Paw Naturaw Organic (Raw Frozen)

by Mike Sagman
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Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆

WARNING — POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE
This Review Has Not Been Updated
See Note Below

Paw Naturaw Organic raw dog food earns the Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.

The Paw Naturaw Organic product line lists 5 raw dog foods, each claimed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.

  • Paw Naturaw Organic Beef Diet
  • Paw Naturaw Organic Turkey Diet
  • Paw Naturaw Organic Chicken Diet
  • Paw Naturaw Organic Bison Diet New
  • Paw Naturaw Organic Bison Diet Original

Paw Naturaw Organic Turkey Diet raw dog food was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.

Paw Naturaw Organic Turkey Diet

Raw Dog Food

Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content

Protein = 45% | Fat = 39% | Carbs = 8%

Ingredients: Organic turkey and ground organic turkey bone, organic turkey liver, organic broccoli, organic carrot, organic celery, organic apple, organic squash, organic sweet potato, organic turkey gizzard, organic flax seed, organic safflower oil, organic kelp seaweed, organic turkey heart, organic parsley, organic cranberry, organic lecithin, zinc proteinate, vitamin E supplement, copper proteinate, manganous proteinate, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement

Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.3%

Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients

Estimated Nutrient Content
MethodProteinFatCarbs
Guaranteed Analysis14%12%NA
Dry Matter Basis45%39%8%
Calorie Weighted Basis31%64%6%

The first ingredient in this dog food is organic turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1

This particular ingredient includes ground bone, a natural source of calcium and other mineral nutrients. Turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second item lists organic turkey liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The next six ingredients include a series of healthy organic fruits and vegetables…

  • Organic broccoli
  • Organic carrot
  • Organic celery
  • Organic apple
  • Organic squash
  • Organic sweet potato

The ninth ingredient is organic turkey gizzard, a protein-rich organ similar to the stomach in other animals.

The tenth ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.

But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.

With one notable exception…

We also note this food contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.

Paw Naturaw Organic Raw Dog Food
The Bottom Line

Since Paw Naturaw contains so many quality organic ingredients, we feel compelled to accord this line favored status as we consider its final rating.

That’s because organic ingredients are produced under remarkably strict government standards — standards which greatly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.

But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 45%, a fat level of 39% and estimated carbohydrates of about 8%.

As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 45% and a mean fat level of 34%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 13% for the overall product line.

And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 76%.

Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical raw dog food.

With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a raw dog food containing a significant amount of meat.

For those looking to mimic a dog’s natural ancestral diet, the Paw Naturaw Organic product should make an excellent choice.

Bottom line?

Paw Naturaw Organic is a grain-free raw frozen dog food using an abundance of named meats as its main sources of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.

However, the company does not return our phone calls or respond to our emails. In addition, due to numerous complaints reported by our readers, Paw Naturaw’s lack of reasonable customer service makes it impossible for us to recommend this otherwise excellent dog food.

Not recommended.

For some other raw diet suggestions, be sure to visit the Advisor’s Recommended Raw Dog Foods summary page.

Special Alert

Rice ingredients can sometimes contain arsenic. Until the US FDA establishes safe upper levels for arsenic content, pet owners may wish to limit the total amount of rice fed in a dog's daily diet.

A Final Word

The descriptions and analyses expressed in this and every article on this website represent the views and opinions of the author.

Although it's our goal to ensure all the information on this website is correct, we cannot guarantee its completeness or its accuracy; nor can we commit to ensuring all the material is kept up-to-date on a daily basis.

Each review is offered in good faith and has been designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food.

However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in specific health benefits for your pet.

For a better understanding of how we analyze each product, please read our article, "The Problem with Dog Food Reviews".

Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt, consult a qualified veterinary professional for help.

In closing, we do not accept money, gifts or samples from pet food companies in exchange for special consideration in the preparation of our reviews or ratings.

To learn how we support the cost of operating this website, please visit our public Disclosure and Disclaimer page.

Have an opinion about this dog food? Or maybe the review itself? Please know we welcome your comments.

Notes and Updates

09/20/2010 Original review
12/07/2010 Poor customer service warning posted
02/24/2012 Lower rating due to new DFA analysis of fat content
02/24/2012 Last Update

  1. Adapted by the Dog Food Advisor and based upon the official definition for chicken published by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, Official Publication, 2008 Edition ↩
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  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com/ Mike Sagman

    Hi Jeff,

    Sorry to read such a disturbing story. However, without knowing which company you were with, It’s difficult to follow your comment in proper context. Thanks.

  • Hound Dog Mom

    Agreed. When I was first switching to raw I emailed them several times asking for the calorie content of their formulas, they never responded so I didn’t buy their food.

  • Reggie

    I agree – something is definately off with this company.  I have tried on numerous occasions to call and email them and they have never gotten back to me.  It feels as if they have something to hide – and the easiest way to do that is to avoid any contact with their customers so they don’t have to answer any questions.

    I purchased from them once and will never do it again.  I purchased a case of the raw chicken rolls and they were filled with bone fragments 1/8″ to 1/4″ long.  I had to pick this out of my dogs food every day.  Raw bone is an essential, healthy part of a dogs diet but it needs to be FINELY GROUND.  It seemed to me that they took the entire chicken and ran it through a grinder and then packaged it.

