At Ancestral Raw Nutrition, we proudly source the majority of our ingredients right here in the USA from trusted farms and suppliers who meet our strict quality standards. For certain nutrient-rich superfoods, like Canadian smelt, Norwegian mackerel, and New Zealand green-lipped mussels, we carefully outsource to ensure your pets are getting the very best nature has to offer.

Our food is made in small batches to guarantee freshness and quality. We use human-grade meats, organs, and bones—never fillers, preservatives, or anything artificial. Each recipe is formulated to be biologically appropriate, gently ground into convenient portions, and immediately frozen to lock in peak nutrition.

That way, your pets get the cleanest, most nourishing meals possible—and you get peace of mind knowing exactly what’s in their bowl.

Our products are manufactured under the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) with strict rules that are both safe and legal for raw pet food.  Federal labeling standards (AAFCO) for kibble-based foods (and some raw food companies that choose to use synthetic supplements in their food) require the use of supplemental additives so that every meal is "complete and balanced". That’s just the AAFCO labeling rules — it doesn’t mean our raw food is incomplete or unbalanced.

• AAFCO wording was designed for kibble, not raw.
• Our blends follow the Prey Model Raw 80/10/10 (meat, bone, organ)
• We rely on whole-prey nutrition, NOT synthetic premixes.
• Every Ancestral Raw Nutrition blend comes with a Guaranteed Analysis so you know exactly what your pet is getting.

Bottom line: The label is a formality — Ancestral Raw Nutrition is REAL and biologically appropriate.

Processing Standards You Can Trust.

At Ancestral Raw Nutrition, your pet’s health and safety come first. As a licensed and inspected CDFA raw pet food facility, we follow strict protocols to ensure our products are clean, safe, and biologically appropriate.

 USDA & FSIS Inspected Ingredients
All meat and poultry used in our formulas are:

• Sourced from trusted local farms across the USA
• Inspected and approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
• Certified by the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) for human consumption

We do not accept any meat from diseased, disabled, or compromised animals—including those exposed to avian flu or other illnesses. The USDA prohibits such products from entering processing facilities, and we uphold those same high standards.

At Ancestral Raw Nutrition, we believe pets thrive when they’re fed the way nature intended. That’s why our recipes are crafted with human-grade meats, no fillers, no preservatives, and absolutely nothing artificial. Every ingredient is chosen with purpose—rich in nutrients, sourced with care, and made to support your pet’s health from the inside out.

But what truly sets us apart is our dedication to you. Our customer appreciation and service are second to none—we treat every customer like family and go above and beyond to make sure both you and your pets are happy. With Ancestral Raw, you get the highest quality nutrition paired with unmatched care and support.

Our raw blends are crafted to reflect the ancestral, prey-based diet your pet was designed to eat:

• 80% muscle meat
• 10% secreting organs (like liver, kidney, spleen)
• 10% finely ground raw bone

This natural ratio delivers a nutrient-dense, species-appropriate meal that supports:

• Improved digestion
• Healthier skin and coat
• Cleaner teeth and fresher breath
• Reduced inflammation and food-related allergies

We never include fillers, grains, vegetables, or synthetic additives—just clean, whole ingredients that nourish your pet from the inside out.

Pure. Natural. Species-Appropriate. Proudly made in the USA

For an overall healthy pet, no. A balanced 80/10/10, nutrient rich diet, made with quality ingredients has everything your dog requires. If your pet requires additional supplements, we only believe in feeding your pet naturally. Try to stick with meats or animal parts rich in omega-3 fatty acids, glucosamine, and probiotics on an as-needed basis, per your vet’s recommendation. 

We do not believe in feeding fruits or vegetables and feed a prey model raw diet because science tells us that the nutrients your pet needs, that is found in plant material, are found in the meat, bones, and organs of the prey canines hunt. Therefore, it is unnecessary to feed your pet anything other than a raw meat diet.

Please use our Pet Food Calculator to determine how much food your dog should eat per day. 

All orders in California are shipped Monday - Thursday (depending on your transit time for CA, AZ and NV, the last day for shipments is Wednesday) each week to ensure the shipment's quality. All orders must be placed by 3:00 PM/PST Monday-Thursday for SAME-DAY local SoCal shipping, any orders placed after this time will be shipped the following day. No orders are shipped Friday-Sunday, if an order is placed on these days it will be shipped the following Monday. Transit times depend on the customer's location and are estimates given to us by UPS. These shipping times are subject to change based on product availability. 

