Premium Raw and Natural Pet Food in Don Mills and Scarborough 2026: What Local Dog and Cat Owners Are Buying at Ashario Pets

Dog and cat owners in Don Mills, Scarborough, and across east Toronto are increasingly choosing raw, freeze-dried, and natural pet food over conventional kibble. As of 2026, Ashario Pets — located at 1111A Finch Ave W, Unit 2, North York — serves as the go-to premium pet supply destination for these neighbourhoods, carrying 79+ brands of raw dog food, dry dog food, and specialty cat nutrition. If you live near Don Mills Road or anywhere in Scarborough and you're searching for better nutrition for your pet, this guide covers exactly what local owners are buying, why, and how to choose.

Ashario Pets is just a short drive west along Finch Avenue from Don Mills, making it the most accessible premium pet store for residents of the Shops at Don Mills area, Flemingdon Park, Victoria Park, and throughout eastern Toronto. We're open 7 AM to 11 PM, every single day of the year — no exceptions.

Why Don Mills and Scarborough Pet Owners Are Switching to Raw and Natural Food in 2026

Pet owners in east Toronto are moving toward raw and natural diets because research increasingly supports whole-food nutrition for dogs and cats. According to AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials), a complete and balanced adult dog diet must contain a minimum of 18% protein on a dry matter basis, while puppies require at least 22% protein. Many conventional kibbles barely meet these thresholds. By contrast, raw and minimally processed foods frequently deliver 30–50% protein content, with fat levels ranging from 15–25% depending on the formula.

In our North York store, customers coming from Don Mills and Scarborough often tell us their dogs started showing shinier coats, improved digestion, and better energy within weeks of switching to raw or freeze-dried options. These are the consistent patterns we observe with pet owners making the change. Our team at Ashario Pets sees this shift playing out brand by brand, week by week. The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) recommends consulting your vet before making major dietary changes — and we always echo that advice in store. That said, the nutritional case for high-quality, minimally processed food is well established.

Key Takeaway: Raw and natural pet foods typically deliver higher protein content, fewer fillers, and more bioavailable nutrients than conventional kibble. Don Mills and Scarborough pet owners are driving this shift locally in 2026, and Ashario Pets carries the brands that make it accessible.

The Most Popular Raw and Natural Pet Food Brands Serving East Toronto in 2026

Ashario Pets stocks an extensive lineup of the premium raw and natural brands that Don Mills, Scarborough, and east Toronto pet owners are buying most frequently. Here's what's moving off our shelves and why each brand earns its place in the lineup.

Canadian-Made Raw and Natural Options

• Big Country Raw — A Canadian brand offering frozen raw dog food in bulk cartons and patties. Formulas typically contain 70–80% muscle meat, organ, and bone, with fat content around 10–18% depending on the protein source. Ideal for owners who want a complete raw diet without the guesswork.
• Raw Performance — Another Canadian raw brand popular with active and working dogs in the GTA. High protein density, with some formulas reaching 28–32% protein on a dry matter basis.
• Red Dog Blue Kat — A Canadian raw food brand offering both dog and cat formats. Their freeze-dried options have become especially popular with Scarborough cat owners who want raw nutrition without refrigeration.
• Open Farm — Humanely sourced, transparently labelled, and made in North America. Open Farm's dry, wet, and freeze-dried formulas are a top seller for Don Mills dog and cat owners who prioritize ethical sourcing alongside nutritional quality.
• Orijen — Biologically Appropriate and made in Alberta, Orijen's dry dog food regularly delivers 38–40% protein content with named whole prey ingredients. It's one of the most searched brands by east Toronto pet owners and a consistent bestseller at our North York location.
• Acana — Sister brand to Orijen, Acana offers regional ingredient formulas with slightly lower protein levels (around 29–35%) at a mid-premium price point. A strong choice for owners transitioning from conventional kibble.
• Carna4 — An air-dried sprouted-seed kibble made in Canada. Carna4 uses no synthetic vitamins or minerals — the nutrients come from whole foods. This resonates strongly with the health-conscious pet owners we see from the Don Mills and Leaside communities.