    Never again.

  • RachelJ

    Horrible customer services!!!

    Recently I’ve been researching
    more about pet food and wanted to know if some of the brands own their own
    manufacture. I’ve emailed Paw Naturaw to ask where their factory is located. It
    took them weeks to respond. When they got back to me, I asked if they own the
    facility. They told me to go to their website. I’ve looked and haven’t found
    anything. Finally I called them. They picked up, I asked, “I know you produce your
    products in Wisconsin. Do you own the facility as well?” The lady said, “Thank
    you for calling,” and hung up the phone on me. I don’t understand what the big
    deal is. Obviously they have something to hide if they keep avoiding the
    question. I’m very skeptical of their products and would alarm everyone to be too.
    Something is just off about them. 

  • Dawn

    Yes I still get it now that’s it’s available on Amazon and now they have Lamb! They never use to.
    I think the main place sold out and now letting Amazon handle all. I’ve been watching their site for yrs for awhile nothing was new. But now all new stuff and now avail at Am. It’s all organic except my lamb grr lol it’s good and never a recall. So go ahead order with confidence. You won’t be sorry :0)
    I use a few diff companies my girls LOVE HPP THE BEST! It actually smells like meat cooked at a restaurant but it’s raw!

  • Mcarthon13

    Is stuff bad at all? I really would like to try it but it seems people here don’t like it. It’s affordable on amazon so I was wondering is anyone still using this product?

    Thx

  • SOVIDA

    I BUY EVERY SINGLE THING I OWN..LITERALLY FROM AMAZZON. FOR 18 YRS! EVERYTHING ARRIVES IN 2 DAYS MANY TIMES ONE DAY! IF I NEED TO RETURN YOU DO A RETURN LABEL ( A FREE ONE) AND UPS COMES THE VERY NEXT DAY (EXCEPT WEEKENDS) AMAZON DELIVERS ON SATURDAYS BY FED EX!  THEY EVEN TAKE BACK DOG FOOD WHEN IT SAYS THEY DON’T YOU JUST WRITE CS AND WITHIN HOURS YOU GET A MESSAGE SAYING ALL FIXED…NO MATTER WHAT THE PROBLEM IS!
    I HAVE GOTTEN REFUNDS TO MANY MANY THINGS THEY SAY DUE TO SAFETY (PERSONAL THINGS ETC RAW FOOD) WE CAN NOT ACCEPT IT BACK…BUT TELL YOU TO DISPOSE OF IT HOW YOU SEE FIT AND THEY…STILL…GIVE A REFUND!
    THEY ARE THE ULTIMATE BEST COMPANY ON EARTH! IN 18 YRS NEVER EVER ONE PROBLEM!  :o )

  • Pugsonraw

    Hi Kluce51,

    I did stop ordering their product a while back and switched to Primal which I can buy locally and also Darwins Natural Selections (mail order) as my main two raw products for feeding my pugs.  I’m very happy with both alternatives.  Long story short – I did think they have a stellar product, just too much fat for my dogs to use long term.

    On another note, I’ve had superior service from ordering from Amazon.  I can normally get products at a great price and delivered fast and not once have encountered any kinds of pirated products.   They are terrific!

  • Kluce51

    You need to be careful ordering on Amazon.  Amazon is a “middle man” to many products and I have had experience after experience receiving “pirated” products.  if you all are so concerned about ingredients I would not order from Amazon as you could be getting a deli roll with a Paw Naturaw label slapped around it.  Also, I am not sure why ANYONE would even consider this company the way they do not respond.  I would not EVER trust their website or their label alone.  This speaks volumes to me that they may “say” they are organic but that means nothing to me.  They probably get their products from scraps behind restaurants.   Do you guys believe everything you read?  I will say that if these people have such an honorable, quality product then why would they hesitate to not jump down our throats selling it to us?  Instead they avoid us…if it doesnt make sense then it is most likely not true.

  • Bob K

     Busc002 – I avoid buying foods mail order as you do not have control over freshness dates.  In a store I can pick out the freshest food and look at the dates on the bag.  I always get the freshest food possible for a wide variety of reasons and possible issues with storage, shipping, freshness etc…..

  • Busc002

    Thanks Dawn…..I also saw the product available on Amazon (though actually it was a little higher in price than what I was about to pay).  To be honest, with such poor service, I am concerned that Paw Naturaw will be around in the long-term.  I ended up buying Primal raw instead and was able to get their products very quickly.  All the best!

  • Anonymous

    Hi Trico,

    I had read the reviews for this product and decided not to buy this through Pawnaturaw. I actually found it on amazon.com at a better price. I ordered the beef, chicken and turkey rolls online and received them nicely packed on dry ice within 1 to 2 days of ordering. I was feeding this product for about 3 months to both my dogs and it is a terrific product. You might want to check out the selection of product on Amazon if you are not jaded by the poor service from them direct. I just wish the fat content was not so high on this for my pugs. I switched to Darwins Natural Selections and have only had great experience with the service and product

    Good luck.
    Dawn R.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Bill S,

    It’s my understanding that Dr. Harvey’s dehydrated dog food is actually a premix where the consumer must add his/her own meat.

