1) How do you serve the raw medallion? Do you thaw it 1st and then serve, or is it served frozen??
I take about 3-4 days worth out of the bag, defrost on counter in some tupperware, then put in fridge and feed from that.
2) Is it stinky/does it smell?
Surprisingly, the odor is not strong at all. Doesn't bother me one bit.Keep in mind the meat is frozen when it's fresh - so there is no strange smell that one might associate w/ unattended meat.
3) Does it gross you out ever? (I was a vegetarian for 10 yrs!-I don't know if I can handle...but I want the best for Snick)
I haven't eaten meat in about 16 years, and it doesn't gross me out one bit. Then again, I'm a nurse - so bc of the gross things I've seen, this one isn't even on the scale
.
4) Should I not get it if I plan to have a baby in 2010??
I think if you're trying to get pregnant or are pregnant, you should absolutely be careful - as always. There is no reason you need to actually touch the meat, if you don't want to. I use 2 mini-forks to "break-up" the medallion and spread it out.
5) Is it super expensive?? I emailed for the Buy One get one Free coupon.
It's more expensive than kibble, for sure! For me, it's less expensive than cooking (which I used to do). I think NV was costing me about $35-40 a month. But, I fed only raw - not rotation. The rotation diet would be much cheaper.
6)Have your dogs ever refused the madallion or the kibble? I would only do the raw and kibble, no canned.
I don't feed kibble. Wylie LOVES all flavors. Marcel didn't much like venison. I now have them on a local grind and it's Duck and they LOVE it. It seems that the NV Raw flavor most loved by dogs is the Organic Chicken.
7) Should bacteria be a concern? Raw meat left in his beard etc??
I don't worry about it
too much or wipe their beards. Many organisms are killed from the freezing process. I follow normal cleanliness rules w/ raw - wash hands if I touch it, clean counter if I get it there etcetera. I think when/if you're pregnant, you should be as careful as possible. Keep in mind though that there is salmonella in pretty much ALL kibble -- so germs are everywhere.