Review on 🍽️ Freeze-Dried Raw Dinner Patties by Stella & Chewy's by Daniel Murr

2/13/18: Both of my dogs love Stella & Chewy's (all flavors). In fact, they love it so much I can't get them to eat anything else. They used to eat Orijen and Honest Kitchen (both high quality dog food from my research), but now they turn their noses up at both. I almost wish I had introduced them to this because it's quite expensive, especially for two dogs. You love this food. I mean I really, really love it (see previous February review above). I bought my first bag from the local pet store and was going to give it away as a treat, but it quickly became the only thing they wanted. Given the cost, the joke was on me. However, two weeks ago one of my dogs became very ill with pancreatitis and cholangiohepatitis. I mean sick because she almost died. She was hospitalized at a reputable animal hospital in New York City and several internists have stated that while there is no way to 100% prove this, they are absolutely certain that my dog contracted the disease as a result of an infection from her raw food diet. , a very high-fat diet, or more likely a combination of both. This was devastating to me as I was paying for what I thought was the best food for my dogs. These respected, experienced veterinarians, who treat thousands of animals each year, tell me that since the raw food craze began, they have seen a huge spike in infections that has resulted in the deaths of many beloved pets. To be honest it pains me a little to write this review as I think Stella & Chewy's generally makes good products and as a company I have no doubts about their good intentions. However, it is clear that the risks of raw feeding our pets are great and I don't want to keep that information to myself. If you aren't worried about contamination (because yes, I know you run the risk of buying ANY commercial pet food), please be aware of the high fat content of these patties compared to many other types of dog food. Be aware that dogs, like humans, are at risk for diseases like pancreatitis when they eat high-fat foods. I was last feeding my dogs duck duck goose formula and looking back the fat content was probably too high. I feel like an idiot for not paying enough attention to this. My dog is suspected to have had mild chronic pancreatitis for many months from a high-fat diet, which was then made worse by infection from raw food (this assessment by veterinarians has been backed up by many extensive tests, but I don't want to bore you with it these details). In conclusion, I believe this review is not just about Stella & Chewy's but about all raw pet food or any pet food that is very high in fat. I wish I was aware of the negative experiences of pet owners before me so I can make the best choices for my dogs. I have no doubt that millions of pets eat raw food with no problem, but I believe the vet clinic were not lying when they told me about this type of epidemic they are experiencing due to the recent increase in popularity of the raw food diet. Many people reading this will continue to buy commodities, but after reading my review you can at least feel warned. After much research and discussion, my dogs are back to eating the Honest Kitchen Base Mix with homemade lean meat.