Yes, all Answers products need to be kept in the freezer until you are ready to thaw and serve. Please refer to the instructions on the product’s packaging or on our website’s product pages to learn how many days each product will stay good in the refrigerator after you thaw it.

We recommend either thawing our packaged food in the refrigerator on a protective plate or bowl which will take approximately 24 hours, or thawing it in a sink at room temperature which will take approximately 6-10 hours depending on the amount. You can thaw, portion, and refreeze our products if desired. We recommend using safe, temperature-resistant glass storage containers to limit plastic exposure once the product is thawed.

Either way is fine, depending on you and your pet’s preference. Cats usually prefer food at room temperature.

Yes. While we encourage you to thaw and use our products straight away, they can be safely refrozen for portion control and feeding convenience.

We don’t recommend cooking our food. Cooking adulterates the state of the food, diminishing its nutrient benefits. It will destroy the probiotic content if cooked at a high enough temperature, and there will be enzyme and nutrient loss.

Conservatively 12 hours for fermented raw milks and bone broths. 10 hours for meat products. 24 hours for raw cheese and raw feet treats.

Comfortably, we state 30 days for fermented raw milks and bone broths. 7 days for meat products including raw feet treats. 14 days for raw cheese. More conservative hours are listed on our packaging.

Although food will remain safe to consume, fermentation will continue once thawed and palatability may change over time.

Yes. Mix together in a bowl or serve separately. It’s completely up to you and your pet’s preference. Although all foods digest at different rates, we’ve never had or seen a detriment to mixing. Adding whole raw fermented foods are a fantastic introduction to better nutrition.

No. Both our Detailed Formulas for Dogs and Cats are complete and balanced diets.

No! Our Mighty Raw Formulas are complete, balanced, and nutrient-dense, and do not have nutritional deficiencies. Our diets contain live wholefoods with naturally occurring digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Nutrients in wholefoods are superior to those found in supplements, and isolated nutrients don’t work as effectively.

Unless a pet has allergies or aversion to certain proteins, rotation can offer a diverse nutritional profile for optimal health.

Yes! We currently offer Mighty Raw Formula for Dogs in two different bulk options. 40lb cases of 1lb Chubs, and 20lb cases of 8oz Patties. Both options are available through retailers that carry our products and the 20lb Bulk Patties is available to ship directly from our online store.

1. Choose kitten, cat, puppy or dog
2. Choose activity level and enter weight
3. Daily recommended calorie amount will be given
4. Click submit
5. Enter the amount of products preferred to get as close to the recommended calorie amount as possible:
6. If you’re using Power Pours milks or stocks, start with these first. Look on the side of the carton and put in the number of ounces for your pet’s current weight.
7. For the Mighty Raw section, enter any number of ounces under the protein you are wanting to use.
8. Adjust quantities up or down until the total calculated calories are as close to the recommended daily calories as possible.

Puppies need a lot of food. The serving suggestions on food packaging are for full grown dogs and include further information on how to modify a puppy’s meals. We recommend referring to our Feeding Calculator on our website to determine the amount of food your puppy requires. We also recommend referring back to the puppy feeding calculator for every 5 lbs gained, as their daily caloric intake will continue to change accordingly.

We find the best and easiest method to measure food is by investing in a digital kitchen scale that measures in ounces (weight).

Our fermented raw foods are incredibly bioavailable. They are pre-digested by bacteria, and those bacteria create even more nutrients and enzymes.  Not only are there more concentrated nutrients in our food, but those nutrients have been pre-metabolized, making it easier for the body to absorb, break down, and utilize. Additionally, we don’t use ingredients with minimal nutritional value and don’t rely on fillers to “bulk up” our foods. 

Our products have a high moisture content. When feeding fermented raw foods, your pet will be receiving much of their daily water intake through the food itself. They may drink even less if they’re also on any of our milks or stocks. Depending on how much of our products are being fed, your pets’ daily water requirement might be completely satisfied by the food alone. Because of this, it is not uncommon to notice your pet drinking less water when they make the switch to a fresh food diet.

