How do I know this is healthy food for cats and dogs?
I have completed courses in BARF (Biologically Available Raw Feeding) and Natural Dog Nutrition and Well-being. I am a member of a few raw feeding groups, and closely follow veterinary nutritionists such as Dr Ian Billinghurst, Dr Karen Becker, Dr Clare Middle, Dr Conor Brady and Dr Peter Dobias. I also have a dog and cat that eat this too who are in great health.
How much of this food should a dog or cat eat?
Most adult dogs and cats should eat 2-5% of their body weight.
Generally younger pets need more and older pets need less but it depends a lot on their activity level; the more active, the more food (fuel) they need. You know your pet best so keep an eye on their weight and adjust accordingly. Only very active, working dogs would need 5% of their body weight.
Greencross Vets have this great chart so you can see what a healthy weight for a dog looks like (they also have a chart for cats).
How much should a puppy eat?
Young pups up to 4 months old would eat 8-10% of their body weight.
Pups from 4 to 6 months eat 6-7 % of their body weight. Eg. a 10kg pup would eat 600-700 grams a day divided into 3 or 4 meals.
Pups from 6 – 12 months would usually have 4-5% of their body weight.
Same as with adult dogs, keep an eye on your pups weight and condition to be sure and note that dogs can vomit when they are really hungry so feed often enough to make sure it doesn’t happen. This is 4 times a day to 4 months old, three times a day up to 12 months old, then generally twice a day (some dogs do well on one meal a day when 2 years of age or older.)
What guarantees are there for the safety of this food?
Fresh Pet Food Gold Coast is registered and accredited with Safe Food Production Queensland. We have a strict Food Safety Program to ensure all products meet the highest standards in quality and cleanliness.
How should I change my pet’s diet?
Some dogs and cats can tolerate quick changes in their diet, especially if they are already used to a wide variety of foods.
Most dogs and cats need a few days to a few weeks. Start by introducing some of the new food to their current food; for sensitve pets, this should not be more than 1/10th of their meal. Every second day, increase the amount of the new food by another little bit. By the end of two weeks, most pets will be comfortable with their new meals. Their poo will tell you the most about how well they are coping. Don’t make changes until their poo is fairly solid yet soft.
Are bones really good for dogs?
Sometimes people get worried dogs may choke on a bone. This is rare but it can happen if you don’t give the right bones in the right way.
Firstly, make sure the bones are raw. Secondly, make sure they are the right type of bone – wider than your pet’s mouth and not a weight bearing bone of a big animal. See this list of bones for ideas on what can be most suitable for your dog.
Make sure your dog is chewing the bones, not just swallowing them. If you aren’t sure, start by holding onto the bone whilst your dog chews on it (you may need to use pliers for this). Once you can see they are chewing properly, leave them in a quiet place without distractions (or competition) so they can eat their bones comfortably. Many dogs get protective over their bones and try to eat too quickly with other people or animals around; some dogs get so protective they may show aggressiveness to make sure they keep their bone.
Can raw meat pass on germs?
No more than meat you prepare in your own kitchen. Just make sure utensils, bowls, preparation surfaces and hands are kept clean and the temperature stays low.
Do I need to feed my pet anything else?
No you don’t but you can.
Some great additives can be fruits like blueberries or apples, natural yoghurt, sardines (tinned in springwater is pretty good) and salmon (cooked or thawed after freezing), kangaroo jerky treats, shark cartilige treats, and fish twist treats.
How often should dogs and cats eat?
Twice a day is generally the best for adult cats and dogs. Most dogs can go for longer without food than cats and fasting can be good for some dogs.
Puppies and kittens should eat a 4-5 times throughout the day up to four months of age. By the time they are 12 months old, twice a day is usually enough. Keep an eye on your pet, you will be able to see if they are eating enough or too much by their weight, general health and energy.
Can I defrost and refreeze meat?
It may surprise you to know that you can. You just need to remember two numbers to guide you – 48 and 5. Keep it defrosted for less than 48 hours and make sure it stays at 5 degrees celcius or below.
See the post on defrosting and refreezing meat for more details.