From a Vet Tech: “Why I Add Fresh Food for my Dogs”

As an experienced dog owner, I understand the importance of providing a well-rounded diet. In this blog, I’ll share my experience and insights on the benefits of incorporating fresh foods into your canine companion’s kibble-based diet. Learn how these simple additions can promote hydration, improve coat and skin health, and support overall well-being for your beloved pets.

How I feed my dogs

I have three dogs: Tyson (a Pit mix), Pongo, and Lila (the Dalmatians). I rotate the protein choices for their kibble every bag. Since I feed a primarily kibble diet, I like to add a lot of fresh foods to their bowls like raw meat toppers, raw organic eggs, goat milk, bone broth, blueberries, green beans, sweet potatoes, broccoli, bananas, the list can keep going. All of these toppers are great sources of moisture being added to the diet, as kibble is very dehydrating to our pet’s body and organs.

What fresh foods do I add?

I add blueberries as they’re a great source of antioxidants and beneficial to the immune system. Adding certain leafy greens, such as romaine lettuce, kale,

Why I add fresh food to my dogs' kibble

Morgan with her dogs Tyson and Pongo

 collard greens, are great sources of natural fiber. Raw organic eggs are full of amino and fatty acids and amazing for skin and coat health. While feeding raw eggs you can also feed the shell (farm fresh only- as store bought egg shells can be bleached and can contain chemicals). The shell is a great natural source of calcium, helping to support strong bones and teeth. Let’s not forget about adding the eggshell membrane as well! The white membrane of the eggshell is full of collagen which is amazing for supporting and/or rebuilding joints.

Why do I add fresh food?

The biggest benefit of adding fresh foods and toppers is I have peace of mind knowing that my dogs stay hydrated — not just from their water bowls. On top of that, their coats shine, their teeth are pearly white, they’re fit and lean, and they’re happy! 

I pay extra close attention to my Dalmatians’ diet because the breed is prone to creating urinary crystals and stones. Their genetics create an overabundance of uric acid in the urinary tract therefore leading to the creation of urinary stones. That being said, I focus on keeping them hydrated because it helps to flush some of the uric acid out. Since adding fresh food to my Dalmatians’ diet, their urinalysis results have been much better and a significant decrease in crystals as well!

Even something as simple as adding filtered water or fresh fruit and vegetables to a pet’s diet can go a long way for the pet’s health. Hydration is a huge key when being fed primarily dry based kibble food. 

 

 

 

My Dog Has ‘Normal’ Poop. Does He Really Need A Probiotic Or Digestive Enzyme?

YES! 80% of your pet’s immune system resides in the gut, meaning healthy gut flora is incredibly important for overall health and wellbeing.

 

Pro-Tip: Itchy skin, bad breath, ear infections, picky eating, and even anxiety can indicate an unhealthy gut. Your pet’s poop only shows a small part of a very BIG picture.

A Superfood Topper

Green Juju makes it easy to add fresh organic produce – formulated to target healthy skin and coat, support joint health, benefit digestion, and boost immunity to your dog’s diet.  Add a scoopful to every meal for a boost of flavor, moisture, and nutrition.

Pro-tip: Fill an ice cube tray with Green JuJu and your pup’s favorite treat and freeze for a refreshing superfood treat to keep him cool this summer. 

why does my cat puke

Why Does My Cat Puke?

Vomiting is one of the most commonly reported clinical signs noted in feline veterinary exams. While many cat owners fancy their cats as just having “sensitive stomachs” or simply “eating too fast”, chronic vomiting is not by any means healthy or ‘normal’.

Myth: Kibble Cleans My Pet’s Teeth.

Fact: Kibble contains large amounts of carbohydrates (sugars), creating an environment where bad bacteria thrive – often leading to bad breath, plaque, and gum disease.

 

Pro Tip: While no diet can actively remove existing plaque, fresh or raw diets can help protect your pet’s teeth and gums by maintaining optimal stomach pH, which is required for the body to combat bacteria that leads to oral diseases.

 

Read More in our Dental Health Month article

7 Reasons Why You’ll LOVE Freeze-Dried Food

1. Nutritional Value

Freeze-dried raw food is still raw and has not been cooked. Therefore, perhaps the best benefit of all is that it contains pristine nutrition for your pet: animal-based proteins, essential fats and amino acids in their most digestible, bioavailable form. At NPP we strongly believe that whole, fresh feeding is the best form of nutrition for your pet.

