meal replacement bones would be Chicken Necks, Duck Necks, Kangaroo Tails or Chicken Feet. We recommend meal replacement bones not make up more than 10% of the overall diet.
Recreational Bones are weight bearing or harden bone that is more of a complicated chew. These often have some meat and sinews but are predominately bone and are not intended to be eaten entirely. Good examples of a recreational chewing bone are Marrow Bone, Flat Rib Bone, Beef Patella, or Beef Neck Bone.
How many bones should my dog or cat consume per week?
We suggest 2–3 raw bones per week. You can of course choose to feed more or less than this amount. Ideally it should be a mix of both meal replacement and recreational chewing bones.
Bones provide dental benefit (cleaner teeth and gums) but also mental and physical exercise as well. Chewing a raw bone for 30 minutes is equal to a 30 minute walk for your dog.
Can I feed dehydrated bones to my dog or cat? What about smoked bones?
Yes! Dehydrated bones are a great option for dogs and cats. They can also be a great introduction to chewing fresh raw bones for some dogs. Dehydrated bones should be supervised when feeding. Gulping or swallowing without chewing properly is the biggest concern here. Always read and follow the label.
We sell a few dehydrated bone options such as Hero Treat Duck Wings, Duck Feet, Chicken Feet, and Rabbit Feet.
We do not recommend smoked bones. There are some reputable options available for consumers but most smoked bones contain nitrates (preservatives). Another big concern as well is that many smoked bones available in today’s pet food stores are made in China. Similarly to the jerky treat concerns from China, smoked bones are not something we would suggest offering regularly to your pet. If you do offer your pet a smoked treat, we suggest looking for a locally made or artisan smoked bone that would offer some guarantee that it is a high quality treat.
Products and Packaging
What is the difference between Dinners, Pure Formulas, Blends and Fare Game?
Dinners contain one or two proteins consisting of muscle meat (70%), bone (10%), organ meat (10%), fruit & vegetables and greens (10%). Dinners are complete and balance meals (to NRC standards) for dogs and are the go to choice for most of our customers and truly make raw feeding simple!
Blends are our signature menu items exclusive to Big Country Raw. Blends contain only muscle meat (80%), bone (10%) and organ meats (10%) with no added fruits and vegetables. These are some of our best sellers as our “customers” love the tastes we’ve created! We suggest supplementing our Blends with Thrive Kelp or Thrive Fortify Fusion for trace minerals.
Pure Formulas contain meat (80%), bone (10%) and organ meat (10%) with no added fruit and vegetables. Pure Formulas are single protein options, which makes them ideal for dogs with allergies, allowing you to add your own fruits, vegetables and supplements that are best for your dog. We suggest supplementing with Thrive Fortify Fusion for trace minerals.
Fare Game Formulas contain two or three proteins consisting of muscle meat (75%), bone (10%), organ meat (15%), and greens (< 1%). They are complete and balance meals (to NRC standards) for cats and are the go to choice for most of our customers and truly make raw feeding simple for their feline! They also work great for ferrets and very adult dogs.
Every meal that doesn’t include fish should be supplemented with a fish oil (Thrive Herring or Thrive Salmon), whole fish, or a menu item containing fish. Thrive Hemp Seed Oil is another great option that pairs well with red meat.
Are Big Country Raw meals complete?
Big Country Raw Dinner, XL (for dogs) and Fare Game formulas (for cats) contain all essential nutrients necessary to the dietary needs.. In the formulation of our recipes we use the dietary recommendations for main nutrients, minerals, vitamins, amino acids, and fatty acids set forth by The Nutrient Requirements for Dogs and Cats by the National Research Council.
However, we believe that a truly complete and balanced diet requires the following:
- A rotational meal plan of at least 3 different proteins per month (when possible). Variety widens the spectrum of nutrients and also the enjoyment of eating!
- When feeding Pures and Blends, supplementation with a Green Mineral Supplement such as Thrive Fortify Fusion. Alternately, Thrive FortifyRX is the supplement of choice for both cats and pets with allergies.
- When fish isn’t included in the meal rotation, supplementation with Thrive Herring Oil, Thrive Salmon Oil or Thrive Hemp Seed Oil for essential fatty acids.
