why raw?

The Benefits Your Pet Deserves

  • Improved Digestion

    Smaller less smelly stools, gas and odor due to proper digestion

  • Healthy Skin & Coat

    Thick glossy coat due to proper nutrition & reduced inflammation.

  • Ideal Weight

    High protein & fat leads to greater lean muscle and higher energy.

  • Oral & Gut Health

    Less tarter & improved gut health lead to stronger immune systems.

  • Increased Energy

    Less energy wasted on digestion leads to greater focused energy

  • Improved Hydration

    Moisture content leads to proper hydration & less organ stress

  • frequently asked questions

    What is Raw Pet Food?
    Raw pet food is uncooked meat, bone and organs as cats and dogs are biologically designed to eat. Prepared raw pet food is conveniently pre ground, and comes in small nibbles, patties or chubs in the appropriate proportions of meat : bone : organ.

    Freeze-dried raw pet food has all the benefits of frozen raw food with the convenience of being shelf-stable. The only thing missing is moisture, so be sure to rehydrate.

    Air dried food, like Ziwi, is slowly and gently dried so no starch binder is needed. It is not considered raw since it has been lightly cooked. It is incredibly calorie and nutrient dense, so you do not need to feed as much.

    Freeze-dried treats & chews offer the benefits of raw minus all the cheap and sometimes nasty ingredients found in traditional dog treats. If you feed well, treat well, too!
    Why Feed Raw?
    Raw pet food leaves amino acids, vitamins, minerals, pre/probiotics and enzymes unaltered. This makes the food more bioavailable providing our pets with more easily absorbed nutrients.

    The moisture content leads to better hydrated pets, and therefore less organ stress. Carnivores have a low thirst drive as they should be getting moisture from their food. One of the first things noticed by those who switch from kibble to raw is their pet is not drinking as much water, and yet still urinating. Kibble has around 10% moisture content while raw has upwards of 70%.

    Raw fed pets have much smaller less smelly stools! The lack of fillers and indigestible ingredients mean they are fully utilizing what they are being fed. Hello, less poop in the yard! Many people who switch to raw also notice their dogs are not “passing gas” as much either. Their digestive systems are working optimally now that they are not trying to process things they were never designed to digest.
    How is Dog Digestion Different?
    Dogs are part of our family, but do not have the same nutritional needs as people.

    As natural carnivores, dogs have hinged jaws and triangular shaped teeth for eating meat. Their short acidic digestive tract is capable of handling bacteria we are not. Dogs keep food in their acidic stomachs for longer periods of time making it much less likely for bacteria to survive. Then it passes quickly through their intestines.

    We have jaws able to move side-to-side, saliva with digestive enzymes, and molars for grinding plant material. We pass food through our stomachs quickly, and then it sits in our much longer intestinal tract for long periods of time creating a better environment for germs to multiply.

    Biologically, dogs are designed to eat raw meat and we are not.
    What is wrong with Kibble?
    The only advantage to kibble is convenience. The health value of fresh food is incomparable.

    Processed food is bad for people and pets. Pets did not eat kibble before the 20th century correlating with an increased consumption of processed foods for people.

    The extreme heat and pressure used to produce kibble destroys naturally occurring enzymes, probiotics and compromises the amino acids. This can cause our pet's body to no longer recognize it leading to immune responses including itchy skin and GI problems associated with food intolerances. Even high quality kibbles that may start with better ingredients still are subjected to this high heat and pressure so much so that they have to be supplemented with vitamins and minerals after production.

    Feeding only kibble to our dogs is similar to feeding our human children a box of cereal for every meal every day. They won’t be hungry and will get vitamins and minerals from the fortified cereal, but the child won’t have optimal health.

    Many of the ingredients found in kibble are there because they are cheap. A carnivore's digestive tract is not meant to digest corn, wheat, soy, and may other plants. They lack the molars and enzymes to break them down. However, the process of making kibble requires a starch as a binder, so these inexpensive ingredients are often found. Good for business, but bad for dogs.

    Healthy Natural Happy

    Make The Switch

    You don't have to feed 100% raw if that does not work with your budget or lifestyle. Read our blog post on transitioning to raw for more detailed information on products and amounts.

    Contact us for suggestions on supplementing with raw.

    Gather Supplies
    stainless steel bowls
    container for thawing
    scale (?)
    Calculate Daily Raw Needs
    2.5% of adult body weight daily is a starting point
    Dived between two meals
    Pick a Protein Plan
    1 protein & manufacturer for transition phase
    Gradually add 2nd & 3rd
    Consider Supplements
    Can pumpkin
    digestive enzymes
    probiotics
    Patties, Nuggets or Chubs
    Patties are proportioned
    Nuggets thaw fast
    Chubs are economical
    Decide on a Timeline
    [A] Switch Cold Turkey
    [B] Gradually transition
    See post for guidance