 

2. Versatility

Perhaps the best perk about freeze-dried food is the versatility. Freeze-dried foods can be fed as:

  • A complete meal – yes, they’re complete and balanced!
  • A compliment to kibble or canned food
  • A meal topper – guaranteed to entice even the pickiest eaters
  • A high-value nutrition-packed treat

 

3. Amazingly Portable

Since freeze-dried foods are vacuum dried, they can be kept safely at room temperature. The compact, lightweight, nutrient-dense meal simplifies feeding while you’re on the road or away from home. In addition, the less weight in your day pack can make all the difference when you’re planning to hike that extra mile.

 

4. Easy Preparation

Unlike frozen raw food, freeze-dried foods do not require freezing, and therefore do not need to be thawed. When served as a topper or treat, you can feed it right out of the bag – no prep needed. If using it as a complete meal on a regular basis, freeze-dried formulas should be hydrated.

 

Why do we recommend hydrating? 

While freeze-dried formulas contain excellent high-quality protein and healthy fats, they have zero moisture, which can put unnecessary strain on your pet’s organ function over time. If freeze-dried food makes up more than 25% of your pet’s diet, we recommend adding some bone broth, goat milk, or warm water. Allow the food to soak for 5-10 minutes to absorb the moisture before feeding. 

 

5. Palatability

Freeze-dried foods tend to be a favorite amongst picky pets, commonly small dogs and cats. Here’s why: The freeze-drying process yields a final product that smells great and is relatively soft in texture. Prior to hydration, the food is dry but softer than kibble. After hydration, the food resembles canned/wet food. If your pet prefers a shredded texture, simply break up the pieces with a fork or your hand. If they prefer a smooth pate texture, leave the food intact.

 

6. A [Frozen] Raw Transition Meal

Many pet-owners become frustrated if their pet doesn’t instantly fall in love with a frozen raw diet. For some pets, this transition can be off-putting: to go from eating a processed, extruded dry kibble to a cold, wet raw meal (think stale pizza crust to cold grass-fed prime rib). Freeze-dried formulas can help to bridge the gap with a room-temperature, palatable, fragrant, enticing meal that can gradually replace your pet’s kibble without the shocking change.

 

7. A Frozen Raw Back-Up Meal

Avid raw feeders can all tell stories of the times they forgot to take out their pet’s frozen meals to thaw. Come dinner time, it’s nice to have a shelf-stable Plan B, just in case!

Yellow Dog running w/ Tennis ball

MSM: A Boost for Your Dog’s Joint Health

Methylsulfonylmethane, or MSM, enhances joint health & can also help with these six ailments:

  • Blocking Pain Signals
  • Reducing inflammation
  • Increasing nutrient uptake: 
  • Serving as a powerful antioxidant
  • Alleviating allergy symptoms
  • Eliminating parasites

Read full article on Top Dog Health

Golden puppy eating from bowl

FAQ: How Do I Switch My Pet’s Food?

Our pet’s health wellbeing starts with quality nutrition. However, many people fear that changing their pet’s diet will cause digestive upset. After all, no one wants to clean up after a pet with an upset stomach! Therefore, a smooth pet food transition is key to ensuring optimal digestion. In this blog, we will share valuable insights on how to navigate the transition and avoid digestive upset.

Start Low and Go Slow

Every pet is unique, and there is no one-size-fits-all approach to transitioning their food. The key is to adopt the “start low and go slow” strategy.

A common mistake is to wait until the pet food bag is empty before purchasing their new food. However, abrupt changes in the diet are likely to upset your dog or cat’s stomach.

Instead, we highly suggest planning for a gradual transition period lasting 10-14 days. This means to begin the introduction of new food while you still have 7-10 days’ worth of old food left. This timeframe allows your pet’s digestive system to adjust to the new food gradually. By taking it slow, you can minimize the chances of digestive upset and other discomforts.

Another common misconception is that  a 50/50 mix of old food and new food is appropriate to start. While some pets may acclimate well to this type of transition, many will not. Instead, most pets do well with a 20-25% mixture of new food to 75-80% old food. This smaller increment will allow your pet’s digestive system to better adjust to the new food.

From here, gradually increase the fraction of new food and decrease the old food over the course of 10-14 days, pausing for 2-3 days at each new ratio. Here is an example:

  • Day 1-3: 25% new food: 75% old food

    Cat with food bowl

    Cats are likely to refuse a new food without a slow introduction.