We recommend feeding our Mighty Raw Formula along with the recommended daily amount of one of our Power Pours fermented raw milk products and  fermented bone broths. Good Energy raw cheese treats are a healthy way to deliver nutrients as well.

Every pet is unique. Our Feeding Calculator is a great guideline, but pet’s metabolisms vary. Revisit the calculations and adjust your pet’s activity level on our website Feeding Calculator accordingly. A second option is to gradually increase or decrease the amount of food by ½ ounce at a time, depending on your intent. This will help find the ideal amount of food that will help restore and maintain ideal weight.

When using our website Feeding Calculator, it’s very important to indicate what your pet is supposed to weigh, not what they currently weigh. For example, if a dog weighs 70lb, but should weigh 60lb, complete the feeding calculator based on a 60lb dog, not a 70lb dog. This should bring the weight down over time.

A true sign that a pet is starving is if they’re losing weight. If they are not, they’re not actually starving. A few explanations for this kind of behavior is having food anxiety and wanting more. Or a pet may be experiencing a little bit of hunger due to the transition to a new form of eating. If this is the case, it should subside with time. We recommend feeding some of our raw cheese treats throughout the day, or pouring some milk or stock into a bowl for a between-meal snack. This should provide some satiation without much of a calorie increase, especially if using the stocks. Your pet’s need to feed is most likely natural, but there’s always the possibility it could be related to an undetected medical condition. If there is a change in physical appearance, consult a veterinarian.

Most dogs take to fermented raw foods without any protest, however some require more encouragement than others. In this case, we recommend introducing a small amount of our food into their current diet. Mix 1/2 tsp of our raw food into their meal. Once that is tolerated for a few days, increase to 1 tsp, continue to 1 tbsp until you’ve reached 1 ounce. The idea is to very gradually increase the amount of raw and decrease the amount of their previous diet until their meals become 100% fermented raw.

Yes! Try serving our food at different temperatures. Some dogs do not like to eat raw food cold. We recommend serving it at room temperature by letting it sit out on the counter until it comes to temp or by adding some warm water to the meal. Also, try adding one of our raw milks or stocks to their meal as an enticement. We do not recommend microwaving or cooking our food as it can denature vital nutrients.

If your pet is new to eating raw chicken feet, we recommend starting off by holding the first foot in your hand and allowing your pet lick and chew it. This will help your pet to grasp the concept that they are meant to be chewed and then swallowed, not just swallowed whole. After the initial feeding, they should be able to eat the chicken feet by themselves. We do recommend supervision during treat times.

Yes, for a period of time. Fermented foods contain billions of good bacteria - also known as lactic acid bacteria - as well as all of the beneficial substances they produce, which also help to destroy unwanted bacteria. Their job is to prohibit pathogenic cells from multiplying by out-numbering cell growth. If faced with a compromised environment, the good bacteria is able to block any pathogen from becoming a health concern. 

When fermented raw food is left out for a period of time, the good lactic acid bacteria in our food multiplies and creates even MORE lactic acid, and an environment even more lethal to pathogens. In fact, Answers Pet Food is the only raw pet food that gives you protection from production all the way to the bowl and continuing on through your pet’s digestion.

No, we do not use HPP in any of our products.

Fermentation is a centuries-old metabolic process that produces lactic acid—a method to preserve wholefoods by consuming sugar in the absence of oxygen.

Fermentation inoculates food with good bacteria, making it safer by inhibiting pathogen growth. It also increases food bioavailability by pre-digesting nutrients.

No. The fermentation process is suspended when our food is frozen. Once thawed and put into the right conditions, it resumes again.

Yes. Our Mighty Raw dog and cat formulas are complete and balanced for all life stages and meet AAFCO nutrient requirements.

Yes! Raw dairy naturally contains over 200 species of probiotics. It also provides prebiotics­— the nutrients required for probiotics to thrive. Naturally occurring probiotics are better than supplements.

