Fresh Food for Family
feed them what they are begging for
We all want to do better for our pet family, right? They offer us so much and ask for so little. Sure there is the demand for scratch-my-ears or take-me-for-a-walk or make-a-lap-so-I-can-sit-in-it but let’s be honest, we benefit from these requests as much as they do. If you really want to up your affection game, turn to their food. A bowl full of dry crunchy kibble or dish of smelly greasy canned food are no way to express your appreciation. It’s time to add some thoughtfulness to their diet. Minimally processed fresh meat, organic vegetables, and very few (to none) synthetic ingredients will have their tails wagging. The best news is that you don’t have to spend days collecting these ingredients and processing them yourself, they are all ready to serve in fresh frozen foods for pets. Fresh frozen foods for pets is a real thing and has been for the better part of 25 years now. Today, it is the fastest growing sector of pet food. Your dogs and cats are thrilled about that!
Aside from the desire to feed healthier foods there are many reasons why customers seek fresh food for their pets. At Dolittle’s the most common pursuits seem to be to improve digestion and to avoid allergic reactions. While fresh food can certainly help with these concerns it can help with much much more. One of the main reasons fresh food is so beneficial is because of the limited amount of processing that it goes through. Pet’s stomachs are prepared to break down uncooked food. Ironically, cooked food can be more problematic. Cooked food stays in the gut longer, contains extra sugars, and requires more effort to break down. Uncooked food is the exact opposite. It is quickly digested, contains no sugar, and breaks down easily. Once the gut is functioning properly overall immunity tends to improve. Which is no surprise once you realize that 80% of a cat or dog's immunity begins in their gut. Additional benefits to fresh foods are reduced carbohydrate content (30% less than the average dry food) and increased moisture content (6x more moisture than the average dry food).
Feel good about your pet’s fresh diet. On several levels it’s safer than other options out there. Since 2017 there have been fewer recalls on frozen than there have been on dry food or canned food. Rarely are there vitamin imbalances in fresh food. Nor will you find the threat of aflatoxin, a corn based bacteria, in fresh food. Likewise the risk of exposure to glyphosate (the dangerous chemical in RoundUp) is diminished in fresh diets. Fresh foods will carry certified labeling such as GMO free, organic, and pasture raised.
The safety of fresh food continues as manufacturers improve production. To overcome the concern of pathogens several companies use High Pressure Processing (HPP) which eliminates the danger of salmonella and other dangerous bacteria. Still, it remains important that customers continue safe handling practices at home. Keep pet bowls clean and don’t leave food out all day. But honestly, these are the same practices pet parents should have with dry and canned food.
Sure the jackpot sound of kibble bouncing around in a bowl is exciting but on a satisfaction level it may not deliver. Consider the idea of you getting through your day on a heaping bowl of cereal. Fresh pet foods deliver more meat, fewer carbs and more than likely they are coming from better sources than dry food. Stop feeding your best friend like a farm animal and start feeding them more like a member of the family. Also, more belly rubs.