  • Day 4-6: 50% new food : 50% old food
  • Day 7-10: 75% new food : 25% old food
  • Day 11: 100% new food

It’s important to note that this example may not work for every pet. Pets with a sensitive digestive system, for example, may need to start with as little as 10% new food, or pause for longer intervals between each step. Our team can hep guide you throughout your transition.

Observe and Adjust

During the transition, it’s essential to keep a close eye on your pet’s reactions and adjust accordingly. If you notice any signs of mild digestive upset, don’t panic. Simply reduce the amount of new food slightly and proceed at a slower pace. Additionally, incorporating probiotics or digestive enzymes, such as goat milk or bone broth, can provide beneficial gut support and aid in easing the transition.

Benefits of a Gradual Transition

Why is a gradual transition important? Rapid switches in diet can shock your pet’s digestive system, leading to gastrointestinal distress. In some animals (especially cats) a rapid transition can also create food aversion. By allowing time for adaptation, you give your pet’s gut the opportunity to adjust to the new food’s ingredients and nutrient composition. This approach promotes a smoother transition and reduces the likelihood of stomach upset, diarrhea, or other digestive issues.

When it comes to transitioning your pet’s food, patience and attentiveness are key. By following the “start low and go slow” method, observing your pet’s reactions, and making adjustments as needed, you can help them adapt to their new diet with ease and ensure their overall well-being.

Remember, every pet is unique, so the transition process may vary. What works for one may not work for another. Stay attuned to your pet’s needs, consult with your veterinarian, and provide the care and attention necessary for a successful and comfortable food transition. Our team is always available to help guide you through your pet’s new food introduction.

Choosing the Best Pet Food: Animal Welfare Claims Explained

When we feed our pets, many of us prefer to provide food sourced from animals that have been raised humanely, allowed to roam freely on pastures, or treated well in other ways. However, since these terms lack regulation, pet food brands can make claims about their product’s nature without the need to substantiate or define them. In other words, if a claim lacks the Global Animal Partnership (GAP) or Certified Humane label, it could simply be a marketing tactic.

So, what exactly do these labels signify, and how can consumers determine the truth behind their purchases? When it comes to animal welfare claims, both small and large farms can undergo independent third-party audits by organizations like GAP and Certified Humane, which assess and certify the level of animal welfare provided. In this discussion, we will primarily focus on GAP certification, as it is the label most consumers are familiar with.

GAP certification audits, if passed, assign a level of certification based on how the animals are raised, what they are fed, access to water, access to outdoors and how the animal was slaughtered — just to name a few. (Figure 1). All GAP farms are required to be audited at least every 15 months to maintain certification. Standards for all animals can be accessed here

Levels of GAP Certification

There is a significant contrast between the base GAP certification and the higher levels of 5 and 5+ certifications in terms of the environment provided. If we examine the different levels of GAP certification for chickens, we can observe that Level 1 does not necessitate outdoor or natural light access for the chickens and requires minimal space. This resembles the conditions typically associated with a ‘factory farm.’ On the other hand, when we consider Level 5 and 5+ chickens, we find that they require daily access to pasture starting from 4 weeks of age, and the pasture must maintain 75+% vegetative cover (refer to Figure 2). Both of these levels are GAP certified, but their implications are significantly different.

Another example is the labeling of “free range” chickens without GAP certification. In such cases, chickens are simply allowed access to the outdoors, but the USDA does not define the quality, duration, or size of outdoor space access. To make the claim of being “free range” with GAP certification, the product must meet at least GAP 3 or higher certification standards.

 

Figure 1: Date accessed: April 13, 2021: https://globalanimalpartnership.org/standards/

 

Pet Food Marketing Tricks

 

Understanding the various definitions of GAP certification is crucial to navigate its potentially ambiguous labeling. The situation becomes even more complex when pet food companies claim adherence to GAP or Certified Humane standards on their social media platforms, advertisements, literature, or websites, without actually displaying the corresponding labels on their packaging. This practice is deceptive to both consumers and retailers. During the process of compiling examples for this article, I encountered numerous instances where companies asserted GAP certification for all their products, yet the GAP label was nowhere to be found on their packaging.

This raises the question: What level of GAP certification are they referring to? One particular company went so far as to state:

“All of our livestock is under the Global Animal Partnership – a RARE standard to have in the pet food industry… We believe that all animals should be able to live in their natural environments and be able to express themselves freely and eat their native diets.”