Yes. Curds are a great nutritional benefit. Curds in milk means the good bacteria is continuing to predigest it. This fermentation process, known as lacto-fermentation, makes our raw milk thick and curdy. The more you see it, the healthier it is.

The longer fermented products remain at or above refrigerated temperatures, the faster the fermentation process will continue. While the milk remains safe, product fermenting for long times may affect palatability.

Fermented raw milks, also known as sour milk, should have a slightly sour smell from the start, with small to medium curds throughout. Since fermentation is a somewhat unique process, there will be variation from batch to batch. Some will have a gentler ferment and will smell somewhat sweet from the start. Others will be more fermented, with more curds present. Most of the batches will fall somewhere in the middle, with a slight sour smell and small to medium curds throughout. All will continue to ferment in the fridge throughout the 30 days, with more curds forming and a developing fermented smell. If that begins to affect palatability, refreezing portioned product depending on your pet’s needs can halt the process until product is needed.

Yes! Fermented raw milks are natural and variation in both color and consistency is normal.

Some states, like Texas and Vermont, require colorization in order to deter people from consuming it. We add Beta Carotene, a natural ingredient with some health benefits, to allow our milks to be distributed as widely as possible and it gives the milk a slight yellow/orange hue.

Cinnamon! We add cinnamon because it is a great source of antioxidants.

Honey is used as a starter for the fermentation process. When cultures are added to the milk, they immediately begin to eat it. Because the honey is pre-metabolized by the bacteria during the fermentation process, there is virtually no sugar left after this process. Those same cultures then move on the lactose sugars in the milk, pre-metabolizing them as well. The result is that there are very few lactose sugars left in the milk once it is fermented.

Real, authentic, raw food that is curated in small batches doesn’t have the homogenized look and texture of mass-produced foods. We don’t use chemicals or preservatives to make our food more uniform. Because of this, variation in color, smell, or texture is normal. Variation is found everywhere in nature, so it makes sense that it would occur in natural foods as well. Additionally, fermentation is a process that will affect the color, texture, and smell of each batch.

No. The smell is of lactic-acid and can vary in pungency. The longer exposure it has, the more it smells. The longer it is thawed in your fridge, the more pronounced the smell can be. It’s completely normal and safe.

Grass fed ghee is one of the healthiest foods. It’s a good source of healthy fats (omega and saturated) and a good source of vitamins A, D, and K2.

Our products contain Redmond salt. Depending on the product, it’s used to support fermentation and add back much-needed minerals and trace elements into food due to general soil depletion. Salt is necessary for life.

Our food is considered a moderate fat food, not a high fat food. Fat is very important for your animal. Dogs and cats have a biological need for fats. They do not have a biological need for carbohydrates. Our foods are species-appropriate and contain moderate protein, moderate fat, and less than 2% carbohydrates for optimal health.

We ferment 3 types of organic beets: golden, white, and red. The amount of each beet varies per batch based upon availability which will vary the color of products.

We blend different cuts of meat and fat to achieve the ideal 1:1 ratio in all of our food formulas.

In our Mighty Raw and Simply Protein formulas, our meat is 60% muscle, 30% organ and 10% bone which is the ideal ratio for optimal health and support for both cats and dogs.

Having loose stool, gas or diarrhea doesn’t necessarily mean that your pet cannot digest or is intolerant to raw milks or raw foods. Switching to pure, unadulterated fermented raw foods is one of the best things you can do for your pet. However, our milks have a very high probiotic content. If a dog or cat is not used to having any sources of probiotics in their diet, it can cause a detox response which is why introducing our foods gradually is key. Allow their body to become accustomed to the good bacteria being introduced to their systems.