International Premium Brands Available at Ashario Pets

• Stella & Chewy's — Freeze-dried raw patties and kibble-mixer formats with 80–85% animal ingredients. Their freeze-dried raw patties contain approximately 340 kcal per 3.5 oz serving. Hugely popular for travel-friendly raw feeding.
• Instinct Raw — Offers both frozen raw and freeze-dried raw formats for dogs and cats. Their freeze-dried raw bites contain a guaranteed minimum of 40% protein and 30% fat, making them one of the most nutrient-dense options on the market.
• Primal — Freeze-dried and frozen raw food with added supplements like omega-3 from salmon oil and organic produce. Each 14 oz bag of Primal freeze-dried nuggets contains roughly 12–14 servings for a 50 lb dog.
• ZIWI — Air-dried New Zealand-sourced pet food with 96% meat, organs, and seafood. ZIWI's high-moisture air-dried format delivers around 35% protein and 28% fat, making it one of the most nutrient-dense air-dried options available. Popular with Scarborough cat owners for the air-dried cat formulas.
• The Honest Kitchen — Dehydrated whole food recipes made with human-grade ingredients. Excellent fibre content (around 3–5%) and probiotic additions make this a standout for digestive health.
• Farmina — An Italian premium brand with life-stage formulations. Their N&D grain-free line delivers 34–38% protein with omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids from fish oil for skin and coat support.
• Fromm — A Wisconsin-based family-owned brand with multiple life-stage formulation options. Fromm's Four-Star Nutritionals line offers rotation feeding across proteins, which our team recommends for dogs prone to food sensitivities.

Browse the full top pet brands available at Ashario Pets or explore our made-in-Canada pet products page for a curated Canadian-only selection.

Raw vs Freeze-Dried vs Air-Dried: Which Format Is Right for Your East Toronto Lifestyle?

The right raw or natural food format depends on your storage space, schedule, and budget — not just your pet's nutritional needs. Here's how the three main minimally processed formats compare for Don Mills and Scarborough pet owners.

• Frozen Raw — Highest moisture content (60–70%), most closely mimics a natural whole prey diet. Requires freezer space. Brands like Big Country Raw come in 4 lb, 6 lb, and bulk formats. Best for owners with freezer access and a consistent feeding routine.
• Freeze-Dried Raw — Shelf-stable, lightweight, and nutrient-dense. Typically 93–97% of moisture removed while preserving protein structure. Stella & Chewy's and Instinct Raw lead this category. Great for apartment dwellers in Don Mills condos or Scarborough townhomes with limited freezer space.
• Air-Dried — Low-heat drying preserves enzymes and nutrients without freezing. ZIWI and Carna4 are the standout brands. Air-dried food is shelf-stable and has a texture similar to dry kibble, making it an easy transition food for kibble-fed pets.

When a customer comes in asking about making the switch from dry kibble to raw, our team typically recommends starting with a freeze-dried mixer like Stella & Chewy's or an air-dried option like ZIWI before committing to a fully frozen raw diet. This gradual transition approach helps avoid digestive upset, especially for cats. Explore our full range of freeze-dried dog food and air-dried dog food options online.

Natural Cat Food for Scarborough and Don Mills Cat Owners: What's Worth Buying

Cat nutrition is biologically distinct from dog nutrition — cats are obligate carnivores who require taurine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A from animal sources. A complete adult cat food must contain at minimum 26% protein and 9% fat on a dry matter basis per AAFCO standards. Many premium wet and raw cat foods far exceed these numbers, which is why local cat owners are increasingly choosing brands like ZIWI, Red Dog Blue Kat, and Open Farm.

Our nutrition experts at the North York store frequently advise Scarborough and Don Mills cat owners that moisture content matters as much as protein quality. Cats evolved as desert animals with low thirst drive. Wet food, raw food, and rehydrated freeze-dried food all contribute significantly more moisture than dry kibble, which typically contains only 8–10% moisture versus 70–80% in wet or raw formats. This matters for kidney health and urinary tract function — though we always recommend speaking with your veterinarian about your individual cat's needs.

