Jasper eats raw dog food.
I am a certified sports nutritionist, personal trainer and proud brain tumour survivor. My education and experiences solidify the theory that we are what we eat. This is why I put a lot of thought into the foods I consume. It is also the reason why it matters what Jasper eats. Since I am without kids, he is my life. His nutrition and well being is of high importance to me.
We have shopped here since Jasper was a puppy.
Luckily, I found a place that cares just as much about my pet as I do. From the moment I walked into the doors of Elemental Canine three years ago, Jasper and I are treated like family.
Staff at big box stores like PetSmart are friendly and helpful, I have no complaints. But they are usually just minimum wage employees who love animals. They do a good job of helping you understand the basics of taking care of your pet. But good is not enough for me, or Jasper.
When it comes to my dog, I want incredible. All of the staff at Elemental Canine are more than that. The service and knowledge base is exceptional. Most of them have certification in other areas of pet care. This is a full time career for them. http://elementalcanine.com
What goes into the food? Where is it from? Just like humans, the animals in our lives are unique. The staff takes the time to fully understand what is best for each individual animal.
Before I even started the adoption process, I googled everything I could about dog food. I walked into the store three years ago confident that feeding Jasper raw dog food is the best option for him.
Just like any human ‘diet’ the same arguments arise around what to feed our pets. I encourage my clients to make the best choices for their lives, I feel we need to the same for our fur babies.
www.3pnaturals.com
A raw dog food includes raw meat, bones, fruits and veggies. When I think of dogs being dogs, I can’t imagine them eating any other way. Kibble, as far as I am concerned, is a cheap and easy way for people to feed pets. I often compare dogs eating kibble to people eating at MacDonalds. Most people don’t take the time to question the crap they eat, so why would they do it for their pets?
Most commercial pet food is highly processed. Just like it is for humans, processed food is extremely unnatural for our pets to consume. That is why I avoid it as much as possible and do the same for Jasper.
Not all raw dog food is the same.
Not everyone will feel the same way as I do. Do your own research and make the best choice for you and your pet. Nothing will change the fact that I believe that raw is the best choice for my dog. Let me share a few reasons why I choose to feed my dog this way.
1 – On a basic level, animals digestive system were meant to eat people food. I know they have been domesticated over the years, however, raw bones, meat and organs of other animals give them the most bioavailable and easily assimilated nutrients.
2 – His shit doesn’t stink! When Jasper is eating only the raw food that he is allowed to eat, his stool is small and almost odorless. More like the natural poop of a wild animal. If the neighbors give him treats through the fence or Grandma Debbie comes to visits. His poop is immediately larger, smelly and soft to touch.
3 – After three years of being on a raw food diet the vet has always commented on his healthy teeth. His breath never stinks. When carnivores eat raw meat, bones, and connective tissue they naturally scrub and floss the gums. This has been a very obvious advantage for Jasper. Most of his dog friends that are the same age have already been told by the vet that they have tarter build up.
4 – People frequently comment on his shinny coat. Since Jasper has eaten this way since I rescued at six months old, I don’t know any different. Healthy hair and skin on our pets is just another sign of a healthy animal. We are what we eat.
As I mentioned above, raw food includes the entire animal – meant, organ, bone and everything in between. Bone is integral because it provides calcium, phosphorus and minerals.
** IMPORTANT ** Do not give your dog cooked bones and never leave your pet unsupervised when chewing bones. They can be choking hazards.
Small, hollow bones like chicken wings don’t contain marrow and are usually completely consumed by the animal chewing it. Personally, I don’t like to give these to Jasper. He loves to eat random shit. I worry that he won’t break it down completely before he swallows. I know many people who give these types of bones to their dogs without any issues. It makes me nervous that Jasper could scratch his throat if he swallowed one of these tiny pieces.
I prefer to give him larger bones such as beef or bison femurs/knuckle bones. They are hard and Jasper can’t eat all the way through. I buy these with more meat and cartilage on them and Jasper chews on them for hours. They often last several days. Gnawing and chewing is equivalent to teeth brushing. Therefore it helps to remove tartar from teeth and help in the prevention of gum disease.
www.openfarmpet.com
Not all raw dog food is created equal. As it becomes more main stream it is easier to find at the big box pet stores. A lot of them still have processed meats and cheap fillers like gluten. For the higher prices point some of these companies are charging for ‘raw dog food’ you want to make sure you are getting what you pay for.
Processed food with cheap fillers, you might as well just buy kibble.
If you live in the SURREY area I can not say enough great things about Elemental Canine and highly suggest going and speaking to them about the nutrition needs for you pet.
Otherwise, google some of the local pets stores in your area. Call and find out what kind of personalized guidance they can offer you for your pets nutrition.
** IMPORTANT **. When ever you switch your pet to a new food, do it gradually over 7-10 days. This gives their digestive system time to digest.
