I attended the 2023 Thrive Pet Expo, where I connected with friends, fellow pet lovers, and industry experts. Poppy Phillips, an animal naturopath for Equine Alternatives LLC and fellow Christian, posed an interesting question: “Does praying over dog food boost...
The foundation of the diet I formulated for my dogs is 80/10/10 – 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, and 10% organ meat. 80/10/10 isn't a nutritionally complete raw diet, so I use a base mix and feed additional foods to balance over time. So, why must I know bone...
Raw feeding can be expensive, with costs keeping dog owners from transitioning to raw and forcing others back to kibble. I nearly gave up on trying to feed raw when a local raw feeder introduced me to our local raw food co-op. I saved hundreds during my first month of...
I primarily feed my dogs a raw food diet. However, when Rodrigo was about 12 years old, he occasionally preferred cooked food. I fed him more cooked food than raw during his last year with me. The following is an easy DIY cooked recipe for dogs. I do not advocate only...
Raw feeding has become more mainstream, and with the growing number of raw food brands available, transitioning a dog to a raw diet, no matter their age, is effortless. There are several ways to transition a dog to a fresh food diet; I believe ‘cold turkey' is...
What are Hemp Seeds? Hemp seeds, also known as hemp hearts, are seeds derived from the hemp plant (Cannabis sativa). These small, oval-shaped seeds have a mild, nutty flavor and a soft texture. Hemp seeds are a highly nutritious food source consumed by humans. But can...
There are several recipes for dog food and treats that list “whitefish” as an ingredient, and I never questioned this; I thought there was a fish called “whitefish.” Ruby of Real Dog Box informed me whitefish is a term used to describe fish...
I transitioned my dogs to raw in 2013, feeding a local commercial brand. Over the years, I've tried several fresh food brands (raw, cooked, freeze-dried, and air-dried), settling on what works best for my dogs. Today, I primarily feed DIY because I can control the...
B vitamins are a group of essential nutrients that play a crucial role in dogs' overall health and well-being. They are involved in various processes in the system, including energy metabolism, nervous system function, and healthy skin and coat maintenance. As my dogs...
I recently passed the Professional Canine Nutrition course offered by the Feed Real Institute. I'm now a Certified Professional Canine Nutritionist (CPCN), a goal I've had for a while because I thought the knowledge would add more credibility to my blog while teaching...
Five years ago, Rodrigo passed into his senior years without any issues. But as the years crept on, things began to change. People don't often talk about senior dogs in the raw feeding community; the focus is usually on the needs of a growing puppy, not an aging...
Our dogs love green tripe! I'm not a fan of the smell, but it doesn't bother me. I've always believed the benefits outweigh the smell, so we have a freezer full of this super protein, and I feed it to our dogs a couple of days a week (when I can remember to thaw...
It's almost Amazon Prime Day, and I am excited to explore the available deals that can simplify raw feeding. My approach towards Prime Day is more practical than most content creators, as my focus is on making raw feeding easier for myself and relying on DIY methods....
Raw feeders are told to feed at least 10% organ meat – 5% liver and 5% secreting organs. But do we know why? 80/10/10 is an average, an arbitrary number someone came up with when breaking down the makeup of a prey animal. I've tried to figure out who came up...
Feeding raw bones to dogs can be intimidating because many dog owners have been warned of the dangers of feeding bones to dogs. However, raw feeders feed raw bones to their dogs regularly with little issue. There are two types of raw bones that you'll learn about as a...
I'm a passionate writer in the Pacific Northwest who loves all things dogs. I share what I'm learning as I attempt to crack the code to longevity. Keep the Tail Wagging is a blog dedicated to the dog who inspired this journey: Rodrigo Gauthier - March 2010 - September 2023.
