Nutrition

Food is paramount to life and is a crucial source of energy.  Our dogs’ bodies, like ours,  are designed to get everything needed to function optimally through a variety of fresh, whole foods.  What we feed our dogs will determine wether they thrive or degenerate.  The type and quality of food and supplements are critical for the good health and happiness of your pet.

What You Need To Know

• Dogs are scavenging carnivores and should be fed meat for good health

• Dogs do not have a biological requirement for starch

• Kibble is comprised of rendered* ingredients

• Diets rich in carbohydrates correlate with disease such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer

• All processed food is 40-60% carbohydrates

• Kibble was created for profit and convenience and it’s nutritional value was not based on qualified research

• Pet food manufacturers are not required to disclose their rendering process

• Kibble does not clean teeth

• Beware of kibbles made from insects.  They are largely comprised of carbohydrates and meal which are both biologically inappropriate.  Additionally, insects do not provide the full array of nutrients required for your pet to thrive

The Problem With Kibble:

1. ULTRA PROCESSED

   • Cooked 5 times at extremely high temperatures which creating carcinogenic by-products and loss of nutrients.   

   • Processing reduces nutrient quality
     

2. POOR REGULATION

   • Pet food and treats can be made available to the marketplace without approval or inspection by any governing agency 

   • Pet food manufacturing plants are rarely inspected by the FDA
     

3. INGREDIENTS ARE INFERIOR,  BIOLOGICALLY INAPPROPRIATE AND DEVOID OF NUTRITION

• Consists of cheap filler ingredients that are high in carbohydrates, which equates to high sugar content.  

• Poor nutrition leads to nutrient deficiencies.  A nutrient deficient dog is susceptible to disease and injury. 

• High starch content creates metabolic stress and leads to diabetes 
  

4. NO MOISTURE

   • Dogs and cats are designed to get most of their hydration from their food

   • Water is vital for nutrient absorption, circulation, organ function and waste removal 

   • Kibble provides 6-10% moisture

   • Kibble alone dehydrates the body and stresses the kidneys
     

5. TOXIC EXPOSURE

   • Grains sourced for kibble are stored longterm increasing susceptibility to pest infestation and dangerous toxin growth, like mycotoxins such as aflatoxins from mold

   • Once opened, kibble is susceptible to bacterial and fungal growth and  mite infestation. 

   • Kibble goes rancid quickly once opened and exposed to air

   • Mycotoxins and bacteria are odorless and tasteless 
     

6. ADDED INGREDIENTS

• Palatability enhancers are added to influence the taste, smell and texture of the food to entice pets to eat something they would never eat otherwise

Ingredients to Avoid:

• POOR QUALITY MEAT SOURCES - meat and bone meal, poultry/animal digest, animal, meat, by products

• ALL CEREAL GRAINS: corn, wheat, rye, oats, rice, barley, millet etc

• ALL LEGUMES: beans, peas, lentils, 

• POTATOES

• VEGETABLE OILS

• RENDERED FATS - chicken/animal fat

• SEED/VEGETABLE OILS- soybean, canola, peanut, corn, safflower, sunflower, flax

• BEET PULP

• FOOD COLORING-Blue 2, Red 40, and Yellow 5 and 6

• CORN SYRUP

• FLAVOR ENHANCERS - monosodium glutamate, sodium aspartate, disodium inosinate (IMP), disodium guanylate (GMP), disodium cytidylate (CMP), disodium adenylate (AMP), disodium uridylate (UMP), and disodium succinate

Tips for Finding a Quality Food:

Choose human grade food only - avoid all foods made with 4D meats

• Choose meats that are naturally raised and processed humanely.  

• Choose fresh food, if possible.  Fresh food is nutrient dense, identifiable to the body and contains live enzymes and bacteria that contribute to vibrant health

• Avoid anything with meat meal.  Meat meal is derived from slaughter byproducts

• Don’t hesitate to contact a company to ask for clarification about their product

• Choose a company that is transparent and willing to answer your questions

Unfortunately, fresh foods can be cost prohibitive.  Don’t panic if you find yourself in this position.  Studies show that adding fresh vegetables like steamed broccoli to your dog’s bowl of kibble can increase its nutritional value.  Adding something fresh a few times a week or, even better, every day, is a great way to improve your dog’s daily nutrient intake

Tips for Improving the Quality of Inferior Foods:

• Add digestive enzymes

• Add a probiotic

• Top the  kibble with a some hydrated freeze dried formulas

• Add a little of something fresh to each meal.  For example, add any of the following, changing it up for variety throughout the week: a few blueberries, steamed vegetable, a sardine or 2 (packed in water not oil), an egg, bone broth, goat milk, giblets from a chicken or turkey, full fat, plain cottage cheese or yogurt

• Offer a couple of hydrated freeze dried only meals in a week

• Add a sardine/anchovy/green lipped mussel/krill or calamari Omega 3 supplement

• Add coconut oil or MCT oil

• Add a few pieces of raw meat or cut up chicken or turkey wing/neck

• Buy smaller bags and/or use kibble within 2-3 weeks of purchase to avoid oxidation and mold 

• Try to avoid kibbles with legumes, grains, meals, propylene glycol, corn syrup - this is very hard to do - quinoa is a better option

• Buy kibble made and sourced in the USA

• Sprinkle a little sprouted/soaked and ground seeds - pumpkin, sesame, flax 

• Add diluted apple cider vinegar

• Add a small amount of fermented vegetables

• Buy small quantities of kibble and store in the freezer

• Use kibble within 30 days

Home Cooked:

The best food you offer is one that you make with ingredients that you source.  You have complete control of everything that your dog will consume.  This method can be time consuming and does require education on how to feed a properly balanced diet and locating ingredients.  You can take classes and/or consult with nutritionists and/or diet formulators.  See resources 

Supplements

Vitamins and minerals are necessary for optimal health.  Ideally, our dogs will get all the nutrients they need through a variety of fresh whole foods.  The body extracts what it needs and eliminates the rest.  Modern farming has reduces the nutritional content of crops and therefore our food is not as nutritious as it was 70 years ago.  Supplementation can be a very powerful way to bolster your pet’s nutrition.  Supplements in whole food form can help to optimize the body’s processes.  

What You Need To Know:

Vitamins and minerals are naturally bound to other vitamin and minerals.  They work synergistically and are meant to coexist for optimal absorption and synthesis 

• Synthetic vitamins are single sources of nutrients separated out from their naturally occurring state

• Synthetic vitamins/minerals are not as identifiable to the body as those bound in food.  

• Synthetic vitamins are added to pet food in order to provide the minimum daily requirement necessary for survival

• A synthetic form may be necessary to manage a condition

• Vitamins and minerals in whole food, natural form are recognizable and absorbable.

• Feeding a variety* of foods can eliminate the need for a lot of supplements.  

• Variety offers exposure to different types and amounts of key nutrients.

Suggestions:

• Look for supplements in whole food form not synthetic vitamins.  Products will usually state this on the label

• Relying on whole foods or whole food derived supplements reduces the risk of hypervitaminosis as the body can take what it  needs and eliminate the rest.  

• Make sure you’re only feeding necessary supplements.  Too many supplements, even good ones, can be toxic and burden body processes

Rotate the Following for Nutritional Variety:

• Protein rotation

• Bone broth

• Raw goat yogurt/kefir

• Variety of fruits and vegetables 

• Sprouted ground seeds such as pumpkin, sesame and flax

• Small whole fish - sardines and anchovies

• Pastured eggs - chicken, duck, quail

• Recreational bones

• Healthy fats - coconut oil, ghee, clean fish oil