I switched my pets to one meal per day instead of two as a way to cut back on stress for myself. I have a cat named Beamer with an unhealthy food addiction, and the constant meowing and harassment before mealtimes really, really gets to me. My mutt Ace and my other cat Scout are a bit more subtle about begging, but still annoying.

In addition to the begging, let’s just say Scout has been having some bathroom issues. Apparently the litter box is now optional for Mr. Princess. Feeding him once per day is a way to control his “schedule.” I’ve been treating this cat like a puppy and restricting his freedom until I know he’s “gone.” It’s just easier to deal with this once per day.

So to make it easy, I switched all three pets to one meal per day, and they receive this meal in the morning. It makes my life less stressful, and the animals don’t seem to mind.

Like most people, I assumed my animals would “protest” this new schedule and beg like crazy for their second meal around 5 p.m. Instead, what I’ve noticed is my dog and cats beg because it’s part of their routine. They are not necessarily hungry.

My cats beg by showing exaggerated affection, scratching things to get my attention, head-butting me, jumping in my lap, poking me with one claw and meowing. My dog begs by exaggerated yawning, whining, nudging my arm and staring at me. He will also grab a bone and chew on it as loudly as possible right next to me.

Here are some examples that show my animals beg because it’s part of their routine:

“Triggers” in our routine cause my dog and cats to beg.

There are many pieces to our routine that cause my animals to ask for food. They know every detail of what formerly lead to their evening meal. When these “triggers” in our routine take place, they beg. If these “triggers” do not occur, they do not beg.

The most obvious trigger is when Josh comes home from work around 5 p.m. This “excitement” sets off the begging. On the weekends, 5 p.m. rolls around (and then 6 p.m. and then 7 p.m.), and there is no begging. Josh worked from home yesterday (and therefore did not come home at 5), and there was no begging.

Josh’s mom has been staying with us this week, obviously altering our routine a bit. There has been no begging this week.

My dog and cats always stop begging around the time they would’ve eaten.

Even when a trigger causes my animals to beg, they always stop begging around the time they normally would’ve finished eating. They don’t beg after 6 p.m. or so. The recent time change has also worked in our benefit. Once it’s dark, the animals assume feeding time is long gone.

This tells me that although certain triggers have conditioned my animals to ask for food, there are also triggers that tell them to stop asking for food.

Is it safe to feed my dog once per day?

This is a good question to ask your vet because some dogs need to eat more than once per day. It’s usually best to feed a growing puppy two or three times per day, for example. But for the most part, adult dogs will do just fine eating once per day.

I know some people are sensitive about comparing dogs to wolves, but I pet sit and foster a lot of dogs and I notice that many of their natural eating habits do compare to the way wolves eat in the wild.

It’s usually feast or famine for gray wolves, according to the International Wolf Center, an organization that provides information on wolf biology. Finding food is a full-time job for them, so they have to be able to go days or even weeks without eating much. When they do catch a large mammal, boy do they eat! A gray wolf is able to eat up to 22 pound of food at one time.

Many of the dogs I care for choose to eat once a day or even once every two or three days. They eat a large quantity of food at one time and then they are good to go for a few days. I believe that part of the reason they eat this way when I care for them is because their routines are off. Their usual “triggers” such as their owners coming home from work do not occur so they eat when they are naturally hungry.

When I travel with my own dog, he doesn’t ask for food around his usual mealtimes. There are no triggers to tell him it’s time to eat, and he is usually focused on more important things like new smells or getting someone to scratch his head or throw a ball.

Another factor to keep in mind is that most dogs would love to be out exercising for most of the day just like wolves. Most dogs would prefer to work for and earn their food. I’m not saying this is always convenient for the humans. I don’t always walk my dog before he eats. It’s just something to consider. After all, most of us would prefer to work for and earn what we own rather than have everything handed to us.

Will my dog throw up if he eats one large meal?

He might

My dog is one of those big-chested dogs with a tiny waist. I always make him lie down after he drinks water or he will throw up. That’s just the way he rolls.

Bloat is always at the back of my mind as well. Bloat in dogs occurs when a dog’s stomach fills up with air, making breathing difficult because of pressure on the diaphragm. So when Ace eats a large meal, I keep him quiet for an hour or so afterwards. He is fine to go for a walk, but I don’t throw his ball or take him running until a few hours later.  He naturally wants to curl up for a nap after he eats anyway.

How should I switch my dog to one meal per day?

Just switch him, cold turkey. It’s no big deal. Just combine his meals to one so he gets one larger meal. If he doesn’t eat all the food, then put it away after 10 minutes. He’ll be hungry the next day. Feed him at the same time every day to help him get used to the new routine. Don’t feel bad for him. He’ll adjust to the new routine after a few weeks.

I’m not saying it’s better to feed a dog once per day. It just works for me and my dog right now. I might stick to this schedule or I might not. If you want to feed your dog two or three meals per day, then by all means, go for it.

