The Raw Journey

How to transition?

It is the most asked question and rest assured it's easier than you think. There are two different ways to go about this and it's situational. If the animal has a medical issue that requires them to get on a raw diet immediately, then cold turkey is the route we recommend. Doing the cold turkey route does not come without its complications, but this is the reason we also offer products like Gut Soothe and Digest to aid in a smooth transition. I personally prefer the cold turkey route. For sensitive cases we need to take it slow. If we are doing a slow transition, we recommend doing 25% of the meal with the new food and increasing that percentage over a week until we are at 100% raw. If that is still too fast then take it back a step and go slower. Sometimes there are cases where even going slow is not enough, if that is the case please reach out to us. 

How much do I need to feed?

As with everything else, this is also situational. Generally you should feed 3-4% of their body weight if active. This could be 3% of raw food and then 1% added toppers to bring up those calories while providing extra nutrients they actually need. The 3-4% also applies to puppies, but you will be feeding what their expected adult weight is. For example, a puppy that is expected to be 100lbs...you would feed 3-4lbs of food broken up into several meals throughout the day. As always, feed the dog in front of you. If animal is looking thin, feed more and same goes for looking thick...feed less.  Feeding requirements are different for every dog and cat. Factors like breed, age and activity level all factor into the daily feeding requirements. 

What do I do in the case of the runs?

We have all been here, a case of the cannon butt is no fun topic. Poop talk is very important and we have become very knowledgeable in this area. Loose, watery, mucousy and even a little bloody is going to happen at some point, but fear not dot-dot. It's usually an easy fix and not life-threatening. If you just started raw, loose stool is normal. Just like almonds, sometimes our bodies don't like something and this is its way of getting it out. Your pet may need some time to build healthy bacteria in the gut, healthy pH in the stomach or a combination of both. In these cases we recommend going back a step and adding some supplements like slippery elm, Larch or even flaxseed for some Fiber. You can also add a pre and probiotic end or digestive enzyme. Want to know more about poop and what it means? Check out our blog page where we share our favorite topics and articles (COMING SOON).

My pet won't touch the food, what do I do?

We know how frustrating this is, especially with cats. First step, stay calm and know this may take some time. Our pets can feel our anxiety and that can make things worse. When we are anxious, they are too. You can mix our food with a little of your current food and see if that helps. Raw is a different smell, texture and temperature so it's perfectly normal for them to be hesitant. Oftentimes it helps to leave it out for a little especially with picky cats. They are sometimes sensitive to cold food so they might take some time to eat it, again this just takes patience.

If you find your pet still not eating the food there are things you can add to entice them to eat.
Here is a list of items you can add:
- Raw Goat Milk               - Raw Kefir 
- Green Tripe                    - Sardines ( any fish) 
- Bone Broth                     - Freeze dried meal toppers 
- Coconut oil                     - Veggie Mix topper

I heard raw is dangerous and not safe, is this true?

We are going to stay no here. However, we always recommend using your intuition and common sense. If it smells and feels off, don't feed it. We all have left a bag out or didn't use the food before the three days, and those cases just tossed it to be safe. The truth is, dogs and cats are built for this. They have a shorter digestive tract so bacteria can't set up shop and have higher pH levels in their stomach to kill bacteria. This all points towards an ancestral evolution, raw fed or not. Anything can be dangerous if used/done incorrectly, still have doubts? Just email us any questions you have. 

How do I talk to my vet about raw?

This may be an unpopular answer but if your vet isn't accepting of your choice to feed raw, get a new vet. You are your pets best advocate and we know you did the research. Find a vet who you feel respects your views of raw or any alternative medicine. We live in a world where we all think differently and that's okay. However, go find your people...There are plenty of raw feeding, holistically minded vets these days. Just remember, you know your pet better than anyone else. Take advice, but do what you think is best and find a vet who supports you no matter what. 

How long does food last in the freezer?

When stored correctly, our products will last in the freezer up to a year. That being said, we recommend using them within 3 months for optimal freshness. 

How long does it last once thawed in the refridgerator?

We recommend using the food within 3 days of it being fully thawed for optimal freshness. 

Can I refreeze after portioning?

Absolutely! This is a very common question and yes you can. We just recommend keeping all the juices from thawing, lots of nutrients that we don't want to waste.

My pet is pooping and drinking less, is this normal?

Raw has a much higher moisture content so that means your pet doesn't have to drink as much to fulfill their needs. If you find your pet is drinking a lot of water even on raw, please bring this to your vets attention. Yes, pooping 1 to 2 times a day is common for raw fed animals, poop should be smaller too!