    We currently do not cover meatless dog foods on the Dog Food Advisor website. However, you may wish to check back for a possible reply from one of our other readers. Hope this helps.

  • Bill S

    Has anyone tried Dr Harveys Dehydrated Food?

  • Trico

    I agree with the comment that Paw Naturaw has poor customer service.  I recently ordered products from them and quickly received a confirmation of my order along with details on when I should be receiving the order (I thought so far, so good).  Then, 5-days after I received confirmation of my order, I received another email from them that outlined that my order was cancelled due to “Technical Difficulties” – there was no further explanation???  I tried several times, without success, to find out what “Technical Difficulties” means and why they could not fill my order.  As well, I wanted to know why it took them 5-days after my order was placed to communicate that, for whatever reason, they could not fulfill the order.  In any event, I never received a response from them and I gave up trying.  I have moved on to another quality raw food provider and will never try Raw Naturaw again – I should have listened to the negative comments I read before placing my order.  Great organic concept…….very poor operational execution!!

  • Danny

    My Dalmatian was diagnosed with osteo-sarcoma in March of 2008. I was told he had “weeks, probably not months”. I threw myself into learning as much as I could about dog food diets. I chose to cook for him. I cooked for months and then I found PawNaturaw in late 2009 and have been feeding it since then. He is still alive and doing pretty good at 11 years old… I buy mine from Amazon.com. It is less expensive and they ship it to my door for free- avoiding interaction with PawNaturaw customer service all together and I couldn’t be more pleased with the product:-)

  • Nancyelizabeth Green

    Hi: I actually did send a email to pawnaturaw, about an expired date on their dehydrated food. I DID GET AN ANSWER, but I think they confused me with someone else. They gave me feeding instructions! poor customer service is a serious problem. Recently I received a order of treats from a up and coming pizzle type company. The twists had black, hairy maggots embedded throughout. They were not visible to the naked eye. I saw a few in the bottom of bag. I then cooked the batch, and hundreds appeared! I spoke to my vet(stomach acid will kill them), and took them to the Agr. dept of closest univ.(u.of Ga.)They are warehouse beetles. The company refuses to acknowledge a problem,. Reported them to FDA(for whatever that is worth.) I warned people on facebook to check the product carefully, and am now getting semi threatening messages from owner. Obviously,besides sitting here with eighty cooked lamb twists and hundreds of dead maggots, I am being told to shut up. Thank you Mike for the customer service warning. Sometimes the people running the place matter as much as the ingredients in the product.

  • http://www.drianbillinghurst.com/ Gordon

    wendy m – I know you’ve addressed Shameless (Cathy) here re your question, but I can’t help, but feel compelled to add my 2 cents worth…..If one went by my own experience in my dogs’ feeding regime, one could not help but dispel the myth re kibble and raw. I feed my dogs, whilst both class 2: terriers, they are not of the same age, or breed, or litter, and they quite thrive exceptionally well on a rotation of both raw and kibble (Mind you, I’ll only feed grain free kibble when feeding kibble). Whilst my dogs’ kibble to raw alternations are about 10 to 12 hours apart, they do get raw meaty bones about an hour after their kibble dinner of the day, as an extra raw feed intake and natural dental cleaner. This has also showed NO problems whatsoever, either in their resultant stool, coat and physical health, energy levels and fulfillment, or otherwise.

    So from my own perspective and experience, I can confidently dispel the myth regarding problems associated with raw and kibble rotation.

  • http://k9joy.com/RawFoodForDogs/DigestiveSystemExcerpt.pdf ShamelessRawFoodie

    The listed link is titled “The Dog’s Digestive System”.
    There is detailed information on the 2nd page under the heading “The mouth, including teeth, jaws, and saliva” that describes exactly what Jonathan keeps explaining in many of his comments – that dogs don’t ‘chew’ like we humans; that their teeth grab, hold, tear, scrape and crush meat and bones; that their mouth saliva doesn’t contain enzymes for digestion, etc.
    Read the ‘test’ on the 3rd page about enzymes being absent in dog saliva.
    http://k9joy.com/RawFoodForDogs/DigestiveSystemExcerpt.pdf

  • http://k9joy.com/RawFoodForDogs/DigestiveSystemExcerpt.pdf Cathy

    Wendy – My insight? As a Real Food fan, and a Non-Rocket-Scientist – I DON’T KNOW! I believe most of these types of worries are unsubstantiated. Where is the scientific research on salmonella potential of a dog who buries a raw meaty bone in dirt and then digs it up a day later, or a week later, and eats the bone and doesn’t get sick? In most circumstances, I’ll go with natural instinct over science any day.
    For some real interesting and easy-to-read information about dog digestion, including pH levels of a dog’s stomach:
    Excerpt from Mogens Eliasen’s book:
    “Raw Food For Dogs – the Ultimate Guide for Dog Owners”
    http://k9joy.com/RawFoodForDogs/DigestiveSystemExcerpt.pdf

  • wendy m

    cathy, i see that you mix a concoction of raw and kibble. i’ve seen some raw people write that is a major “no-no” bc the kibble and raw clear the GI tract at a different rate, so the kibble “backs up” the raw and increases the risk of salmonella. some also say feed the raw and the kibble at least 6 (others say 8) hrs apart if you choose to feed both. others say this is a myth and you can mix raw and kibble. would appreciate your insight on this, thanks.

