F.A.Q.
What is a species appropriate diet?
For companion animals such as cats and dogs, species appropriate means a diet of meat, organs, bones, and some fiber in the form of fur, feathers or low glycemic fruits and vegetables.
What do you mean dogs shouldn't eat carbs?
Dogs and cats have no dietary need for carbohydrates; this is made obvious by the fact that they do not have amylase (the enzyme that allows for the breakdown of carbs) in their saliva. Some dogs are even deficient in the gene needed to produce adequate amounts of pancreatic amylase, which can lead to the development of pancreatitis. However it can be beneficial to have low glycemic carbohydrates in the diet to round out trace nutrients, add fiber for regular bowel movements, and to feed the good gut bacteria.
My Vet said that grains are necessary for dogs or they can develop heart problems, is this true?
No, this is false! Several years ago there was a report published by the FDA that there might be a link between dilated cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) and grain free kibble. It was theorized that dogs need grains to synthesize an amino acid called Taurine which is heart protective. It turns out that was not correct, and it was actually the lack of high quality protein from meat and organs that did not allow dogs to synthesize the Taurine they needed. Unfortunately, the word was not spread as loudly when the FDA retracted their statement, and many veterinarians still do not know that this is the case or remain convinced despite data to the contrary.
Why switch to fresh food?
Kibble frequently consists of 70%+ carbohydrates, and is not species appropriate. The excessive amount of carbohydrates present in kibble is linked to obesity, diabetes, dental disease and more. Additionally, the ‘meat’ in kibble is often sourced from 4D animals (animals who are found dead, dying, downed or diseased), which requires extreme heat processing to kill any potential pathogens. This processing, also called extrusion, causes the proteins to become denatured (broken down and altered) which can lead to chronic GI upset, leaky gut syndrome and food sensitivities/allergies. It also removes all the nutrients from the food, which is why you see synthetic vitamins and minerals added to the kibble in the ingredient list. Feeding fresh food will optimize gut health and in turn allow the immune system to perform at peak functioning. A strong immune system will improve allergy symptoms, decrease the risk of developing cancers or autoimmune diseases, prevent infections and increase overall health and longevity.
Is feeding fresh food expensive?
The short answer is yes, feeding a species appropriate diet will cost more upfront in the form of real food ingredients. However, feeding your pet fresh food will optimize their health, decrease the risk of them developing certain diseases that are associated with kibble, and decrease vet visits related to long term medical issues associated with kibble. So in the end, I feel confident saying that feeding fresh food will be less expensive or at the very least even out the overall cost of owning a pet over their lifetime.
My veterinarian says kibble is best, why should I listen to you?
Unfortunately, in conventional veterinary school, the bulk of nutrition education is focused on the farming industry. The main text used to teach companion animal nutrition is Small Animal Clinical Nutrition (SACN), which was written in the 1990’s. This text (I have read it) is outdated, and we have learned so much more about companion animal nutrition in the past 30 years. Your conventional veterinarian is giving you recommendations that they truly believe are best based on what they were taught, but we have learned a lot since the last edition of SACN was written and updated information has not yet been integrated into most programs. In addition to this, vets sometimes encounter dogs who are suffering from nutritional deficiencies due to owners who do feed a fresh food diet that does not contain all the components needed to keep a dog healthy. When vets see pet parents breaking away from kibble and feeding an improper diet that causes problems, it can further turn them away from recommending fresh food. Luckily, we have so many resources now that can put pet parents on the path to feeding a nutritionally complete fresh food diet to their dogs, and those dogs are thriving!
Can I use one meal formulation for multiple dogs?
Often dogs of similar weight and activity level can share a recipe, or use a similar recipe with just a few small changes. That is not always the case, however, and each dog should be fed as an individual based on their needs. For example, if you have a 70lb dog and a 35lb dog, you may assume that you can just feed the 35lb dogs half of the same formulation that was created for the 70lb dog. But that is usually not the case, and I recommend feeding a meal tailored to one dog to ensure it are meeting all their needs.
What if my dog has allergies?
There are many proteins available to be used in fresh food, so if your dog has allergies we will avoid those proteins and use others instead! This may mean starting with an elimination diet if you do not know what your dog is sensitive to.
Aren't bones dangerous?
Cooked bones should NEVER be fed to dogs, however raw meaty bones (RMBs) are generally recognized as safe and widely used in the fresh feeding community. The skin, meat, and connective tissue present on RMBs cushion the bone and they are less likely to splinter in such a way that sharp pieces could cause an injury to the GI tract. The act of chewing on these bones also promotes oral health by shearing plaque from the teeth. It is important to match the right bone to the dog, and this is based on the size of the dog, the chewing style of the dog, and their dental health. This will all be discussed during a consultation, and if you still feel uncomfortable feeding bones, there are alternatives to meet calcium requirements.
Will my dog have diarrhea if I switch food?
It’s possible your dog could have some loose stools when switching to fresh food. A lifetime of eating kibble actually changes the pH of the gut to be more alkaline, rather than the acidic environment it needs to digest raw meat and bones. So at first, you may see some loose stools or even undigested pieces of food in the stool. However the gut will quickly adapt to the new food, the pH will return to being more acidic, and you’ll soon see small, formed, and minimally odorous stools.
Raw food has bacteria in it, will my dog or I get sick?
It is true that raw meats could harbor bacteria. First lets talk about your dog. The acidic pH of their stomach and their short digestive tract decreases the risk of pathogenic overgrowth in the GI tract. Likewise, the normal, healthy bacteria (the microbiome) in their mouth and GI tract is designed to prevent pathogenic overgrowth, and lysosomes in their saliva are present to break down bacterial cell walls as well. Taking precautions such as wiping the fur around their mouth after eating (or keeping the fur trimmed), and feeding in an area that is easily sanitized will protect you and your human family members. You should keep food preparation areas clean when working with raw meats just as you would when you prepare food for yourself or your family. Also, keep in mind that kibble is often contaminated with pathogens such as salmonella, and has been known to cause infections in humans (and dogs) because many pet parents don’t know about it and don’t frequently clean their hands or dog dishes after feeding or touching kibble.
I don't feel comfortable feeding raw, is there another option?
There are other options if you do not feel comfortable with raw, including cooked food, air-dried food, freeze-dried food and dehydrated food. We can discuss what method you feel comfortable using during a consultation.
Where can I find fresh food for my dog?
Meat and vegetables can often be purchased at your regular grocery store or grocery outlet if the price point is affordable. Bones and organs can sometimes be found at traditional grocery stores, and are abundant at ethnic markets and butcher’s shops. Additionally, if there is a raw food cooperative near you, this can be a fantastic resource to buying in bulk and lowering the price point. Check out my resource page to see if there is a coop near you!