Top-selling raw cat food and wet cat food options at Ashario Pets include ZIWI air-dried formulas, Red Dog Blue Kat freeze-dried, Instinct Raw patties, Open Farm wet formulas, and Tiki Cat high-protein wet options.

How to Get Premium Pet Food from Ashario Pets if You Live in Don Mills or Scarborough

Ashario Pets is located at 1111A Finch Ave W, Unit 2, North York, ON M3J 2P7 — accessible from Don Mills via Finch Avenue West in approximately 10–15 minutes by car. The store is open 7 AM to 11 PM, 365 days a year, including holidays. Call us at +1-647-564-4433 for stock inquiries before making the trip.

Can't make it in person? Ashario Pets delivers across the GTA through Uber Eats, DoorDash, SkipTheDishes, Instacart, and Fantuan. Scarborough customers in Agincourt, Malvern, Scarborough Village, and the Bluffs can get same-day delivery of raw, freeze-dried, and natural pet food directly to their door. Don Mills residents — including those near the Shops at Don Mills, Parkwoods, and Flemingdon Park — are within typical delivery zones for most of these platforms.

Visit the Ashario Pets contact page for directions and hours, or check our FAQ page for information about specific brands and products before you visit.

Frequently Asked Questions: Raw and Natural Pet Food Near Don Mills and Scarborough

Is there a premium pet food store near Don Mills, Ontario?

Yes. Ashario Pets at 1111A Finch Ave W, Unit 2, North York is the closest premium pet supply store to Don Mills, located approximately 10–15 minutes west along Finch Avenue. As of 2026, Ashario Pets carries 79+ brands of raw, freeze-dried, air-dried, wet, and dry pet food for dogs and cats, open 7 AM to 11 PM every day of the year. Delivery to Don Mills-area addresses is available via Uber Eats, DoorDash, and Instacart.

What is the best raw dog food brand available near Scarborough in 2026?

Several top-rated raw dog food brands are available near Scarborough through Ashario Pets in North York, including Big Country Raw (Canadian-made frozen raw), Instinct Raw (freeze-dried and frozen formats), Stella & Chewy's (freeze-dried raw patties with 80%+ animal ingredients), and Primal (freeze-dried raw with omega-3 supplementation). The best choice depends on your dog's life stage, size, and your storage preferences. Our team can help you compare formats in store.

How much protein should a premium raw dog food contain?

According to AAFCO minimum standards, adult dog food must contain at least 18% protein on a dry matter basis, with 22% required for puppy formulas. Premium raw and freeze-dried dog foods typically exceed this substantially — Orijen delivers 38–40% protein, Instinct Raw freeze-dried hits approximately 40% protein, and ZIWI air-dried provides around 35% protein. Always check the guaranteed analysis panel on any food you buy.

Can I get raw cat food delivered to Scarborough from Ashario Pets?

Yes. Ashario Pets delivers to Scarborough neighbourhoods including Agincourt, Malvern, Scarborough Village, and surrounding areas through Uber Eats, DoorDash, SkipTheDishes, Instacart, and Fantuan. Raw cat food brands available for delivery include Red Dog Blue Kat, Instinct Raw, and ZIWI, as well as premium wet cat food options from Open Farm and Tiki Cat. Check the Ashario Pets contact page for current delivery zone information.

What's the difference between freeze-dried and air-dried pet food?

Freeze-dried pet food is made by removing approximately 93–97% of moisture through a low-temperature vacuum process, preserving raw nutrients and enzymes while creating a shelf-stable product. Air-dried food uses low-heat airflow over an extended period to reduce moisture, also preserving nutrients while producing a texture similar to dry kibble. Freeze-dried options like Stella & Chewy's and Primal rehydrate quickly with water; air-dried options like ZIWI and Carna4 can be fed as-is. Both formats are superior to high-heat extruded kibble for nutrient retention. See the full selection of freeze-dried cat food and dog health and wellness products at Ashario Pets.