  • Ruthen

    Hi all, just discovered this while I went to order Naturaw dog food. Like Mark M. I too order through Amazon and have been pleased with the price and the service. My three Dackels (wirehairs) eat anything and everything and don’t seem to suffer from foods that dogs should really not eat, like bearclaws, bread, cheese etc. Since they go everywhere with me I don’t always make sure that grocery bags are safely without their reach while in the car, that is when they get to the bearclaws :-) Anyway to save money I went back to Costco kibble, the stuff for senior dogs, and the sweet potato salmon kibble for my youngest dog. I feed them the raw chicken for treats as well as occasionally mixing with the kibble. Costco kibble is considered premium. In addition I share my Kirkland fish oil capsules with the dogs. They each get one in their dish/day. A woman who breeds Dachshunds recommended this to me, it is supposed to help strengthen the back. My most senior is going on 16 and the vet tells me that I should have him for another 5 years, he is in such good shape. The other two are 7 and 2. We only see the vet for yearly teeth cleaning, no need for anything else.

    This blog is very helpful and I am glad I found it.

  • Mark Miller

    I had fed my German Shepherd dry kibble that was a special “German Shepherd formula”. She developed an ear infection that would just not go away. My Vet finally mentioned a possible food allergy. I did research on the best food to feed my dog and settled on raw organic. I found Paw naturaw and started ordering it on Amazon. My dogs ear infection went away and never came back. My order comes within 3 to 4 days and my dogs love it. My question is this; as long as the company provides quality food at a reasonable time frame why do you need to talk to customer service? I have been ordering for over a year and have never desired to talk to anyone, and why would you want to talk to them before you buy the product? What do you need to know that cant be found on website?

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  • Casey

    Whoops, “ground”, not “grinded”. I am going insane today!

  • Casey

    Mike P, I’m currently feeding all 95% meat cans (the ones with added vitamins/minerals), but I’m thinking of going back to my normal routine of Orijen/Evo with 95% meat cans because of the cost.

    Cathy, if I had the time for raw, I would feed Prey Model. I don’t believe wolves, wild dogs, etc. would resort to veggies unless they had to, besides the occasional snack. If veggies have to be grinded for them to bioavailable, that tells me they are not part of a dog’s natural diet. In the wild, stomach contents of prey are actually left untouched for the most part unless they are too small to be avoided. Dogs are also lactose-intolerant, so a better source of probiotics would be acidophilus pills, not yogurt.

  • Mike P

    Or Casey you can go with a 5 star grain free kibble and topoff with something like wellness 95% canned . Very yummy and alot less work …

  • Cathy

    Casey – Veggies provide nutrients. When I started raw feeding, I used some recipes from a book by Veterinarian Karen Becker. Here are some excerpts from her nutrition webpage about veggies for dogs:
    http://www.drkarenbecker.com/nutrition/raw_food_diets.htm
    Dogs do require more veggies and fiber than cats. Veggies constitute 20-30% of the diet for dogs and 5-15% of the diet for cats. All types of veggies can be included but here is the list of the more common veggies included in most home prepared and commercial raw food diets:
    Zucchini, pumpkin, squash, dark leaf lettuces, peas, broccoli, cabbage, celery, asparagus, yam, sweet potato, carrot, turnip, parsley
    Can you add to the list? Sure. The important thing to keep in mind is VARIETY. Feed veggies that are in season. Feed veggies that are on sale. Feed the parts of veggies you don’t like or the day-too-old veggies. Feed several different types of veggies together. Rotate veggies frequently.
    Veggies would naturally be found in prey’s GI tracts and would come predigested or loaded with the prey’s digestive enzymes and be found in relatively small quantities.
    The form in which to offer veggies is dependent on how well your pets break down and utilize them. Most carnivores cannot thoroughly break down plant cell walls. You’ll be able to tell how effective your pet is processing veggies by watching the stool. I recommend pulping veggies in the food processor to start. Some pets can be fed veggies coarsely chopped (with no identifiable pieces in the stool) and some pets need them minced or diced. Organic vegetables can contain up to twice the utilizable vitamins and minerals as regular veggies. ##

  • Casey

    Johnathan, many raw feeders I know buy their meat in bulk so they always get everything under $1 per lb.

    Cathy, what are all those added veggies for, if you don’t mind me asking?

  • Stacy

    hello all,

    I see there has been some question regarding the use of flax seeds…. I have a cancer dog and am currently treating him holistically with the Budwig diet which consists of flax seed oil, seeds, and cottage cheese. I am mentioning this because this diet also confirms that flax seeds should be bought whole and ground right before ingestion. I keep everything in the fridge and have a small coffee grinder that I use to grind the seeds ($20 at walmart). I swear by the use of flax seed ANYTHING and love raw food diets for my pups. Taste of the Wild is great, but I would love to try this brand. Thanks to your reviews I will wait to see if this company improves their customer service as I have special needs dogs and need to ask many questions before considering any other brands then I currently feed.

