Learning Centre
We're Here to Help You Make Informed Decisions for Your Pet.
Are You New To Raw? Here Are Some Pointers!
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Relax! Feeding raw is easy which is contrary to what a lot of people and companies would have you believe. Long before the introduction of commercial pet food (which has only been around since 1922) people fed their dogs table scraps, and dogs lived to ripe old ages!
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There are many ways to feed raw! Feed a variety of whole raw proteins, bones, and organs. Then add in other species appropriate things like raw eggs, green tripe and/or leafy greens, berries, fermented veggies like sauerkraut, table scraps, etc.
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No supplement makes up for good nutrition. If you are feeding a wide variety of foods you shouldn’t need to supplement unless you are addressing a health problem.
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Complete and balanced is not the end-all be-all! Do you pull out the Canada Food Guide every time you prepare a meal? The answer is very likely "no". You achieve balance in a healthy diet over a 2 to 3 week period by consuming a variety of whole fresh foods and your pet should be fed using the same approach!
We love helping people and their pets make the switch to raw!
If you want to switch but are afraid and don’t know where to start or if you’ve already switched and are stressed and driving yourself crazy trying to “do it right” reach out!
How Do I Make the Switch from Commercial to Raw?
It's so easy!
I always suggest using the “fast” method. The “fast” method allows your pet's digestive tract to get ready to make the switch. So for one day for adults and 12 hours for puppies, you will offer your pet nothing other than clean fresh water. Then once the fasting period is completed you introduce the new raw food to your pet. No mixing with their old food, and no digestive upset and I guarantee it works every time and I also guarantee that they will gobble that food down in no time!
Cats & Raw Food
People refer to cats as obligate carnivores when they are trying to emphasize the fact that cats are a little different than many other meat-eating predators.
Obligate means "by necessity." The dictionary definition is: 1. Restricted to one particularly characteristic mode of life. 2. Biologically essential for survival.
Combining obligate with carnivore is pretty clear. Cats must eat meat, it is an absolute biological necessity. There's no such thing as a vegan cat. They became obligate carnivores as a result of their ancestral diet. Because eating a meat-only diet provides some vitamins and fatty acids in their pre-formed state, cats and many other obligate carnivores have lost the ability to make these amino acids and vitamins in their own bodies the way herbivores or omnivores do. They don't need to since the animals they are eating have already done it for them.
For example, cats require vitamin A in its pre-formed state, but can't make it from beta-carotene the way humans or dogs or rabbits can. They have little ability to form niacin from tryptophan. They have a high requirement for taurine, which is found almost exclusively in animal flesh. Arginine, also found in animal flesh, is so critical to the cat that a meal without it can lead to death. Fortunately, all meat sources have plenty.
Simply put, cats must eat meat to live.
The above is an excerpt from the absolute best website on cats, cat nutrition and cat health available today. I see no reason to try to re-invent the wheel when there is such an amazing, quality resource available for all you cat folks. I have been directing people to this website for years and will continue to do so. So without further ado, click the button below to learn more!
Raw Feeding Guide for Dogs & Cats
Please remember that these are guidelines and the amount to feed should be adjusted as needed based on your pet's body condition. Please see the body condition score chart for guidelines on healthy bodyweight.
Feeding Guide for Puppies
Feeding Guide for Adult Dogs
Feeding Guide for Cats & Kittens
Paddy Has Been With Us From The Beginning!
My husband and I have been breeding and raising Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers since 1991. In 2003, our foundation bitch was diagnosed with cancer at ten years of age. We were shocked – how could a strong, robust dog get cancer? It forced us to look at what we were feeding our dogs, which, at the time, was considered a premium kibble. We had heard about the raw food diet, but we were skeptical. It didn’t make sense to us, so we proceeded to do our research. This is what led us to Paddy. What an amazing woman! From the first time we contacted Paddy, she has been there for us. Her extensive knowledge of dog health, diet and nutrition is truly impressive. She has helped us out on many occasions, and we have learned so much from her.
Ever since we started feeding raw, we have never looked back. All of our dogs are active, happy and healthy. They truly love every protein source offered by a raw food diet. They are never bored with their food, as they are fed a rotating diet of beef, lamb, bison, chicken, meaty bones, elk, pork, goat, turkey, salmon and sole. My dogs eat better than us! And, I love that I can place a monthly food order with Paddy, and have it delivered to my front door within a day or two. You don’t get service like that everyday!
We are all very fortunate to have Paddy in our dog community!
- Barbara O
How Expensive is it to Feed Raw?