- Offer 2 – 3 raw bones per week for excellent dental health.
To view the full nutrient panel for all our products, please visit our online store. Click the menu item and choose the “Nutrient Facts” tab for full nutrient content information.
What size packaging portions are offered in Big Country Raw products?
Big Country Raw offers several convenient packaging options and sizes. The variety ensures you can select the packaging that's best for you and your pet.
Grab n Go 12 boxes and each 4 lb Carton of Dinner, Pure, or Blend recipes contains 4 x 1 lb vacuum pouches
Fare Game cartons contain four ½ lb vacuum sealed pouches.
In the Grab n Go 18, you'll find 9 x 2 lb paperboard containers
XL, our largest bulk box, contains 20 x 1½ lb vacuum sealed pouches.
Shipping & Delivery
Where does Big Country Raw deliver?
Big Country Raw is available across Canada!
Home Delivery for frozen and non-frozen products is available throughout most of southern Ontario. Check to see if we deliver to your home!
All non-perishable goods are shipped via mail or couier to every Canadian province.
If you are not within our home delivery area, our products can be found in more than 1,700 Canadian pet specialty retail stores. Find a store in your area!
Can I order online and have the items sent to my local retailer?
No. All orders placed online are for delivery directly to you, the customer. Each BCR retailer is privately owned and operated. We unfortunately cannot accept online orders on behalf of retailers. Many of our retailers do accept special orders for their customers, and because we ship to most retailers every week, you can get your order just as quickly as if you ordered directly from us! Simply call or email your retailer to place your order with them directly. Click here to find your local retail location.
What is my delivery day and ordering deadline?
To determine which day of the week we offer delivery in your area, enter your postal code on our Home Delivery Page to see if you're eligible for this service. We require a minimum of 48 hours to pack, prepare and ship your order. Orders placed after the 12:00 noon deadline will be scheduled for delivery the following week.
Here is the order deadline based on delivery day:
Tuesday → Sunday before 12:00 noon
Wednesday → Monday before 12:00 noon
Thursday → Tuesday before 12:00 noon
Friday → Wednesday before 12:00 noon
Is my delivery day affected by Statutory Holidays?
We do our best to keep our delivery routes as consistent as possible even when there is a holiday. If there is a change, we will post notifications on our website and social media pages.
We do have a Christmas Delivery Schedule posted to our website every December. Please check our home page banners for these updates as well.
Can I request a specific delivery time for my order?
Unfortunately not. Our drivers have carefully calculated routes to ensure efficiencies of time and fuel mileage. Orders are generally delivered between the hours of 8am and 5pm.
To help facilitate your delivery, we offer the following:
• An email the day before with an approximate delivery time. This will allow you some time to plan your day or make arrangements to have someone home to accept delivery.
• A confirmation of delivery email. If you are not home when your product is delivered, you can make plans to return home quickly.
We realize that home delivery is not always the most suitable option for all our customers. Our products are also available at hundreds of retail locations! Find your local retailer here.
Does Big Country Raw deliver to apartment buildings and condos?
We offer condo and apartment delivery, provided the following conditions are met:
- The order contains all required unit and buzzer information.
- The building has delivery parking access / curbside parking.
- The order is received by an authorized person.
Orders will not be left in hallways or entrances as this is against fire regulations.
Is there an order minimum for delivery?
We ship all orders – large and small. Orders over $50 (CAD) before tax, qualify for free shipping. There is a small $4.99 fee for orders less than $50.
Do you ship products outside of Canada?
Sorry we are sold within Canada only. We do not offer shipping to the USA at this time.
What does “ship date” mean?
Returns & Exchanges
Can I return product?
Yes! We stand behind our products with a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee, offering a risk-free transaction. We promise to make a return as simple as possible.
Items purchased in-store at one of our retail partners, are to be returned to the store. Ensure you have your proof of purchase as well as at least 50% remaining of the product being returned.
If you purchased our products from us directly online, you can fill out a return request here.
There was an error on my order. How can I get this resolved?
We are sorry there was an error on your order. We do make mistakes from time to time, so we appreciate your understanding.
Please notify our Customer Care Team as soon as possible, info@bigcountryraw.ca
Please share the order number, delivery address, and product name in your correspondence.
We will do our best to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible.