Why feed a species appropriate raw diet?
Processed Pet Foods versus Whole Fresh Foods
There are three things in life that are very visceral: Religion, Politics and Nutrition.
They are all based on belief systems and none of them respond well to challenge. Don’t tell me I’m wrong when I know in my heart I’m right!
In the case of pet foods, we have been lead to believe it is safer to feed processed foods than it is to feed something fresh and whole. Give your pet a piece of raw meat or vegetable and your heart starts to race, but lay down a bowl of kibble and you feel safe.
The genius of marketing.
“Man vs. The Lord” a philosopher once said when referring to what we have altered and created versus what we were provided with on this earth.
By now you have probably heard by some in the pet industry that processed pet foods are safer, scientifically proven, and healthier for our pets; and that raw, whole, fresh foods are dangerous, unbalanced and flawed.
Scientifically proven?
When Big Pharma/Big Pet Food have a stake in the results and are primarily the ones who put on this science, feeding trials and studies, is this not biased? Is anyone conducting the tests for fresh foods?
NovaMal Dog's Diet:
Our dogs are loosely fed a diet called Prey Model Raw. A prey Model diet is one thats meant to resemble, as closely as possible, the diet that carnvirorous canines and felines have evolved to eat, and have been eating, for many thousands, if not millions of years. Its a diet that is modeled on the kinds of whole prey critters that are consumed by our domestic dog and cats wild counterparts - because physiologically speaking, our house pets are virtually identical to wild wolves and small wild cats. Our pets teeth, stomach and digestive tracts have been designed by nature to consume whole prey. Packs of wolves will hunt and bring down large ungulates, such as deer, caribou and bison. Individual wolves will hunt and eat smaller prey such as squirrels, rabbits, hares and other rodents.
All of these prey animals are made up of bones, organs, muscle meat, skin, hide/hair/feathers, fat and other connective tissue. In the average prey animal, the ratio of these parts is approximately:
5-10% organs (1/2 of this amount is liver)
10-15% edible bones
80-85% muscle meat (and the rest of the critter)
Since it's not generally practical for us to feed the exact prey animals our pets' wild counterparts hunt and feed on, the next best thing is for us to *model* our pets' diet on the ratio of parts found in wild prey, and to feed these proportions of whatever raw product is readily available to us.
The important thing about prey model diet is that it involves feeding WHOLE foods, in as close to the way nature made them as possible, because this is what carnivores' teeth and digestive systems are designed to consume. One very important reason to feed whole, bone in raw meats to our carnivorous pets, is because of the effect they have on oral health. Gnawing, jawing, slicing, tearing, ripping and crunching through intact raw meat and bones does wonders to keep teeth clean and gums healthy. An unhealthy mouth with rotten teeth and gums can lead to a myriad of health problems, while a healthy mouth with clean teeth and strong gums is much more likely to be the gateway to a healthy body.
Another important aspect of the prey model diet is that since it's generally not practical to feed actual wild prey to our pets, and instead we often must rely on food raised for human consumption, it's crucial that we provide as much variety in our pets' prey model diet as possible, to make up for the fact that commercially raised livestock does not contain the concentration and variety of nutrients that's present in wild prey.
We say we *loosely* feed Prey Model Raw because we do also follow a little of the BARF style raw as well. We make sure to follow the ratios, but our dogs get natural supplements(tumeric, kelp, spirulina, coconut oil etc) and fruit/veggies too on occasion.
Many people don’t feed Raw because they don’t realize all of the wonderful benefits it can provide your pets.
Dental: One of the most outwardly viewable benefits to feeding a raw diet is teeth cleaning.
Contrary to Big Business marketing kibble does NOT clean teeth. Would you use Cocoa Puffs to try cleaning your teeth?
The action of tearing through meat and crunching through bones is a natural teeth cleaning for ours dogs & cats (and free too!!). You probably will never have to take your pets in for a dental cleaning again saving big $$$ at your Vet. The cleaning can easily be seen in the first couple of weeks after transitioning to raw.
Runny Eyes: Many dogs suffer from runny eyes or “goopy eyes”. While feeding raw doesn’t stop this in EVERY animal eating it, it does significantly reduce how often it happens. Some dogs clear up completely and never have this problem again.
POOP!!: It’s funny to listen to a group of raw feeders talking. MANY times the conversation ends up on poop. How many kibble feeders do you know that enjoy talking about poop. LOL!
Dogs utilize 95% of their diet when eating raw (compared to 30% on kibble). This means that the amount of waste their bodies are expelling is FAR less than what it would be on kibble.
Many people are surprised (and happy) to find that their Raw fed dogs poop dries up into a white powder in a few days to a week. This makes “poop patrol” a much easier job.
Costs: Feeding a high quality kibble can be VERY expensive. Some range in upwards of $4/lb. We pay on average $0.60/lb to give our dogs the very best diet they can have
Bad Breath: Bad breath in dogs can usually be attributed to poor dental hygiene. Dogs teeth are literally rotting in their heads because of sugars and starches found in kibble.
The natural cleaning action of eating raw not only cleans your dogs teeth but will virtually eliminate any odour on their breath.
Oily Coats: Have you ever pet a dog and wanted to run and wash your hands afterwards because of the “dog smell” or oil left behind on your hands? I know I sure have
Dogs on raw don’t have the “oily coat” or “stink” that most kibble fed dogs do. I attribute this to overall better health derived from proper nutrition
Raw feeders LOVE to brag about how shiny and soft their dogs coats are!!
Allergies: Allergies in dogs are RAMPANT these days. Itching, ear infections, etc are all too common in our pets. The vets have all kinds of ways to treat these but none is as successful as a raw diet.
Switching your dog to raw can eliminate most conditions typically associated with “allergies”. These are usually caused by the carbs & sugars in the kibble you’re feeding. Some people make the mistake in assuming their dog is allergic to the meat source in the kibble instead of looking deeper at all of the biologically inappropriate ingredients the kibble contains. Switching from a Chicken to a Fish kibble might clear up the “allergy” but was it really the chicken? I’d venture to say that it was another ingredient (or ingredients) altogether that was in one food but not the other.
Energy: It’s very common to hear about raw fed dogs that are in their later years that still “has the energy and exuberance of a puppy”. Since a dog on a raw diet is getting PROPER nutrition we don’t find it surprising that they’ll have more energy in their later years. They’re healthier afterall.
Vegetables - are they necessary?
The feeding of fruits and veggies is not generally supported by strict Prey Model feeders, but is common in other forms of raw feeding. In the dog world there is little agreement on the matter with diets ranging from 100% meat to 100% vegan (which is NOT supported by us) and everything in between. Generally speaking dogs do not NEED fruits and veggies in their diets, but some people, like those that feed B.A.R.F. style raw, feel they can be beneficial to dogs and decide to feed them in small amounts. It is up to you to do research and determine what is or is not right for your dog. If you do decide to feed fruits and veggies remember that they should only make up a small portion of your dog's diet as they have very little nutritional value. Fruits and Veggies should also be puréed and/or cooked to make them digestible.
Please download this free e-book on how to get started feeding your dog a species appropriate RAW diet. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, contact us! We would love to help.
There are three things in life that are very visceral: Religion, Politics and Nutrition.
They are all based on belief systems and none of them respond well to challenge. Don’t tell me I’m wrong when I know in my heart I’m right!
In the case of pet foods, we have been lead to believe it is safer to feed processed foods than it is to feed something fresh and whole. Give your pet a piece of raw meat or vegetable and your heart starts to race, but lay down a bowl of kibble and you feel safe.
The genius of marketing.
“Man vs. The Lord” a philosopher once said when referring to what we have altered and created versus what we were provided with on this earth.
By now you have probably heard by some in the pet industry that processed pet foods are safer, scientifically proven, and healthier for our pets; and that raw, whole, fresh foods are dangerous, unbalanced and flawed.
Scientifically proven?
When Big Pharma/Big Pet Food have a stake in the results and are primarily the ones who put on this science, feeding trials and studies, is this not biased? Is anyone conducting the tests for fresh foods?
NovaMal Dog's Diet:
Our dogs are loosely fed a diet called Prey Model Raw. A prey Model diet is one thats meant to resemble, as closely as possible, the diet that carnvirorous canines and felines have evolved to eat, and have been eating, for many thousands, if not millions of years. Its a diet that is modeled on the kinds of whole prey critters that are consumed by our domestic dog and cats wild counterparts - because physiologically speaking, our house pets are virtually identical to wild wolves and small wild cats. Our pets teeth, stomach and digestive tracts have been designed by nature to consume whole prey. Packs of wolves will hunt and bring down large ungulates, such as deer, caribou and bison. Individual wolves will hunt and eat smaller prey such as squirrels, rabbits, hares and other rodents.
All of these prey animals are made up of bones, organs, muscle meat, skin, hide/hair/feathers, fat and other connective tissue. In the average prey animal, the ratio of these parts is approximately:
5-10% organs (1/2 of this amount is liver)
10-15% edible bones
80-85% muscle meat (and the rest of the critter)
Since it's not generally practical for us to feed the exact prey animals our pets' wild counterparts hunt and feed on, the next best thing is for us to *model* our pets' diet on the ratio of parts found in wild prey, and to feed these proportions of whatever raw product is readily available to us.
The important thing about prey model diet is that it involves feeding WHOLE foods, in as close to the way nature made them as possible, because this is what carnivores' teeth and digestive systems are designed to consume. One very important reason to feed whole, bone in raw meats to our carnivorous pets, is because of the effect they have on oral health. Gnawing, jawing, slicing, tearing, ripping and crunching through intact raw meat and bones does wonders to keep teeth clean and gums healthy. An unhealthy mouth with rotten teeth and gums can lead to a myriad of health problems, while a healthy mouth with clean teeth and strong gums is much more likely to be the gateway to a healthy body.
Another important aspect of the prey model diet is that since it's generally not practical to feed actual wild prey to our pets, and instead we often must rely on food raised for human consumption, it's crucial that we provide as much variety in our pets' prey model diet as possible, to make up for the fact that commercially raised livestock does not contain the concentration and variety of nutrients that's present in wild prey.