  • Cathy

    Thanks Mike for posting the warning about Paw Naturaw’s poor customer service. I know I certainly gave them many chances to respond appropriately – and they failed. Who could trust their food? Not me!
    Many agree that raw organic is a superb way to feed our dogs, but that it’s extremely expensive to buy ready-made raw organic. In response to Jonathan and others, I’ve found a way to feed my 80# dog a mix of partial organic raw and partial grain-free kibble for a real fair price. My dog loves it and is super healthy with a shiny coat! No scientific formula here, but this is my concoction for one month with cost totaling $105 PER MONTH – for one big dog:

    $40 – 24# Blue Wilderness grain-free kibble (PetSmart sale price)
    All of the following are raw and either organic or antibiotic/hormone free, purchased at local health grocery mart:
    $35 – 25# chicken necks, turkey necks
    $10 – 5# chicken organs (liver, hearts)
    $ 4 – 32 oz plain yogurt – 1 T. each meal
    $ 3 – ground flaxseed – 1 t. each meal
    $ 3 – apple cider vinegar – 1 t. each meal
    $10 – shredded carrots, apples, beets, kale, spinach, ginger, other leftover fruits/veges

    I make batches of my concoction a couple of times each week and store them in separate containers in the refrigerator. I feed twice a day. Each feeding is one cup of kibble mixed with a container of the raw concoction.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Dawn… I can certainly relate to your frustration. I (too) have left numerous (email and phone) messages with Paw Naturaw’s Customer Service (voice mail). And with only one exception, the company has chosen to ignore every message I’ve sent. For this reason, I’ve placed a “Warning… Poor Customer Service” alert on Paw Naturaw’s review on our website. Like you and many others, I’ve finally had enough!

  • Jonathan

    I went to their website and looked at the required serving size of this food. For my 75 pound, active dog, they recommend 20 oz of their product per day. The best price I found on this food was 56 oz for $86. I did some math and figured out that it would cost me well over 900 bucks a month to feed this to my dog.

    When out electric bill get too much over 350 bucks a month, we start having to eliminate some of our normal grocery
    items.

    My point is, it’s great that people feed their dogs raw foods and such. But please, keep in mind that for most of us, this is just crazy expensive. If you can afford it, congratulations. But for the other 85% of us, anything over 50 to 100 bucks a month is just crazy. And having a companion animal shouldn’t just be a privilege of the wealthy.

  • DAWN

    <holding my hand up in the air waving) agreeing unfortunatly that Paw Naturaw Customer service stinks! i cant count how many times i called left messages on the phone emailed them and never ever not one single response!! and even though i believe its good food i got turned off by it..i do not want to pay people who couldnt care less about their customers!!!

  • Arlene

    I’ve tried Paw Naturaw, it was one of my first choices trying out one of the raw diets. We tried it our Shih Tzu and a Yorkie. I was told the Yorkie loves raw foods, so we ordered the medallions in Bison and Chicken. The Yorkie loved them, went nuts for them, the Shih Tzu wasn’t too crazy but he decided to try some after watching the Yorkie eat it. The order came on time, no problems with shipping, we keep some on hand for the Yorkie and they’ve always shipped everything out ok. The Shih Tzu ate some and immediately starting vomiting. The medallions smelled fine, but for some reason the Shih Tzu couldn’t tolerate it. The Yorkie was ok, no vomiting, he tolerated them pretty good. So we decided the Yorkie could have them as a treat every now and then; but our Shih Tzu definitely can not have them. It never fails, when ever the Shih Tzu inadvertenly gets a hold of some, he starts to vomit and the Shih Tzu stools were not good, lots of slime so as usual not all dogs can tolerate this particular item. We still purchase them but the Yorkie can only eat one every now and then under close supervision so that the Shih Tzu doesn’t get a hold of it. They will tell you the slime is some kind of detoxing phase, but I see it differently. The Shih Tzu does occasionally eat home prepared raw meats such as oxtail, bison and beef and he does not start vomiting nor are there any changes in his stool, so be careful with this particular product. We also bought Nature’s Variety, that stunk so we never even gave it to our pets.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Alex… I’m so sorry to hear about the large pieces of bone in your dog’s Paw Naturaw product. Unfortunately, since I’m not a veterinarian, you’ve asked a question I don’t feel qualified to answer. I am told by raw feeding advocates that raw bone is completely digestible. But I have to admit I’m somewhat skeptical of feeding a large chunk of bone to a small pet. Normally, in most cases, I’d recommend you contact the company. But Paw Naturaw’s customer service has proved to be woefully unresponsive. I’d tend to hold off feeding this until you can be assured that the bone fragment is safe. Wish I could be more help.

  • Alex M

    I tried Paw Naturaw’s chicken and I am confused. Is is okay to feed your dog food with such large pieces of bone in it? I bought my food from a local retailer and they said they did not know too much about the brand and if that much bone was safe. I did try to call last night but I think they were closed by then because there was no answer. From what I gather from this thread of comments I guess I shouldn’t hold my breath for a response. Are large pieces of bone safe for a small dogs stomach? I have a Boston Terrier.

