Biologically Appropriate Fresh Food
Dogs and cats are natural carnivores, with teeth made for puncturing and ripping they get most of their nutritional needs from eating meat, organs, and bone. Cats are hunters and exclusively carnivorous, while dogs are hunters and scavengers & in their long evolution alongside mankind, they would also have taken raw human scraps. This means that dogs and cats naturally thrive on a mostly meat diet, high in enzymes for digestion, natural vitamins & minerals, and plenty of intra-cellular moisture (a key to proper digestion). By offering fresh, raw foods we provide a naturally healthy and satisfying diet, packed with nutrition to meet energy needs, making a healthy (& naturally flea repelling) skin and coat, a healthy mouth, better muscle tone, and improved health. And don’t forget to offer a raw bone once in a while!
Raw is Safe
Dogs and cats have a short and highly acidic digestive tract that can handle (and should be exposed to) all kinds of bacteria… a sterile environment is not a healthy one! Raw food offered in our store is carefully handled from the moment it is butchered, quickly frozen, and never thawed again. It is not the same as meat found in the grocery store… in fact, most raw pet food manufacturers place the food in a high pressure water bath to remove single-cell bacteria, and all of our companies test and hold samples from every batch before release to our store to ensure there are not harmful bacteria levels in the food. At home just handle as you would any raw meat: keep in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days, or out on the counter 1 to 2 hours, after that toss it out. Remember to wash hands and surfaces too. Raw is simple and as close to nature as you can get!
Boost the Bowl
Add Some Raw to It
You can add benefits at home just by adding some raw food to your normal offerings. Whether you choose meat, organ, bones, or fresh veggies, adding raw foods will add natural enzymes, fresh omega oils, an antioxidant boost, and bioavailable vitamins and nutrients. Adding veggies can also boost gut health with the extra fiber. Hint: blender grind or grate your veggies before serving to help lightly break down cellulose.
Tips for Switching
For dogs: offer a protein your dog likes and eats already, introduce slowly and gradually replace the old food (keep an eye on weight, you may need to feed less), add enzymes and probiotics to both assist in the transition and to boost the gut biome, easing pressure on the dog’s digestion. Freeze dried can be a great way to transition sensitive or picky eaters!
For Cats: Feed your cat 2-3 meals per day, removing uneaten food between meals (after about 30 minutes). Offer small amounts of raw food alongside, or mixed in with, canned or dry food; it’s okay to bribe with treats to get kitty to eat the raw food. It’s also okay to warm the raw food (in a baggie) under some warm water before serving until your cat gets used to and LOVES eating it! Gradually increase the raw proportion & decrease the other food. That’s it!
*The staff at The Natural Pet Market are well educated & our products are well researched, but we are not licensed veterinarians and cannot provide medical diagnosis or prescription, nor can we be a substitute for visiting a veterinarian. We believe in holistic care and treatment and we strive to support you with the best advice in holistic care of your pets.