We say we *loosely* feed Prey Model Raw because we do also follow a little of the BARF style raw as well. We make sure to follow the ratios, but our dogs get natural supplements(tumeric, kelp, spirulina, coconut oil etc) and fruit/veggies too on occasion.
Many people don’t feed Raw because they don’t realize all of the wonderful benefits it can provide your pets.
Dental: One of the most outwardly viewable benefits to feeding a raw diet is teeth cleaning.
Contrary to Big Business marketing kibble does NOT clean teeth. Would you use Cocoa Puffs to try cleaning your teeth?
The action of tearing through meat and crunching through bones is a natural teeth cleaning for ours dogs & cats (and free too!!). You probably will never have to take your pets in for a dental cleaning again saving big $$$ at your Vet. The cleaning can easily be seen in the first couple of weeks after transitioning to raw.
Runny Eyes: Many dogs suffer from runny eyes or “goopy eyes”. While feeding raw doesn’t stop this in EVERY animal eating it, it does significantly reduce how often it happens. Some dogs clear up completely and never have this problem again.
POOP!!: It’s funny to listen to a group of raw feeders talking. MANY times the conversation ends up on poop. How many kibble feeders do you know that enjoy talking about poop. LOL!
Dogs utilize 95% of their diet when eating raw (compared to 30% on kibble). This means that the amount of waste their bodies are expelling is FAR less than what it would be on kibble.
Many people are surprised (and happy) to find that their Raw fed dogs poop dries up into a white powder in a few days to a week. This makes “poop patrol” a much easier job.
Costs: Feeding a high quality kibble can be VERY expensive. Some range in upwards of $4/lb. We pay on average $0.60/lb to give our dogs the very best diet they can have
Bad Breath: Bad breath in dogs can usually be attributed to poor dental hygiene. Dogs teeth are literally rotting in their heads because of sugars and starches found in kibble.
The natural cleaning action of eating raw not only cleans your dogs teeth but will virtually eliminate any odour on their breath.
Oily Coats: Have you ever pet a dog and wanted to run and wash your hands afterwards because of the “dog smell” or oil left behind on your hands? I know I sure have
Dogs on raw don’t have the “oily coat” or “stink” that most kibble fed dogs do. I attribute this to overall better health derived from proper nutrition
Raw feeders LOVE to brag about how shiny and soft their dogs coats are!!
Allergies: Allergies in dogs are RAMPANT these days. Itching, ear infections, etc are all too common in our pets. The vets have all kinds of ways to treat these but none is as successful as a raw diet.
Switching your dog to raw can eliminate most conditions typically associated with “allergies”. These are usually caused by the carbs & sugars in the kibble you’re feeding. Some people make the mistake in assuming their dog is allergic to the meat source in the kibble instead of looking deeper at all of the biologically inappropriate ingredients the kibble contains. Switching from a Chicken to a Fish kibble might clear up the “allergy” but was it really the chicken? I’d venture to say that it was another ingredient (or ingredients) altogether that was in one food but not the other.
Energy: It’s very common to hear about raw fed dogs that are in their later years that still “has the energy and exuberance of a puppy”. Since a dog on a raw diet is getting PROPER nutrition we don’t find it surprising that they’ll have more energy in their later years. They’re healthier afterall.
Vegetables - are they necessary?
The feeding of fruits and veggies is not generally supported by strict Prey Model feeders, but is common in other forms of raw feeding. In the dog world there is little agreement on the matter with diets ranging from 100% meat to 100% vegan (which is NOT supported by us) and everything in between. Generally speaking dogs do not NEED fruits and veggies in their diets, but some people, like those that feed B.A.R.F. style raw, feel they can be beneficial to dogs and decide to feed them in small amounts. It is up to you to do research and determine what is or is not right for your dog. If you do decide to feed fruits and veggies remember that they should only make up a small portion of your dog's diet as they have very little nutritional value. Fruits and Veggies should also be puréed and/or cooked to make them digestible.
Please download this free e-book on how to get started feeding your dog a species appropriate RAW diet. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, contact us! We would love to help.
| raw-feeding-ebook.pdf |
If you choose to forego feeding your NovaMal puppy a prey model or BARF diet, but still want the benefits of feeding raw, we would recommend trying a pasteurized raw diet (listed below). If you are not interested in feeding raw at all, our next choice would be a dehydrated or air dried food, with our last recommendation being feeding kibble, here are a few brands that we consider to be of the highest quality:
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Commercial Raw Diets:
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Pasteurized Raw diets:
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Dehydrated Meat Diets:
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High Quality, Meat Based Kibble:
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NOTE: we do NOT allow any of our puppies to be fed a grocery store/big box brand or veterinary brand kibbles. Feeding these foods will immediately void the health guarantee portion of our contract. Nutrition plays a major role in canine health and we will not allow our puppies to be compromised. If you are unsure about choosing a brand, please do not hesitate to ask. We want all of our puppies to live the longest, healthiest lives possible and this starts with a proper diet.
