Raw, Freeze-Dried, Dehydrated & Air-Dried Food
Frozen Raw • Freeze-Dried Raw • Dehydrated & Air-Dried Meals, Toppers & Safe Handling
1. The Four Minimally Processed Formats Side-by-Side
2. Two Ways That Work — Pick What Fits Your Home
Frozen Raw Handling: Our 'Fridge-Only' House Rule
Frozen raw pet food is real raw meat—handle it at home with the same kitchen hygiene you use for raw chicken:
Rule A: Thaw in the Refrigerator Only (Never on the Counter or in Hot Water)
Even if a bag mentions counter thawing, our house standard for every brand is thawing in a sealed container in the fridge. Never microwave or use hot water, and never refreeze thawed raw food.
Rule B: Pick Up What's Left in the Bowl & Wash With Hot Soapy Water
Bowl time for thawed or rehydrated raw is short (makers we carry specify 2 hours at most, and some less—check your bag). Wash bowls, scoops, and hands thoroughly after every meal.
Freeze-Dried, Dehydrated & Air-Dried: How to Serve Each One
Each drying method has its own prep instructions printed on the bag:
Freeze-Dried (Stella & Chewy's, Northwest Naturals, Vital Essentials)
Vacuum pressure removes ice at low temperature without cooking. Feed dry (with plenty of drinking water) or crumble and rehydrate with cool or warm (never hot) water, bone broth, or goat milk.
Dehydrated (The Honest Kitchen) vs. Air-Dried (ZIWI Peak)
Dehydrated foods are mixed with warm water and left to hydrate for a few minutes before serving. Air-dried recipes (like ZIWI) are scoop-and-serve right out of the bag with no water needed!
Complete Meal vs. Topper: The Most Important Check on the Bag
The exact same brand often makes both complete dinners and supplemental toppers—getting them mixed up means underfeeding or double-feeding:
Complete & Balanced Dinner Patties / Medallions
If the AAFCO statement says 'provides complete and balanced nutrition' for your pet's life stage, it can be fed as 100% of their meal (note: check large-breed puppy exclusions on some air-dried bags!).
Meal Mixers & Toppers ('Intermittent or Supplemental Feeding Only')
When adding a topper or mixer on top of kibble, introduce it gradually and reduce the main kibble portion by the calories added so your pet stays at a healthy weight.
3. Raw, Freeze-Dried & Gently Dried Brands We Carry
Raw & Freeze-Dried Hygiene & Shopping Tips:
Never pour boiling water over freeze-dried raw food—use cool or warm water/broth!
Freeze-dried raw is not cooked, so wash hands and bowls just like frozen raw
Heading home on a warm day? Grab an insulated bag so frozen raw stays rock-solid
Every maker prints its own fridge life (once thawed) and bowl time—follow your bag!
4. Four Keys from Our Pet Nutrition Team
Thaw in the Fridge Only
Move tomorrow's portion of frozen raw patties or nuggets from the freezer to a sealed container in the fridge the night before.
Cut Back Kibble When Topping
Replacing 15–20% of your dog's kibble with freeze-dried mixers, wet food, or bone broth is a great bowl upgrade—just trim the kibble scoop to match!
Stainless Steel or Ceramic Bowls
Non-porous stainless steel or glazed ceramic bowls are much easier to sanitize cleanly after raw or rehydrated meals than scratched plastic.
Raw Recreational Bones
Frozen raw marrow and knuckle bones are in our freezer for supervised chewing—thaw in the fridge only and take away once the meat is enjoyed.
Bring-Home Shopping Checklist
Tap items to check them off on your phone while you shop at Critter Cabana.
1. Choose Your Format & Check AAFCO
2. Hydration & Bowl Boosters
3. Safe Kitchen & Storage Gear
Complete Reference Notes & Oregon Keeping Guide
The Four Minimally Processed Formats Side-by-Side
Always Check the Back of Your Package for Rehydration Ratios & Maximum Bowl Time!