Your pet’s stools are smaller because the raw diet that they are now transitioned to is being digested and fully utilized by their body. Fillers in your pet’s previous diet, which are not utilized are passed through digestion and back out of the body which is why the stools are much larger. 

If you are feeding kibble, kibble has no moisture and added sodium causing your pets to be thirstier. Raw diets are much higher in moisture, most of our blends are over 60% moisture, typical of raw food. It is normal for pets on a raw diet to drink less water and if they are healthy, energetic and have normal toileting habits, then it is not a cause for concern. 

There are many several contributing factors as to why your pet has lost interest in his or her raw diet, and most of the time it is simply because they are not hungry. Most of the time they are being overfeed and that's why they are leaving food. Don't be concerned – simply skip a meal and then reduce the amount you feed them going forward. 

Here are a few reasons why your pet might be leaving food: 

• Self-fasting
• Your female pet may be experiencing menstrual cramps or discomfort
• Bored (never free feed and leave a full bowl of food- give your pet boundaries) 
• Picky eater
• Overfed

1. Start Slow: Begin with one raw meal per day, keeping the other meal as their regular food. This helps their stomach and microbiome adjust.
2. Pick a Single Protein: Choose a gentle starter protein like chicken, turkey, or beef. Avoid mixing too many proteins at once until their system adapts.
3. Introduce Raw Bones Later: Wait until your pet is comfortable with muscle meat and organs before offering raw meaty bones. Start with softer, safe bones (chicken wings, duck necks).
4. Watch Digestion: Normal adjustments include slightly softer stool or detox breath. Persistent diarrhea, vomiting, or constipation means slow down and adjust.
5. Gradually Increase Raw: Move from 25% → 50% → 75% → 100% raw over 1–2 weeks (some pets need longer).
6. Balance Over Time: Aim for the 80/10/10 ratio (80% muscle meat, 10% organ, 10% bone). Add a variety of proteins for complete nutrition.
7. Hydration & Supplements: Raw food naturally has more moisture, but fresh water is still key. Some pets may benefit from omega-3 (fish oil), probiotics, or green-lipped mussel for joints.
   
   Pro tip: Puppies and kittens usually transition faster, while seniors may need extra time.

Personal Hygiene

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw pet food, pet waste, or touching surfaces that have come into contact with raw food.
  
• Avoid face contact: Do not allow pets to lick your face, especially after they've eaten raw food.
  

Cleaning & Disinfection

• Clean surfaces: After handling raw pet food, clean all surfaces (countertops, cutting boards, utensils) with hot, soapy water.
  
• Use dedicated tools: Employ separate utensils, bowls, and cutting boards for raw pet food. Do not use your pet’s food bowl as a scooping or measuring utensil.
  
• Dishwasher use: If possible, run items through the dishwasher after each use to clean and disinfect them.
  

Storage & Thawing

• Freeze raw pet food until you're ready to use it. Store it in a sealed container in the freezer, separate from human food.
  
• Thawing methods: Thaw frozen raw pet food in the refrigerator or microwave. Do not thaw on countertops or in sinks.
  
• Refrigeration: Keep refrigerated raw pet food at 40°F (4°C) or below. Discard any leftovers that have been out at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
  

Feeding Practices

• Serve promptly: Serve raw pet food immediately after preparation. If your pet doesn't finish, refrigerate the leftovers promptly and discard any uneaten portions after 24 hours.
  
• Feeding area: Feed pets in an area that's easy to clean, preferably away from human food preparation zones.
  

Pet Interaction

• Post-meal hygiene: After your pet has eaten, wash your hands thoroughly. Avoid close contact, such as kissing or letting your pet lick your face, especially if they've just eaten raw food.
  

Upon receiving your order store the meat in the freezer immediately until ready to use. Thaw in refrigerator until ready to serve. Once the meat is thawed, it will remain fresh up to 3 days in refrigerator. Do Not Cook. 

Have you been researching health and lifestyle changes that can come when you choose to feed your pet a raw meat diet? 