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  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Jenna… Thanks for sharing your unpleasant experiences with Paw Naturaw. I (too) am very disturbed by the continued reports regarding the unfavorable nature of all these customer service comments. I must say the rating (which is based upon the ingredient quality and meat content of the products) does not adequately reflect the inferior level of this company’s service. All I can say is, buyer beware!

  • Jenna

    100% agree with awful customer service.
    It is beyond odd that there is only one person at a company that can answer questions and he is always “in a meeting”. What’s worse is when you call to ask a question they interrogate you with a million questions as to why you are calling. Just answer the question!!! The women who answers the phone is downright rude and gives you a fake name every time you ask for it (her voice is distinct). Who knows what this company is hiding and why they refuse to talk to their customers.

  • AnnieA

    You did help, I’d rather not take chances. Thanks again

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Annie… Although due to their strong stomach acid pH, dogs are believed to be more resistant to Salmonella infections than us humans. But they’re not immune to this kind of bacterial infection. Si, it would be misleading for me to suggest you’d be 100% safe feeding raw burger. Sorry I can’t be more help.

  • AnnieA

    Since dogs can get sick from Salmonella in dog food, is it safe to give him raw hamburger meat? I’m not really sure I get it.

    Because of your site, I learned a lot about companies I thought were good. He’s now on Kirkland Kibble and Natural Balance canned food.

  • http://www.pawnaturaw.com/quadruplebottomline.html Cathy

    Thanks BD for confirming Paw Naturaw’s lax customer service. They definitely need to wake up. They’ve been in this business for 7 years and were previously in the human food industry for 29 years.
    http://www.pawnaturaw.com/founders.html

    Something is wrong. They should know better. They’re not new at this. How can one trust that they aren’t slack in the QA of their products?

    A quote from their website: “We attentively listen to our partners and consumers”
    http://www.pawnaturaw.com/quadruplebottomline.html
    REALLY? Hmmmm…. doesn’t seem like a truthful statement.

    I don’t have trust in this type of company.

  • BD

    Wendy and Cathy, please don’t think you are alone with Paw naturaw. When I first bought it I had easy contact and good information. That has changed in the last 4 or 6 months. What do you do with what is essentially a good product but no return calls or impossible to reach? Recently they changed their bison product to include raw park (not comfortable with that) but still make it in a roll. Even my retailer did not know. I requested a Dog Advisor review of paw naturaw because I thought it was such a good product. I did speak just recently with a live person there but find your experience correct and frustrating. I will keep using their product because I think they really try hard to make a good product but the family owned business needs to wake up and take communication with “end users” seriously. The only owners who investigate raw diets and are willing to spend the money are the people who require this extra level of service, and I urge Paw naturaw to find some way to provide it.

  • Shawna

    Afterthought——

    Chia seeds are higher in Omega 3 ALA then flax and are far more stable. They do not have to be ground either. They can be fed as is. They are a bit more pricey but for the added convenience and stability I think they could be a solution for some that would consider adding fresh to each meal…

  • Shawna

    Processed kibble far cry “fresh” — yes I would agree…

    As heat also destroys omega 3 I personally have a hard time believing even the added antioxidants (if they survive the heat) are of much benefit.. All that said I do agree that some, possibly many, would not take the time to add in omega 3 at each feeding. I believe that the people here on your site would be some of the people that would although. They are obviously interested in doing better for their pets when it comes to nutrition.. They’ve proven that just by being here.

    Off topic from Omega 3 but I was posting a reply today on a Yahoo Group and sited an article from Dr. Demian Dressler’s Dog Cancer Blog website. He identifies reasons kibbled foods (and canned) can cause cancer in suseptible dogs. I’m not sure if this is a topic you would want to address or not?? Maybe you have already discussed this??

    “Well, most of us would rather get information than be in the dark, so let’s do just that.What about a dog’s diet might contribute to cancer? Here’s a look at a couple of things.

    First, high temperature cooking of meat or fish, or the creation of their extracts can produce nasties called heterocyclic amines. You can read a little more about this here and here. These little guys have been shown to promote tumors in lab animals. Do dogs eat food that has been exposed to high
    temperatures? The truth is: yes.

    Another carcinogen is polyacrylamide, again from high temperature cooking, this time of sugars in starch. Oddly, different strains of potatoes will produce different amounts of acrylamide when it is cooked. The bottom line though is
    that the different sugars influenced how much of the carcinogen is made. Here is some more on the topic.”
    http://www.dogcancerblog.com/dog-food-is-there-a-cancer-risk/

    Have a great night!!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Shawna… Flax seed itself has a practically indefinite shelf life. Archeologists have discovered ancient (and still edible) flax seeds in the tombs of the Pharaohs (after thousands of years). Yet once the seed is ground to release its prized oils, it can (like most fats and oils) go rancid in just a matter of weeks.

    However, though I’m not certain, I’m at least somewhat confident kibbles may actually be passively “preserved” with their recipes’ own antioxidants. So, I’m not really sure if this is a legitimate concern (or not).