Temperature & Humidity Zones
| Zone | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Frozen Raw | Fridge Thaw Only | Raw meat, organs & bone kept frozen; thaw in refrigerator only |
| Freeze-Dried Raw | Never Hot Water! | Frozen & vacuum-dried at low temp without cooking; rehydrate with cool/warm water |
| Dehydrated Food | Rehydrate First | Gently dried with warm air (e.g., The Honest Kitchen); mix with warm water |
| Air-Dried Food | Scoop & Serve | Slowly air-dried (e.g., ZIWI Peak); ready to scoop & serve with no prep |
| Raw Meaty Bones | Recreational Chew | Frozen recreational bones (marrow/knuckle) — thaw in fridge & supervise! |
Two Ways That Work (100% Stocked Store Options)
Frozen Raw Handling: Our 'Fridge-Only' House Rule
Frozen raw pet food is real raw meat—handle it at home with the same kitchen hygiene you use for raw chicken:
- Rule A: Thaw in the Refrigerator Only (Never on the Counter or in Hot Water): Even if a bag mentions counter thawing, our house standard for every brand is thawing in a sealed container in the fridge. Never microwave or use hot water, and never refreeze thawed raw food.
- Rule B: Pick Up What's Left in the Bowl & Wash With Hot Soapy Water: Bowl time for thawed or rehydrated raw is short (makers we carry specify 2 hours at most, and some less—check your bag). Wash bowls, scoops, and hands thoroughly after every meal.
Freeze-Dried, Dehydrated & Air-Dried: How to Serve Each One
Each drying method has its own prep instructions printed on the bag:
- Freeze-Dried (Stella & Chewy's, Northwest Naturals, Vital Essentials): Vacuum pressure removes ice at low temperature without cooking. Feed dry (with plenty of drinking water) or crumble and rehydrate with cool or warm (never hot) water, bone broth, or goat milk.
- Dehydrated (The Honest Kitchen) vs. Air-Dried (ZIWI Peak): Dehydrated foods are mixed with warm water and left to hydrate for a few minutes before serving. Air-dried recipes (like ZIWI) are scoop-and-serve right out of the bag with no water needed!
Complete Meal vs. Topper: The Most Important Check on the Bag
The exact same brand often makes both complete dinners and supplemental toppers—getting them mixed up means underfeeding or double-feeding:
- Complete & Balanced Dinner Patties / Medallions: If the AAFCO statement says 'provides complete and balanced nutrition' for your pet's life stage, it can be fed as 100% of their meal (note: check large-breed puppy exclusions on some air-dried bags!).
- Meal Mixers & Toppers ('Intermittent or Supplemental Feeding Only'): When adding a topper or mixer on top of kibble, introduce it gradually and reduce the main kibble portion by the calories added so your pet stays at a healthy weight.
Raw, Freeze-Dried & Gently Dried Brands We Carry
From 20% Bowl Toppers to 100% Complete Raw Meals — Stocked in Our Freezers & Raw Aisles!
- Northwest Naturals & Stella & Chewy's (Frozen Raw & Freeze-Dried (Dog & Cat)): Northwest Naturals crafts frozen raw and freeze-dried recipesRight here in the Pacific Northwest ('All ingredients are USDA inspected'); Stella & Chewy's offers raw dinners and Meal Mixers ('85–98% meat, organs, and bone'—check the bag for each recipe).
- Primal, Steve's Real Food & Small Batch (Frozen Raw & Freeze-Dried): Complete frozen raw nuggets, patties, and freeze-dried formulas alongside raw goat's milk and bone broths that make rehydrating dry food effortless.
- Vital Essentials, The Honest Kitchen & ZIWI Peak (Freeze-Dried, Dehydrated & Air-Dried): Vital Essentials delivers butcher-cut freeze-dried protein; The Honest Kitchen offers human-grade dehydrated whole-food clusters and mixes; ZIWI Peak provides ready-to-serve air-dried nutrition.
Raw & Freeze-Dried Hygiene & Shopping Tips:
- Cool or Warm Water Only: Never pour boiling water over freeze-dried raw food—use cool or warm water/broth!
- Freeze-Dried Is Uncooked: Freeze-dried raw is not cooked, so wash hands and bowls just like frozen raw
- Insulated Freezer Bags: Heading home on a warm day? Grab an insulated bag so frozen raw stays rock-solid
- Check Your Bag's Timer: Every maker prints its own fridge life (once thawed) and bowl time—follow your bag!
Keeper Note: Large-Breed Puppy Check: Some air-dried and freeze-dried 'all life stages' recipes exclude growth of large-size dogs (70 lb+ as an adult) in their AAFCO statement. If you have a large-breed puppy, read the AAFCO sentence with our crew before using an air-dried or raw food as their full meal!
Essential Keeper Rules & Pro Tips
- Thaw in the Fridge Only: Move tomorrow's portion of frozen raw patties or nuggets from the freezer to a sealed container in the fridge the night before.