Most dogs and cats have a relatively seamless transition to our foods and do not experience any detox. With that said, pets that have chronic issues, disease, extreme skin conditions, or bacterial imbalances might experience some detox when switching to our products. This is because our foods are very high in probiotics. The good bacteria kills the bad bacteria in the gut and begins to repopulate it with itself. During this process the bad bacteria has to have some way to exit the body. It does so in the reactive manner of detoxing or “dying off”. Most common signs of detox are: loose stool, intermittent digestive upset, reflux, gas, bloat, watery or goopy eyes, itching skin, a light rash, or the exacerbation of chronic issues a pet has been experiencing. Detox is a normal and natural part of the healing process, and in some cases is necessary to go through to heal the issue. Detox will always subside as the body adjusts, the bad bacteria is shed, and the health of the microbiome is restored from our foods. For most dogs and cats, detox, if experienced at all, does not last longer than a few days. For some dogs with more extreme conditions such as significant illness, or bacterial imbalances due to long term antibiotic use, or chronic skin conditions, the detox period can last longer.

The best way to avoid detox is to transition to our foods slowly. We suggest following our 1-2 week transition in our transitioning guide. For pets with IBD or very sensitive systems, you could go even slower. If you switched to our foods “cold turkey” and your pet is experiencing loose stool, reflux, or various other issues, this is usually solved by changing to a slow transition. Start off with 1 tsp of the food mixed in with the previously used diet. Once that is tolerated, move up to 1 tbsp. Then 1 ounce. Gradually increasing the amount of our food and decreasing the previous diet until it’s 100% Answers. This also applies to our milks or stocks if you are using those. Introduce 1 tsp of the milk or stock on top of the food being fed at first. Once that is well tolerated increase to 1 tbsp. Gradually increase until you get to the suggested daily serving. It’s all about knowing your pet and how likely they are to have a hard time adjusting, and then transitioning them in such a way that it gives them the time needed to adjust to our products. Every pet is different. Most have no issues transitioning, but some need to go slow and steady.

Histamines, which are a type of biogenic amine called a monoamine, are produced during the fermentation process as food starts to break down. The body’s Monoamine Oxidase System is very efficient at removing them from the body. The only portion of the population that may become sensitive to daily ingestion of fermented foods are those taking medications that are MAOI.

No, it won’t. All proteins have a different structure and, therefore, the body treats them differently. 

Most likely, yes. While it’s possible for your dog or cat to be intolerant to fermented raw milk, it’s very unlikely. In most cases, these concerns pertain to pasteurized dairy. Pasteurization damages the enzyme lactase – this enzyme is required to digest the milk sugar lactose. Having no lactase in pasteurized milk makes for digestive distress and lactose intolerance. Pasteurized dairy is very hard to digest wherein raw dairy and especially fermented raw dairy are very easy to digest. This is because none of the vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and enzymes have been denatured. It’s also because the fermentation process predigests those very lactose sugars.

Typically pets can have a single episode or more of loose stool or diarrhea as their microbiomes are changing because of the introduction of good bacteria into their systems. Diarrhea symptoms can be quite varied. Of course, frequency, urgency and loose watery stools are the classic signs, but if your pet has recurring episodes of diarrhea that doesn’t seem to be resolving after 3 days, and to avoid the high risk of becoming dehydrated and you notice any lethargy, or a fever or change in behavior, you should call your veterinarian.

With any change to a diet, a digestive system has to adjust. We suggest feeding or adding more of our fermented raw milks to the diet as our milks have high-counts of probiotics.

Yes. Pets on our fermented raw food will typically have much smaller and firmer stool than they would on other foods. They also might poop less often, perhaps only once a day or every other day. This is due to the fact that there is virtually no waste in our food. Every ingredient that goes into our formula has a specific purpose and is in its most bioavailable form, meaning it’s able to be completely absorbed and utilized by your pet. Less waste going in means less waste coming out.

We developed Detailed Nibbles and Patties forms to be a convenient serving option for pet parents. Our company mission is to use the least amount of plastic as possible. Our nibbles and patties are flash-frozen in a nitrogen tunnel in order to preserve more nutrients in the most healthy, effective way. As a result, meat may develop opaque white ice crystals on its surface.