    You do pose an interesting question regarding your suggestion about adding an omega-3 supplement to the food (closer to the time the food is served). In any case, I think we may be a bit overconfident in our trust in the average consumer to perform this ritual at each meal.

    And of course, there’s the issue of how fresh is the supplement itself? Do we grind the flax every few days?

    You know, come to think of it, the whole processed kibble idea is a far cry from the true definition of “fresh”. Wouldn’t you agree?

  • Shawna

    Thanks Mike,

    I have seen a couple studies. I’ll see if I can dig them up.

    I agree with your assessment of fish oil and certainly wouldn’t want to see it in kibble. Additionaly, it would be impossible, imo, to keep the oil from going rancid. Vitamin E, of course, is useful but as it degrades quite quickly, when exposed to air, it can’t be of much use.

    It is recommended that ground flaxseeds be stored in the fridge. I have to wonder then if the oils in ground flax have turned rancid by the time the food is fed or at least by the end of the bag. http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=81

    I’m wondering then if it would be prudent to advise the inclusion of a supplemental source of omega 3 in all foods? And, since rancid oils are a source of free radicals, should we be advocating for the exclusion of omega 3 products in kibble to begin with?

    I know I can be — a bit of a pain — with my questions :) I’m sorry for that…

    I have had discussions with several well known animal nutritionists and I honestly have to say that, imo, you know your stuff… I was researching a raw feeding blog today and found the author was incredibly off on his recommendations for calcium and phosphorus. I emailed a quote from his site to a nutritionist friend of mine with the subject line reading “No wonder people are so confused”…

    I also am very pleased to see you are humble enough to admit when you may not be the best source of information for a particular question.. That is not always the case.

    Nice work on the blog. I will feel quite confident in recommending your site to people.

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Shawna… You’re correct in your assumption that ALA (alpha-linolenic acid) isn’t as readily converted to the more biologically useful EPA and DHA types of omega-3 fatty acids in humans. But I haven’t yet seen any studies confirming this process would be any less efficient in dogs.

    In any case, it would probably be safe to say fish oil would be preferred as a source of omega-3 oils compared to ground flax seed (meal). However, I would highly doubt the fish oil used in making dog food is anything close to the triple-distilled pharmaceutical grade kind used in producing the best (human) fish oil supplements. Lower grade fish oils are commonly high in mercury and other unwelcome metal contaminants.

    Considering the overall view of omega-3 fatty acid sources, it looks like a toss up to me. No clear winner.

  • Shawna

    Mike,

    I’ve often read that the ALA in plant sources of omega 3 is not converted to the much more needed EPA and then DHA very efficiently in humans. I imagine the conversion would be even less efficient in our pets. I’m not disputing the use in this food as many of the great quality foods use flax. Rather, I’m more interested in your opinion :)

    This is one source but I’ve read this info in many places — “However, extensive controlled studies in human subjects have now all consistently confirmed the very limited metabolic conversion of dietary ALA into DHA, the final end product of the sequential pathway.” http://www.dhaomega3.org/Overview/Conversion-Efficiency-of-ALA-to-DHA-in-Humans

    I do give my pups chia seeds (not as much hassle as flax as it does not have to be ground and contains more ALA). But, I also give sardines..

    Thanks in advance for your thoughts…

  • Cathy

    Hey Wendy –
    The Paw Naturaw Grinds look good (on their confusing website, I agree). That’s exactly what I was planning to order from them, until the ZERO response routine. How long ago were your email exchanges with Paw Naturaw?
    I’m waiting for my Raw Advantage order to arrive this week.
    Raw Advantage has similar organic meat & organs called Chunk Recipes – in Chicken, Turkey or Beef – and their website is ‘less confusing’! I’ve not compared price. I was searching for organic, raw, grain-free, mostly meat. Raw Advantage got my business because they provided a timely response.
    Here is the RAW ADVANTAGE Turkey Chunk Recipe:
    100% Organic (70% organic turkey ground including bone, 30% organic turkey organ meats)
    Ingredients: organic turkey necks, organic turkey gizzard, organic turkey liver and organic turkey heart.
    http://www.rawadvantagepetfood.com/turkeyrecipechunks.html

  • Wendy

    I have had a lot of e-mail exchanges with them in the past, so they were ok back then.

    Just a heads-up – they have a “barely advertised” product that is not watered down with veg and fruit ingredients – remember, anything other than meat, bone and organ meat is unneccessary and you are paying for it. You can always add these things yourself on a rotational basis, and it will be cheaper this way. Plus, the hard part about making your own raw at home if you grind it is dealing with the bone stuck in the grinder clogging it up but even more is that it’s almost impossible to find organic organ meats, at least where I live. So this product is worthwhile because it gives you the basics and no more, allowing you to customize as you like. It’s called Raw Frozen Grind. If you have a store that carries Paw Naturaw blends and formulas, you can request that they order the GRINDS for you. I have used the chicken. It’s almost impossible to find info on it on their terribly confusing web site, so here’s a link:
    http://www.pawnaturaw.com/organic_chicken_grinds_for_pets.html

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Cathy… Thanks for keeping us updated regarding Paw Naturaw’s customer service. Other readers should take note.

