When I was new to DIY, I spent every Saturday cutting up chicken for the meat grinder. I went through three meat cleavers before I realized, “You get what you pay for.” In this post, I will share how I chose my knives, the best knives for raw feeders, and...
I have been raw feeding for the past ten years and got my start by connecting with some wonderful people who ordered in bulk from a raw food company. I learned what they had going was called a co-op, and their hard work and dedication to bringing these wonderful...
I recently began consuming a teaspoon of MCT oil with my morning tea. I'm also adding the same dose to the morning meals of our senior dogs. I feel more awake, energetic, and happy after only a few days of this routine. So, let's talk about the benefits of MCT oil for...
When I began my raw feeding journey, it never occurred to me to find a course to take to help better understand feeding fresh food to my dogs. I joined several Facebook raw feeding groups and learned the following: Feed 80% muscle meat, 10% bone, 5% liver, and 5%...
National Raw Feeding Week is a holiday created by Kimberly Gauthier (that's me) in 2018 when I noticed that raw feeders didn't have a day on Pet Holiday calendars. As I considered this atrocity, I decided we needed a full week. Later, I learned that there is a full...
As a dog owner, you want to ensure your dog gets the best nutrition. In recent years, bison has become increasingly popular as an alternative to beef, making bison a possible option for dogs with a beef intolerance. But what are the differences between the two...
When I was new to raw feeding, I couldn't find raw green tripe. But I found canned green tripe and happily fed that to my dogs until I learned about carrageenan gum. I received many comments from people warning me about the dangers of carrageenan gum. I panicked. Was...
Like most dog owners, you want to feed your dog the best possible meals. That means understanding what ingredients provide the most nutritional benefit for your dog—especially regarding vegetables! Knowing which vegetables are the most nutritious can help you make...
I was TODAY years old when I learned that we should store fish separately when preparing meals for our dogs. I add fish (sardines, salmon, mussels) to their dishes at mealtime instead of mixing seafood into my DIY raw blends; but I used to add it to the grinds to save...
Thousands of articles list toxic foods for dogs, but few tell us what foods we should avoid for puppies. In 2022, we welcomed a puppy into our family. Bella is a mixed-breed puppy with Husky blue eyes, German Shepherd dimples, and a love for shoes. We feed our dogs a...
Boron is a trace element found in many foods and can be purchased as a supplement. Boron isn't considered an essential trace mineral, and humans get their recommended daily amount – 1 to 13 mg daily – through diet (we can't produce it on our own). But what...
Have you been told that DIY raw dog food isn't nutritionally complete? You're not alone. People often reference a “study” when trying to convince pet parents that homemade dog food is too hard to make and debunk the practice of balancing over time. In the...
I discovered this video after I read the SkeptVet's review of The Forever Dog. I was curious if anyone else had created any content debunking the book, Dr. Becker or Rodney Habib, and immediately found this video, published on September 23, 2022. In the video, Dr. Em...
Science isn't my favorite subject. I love reading, and I love learning new things but show me a study, and I'm likely to pass out and sleep for a few hours because interpreting someone's scientific findings is boring. I used to believe a great alternative was to...
So, this isn't really DIY, but it's as close to DIY as I can get outside of making dog food and treats. I made flat dog dishes for my dogs. In 2022, I saw many people using the MINE Pet Platters. I purchased four platters for my dogs and was inspired to introduce them...
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.
