Q. DOES YOUR FOOD MEET THE AAFCO NUTRITIONAL STANDARDS?
A. Yes! Both the Titan Red and Titan Blue formulas are complete meals according to the AAFCO nutritional standards. Our course ground salmon and tripe are intended for supplemental feeding only though as they are not nutritionally balanced enough to provide a dog with everything they need to be healthy. However, these two supplemental products can greatly benefit your dog's health when included periodically!
Q. DOES RAW FOOD SUBJECT MY PETS TO SALMONELLA, E. COLI OR LISTERIA AND IS IT DANGEROUS TO MY PETS?
A. Dogs’ digestive tracts have higher levels of acid than humans, which kill most of these naturally occurring bacteria. Their digestive tracts are also shorter than ours which gives any surviving bacteria little time to multiply. As a result, unless there are other underlying health issues, these bacteria do not pose a significant risk to pets.
Q. MY FOOD ARRIVED PARTIALLY THAWED. IS IT SAFE TO FEED?
A. As long as it's still cold to the touch, even if it is fully thawed, you are safe to feed it. Dogs are built to process things differently than we are and so a little bacteria growth does not impact them in the same way. Simply put it in the freezer whole or take this opportunity to separate your dog's portions out and then freeze.
Q. IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN DO TO LESSEN THE RISK OF FEEDING FOOD WITH BACTERIA TO MY PET?
A. Yes! You can cook the food to 165 degrees Fahrenheit to kill all bacteria, good and bad. This is recommended if you believe your pet has a compromised immune system or known health issue.
Q. MY DOG IS A PICKY EATER. DO YOU THINK I CAN GET THEM TO EAT YOUR FOOD?
A. Ultimately, it's up to your dog, but we have a great track record! There are several dogs that were so picky they were underweight before trying our food. Now they can't get enough of it and actually beg their owners for more. A lot of dogs that turn their noses up at kibble will eat our food no problem.
Q. WILL MY DOG BECOME MORE AGGRESSIVE ONCE HE / SHE HAS TASTED BLOOD?
A. Absolutely not. All animals may be a little possessive over their food (a survival tactic in the wild), so we would recommend giving your pet a little space while they are actually eating, but that is true regardless of what you are feeding them or how sweet they may be. Trust your common sense – don’t let your two-year-old tug on ANY dog’s ears while they are enjoying their supper, for example – but there is absolutely no correlation between raw feeding and behavioural problems in general or aggression in particular.
Q. I'VE HEARD THAT IT IS NOT SAFE TO GIVE BONES TO DOGS?
A. That is true of cooked bones, because the cooking process makes them brittle and likely to splinter. But a raw meaty bone is one of the best things you can offer your pet. Wild dogs and wolves gnaw on raw bones as a source of essential calcium and other minerals, and to clean the teeth and keep them strong. We will ask you to keep an eye your animals when they are eating raw meaty bones to avoid any risk of choking or teeth breaking. And while we wouldn’t necessarily offer a turkey leg bone to your cat (simple question of weight ratio!) our feline friends love chomping on our chicken necks, pilchards, and venison ribs.
Q. WILL MY PET GET SICK FROM EATING RAW MEAT?
A. This is something many people are nervous about, so it’s a good question. Many opponents of raw feeding (mostly kibble / pellet companies) have raised a lot of fear about pathogens in raw meat. Firstly, to put your mind at ease, our food is registered, which means that we are subject to strict control regarding levels of bacteria / pathogens / salmonella in the food. The food gets tested at regular intervals, and so far has always come back with far better test results than even strictly necessary. These results are sent to the Department of Agriculture, who have even tighter rules about pet food than our South African laws on human food! So our food is very safe for your pet, and for you.Regardless, let’s talk a little about bacteria in raw meat. Some of the confusion and fear comes in because one of the reasons humans cook much of what we eat is to kill bacteria. Dogs’ and cats’ stomachs are highly acidic, far more so than humans, which helps them process bacteria like salmonella (and others) without getting sick. The natural digestive enzymes and bile in their systems aid safe digestion and rejection of bad bacteria. Live enzymes in raw food help to boost your pet’s immune system and make it even better at this (sadly kibble is processed at way too high a temperature for these enzymes to survive, which can contribute to a weakened immune system in pets who only eat pellets… but this can be reversed when they return to a natural diet, so never fear!).
Q. IS IT GOING TO BE A LOT OF HASSLE FOR ME TO FEED MY PETS A RAW DIET?
A. Nope, we’ve taken all the hassle out. It is as simple as taking it out of the freezer, thawing and serving. Our food is balanced, delicious, and nutritious.
Q. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS MY PET AND I CAN LOOK FORWARD TO?
A. People who have switched their pets to our raw cat and dog food have found:
Dry, flaky, itchy, or uncomfortable skin has clearedAllergic reactions their pets had previously had on commercial foods have disappeared with the raw diet
Generally improved mood, energy, and playfulness in both cats and dogs (many owners just thought their pet was naturally lazy or sluggish until they saw the renewed liveliness that a diet change brought about!)
Teeth are naturally clean – chewing on raw meaty bones helps scrape tartar off the teeth
Overall improved immune and digestive systems meaning fewer visits to the vet
Arthritis has significantly reduced in some dogs
Kidney function has improved
Dogs are excited at meal times – no more of the “do I have to eat this??” facial expression!
The ripping and chewing involved in eating raw meaty bones develops the jaw, neck, and shoulder muscles, and aids coordination. Commercial foods will never assist in this important muscle development
Better weight control, for a few reasons:– the food is more effectively digested (it is not clogged with unnecessarily high levels of carbohydrates)– pets on commercial food often seem insatiably hungry because their food is not giving them the nutrients their bodies crave – this is no longer the case on the new diet– owners confess to being less tempted to give table scraps and other excess treats because they watch their pets genuinely enjoy every meal!No more pet odour
Stools are smaller and don’t smell as bad – this seems to be one of the most popular changes!
Animals are living longer on a raw diet
Despite popular concern, the food is quick and easy to serve
Bitches manage their pregnancies better
Better weight and survival rates in puppies. Young ones develop at a more appropriate rate – and quick growth spurts are avoided. A GOOD breeder will want to stop fast growth in any pup.
Decreased vet bills (your dogs and is healthier!)
Pets who were previously on cortisone or anti-biotic medication now need less or none at all
And the greatest honour of all for us to hear, and we’ve heard it many times, “I think your food saved his/her life”.
Q. MY DOG EATS THINGS REALLY FAST, SHOULD I BE CAREFUL WHEN GIVING THEM DEHYDRATED TREATS?
A. If you find that your dog doesn't chew things very well (or at all) before swallowing them, we recommend supervising them when giving them a new dehydrated treat. While we have never had an issue with this, we know that larger treats can become lodged in the throat if a dog tries to swallow them whole. We always advise customers to watch their dogs when feeding new treats, especially things like raw hides or dried treat rolls.
Q. DO YOU ACCEPT RETURNS?
A. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the products we sell we are unable to accept returns. Given that these are food products, we would be unable to resell them if they were returned.
HAVE A QUESTION THAT IS NOT COVERED HERE?
Please give us a call. We would be happy to help you with your questions or concerns.