  • Cathy

    I did not receive a return phone call from Paw Naturaw!
    Six weeks of no reponse (to various forms of communication) = Bad Customer Service

  • http://www.rawadvantagepetfood.com Cathy

    Still no luck with PAW NATURAW! No response!

    On the brighter side of the pet food business is RAW ADVANTAGE: http://www.rawadvantagepetfood.com
    My research of, and communication with, RAW ADVANTAGE has been outstanding. I received several prompt email replies from President/Owner Ara Bush.
    Raw Advantage offers dog and cat food which is primarily USDA organic raw meat, meaty bones, and includes some grain-free recipes.
    I just ordered the RAW ADVANTAGE $180 Transition Package for Large Dogs for my 80# Bambino! I’ll be mixing this with grain-free kibble, Blue Buffalo Wilderness and Taste of the Wild.

  • Cathy

    Yikes Mike – They never ‘returned’ your call? I wonder if you would have gotten a return phone call if you hadn’t called again today (and lucked out with Jeff answering the phone)?!
    At your suggestion, I called again today, 12:55 pm EST (after no return call from my voice message I left yesterday morning).
    A woman answered. I requested to speak with Jeff. She told me Jeff was currently in a meeting and wasn’t available. I asked her name. She asked my name. I asked her name. She asked my name. I asked her why she had a problem telling me her name. She asked me why I had a problem giving my name. I told her I have no problem giving my name AGAIN after the numerous times I’ve provided my name in my numerous attempts to reach someone at Paw Naturaw. She then said ‘Naomi’. I then gave her my name. She then asked was I a Retailer or End Consumer. I said End Consumer. She then said ‘so you currently purchase our product’. I said No, not yet. I’m still doing my research. She then said ‘oh, so you AREN’T an End Consumer. . . A few more questions for me and then she said “I can have Jeff return your telephone call.” But she couldn’t give me any idea of when he might get around to calling me.
    To be fair – Naomi was mostly pleasant, but seemed like a robot with a script.
    At this point, I’m most curious how Paw Naturaw thinks it will survive with poor customer service. Since five weeks ago, I’ve attempted communication with Paw Naturaw with 6 direct emails, 1 online email, 2 phone calls and 1 postal mail, and I’m still at Square One!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Cathy… After reading your note, I called yesterday (9/21/2010) myself and left two messages. When I called back again today “Jeff” did answer the phone. Try again and let us know how it goes.

  • Cathy

    I called the Paw Naturaw phone # this morning, 9:15 a.m., and left a voice message. No return call yet. I’ll keep you posted. I hadn’t previously phoned them because I prefer e-communication, rather than ‘playing phone tag’!

    In addition to the six emails I sent during August, I also submitted a request via their Online Form on September 2nd. I got an automatic Form Confirmation, but never got a response. Here is the link for that section of their website:
    http://www.pawnaturaw.com/_vti_bin/shtml.dll/contact.html

    If Paw Naturaw doesn’t respond to emails (seems so), a reasonably sane person (me) would wonder why they have so many e-addresses listed all over their website – - for the owners (dad, mom, son), as well as for info, and sales, and the automatic online submission.

    I’ll keep you and your readers posted on my continuing journey through the difficulties of customer service with Paw Naturaw!

    Dang! I’ve been searching for way too long for organic, raw, grain-free, meat based diets for my dog. This food was exactly what I was looking for – - so I’m more than discouraged that the company is bungling this aspect of their business. What else might they bungle?!?!

    I won’t be purchasing Paw Naturaw until I feel confident they value their customers. I’m now researching Raw Advantage!

  • http://DogFoodAdvisor.com Mike Sagman

    Hi Cathy… Have you tried calling Paw Naturaw customer service at 866-729-4738? Let us know how it goes. The best way to deal with questionable customer service like this is to share your experiences on a public website (like you did here). Hope things work out for you.

  • Cathy

    Since mid-August, I have been anxious for this review of Paw Naturaw. Thanks Mike!
    The recipes appear to be as near perfect as we can get in this imperfect world (raw, organic, grain-free, high meat content).

    BUT – While I was waiting for this review, I have attempted numerous email communications with Paw Naturaw, but haven’t gotten any response, not even an acknowledgement of my emails. Six emails sent over a 2 week period (8/12 to 8/30) to info@PawNaturaw.com, david@PawNaturaw.com, jeff@PawNaturaw.com and sales@PawNaturaw.com. NO REPLY!

    I even mailed (USPS) them my TasteOfTheWild bag label and my contact info, per their Appreciation page, and haven’t received a promised ‘upgrade coupon’:
    http://www.pawnaturaw.com/customerappreciation.html
    Trade Up for a FREE Coupon
    Simply peel off or cut out your old dog food label with the bar code attached and send together with your contact information (full name, mailing address, and email address) to Paw Naturaw, 911 American Way, Lake Mills, WI 53551.
    When we receive your old pet food label and contact information we will send you an upgrade coupon for a chance to sample the finest food available for dog companions. This coupon is not accepted with online purchases.

    Has anyone else gotten any response from PawNaturaw?