- Cut Back Kibble When Topping: Replacing 15–20% of your dog's kibble with freeze-dried mixers, wet food, or bone broth is a great bowl upgrade—just trim the kibble scoop to match!
- Stainless Steel or Ceramic Bowls: Non-porous stainless steel or glazed ceramic bowls are much easier to sanitize cleanly after raw or rehydrated meals than scratched plastic.
- Raw Recreational Bones: Frozen raw marrow and knuckle bones are in our freezer for supervised chewing—thaw in the fridge only and take away once the meat is enjoyed.
Complete Store Setup Checklist
1. Choose Your Format & Check AAFCO
- Frozen Raw Patties/Nuggets OR Shelf-Stable Freeze-Dried/Dehydrated/Air-Dried
- Verify AAFCO Statement: 'Complete & Balanced' (Full Meal) vs. 'Supplemental' (Topper)
- Check Life-Stage Line (Especially for Puppies >70 lb Expected Adult Weight)
2. Hydration & Bowl Boosters
- Pet-Safe Bone Broth (Beef, Chicken, Turkey, or Fish) or Raw Goat's Milk
- Warm/Cool Water Ratio Checked on Back of Package
- Transition Directions Located on Bag for a Gradual Switch
3. Safe Kitchen & Storage Gear
- Dedicated Sealed Glass/BPA-Free Fridge Container for Thawing Raw
- 2 Stainless Steel or Ceramic Bowls (1 in Use, 1 in the Dishwasher!)
- Bag Clips for Shelf-Stable Freeze-Dried & Air-Dried Pouches
How We Help With Pet Nutrition at All 6 Oregon Stores
- We Flip the Bag Over Together (AAFCO Rules & the Maker's Own Label): At Wilsonville Pet Supply, Critter Cabana (Newberg), Gresham Pet Supply, Tigard Pet Supply, Salem Pet Supply, and South Salem Pet Supply, we never rely on front-of-bag marketing slogans or make medical promises. Bring a photo of your current food bag and we'll compare the Guaranteed Analysis, the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, and the first five ingredients side by side.
- Frequent Buyer Program at Every Register: Just give your phone number at checkout at any of our 6 stores—buy 10 to 12 bags of most dog and cat food brands (Fromm, NutriSource, PureVita, Acana, Orijen, Nulo, Farmina N&D, FirstMate, Zignature, Open Farm, Stella & Chewy's, Primal, Northwest Naturals, and more) and your next bag of the same size is free! Because we track it by phone number in our POS, we can also look up the exact recipe your pet bought last time.
- Zero-Deposit Special Requests & Vet Referral Standard: Don't see the exact bag size or formula your pet eats on our shelf today? Ask at the counter and we'll log a special request in our Command Center with zero deposit. Remember: we carry over-the-counter and vet-formulated diets (not prescription diets), so always see your veterinarian first if your pet has signs of illness (vomiting, blood, not eating, or a cat straining in the litter box), a diagnosed medical condition, or takes medications.
Common Questions (FAQ)
How can I get help with Raw, Freeze-Dried, Dehydrated & Air-Dried Food at your stores in Oregon?
Stop by any of our 6 family-owned Oregon stores—Wilsonville Pet Supply, Critter Cabana (Newberg), Gresham Pet Supply, Tigard Pet Supply, Salem Pet Supply, or South Salem Pet Supply. Bring a photo of your pet's current food bag and our team will gladly walk the aisle with you and compare labels.
How does your Frequent Buyer Program work on dog and cat food?
Just give your phone number at the register at any of our 6 locations—there are no paper punch cards to keep track of. On most major kibble, raw, freeze-dried, and gently cooked brands, when you buy 10 to 12 bags of the same size, your next bag is free!
Do you sell veterinary prescription diets, or over-the-counter specialty diets?
We do not sell veterinary prescription diets (if your veterinarian has prescribed a therapeutic Rx diet for a diagnosed medical condition, follow your vet's instructions). We stock a deep selection of over-the-counter vet-formulated, limited-ingredient, novel-protein, wholesome-grain, grain-free, wet, freeze-dried, and frozen raw diets.
What if my dog or cat is a picky eater or has a sensitive stomach when switching foods?
Always follow the gradual transition schedule printed on the back of your new food bag—mixing a small amount of the new food into the old food over 7 to 10+ days—and never starve a cat to force a food switch. Ask our crew about single-ingredient toppers, bone broths, plain canned pumpkin, or fermented goat's milk to support a smooth transition.
