Raw New Year’s Resolutions

HAPPY NEW YEAR (well… almost!)

As 2022 draws to a close, it’s time to start thinking about what next year may hold. Hopes, dreams, ambitions… Whatever you want to achieve next year, it’s time to set those goals and outline the plan to reach them. But what new year resolution is best? For us, we can’t think of a better opportunity to level up how (or what) we feed our pooches?!

From first steps for beginners to advanced tweaks for more experienced raw feeders, in this blog, we’re gonna cover some paw-some ideas to elevate your dog’s diet.

Start as an omega

We understand how intimidating the endless choice can be to begin with, which is why we have created our Starter Pack, especially with you in mind. Our introduction to HVM (healthy variety mixes) includes a selection of beef, chicken, and turkey – the perfect blend of ground protein, bones, and organs (plus 10% fruits and veggies)!

Simply start your first day by feeding either green tripe or one of the proteins (ideally chicken) from our Starter Pack twice daily or as recommended for puppies. Continue with this same protein for one week, then after the first 7 days, you can begin to introduce different proteins. We also suggest adding a few duck feet and sardines for an extra nutritional boost if using this blend for puppies.

Perseverance and patience always win. Deciding to feed raw is the first step towards making a lasting, positive impact on your dog’s health. It takes a bold move and forward-thinking to be the new Top Dog in town.

‘Beta’ level up!

So you’re sitting comfortably with a pre-made commercial raw food mix and all is going smoothly. Your pup is healthy, your subscription is sorted, and everything is flowing nicely… But how can you up your game?

What if you knew exactly what was in your dog’s food? And where it all came from? Maybe it’s time to try taking the leap to a homemade HVM. It’s important to know the finer details to make sure your pup is getting all the nutrients they need from each meal, so keep reading, and we’ll cover the rules you need to know to make the jump safely.

Ideal Ratio

As you’ll know from taking a peek into the ingredients of your commercial raw food mixes, having a happy and healthy dog isn’t as simple as just measuring the weight of some meat and chucking it in the bowl - in order to make sure your fur baby is getting all the essential vitamins and minerals they need, you’ll need to add some extras.

The easiest way to nail this is to work in ratios so it’s easy to calculate, and even easier to follow. The ideal ratio for a HVM raw dog food is usually:

• 70% meat protein
• 10% bone
• 10% organs (including a maximum of 5% liver)
• 7% vegetables
• 2% seeds or nuts
• 1% fruit

How often to rotate your nutrient source (meat)

It’s important that your pup’s source of nutrients has some variety (and in an ideal world, this goes for every part of the mix, not just protein source!). We follow this rule of thumb: nutrient sources should be changed every 2 weeks at an absolute minimum, however, the epitome raw diets are rotated every 2/3 days to ensure they are complete and balanced.

Listen, we’re talking a lot about ‘ideal worlds’ right now… Don't fret! We know life doesn’t always work like that. Find what works for both you and your pup and stick with that. As long as you’re meeting the minimums, everything should be fine.

Do’s and dont’s

• DO feed your dog 2-3% of their body weight
• DON’T add too much fruit to your dog’s diet (be careful of that sugar!)
• DO try different things to find what appeals to your dog’s taste buds
• DON’T miss out any of the supplements that are already sorted for you in commercial HVMs
• DO make sure you’re still following raw meat storage guidelines, even though it’s your own mix
• DON’T include almonds or macadamia nuts in your nut ratios. These nut varieties can be dangerous to swallow due to their shape/size, and the latter is actually one of the most toxic foods for dogs!

Accelerate to alpha If you’ve already got the homemade HVM state of play on lock, then it's time to start thinking outside the box. We’ve pulled together a few ideas to inspire you to lead the pack when it comes to raw feeding in 2023…

There’s always room for more variety! Why not try some additional toppers packed with extra nutrients that you can pop onto your mix to get that tail wagging double time?!

• Honey: If there’s one way to make your dog’s bowl more appetizing, it’s by adding honey! Drizzling this over the mix packs a full punch of vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K… Keep a close eye on quantity as honey is rather high in sugar, but in small amounts, this can be a fabulous ‘sweet’ addition to mealtimes.
• Apple Chunks: Not only can the crunch of an apple piece assist with clean teeth and gums for your pooch, but they’re also full of fiber, vitamins A & C, potassium, and antioxidants. Win/win!
• Dried Sprats: These small fish can be a great option to choose as the “cherry on top” piece de resistance… Packed with Omega-3 and essential fatty acids, they can provide endless benefits for a dog’s coat, skin, joints, and heart health.

Certain meats are nutritionally superior to the more common protein sources like chicken, turkey, duck, etc. If you’re searching for ways to upgrade your dog’s bowl even further, why not try some of our more elaborate favorites below:

• Salmon
• Unshelled oysters
• Veal
• Ostrich

We hope this has inspired you to make some changes. Regardless of what level you are on right now, this is a perfect time to set those resolutions and start the new year as you (and your four-legged friend) mean to go on! We can’t wait to see what upgrades you make to your fur baby’s diet.

2023 is the year of the go-getters, the dynamos, and the achievers! Next year is ours for the taking… Round-of-a-paws, please!