Frozen pet food arrives by courier, packed with ice, and it only works if it is still frozen when it reaches you. That changes what you should check before you order: delivery timing, freezer space, who is home and how quickly you must report a problem.

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Check the delivery plan before the food

  • Which day does it ship, and which day does it arrive? Frozen parcels are time sensitive. One US frozen pet food store we looked at says orders placed Monday to Thursday before 2 pm Eastern usually ship the same day, Friday orders must be in before 1 pm, and it does not ship over the weekend. Its shipping page also says courier delivery exceptions can add one or two days. Ask any store you use the same questions.
  • Can someone receive it? Find out whether the parcel needs a signature and whether the courier will leave it at the door. A box left in the sun is a different problem from a box left in the cold.
  • Does the store ship to your area? Frozen delivery often covers only part of a country. Check the store's own delivery page for your postcode or ZIP code.

Work out the real price

Free-shipping thresholds are often much higher for frozen items than for dry goods. The same store says frozen orders ship free at $199 or more and cost a $30 flat rate below that, while non-frozen items ship free from $49 and cost $7.99 below that. If an order contains any frozen item, the $199 minimum applies. Last checked: 20 October 2026. Source: the store's shipping information page.

Compare cost per day of feeding, not price per parcel: add up the weight you will actually use, then divide by the days it lasts for your pet. Our guide to buying pet food online shows how to work this out.

Do you have freezer space?

A month of frozen food for a large dog takes real room. Measure the free space in your freezer before you order, and check whether the store packs food in portions you can fit.

Know the return window before you buy

Return rules for perishable food are strict. The store above says to keep the items and tell it within 3 days of delivery if something is wrong, damaged or thawed, and it may ask for pictures. It also says that a pet refusing food is not a valid reason for a return. Read the policy for any store you use, and take photos as soon as the box arrives.

What the US FDA says about raw pet food

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says raw pet food diets can be dangerous to pets and to the people who handle the food. In its study, which screened more than 1,000 pet food samples between October 2010 and July 2012, 15 of 196 raw pet food samples tested positive for Salmonella and 32 for Listeria monocytogenes. The FDA says people who feed raw diets may have a higher risk of infection.

The FDA's handling tips include:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after handling raw pet food and after touching surfaces it has touched.
  • Clean surfaces and objects with hot soapy water, then disinfect them.
  • Keep raw pet food frozen until you use it, and thaw it in the refrigerator or microwave, not on the countertop or in the sink.
  • Keep raw food separate from other food, and do not rinse raw meat or poultry.
  • Refrigerate leftovers right away or throw them out safely.
  • Do not kiss your pet around its mouth or let it lick your face, especially after it eats raw food.

Last checked: 20 October 2026. Source: US FDA, Raw Pet Food Diets Can Be Dangerous to You and Your Pet, last updated by the FDA on 22 February 2018.

This guide does not say whether any diet is right for your pet. Talk to your vet before you change what your pet eats.

Treats and chews

Frozen food shops often sell treats and chews as well. For these, check the ingredient list and the size of the item against your pet's size, and watch your pet while it chews. Our guide to reading a pet food label explains what to look for.