A lot of people I speak with are quite surprised to hear how affordable it is to feed a quality raw diet that contains lots of protein variety, as well as veggies and fruits, tripe, organs, and bone. When compared to a lot of the high-end dry foods out there, it is usually less expensive to feed raw and certainly more healthy for your pet. I always say to people that what you save upfront in food costs you pay tenfold at the vet later!
You can feed the average 60 lb adult dog, a varied, balanced, quality raw diet for $140 per month, including tax and delivery right to your door.
Want to know how much it would cost to feed your dog raw? We’d love to help you figure it out and make the switch!
Common Myths About Raw Feeding
There are many pre-conceived notions about the Pet Food Industry, and of course, Raw Feeding. In this section you will find valuable information that will assist you in making informed choices for your pets, as well as assist in educating yourself on pet nutrition.
What Makes Fido & Felix Brand Products The Best Raw Food Choice For Your Pet?
Fido & Felix Brand products are manufactured right here in Saskatchewan using pasture raised, grass-fed animals from local producers so you are supporting 3 local businesses when you buy from us! All of the animals we use in our products are human grade and fit for human consumption.
We don’t use trim which is exactly what is sounds like, unwanted or inedible parts of meat remaining after the removal of useful/desirable cuts of meat. We use whole carcass for our products which means we use the whole animal including all the choice cuts such as sirloin, tenderloin, prime rib, etc.
We use green tripe in our dinners instead of veggies. Tripe is extremely nutritious and dogs (and some cats ) love it! Dogs cannot digest carbohydrates so tripe is a much better option than most vegetables.
Our blended products are a cut above the rest! We are transparent through and through with what your pet is getting out of our products!
We pride ourselves on our honesty, small town values, great customer service and great value for your dollar!
Variety is Key for Vitality
The key to healthy nutrition for people is variety and moderation. When it comes to diet, there’s no "one size fits all" approach that’s right. For pets eating dry and canned foods, it’s been a different matter completely. Pet food manufacturers claim that given a complete, balanced diet appropriate to the age and physiological state of the animal, that diet should be fed and nothing else. Just like people, dogs and cats also need variety in their diet for a number of reasons. In order to understand why variety is so important, you have to first be aware that many nutritional inadequacies have appeared with “complete and balanced” commercial pet foods.
To learn more about the myth of "complete and balanced" commercial pet foods and why variety reigns supreme click the button below to read a very informative article written by Brenda Scharback-Hagel!
Other Very Important Things To Consider To Keep Your Pet Healthy and Disease Free
Conventional Flea and Tick Medicines
I see so many clients trying to do everything possible to keep their furry family members healthy, starting with feeding the best raw foods and treats but then turn around and use chemical tick and flea products, assuming they are safe because they are recommended by their vet or groomer.
In fact, they are harmful and can cause many adverse reactions. Make no mistake about it, these products are pesticides, it is why they work for repelling and killing ticks and fleas. So if they poison the pests what makes you think they are not poisoning your pet?
There are many natural solutions available that won’t harm your pet or their immune system. Please do your own research and make the best, educated choices you can for your pet….they are counting on you.
We offer a natural solution for ticks that is not harmful to your dog or your family, Tix Mix
Are You Over-Vaccinating Your Pets?
There is a growing body of evidence that we have been and continue to, over-vaccinate our companion animals. This practice is very harmful to their long term health and longevity. Over-vaccination can cause food sensitivities, allergies, auto-immune disease, cancer and much more.
To make a decision on what is best for your pets you must be educated, not with fear but with facts. There are very powerful influences in our society that push the use of vaccines and who profit enormously from there use and in addition, the resulting reactions and over-use. It can be scary to “buck” the system and conventional wisdom and practices, and make your own often unpopular and unsupported choices but the payoffs to your pets’ health can be well worth the discomfort. Once again, I urge you to do your research and make good, informed choices for your pets.
To assist you, I offer you these two links that you can use to educate yourself on vaccines and protocols for your pet. Both of these individuals are classically trained, Canadian vets who came to the conclusion that current vaccine practices are harmful and unfounded. Dr Jean Dodds now works in the U.S. but she has been responsible for extensive vaccine duration studies for both the core vaccines and rabies.
https://drjeandoddspethealthresource.tumblr.com/dodds-vaccines
https://peterdobias.com/blogs/blog/safer-vaccination-in-adult-dogs-and-puppies
Both of these articles speak about titer testing your pets instead of vaccinating, if there is a question about whether or not they have immunity to a particular disease. Titer testing is a blood test that measures immunity. Here is a site that offers a good explanation of what it is and why and when it is a good alternative to vaccinating.