We use recyclable cartons. These cartons are not 100% leakproof. We always recommend thawing product standing upright either in a sink, or on a protective plate or bowl either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. This will ensure that condensation or leakage will not contaminate other surfaces. Once the product is thawed, pour or scoop the contents out of the carton into an airtight glass container for storage. This will prevent any future leakage and prolong freshness.

No. Our fermented raw milks are also known as sour milks. The smell is of lactic-acid and can vary in pungency. Follow our storage guidelines, it’s normal and safe from them to have this distinct smell, especially over time.

Yes. Curds are a great nutritional benefit. Having curdled milk means the good bacteria is continuing to predigest it. This fermentation process, known as lacto-fermentation, makes our raw milk thick and curdy. The more you see it, the healthier it is.

No. Organic chickens, especially pastured chickens, can develop calluses on their feet, due to walking in rocky pastures. Although many processors of chicken feet remove these calluses, we chose not to remove them in order for pets to receive the most natural and complete nutrients, just as they would in the wild.

Yes. There is a variation in moisture as this is a live, raw food with no preservatives. It can have the consistency of Parmesan cheese. The pairing of organic superfoods with raw cheese vary in moisture as well. For example, ginger tends to be more dry and more firm than other flavors. To keep soft or retain moisture, after thawing, store raw cheese foods in a glass container.

We now ship directly to your door for customers in all Contiguous US States!

Since our UPS delivery times are not guaranteed over the weekend, orders to some locations will be held to ship the following Monday.

Shipping Days By Estimated Time in Transit

1 Day Shipments

Monday - Thursday

2 Day Shipments

Monday - Wednesday

3 Day Shipments

Monday and Tuesday

4 & 5 Day Shipments

There are certain rural areas inside of states that we ship to that require an extra day in transit. These orders will only be shipped on Mondays to avoid being held over the weekend.

If we encounter an address that may cause long or inconvenient shipping/receiving, we will reach out and work with you.

Once orders are processed and leave our facility, shipping tracking numbers will be added to your order information.

Please refer to the above shipping map for estimated ship time to your location. Please allow 24 hours processing time.

We line our shipping boxes with biodegradable cooler insulation and add 5 lbs of dry ice per estimated day(s) in transit, per box in your order. We add a bit extra in the summer!

We have found this method to do a great job of keeping your product frozen by the time it gets to your door.

If your shipment arrives thawed or partially thawed, as long as the product has remained at refrigerated temperatures or below, it is still 100% safe to refreeze or feed straight away!

We of course value our customers' and their pets' satisfaction above all and if you have any questions or concerns with your order please contact us at info@answerspetfood.com and we will do our best to take care of any issues right away.

Certain states have added or even restricted regulation on the sale of raw milk.

North Carolina requires label modification and for Vermont, Texas*, and Nevada (not yet in our shipping zone), beta carotene adds a splash of orange color. They feel this distinguishes pet products as "not for human consumption" and allows us to distribute our raw milk products in the states. Click here to buy raw milk products specific to these states.

Unfortunately, Massachusetts recently expanded their prohibitive laws on the sale of raw milk to include pet food. We are currently unable to ship our Raw Goat Milk, Raw Cow Kefir, and Cheese Bites to the state.

We will continue to work alongside pet and agricultural advocates who believe the expansion of these laws should be reversed.

We finally have shipping available to the entire Lower 48 States in the USA!

PLEASE REFER TO THE BELOW MAP FOR ESTIMATED SHIPPING TIME

**NOTE THAT SOME RURAL AREAS MAY REQUIRE 4/5 DAYS IN TRANSIT - THESE ORDERS WILL BE SHIPPED ON MONDAYS TO AVOID DELAYS OVER THE WEEKEND**

***We cannot ship to PO Box addresses due to UPS restrictions. Orders placed to PO Boxes will be cancelled and customers will be alerted.***