what is raw feeding and why is it important?

Raw feeding starts with the philosophy that our pet’s bodies are designed to primarily process meat proteins. Though they may appear outwardly different, our pets are physiologically very similar to their carnivorous ancestors. Because of this, their diets should be geared to primarily include muscle meat, secreting organ meat (liver, pancreas, etc..), and ground bone. By feeding our pet’s these diets we can help eliminate many health issues and diseases that have become endemic in house pets.

It wasn’t until about 80 years ago that we saw kibble break into the pet food market due to a shortage of metal for canned dog food during World War II. This set the standard for what is now considered “normal” pet food; but what is in the anatomy of a kibble diet?

Kibble, or dry food, makes up the diet of an overwhelming amount of our house pets. It is cheap, convenient, and has an extremely long shelf life. It is no wonder that it grew in popularity so quickly. That being said, most pet parents would think twice before giving kibble to their animals if they just truly knew what was in the bag. By-product meals made from rejected animal parts, allergy-causing wheat gluten, pointless fillers like legumes, and poorly absorbed artificial vitamin packs make up the majority of the kibble on the market. These ingredients can lead to a slew of health issues including obesity, cancer, rotting teeth, leaky gut, unhealthy GI tract, and a plethora of other issues that can seriously affect our pet’s overall well-being.

This is why we so passionately believe in raw feeding. A well-rounded and biologically appropriate diet is the best action you can take in ensuring your pet a life of vitality and health. It is a simple concept really, just like the human body thrives on an omnivorous diet, as our bodies were designed; our pets thrive on a diet that is more in tune with their biological needs.

While dogs do primarily need a meat-based diet to thrive, they can also benefit from a small amount of vegetation to help bolster the vitamins and minerals in their food. What does this look like in a raw diet? Well, the beauty of raw feeding erasing filler in pet food is that each ingredient included is FUNCTIONAL. Instead of legumes and wheat, you get a small amount of raw leafy greens and vitamin-packed fruits and vegetables that help regulate your pet’s nutrition.

Cats, on the other hand, are obligate carnivores, their bodies cannot process vegetation. This means that they should subsist entirely on whole meats and ground bone, just as they do in the wild.

When feeding kibble you are putting strain on your pet’s body to process food that it is not designed for, making them sluggish and often overweight. A raw diet alleviates this strain and frees up their body’s energy, leading to a happier, more alert, and thinner pet.

I know this can all seem rather daunting and a little counterintuitive to what we associate with “raw food.” Raw food can have harmful bacteria that can make us sick, so why should we feed it to our pets? While this is true for the human body, but it is not true for our pets when they are being fed an appropriate raw, prepared diet. Dogs and cats have extremely acidic stomachs that kill bacteria that might be harmful to humans. This is why wild dogs, wolves, and cats don’t get sick when they eat the carcass of an animal in the wild.

Even if you are still reticent to try raw feeding, know that the companies we represent go the extra mile to put your mind at ease. Using several methods such as fermentation, hold and test, or high-pressure pasteurization to eliminate any potentially dangerous bacteria in their diets. Each company is held to the highest standard to ensure the safety of their product, and will gladly take the loss of profit by throwing out a batch of their food rather than sell it to a customer. These companies, as well as ours, BELIEVE in true nutrition for pets and strive to ensure that the products they put out are safe.

I have seen the benefits of raw feeding in my five pets. They are thin, produce healthy waste, are healthy even moving into their old age, all while having the energy they had when they were puppies and kittens. I always tell customers, the best way to show the efficacy of a raw diet is to look at an animal being fed it. It is in the way they more, in their energy, and in their longer life span that you truly see what a beautiful and healthy thing raw feeding is.

If you have any questions or concerns never hesitate to contact us, we will have a caring, well-educated person on the other line to answers your questions who loves your pets almost as much as you do!