Let’s talk a bit about raw feeding.

Alongside my certification in canine nutrition I have additional training in raw dog food nutrition (la dee da look at me!). HA! But seriously, I took the course because raw feeding (or rather, species appropriate feeding, which is a great way to look at it!) is something I’m passionate about and I realized that it was important to deepen my knowledge, outside of personal experience, in order to be able to educate my clients properly. 

So let me pull back a bit, because I get it, raw feeding for some feels like absolute insanity. We’ve gone for years and years of breeders, vets, dog shops and rescues, groomers, trainers, tv dogs and everyone canine related selling or promoting kibble as standard. And all of the sudden we’re supposed to handle raw meat for cryin’ out loud!?

But let’s try and look at things a little differently- with some humour, perspective and an open mind. 

 

1. Don’t be grossed out by the meat (unless you're a vegan in which case, I get it, but even still, this ain't about you boo), wear gloves and get over it- this is not just feeding, it's an act of love, empathy and understanding for the creature you share your life with. It’s about investing in your dogs well being by providing them with a species appropriate diet.
2. Kibble smells 100x worse than raw meat #facts
3. If I told you what was in majority of big brand name kibble, you’d never be spooked out by raw meat again (think rendered shelter animals, diseased and disabled farm animals, and end products of baked goods from restaurants- ie GMO plant oils, enriched wheat flour and high fructose corn syrup).
4. No species on the planet was meant to thrive (no less survive) on processed food.
5. Your vet selling you processed food for your dog is like your doctor selling you monthly subscriptions to lean cuisine and hungryman dinners (barf).
6. Raw is not a one size fits all situation- like anything, there are going to be companies who invest in quality and transparency (which is SUPER important when it comes to processing and handling meat), and there will be companies who use terrible quality meat or provide unbalanced meals that leave dogs with deficiencies and subsequent ailments.
7. Feeding mass produced grain fed raw food and your dog having an adverse reaction is not always an indication that they cannot handle raw food, it’s most likely because of the quality, type of protein, or pace of introduction.
8. Consult with a canine nutritionist or holistic veterinarian before transitioning your dog to raw in order to improve your likelihood of success.
9. If you can’t bring yourself to feed raw, or your dog doesn’t react to good quality, well balanced raw food, gently cooked is always an option (fresh is best).
10. If raw nor cooked is in your budget or comfort zone, a raw meaty bone at least once a week for your dog helps to clean their teeth (while entertaining them), boost their calcium intake and gives them a little bit of the nutrients from fresh raw meat without blowing your budget.

TA DA!!! Message me or book a consult for further tips, guidance and suggested companies with best practices!