Maev vs. We Feed Raw: Which Raw Meat to Give Your Pet?

As a veterinarian, I’ve seen the discussion around dog food change drastically over the last decade. Pet parents have been increasingly asking better questions, reading labels more closely, and looking beyond the usual kibble that’s been the default for a very long time. 

Manufacturers have responded accordingly, offering a vast range of products that all promise the same thing: happier, healthier dogs. 

One popular trend is the increasing reliance on raw food, with many pet owners choosing brands like Maev and We Feed Raw. At first, the two brands appear very similar, featuring cleaner ingredients, better nutrition, and greater transparency. But when it comes to nutrition and biologics, they’re rather different products.

So let’s examine how these two brands compare on ingredient philosophy, personalization, safety, and their nutritional alignment with the canine body — and why I consistently recommend one over the other.

Maev vs. We Feed Raw: At a Glance 

Why Raw Dog Food?

The philosophy behind raw meat is that it’s the freshest possible diet for your dog. That’s because dogs are facultative carnivores, which means they primarily consume meat but can survive on non-animal foods. It also means that raw food more closely aligns with canine physiology than processed options.

This dietary need is evidenced by their:

• Highly acidic stomachs
• Teeth designed for tearing meat and bone
• Short digestive tracts

As a veterinarian, I’ve seen a marked difference raw food can make in dogs, including improvements in stool quality, skin and coat condition, lean muscle maintenance, and overall vitality. However, no specific scientific studies have yet supported these claims.

In short, raw food is the type of diet dogs are biologically wired to eat. However, it must be properly formulated and safely handled.

Flash-Freezing vs. High-Pressure Processing

Safety is one of the biggest concerns for pet parents when it comes to raw food. After all, there’s always the risk that raw meat may contain bacteria such as Listeria and Salmonella.

To combat these risks, We Feed Raw uses HPP (high-pressure processing) in combination with a strict HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) program. HPP delivers pure, cold water at very high pressures to deactivate harmful pathogens, while the HACCP program ensures food safety by identifying potential hazards at every point along the production process and either preventing, eliminating, or reducing them.

The result is healthy, raw food that:

• Reduces pathogen risk
• Preserves vital nutrients
• Maintains the structural integrity of raw ingredients

Maev, on the other hand, flash-freezes their raw food to reduce pathogen risk. However, this is first and foremost a preservation method—not a validated safety measure. The good news is that their food is tested for bacteria such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria.

Overall, though, I am much more reassured by We Feed Raw’s countermeasures.

Ingredient Philosophy

Maev’s dog food includes animal proteins, vegetables, peanut butter, and other plant ingredients. This sounds healthy, but what’s good for humans isn’t always best for dogs. For example, this formulation has a higher carbohydrate content, which carries an increased risk of diabetes.

And as long as we’re sticking to the philosophy of the natural canine’s diet, you can be certain that your dog’s ancestors weren’t eating potatoes and peanut butter. In my opinion (and from what I hear from other raw feeders), additives like these undermine the whole idea of feeding your dog a primarily meat-based diet. Especially if your pet has allergies, chronic gastrointestinal upset, or inflammatory conditions, it’s an area to monitor closely. 

We Feed Raw’s animal-based nutrition includes components like muscle meat, organ meat, and fresh, uncooked bone. Also added are vitamins and minerals like zinc, vitamin E, manganese, vitamin D, and flaxseed — while still meeting AAFCO standards and avoiding unnecessary fillers.

This results in meals that are:

• High in biologically appropriate protein
• Low in carbohydrates
• Easier to digest, which is appropriate for many food-sensitive dogs

Personalization

Both Maev and We Feed Raw consider pet information like age, breed, weight, and activity level when recommending a formulation. Both brands also provide pet parents with feeding instructions tailored to their dog’s unique profile. However, We Feed Raw tends to show detailed meal plan information and really emphasizes the finer details. Maev also provides tailored feeding recommendations, though its approach may feel simpler to users.

But this is where the benefit of veterinary involvement cannot be overstated. Getting a knowledgeable professional to evaluate your pet and help you figure out feeding plans is often more important than the specific brand you use. 

For example, I’ve had cases where structured meal guidance has made owners much more compliant with a consistent routine. One pet I cared for was a pitbull with mild sensitivities that responded well to clearly outlined portions, which gave the pet parent much less to worry about. They engaged in consistency and had fewer questions about what or how much to feed. 

Another case involved a highly active young golden retriever that underwent notable changes in exercise levels, requiring adjustments to its diet. A customized feeding plan helped the dog parents stay organized and avoid frequent dietary changes.

All this to say, personalization tools can be quite helpful, especially when taken in conjunction with the advice of a licensed veterinarian. Both brands succeed on this front, but I must say that I really appreciate We Feed Raw’s thoroughness here.

The Logistics: Ordering, Storage, and Feeding

Maev’s meals are chopped into frozen cubes, and they’re portioned into containers or pouches that need to be thawed before feeding (adequate freezer space is obviously required). We Feed Raw meals, which also arrive frozen and need to go straight into the freezer, are delivered as patties. When you’re ready to feed your dog, you simply thaw the patty in the refrigerator before feeding — no need to cook or reheat. 

I make this distinction because I prefer patties and the ability to make changes rapidly. For example, patties make it easier to recalculate MER (maintenance energy requirement) and RER (resting energy requirement) and to taper calories after weight loss, changes in activity level, or post-injury feeding. These metrics are vital for calculating the daily caloric intake required for a dog’s health, weight management, and life stage. And with We Feed Raw, you can simply adjust the grams per day instead of ordering a new plan. 

In addition, We Feed Raw’s plan is better if you’re doing a partial raw diet (where you use both raw food and kibble or a cooked diet) because you can split, shave, or feed patties in exact-gram increments; you can even modify the percentage of calories because their online dashboard behaves like a diet calculator. 

Maev’s cubes, on the other hand, are good for grab-and-feed simplicity and for pet owners who don’t want to measure, but it can be harder to adjust calories by small percentages since cubes don’t scale as smoothly when you’re feeding a mixed or partial-raw diet. 

When it comes to the ordering experience, We Feed Raw’s portions can be changed directly in your account dashboard at any time, and shipments can be delayed, modified, or skipped without contacting support.  

Maev is also adjustable but less fine-tuned. You can make changes, but they need to be made well before shipment. These changes also need to be made through customer service, which is not ideal for rapid caloric adjustments — though it’s perfectly fine for steady, consistent feeding schedules. 

My Veterinary Recommendation

There are many similarities between Maev and We Feed Raw. They both strive to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles, so you can rest assured knowing they’re complete and balanced meals. Both brands are high in protein and moderate in fat, with a focus on animal-based ingredients. 

Maev adds some plant-based ingredients to their animal proteins, such as vegetables, fruits, and functional fibers — the latter of which can actually improve digestive tolerance in some dogs.

However, I prefer We Feed Raw’s stripped-down, meat-forward model that includes muscle meat, organs, and bone to create a nutrient balance similar to that of your dog’s predatory ancestors. 

It provides:

• High protein
• Very low carbohydrate content
• Advanced safety measures that include HPP, allowing them to keep nutrients intact
• Customization that helps support real medical needs

That’s why it’s my go-to for pet parents who want a raw diet with superior nutrition that supports their pet’s long-term health, digestive function, and biological alignment.

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