Mixed Diets
So, we’ve covered why and how dogs are carnivores, the “complete” bullshit myths, the importance of feeding YOUR dog as an individual and now we’re going to talk about why absolutely none of this matters as long as your dog is happy, healthy, fed and loved!!
For one reason or another, some people can’t or won’t feed raw. Freeze dried, air dried and dehydrated raw can be extremely expensive so unless you’re making over 6 figures, those options are off the table for full time feeding (especially large breeds) and most people in the world are finding it harder to afford high quality, ethically sourced and nutritious food on their plates for themselves and their families never mind their pets. We’re here to tell you, it’s okay. It’s okay to feed kibble.
It’s okay to feed canned/wet food. It’s okay to feed whatever you can afford if it’s keeping your pets alive! Nobody should ever need to feel shamed for not feeding their dogs how they see fit. There has been a noticeable shift in the pet industry which has resulted in skyrocketing prices for pet parents. It’s okay to be struggling. It’s okay to need help! It’s okay to ask for help! While we support everyone in the decisions they make for their pets, we would also like to help educate on how to choose high quality sources of nutrition in kibble foods and canned/wet foods. The image below outlines some of the most important factors to consider when choosing a dry/kibble food for your pet.
Hopefully, this will encourage more people to stop feeding the lowest quality brands just because they come in 40lb bags for dirt cheap… There’s a reason for it and it’s not pretty. Although we support fed dogs being happy dogs, we also want to support educated owners knowing better so they can do better. Unfortunately, in today’s world… You get what you pay for. Value size bags are filled with value quality ingredients and plenty of fillers your dog doesn’t need. We would also like to make it known that there is NO REASON why you can’t feed raw with kibble (preferably in separate meals) or dehydrated raw with kibble or wet food with raw or any other combination of styles of food available on the market today. In fact, it is actually incredibly beneficial to expose your pet to as many sources of proteins and nutritious inclusions to help diversify their gut microbiome. The more beneficial bacteria there is in the gut, the more capable of fending off bad bacteria and disease the body is. Even if you can only afford one or two raw meals a month, some is better than none! You can even add extras to your bowl’s like eggs, organ meats, fresh/frozen fish, low glycemic vegetables, fruits (bar yeasty dogs.. No carbs, starch or sugar for you guys!). Be creative! There is no one size fits all answer to nutrition! Variety is the spice of life so don’t be afraid to switch brands, switch flavours, add extras and most importantly… HYDRATE.
One thing that raw is fantastic for is being naturally high in moisture. It is highly recommended to rehydrate your dry/kibble foods with bone broth, goats milk, kefir or even just filtered water! Canned food is only slightly better than dry foods for that reason and typically do not contain many if any preservatives due to the canning process retaining freshness naturally. Another reminder that the best before date on your bags is ONLY valid if the food stays sealed in that bag! Fun fact, many pet food stores will actually POKE HOLES in the bags so that they lay flat and look appealing to the eye as well as save space for stock on shelves… If your bag of food looks too neat and flat to be completely sealed after manufacturing… It’s probably not! They arrive bumpy, misshapen and even vacuum sealed. If you must store a large bag, keep the food INSIDE the bag and then store the bag inside an airtight container to help extend the freshness.
When it comes to how much of what to feed; that’s going to be an individual path with many different answers for each individual. Every pet is different. Some will do great mixing kibble and raw in the same bowl without any issues, others will have violent diarrhea because raw and kibble are processed at very different rates. Some will be able to switch freely between proteins, brands and styles of food and others may require slow transitions or one day one style and one day another etc. Do not be afraid to reach out to a nutritionist for help with this!
Final thoughts? Feed your dog. Love your dog. Exercise your dog.