Meet Katie Coach, Our Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist (CPCN)

Katie Coach is our certified Canine Nutritionist who has seen first-hand the life-changing impact of a natural, raw diet both professionally with her clients and closer to home with her four-legged friends. 

Katie draws on her background in canine nutrition, herbalism, and homeopathy to offer custom nutrition plans, recipes, and personalized advice, and she often recommends Top Dog products in her consults. Like us, Katie is passionate about treating every dog as an individual and the power of good-quality, balanced nutrition for health and well-being.

 A self-proclaimed animal lover, Katie takes a holistic approach to wellness and has a heart for seeing healthier, happier pets and educating pet parents on the benefits of a fresh diet. She believes every pet deserves to thrive through a nutritious, species-appropriate diet, and we couldn't agree more.

 We chatted with Katie to get to know her better, learn from her expertise and hear about her raw feeding journey.

What inspired you to become a Canine Nutritionist?

My journey into the fresh food realm began in February 2020 when my Shar Pei, Boss, was diagnosed with kidney failure at just three years old. I began researching the health benefits of a fresh diet for him, not knowing it would eventually spark my passion for canine nutrition and lead me to the raw feeding community.

 Fast-forward to today, and I’m still constantly learning and evolving. When I’m not working with clients, I can be found continuing my education in canine nutrition via a new course, reading a book, or listening to a podcast; there is always more to learn!

How would you describe your role and how you help owners and their pets? 

My role is to be a resource, support, and teacher for pet parents. My mission is to spread awareness of biologically appropriate diets and holistic lifestyles through affordable options. My goal is to empower owners to become more confident and informed when making decisions about their pet's diets. 

I specialize in fresh food diets, sensitivities/allergies, digestive issues, and holistic living. Common issues pet owners seek advice and support on include, allergies and sensitivities, joint issues, GI issues, leaky gut and even cancer.

Why are you passionate about feeding a fresh, raw diet? 

As I delved into holistic health, I fell in love with fresh feeding. I have seen a raw diet work wonders for my pets and clients. A biologically appropriate raw diet isn’t a cure-all, but it does profoundly affect a dog's overall health. 

 A natural, raw diet provides essential nutrients in the form of whole food, unprocessed and unadulterated. Raw diets support healthy coats, higher energy levels, improved digestion, weight management, good dental health, and proper hydration.

 Feeding your pet a raw, fresh diet also gives you peace of mind. You know exactly what is going into your pet’s body, and you can be confident you are building their meals with nutritious, natural choices rather than relying on heavily processed products. 

Any advice to someone wanting to switch to raw but needs help figuring out where to start?

Change can feel daunting so start by getting informed, do your research, or reach out for advice. Go slow and gradual when introducing new foods and take things at your pet’s pace, monitoring for any changes or reactions.

The optimal diet should be balanced, varied and mimic what dogs would eat in the wild. Aim for a balance of raw muscle meat (80%), bone (10%), and organ (10%)and add whole foods to fill in nutritional gaps.  Add in some fresh fruits & vegetables, rotate your proteins, and supplement only when necessary to provide all the vital nutrients your dog needs.

What do you look for in a raw food brand?

The key to choosing a raw food brand is to look for good quality. Are the products USDA-approved, for example? Transparency is also important: You want to trust what you feed your pet and know the products come from a reputable source. I also opt for brands that avoid synthetic vitamins and preservatives. On a practical level, affordability is key. Think about your budget and how accessible the products are, too.

That’s one of the reasons I love Top Dog; not only are the products USDA-approved and contain human-grade meat, but the delivery service makes it easy to access, and the wholesale prices mean high-quality products at an unbeatable value.

Can you share one of your favourite raw transformation stories?

One of my favorite raw diet transformations comes from my client, Queso, who came to me on kibble looking to transition because of sensitivities and itching.

Queso used to have to be spoon-fed his kibble and would take 30 minutes to eat (and he wouldn't even finish his meals!). Now that he is on a species-appropriate diet, he gobbles down his food within minutes. He has been able to come off his allergy medication successfully. We are now managing his sensitivities through food and working on healing his gut to get him to an even healthier state!

Can you tell us a little bit about your own pack? 

I have three dogs and one cat who are all fed fresh food diets formulated to their specific needs: Kahlua, an 8-year-old rescue American Pit Bull Terrier; Bane, a 4-year-old Olde English Bulldogge; Oakley, a 1-year-old American Bully; and Piper, an 8-year-old cat. Their favourite foods include poultry feet, salmon, and veggies, and they are also fans of the Top Dog Duck Feet and Prey Model Raw (PMR) blends.

For more information on Katie and her work, check out her website The Primal Companion or find her on Instagram @theprimalcompanion