Thousands of pet owners are embracing all of the amazing nutrition that can be found from making the change to a predatory-based meal plan for your furry friends. 

• Healthier teeth & gums 
• Healthier skin, coat & muscles 
• Boosted immune system 
• Increased energy and drive 
• Improved digestive system 
• Improved behavior 
• Poops become smaller and almost odorless 
• Fewer visits to the veterinarian for allergies (i.e. hot spots, ear infections, etc.)
  
  caused by kibble or other diets containing fillers and/or additives. 

Definitely! Our pet influencer program will begin in the summer of 2024, but in the meantime, be sure to tag @ancestralraw so we can visit an monitor your social media and share your contact details in a direct message on Instagram or Facebook and when we’re ready to select influencers our marketing team will be in touch if we feel you and your pet are a great fit for our natural, raw pet food. 

We do our very best to keep all our Ancestral Raw Nutrition products in stock, but sometimes bestsellers are tough to keep on hand - no worries though, just make sure you add your email to the “email me when back in stock” feature on any product page and we will notify you ASAP the minute those favorite blends and treats are ready to purchase again. 

We are super happy to hear you'd like to share your skills and talents with us and we always want to hear from talented prospects! Be sure to check back, whenever we have an opening we'll share that here on our website and all our social media accounts.

Customer’s raw pet food orders ship in 1-2 business days if the order is placed by 3:00 PM PST Monday throughThursday. If a customer places their order after 3:00 PM PST on Thursday the order will ship the following Monday. You can always login to your My Account page and track all your orders quickly and conveniently. 

Local delivery typically processes 1-6 days depending on availability.

All orders must be placed by 3:00 PM PST Monday through Thursday for same day,  local Southern California shipping. Any orders placed after this time will be shipped the following day. No orders are shipped Friday through Sunday; if an order is placed on these days it will be shipped the following Monday. Transit times depend on the customer's location and are estimates given to us by UPS. For information regarding shipping, please visit our Customer Support page. 

Our Ancestral Raw Nutrition commitment to our customers is to make sure you're happy with everything you purchase from us so whenever things aren't 100%, or if you placed your order and you made a mistake, or you decided quickly you wanted to change your selection, you must email our customer service support no less than two (2) hours from the time of your purchase so that we can hurry to correct the problem.

Any purchase that has been placed and we have not been notified within this time frame will be processed and shipped as ordered with no exceptions.

All sales are final due to the nature of our products, all accessories are final sale, we will not accept any return, exchange, or refund of any raw or dehydrated products, we may, at our discretion, send you a new product, for the cost of taxes and shipping and handling, or at our discretion, try to work out the problem or issue in a way that both parties agree, this includes donations, winnings, or sponsored products.

There is a 1-week return window for dehydrated treats. No items that are half-fed will be accepted for refund or return. If a return is necessary for dehydrated products, all returns are at the customer's expense to ship the item(s) back to the ARN warehouse.

When purchasing our product, you are agreeing to the Terms and Conditions, you understand and accept the shipping estimates and risk assumed with shipping raw meat and both dehydrated and raw treats, and you understand and accept the shipping and delivery terms. Also, if any shipments are missed, lost, stolen, or damaged, Ancestral Raw Nutrition will not accept liability as it is the Carrier's responsibility to deliver all boxes to the correct address within the shipping timeframe. If any boxes are damaged, lost, or stolen, Ancestral Raw Nutrition may file a claim with UPS to obtain the insurance on the box, otherwise, it is the customer's responsibility to repurchase a new box for replacement. 

Please see our Terms of Service.

For details relating to our shipping rates and zones please check out the information found on our Customer Support page.

Once approved we will process your refund right away, typically within 48 hours during regular business hours. Your bank may take longer to recognize the refund so be sure to contact them once you receive our email notification.

We do! Ancestral Raw Nutrition is happy to offer e-cards for redemption on our site. Our digital gift cards have no additional processing fees and never expire. Any e-card purchased this website is not eligible for redemption at any special event or in-person tasting. 

On this Ancestral Raw Nutrition website, we accept American Express, Visa, Mastercard, and Discover credit cards as well as PayPal for payment. We also permit customers to utilize the pay-as-you-go plans from Klarna, Shop Pay, Affirm and AfterPay. Be sure to set up your account with these payment providers prior to purchase.