Ironically, none of their products featured the GAP label, leaving retailers and consumers unable to determine the specific level of GAP certification achieved by each formula. The statement on their social media implies that GAP certification ensures access to natural environments such as outdoor spaces and green pastures for all livestock. However, it’s important to note that not all levels of GAP certification require such “natural environments” (refer to Figure 2). In other words, unless the individual product packaging displays the GAP label, there are no guarantees that the product complies with any GAP standard, let alone Level 5 or 5+.

 

Figure 2: Date accessed: April 13, 2021: https://globalanimalpartnership.org/standards/chicken/

 

No Label on Package = No Guarantee!

The figures presented above clearly illustrate the significant variations in GAP labeling certifications. It’s important to understand that these certifications are not equal. To simplify, Base Level 1 is comparable to many conventional factory farms, which can achieve different levels of GAP certification. Conversely, Level 5 and 5+ certifications provide animals with a markedly different living environment and overall life experience compared to Level 1.

In the context of human food, we do encounter higher levels of GAP certification more frequently, albeit not consistently. However, when it comes to pet food, the higher levels of GAP certification are much less prevalent. These levels involve additional care and costs, making the associated products more expensive. Even retailers like Whole Foods, who offer GAP certified products in their Meat Department ranging from base to 5+, do not commit to a specific level of GAP certified products. This is likely due to the higher costs and limited availability of products with these higher certifications.

 

Human v. Pet Food Supply

You may be wondering if the availability and affordability of higher levels of GAP certified products in the human food supply also extend to pet food. You would be correct to assume that level 4, 5, or 5+ meat products are rarely found in pet food. The mass production of pet food faces challenges in maintaining a steady supply of these products. Additionally, their cost is often prohibitive for consumers by the time they reach store shelves. In our research, we found a limited selection of pet food products containing GAP 4 beef and one GAP 4 lamb kibble. However, their high price of approximately $90 USD for a 24lb bag makes them less attractive to most consumers, who are more likely to opt for freeze-dried or raw alternatives. It’s worth noting that these products also include whitefish meal and herring meal alongside lamb, further diminishing their appeal.

However, we do observe the more common usage of GAP Base Certification through Level 3 in pet food, as these standards are relatively easier to meet. Nonetheless, products with these certifications tend to be on the higher end of the price range for pet foods. Unfortunately, without understanding the meaning of certification levels, consumers can be deceived by labeling systems, assuming that products with the label or claim are superior to those without. The truth is that a pet food without a GAP label may be equally as good or even better than those with the label.

Before you venture out to purchase pet foods that are GAP certified, it may be best to check what the levels of certification mean for that particular protein here: https://globalanimalpartnership.org/standards/

 

Food Safety & GAP Certification

In today’s consumer-driven market, the welfare of animals and responsible ingredient sourcing has gained significant importance, and rightfully so. Pet food manufacturers have recognized this and adapted their marketing strategies to create an illusion of transparency, responsibility, and sustainability. For example, GAP certification can provide insights into the care and well-being of animals used in the production process. However, it’s important to note that these certifications do not guarantee quality or assure nutrition and food safety, regardless of the claims made by pet food companies in their marketing efforts.

GAP labels should not overshadow the necessity for pet food companies to conduct comprehensive nutritional analysis, digestibility studies, and implement test and hold practices for their final products. These labels can help consumers distinguish companies that genuinely prioritize animal welfare and responsible sourcing from those that do not. However, if companies fail to employ basic validation and food safety testing for their end products, it puts the health of pets at risk. The question arises: What does this mean?

Transparency in the pet industry is crucial for retailers and pet owners. Request nutrient analysis and digestibility data from pet food companies. Inquire about “test and hold” protocols to prevent pathogens and contaminants. Sadly, popular brands, including raw pet food brands, often lack these safety measures, resulting in avoidable recalls.

For more on this topic click here.

About the Author: Nicole Cammack

Nicole is the founder & owner of award-winning NorthPoint Pets & Company, in Connecticut. She is also the Founder & CEO of Undogmatic Inc. Her undergraduate and graduate education includes biology, chemistry, business and nutrition. She has worked in the pharmaceutical industry on multiple R&D projects and has had the privilege to learn from leading international figures in the human and pet health industry. She regularly lectures at national conferences, including federal, state, and municipal K9 events. Her current research involves identifying pathogenic risk factors and transmission among raw fed pets through a comprehensive worldwide survey.

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