Some people will definitely call me lazy for only feeding my pets once per day. Maybe it is lazy. But making cuts to a routine is not always the easy route. Who is more disciplined? The person who checks her email once per day or the person who checks her email multiple times per day?

How many meals per day do you feed your dog or cat?

When I get out the treats, Cosmo’s eyes bug out and he pants frantically. It’s extremely annoying.

Although it’s nice to have a treat-motivated dog for training purposes, Cosmo and I have a problem:

If I’m not careful, this dog will bite my fingers while trying to get the treat.

Cosmo’s previous owner obviously encouraged him to act excited around treats, whether it was intentional or not.

Cosmo barks for treats, although he stares at me blankly when I give the command “speak.”

He will also stand on his hind legs in order to get a treat – not so easy for an old man.

He can also catch any kind of treat in mid air – even a piece of cat food.

I need to be understanding with Cosmo, because clearly he was never given treats for acting calm. He was only given treats for acting out of control. He is conditioned to freak out at the sight/smell of food. It’s not his fault.

And here I am trying to teach him to sit and wait calmly to get a treat – talk about confusing!

But the main problem here is not Cosmo’s enthusiasm around food. That’s not a big deal. The problem is he will bite as he’s frantically snapping to get the treat.

This is very sad because he will not be able to be adopted to a home with children. Although I can do my best to help The Coz, I would never trust him 100 percent around kids.

Let me explain what I’m trying with Cosmo in order to hopefully get him to be nicer when taking treats. Please feel free to share any of your ideas in the comments at the end of the post.

Cosmo and I could use your help!

How to stop a dog from nipping when I give him treats

The main problem here is that Cosmo could bite someone else’s fingers when he or she tries to feed him treats.

I’m not so concerned with my own safety. I am concerned for the safety of others at adoption events, training classes and at the boarding kennel where he sometimes stays.

Cosmo’s own safety is also a factor, because it’s a very serious thing when a dog bites someone. I don’t care what the circumstances are.

Obviously the best way to avoid getting bitten is not to give the dog treats.

This is actually my “solution” most of the time.

I’m not a huge fan of using treats, anyway.

Cosmo is overweight and doesn’t need the extra calories. Plus, he’s so obsessed with treats that he has difficulty concentrating on the task at hand. He obeys commands much better when he’s not sure whether or not I have treats. If he knows I have them, he gets a bit nutty

Avoiding the use of treats is not going to solve our problem, though. He still nips when the treats do come out.

Pulling the treat away if the dog tries to snap

Quickly pulling the treat away if Cosmo gets too excited will not work.

The reason is because it makes Cosmo even more crazy about getting the treat. He wants to snap even faster in order to get the treat before I pull my hand away. This results in more carelessness on Cosmo’s part, and a higher chance of him biting my hand. It’s frustrating for us both.

Teach the dog to take the treats gently, without using his teeth.

The best solution I’ve come up with is an idea I got from Tamar Geller in her book “30 Days to a Well-Mannered Dog.” It is a positive-reinforcement technique.

This is what Geller advised:

1. Dip your fingers in something spreadable like cream cheese or peanut butter.

2. Allow the dog to lick your fingers.

3. If you feel even the slightest touch of the dog’s teeth, say “Ouch!” and move your hand away. Do not use an angry or scolding voice. Use a surprised tone as though the dog really hurt you.

4. Allow the dog to lick your fingers again. As long as the dog is gentle and using his tongue or lips, say something like “gentle” in a pleasant voice and allow him to keep licking. The second you feel the dog’s teeth, say “ouch!” again and move your hand away.

5. Repeat this several times every day. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat.

In extreme cases, Geller suggests to simply take the food, turn and walk right out of the room. Wait a few seconds and then come back and try again. Do this several times and the dog should eventually understand that if he uses his teeth, the treats are going away. That’s no fun.

Why I think Geller’s approach will work for Cosmo:

I do not always use positive reinforcement training. I have no problem stepping in and correcting a dog. But Cosmo is a sensitive dog. He only responds well to gentle techniques. He has such a low tolerance for stress that I see no other way to help him.

If I verbally scold Cosmo, he begins to shut down. He will even lose interest in the treat and show signs of avoidance or retreat to his kennel.

I’m not 100 percent sure this technique is going to work. But I’m going to take some time to give it a try.

Positive reinforcement training takes a lot of time and a lot of patience. This is why positive reinforcement doesn’t work for a lot of dog owners.

Even if Cosmo begins to show improvement when taking treats from my hand at my house, he is still going to have issues taking treats form other people. He will also still have issues when taking treats from me in other environments like on walks, at adoption events and at training classes.

Cosmo will need to learn how to take treats nicely in all settings. Just because he will take treats nicely from my hand in our kitchen does not mean he will take treats nicely from my hand in the living room.

How to give a dog a treat without getting bitten

Another issue is that most people do not know how to safely give a treat to a strange dog.

I’m amazed at how many experienced dog owners do not know how to safely give a dog a treat. Never assume that any dog will take a treat nicely. Not all dogs have been taught how to take treats.

To safely give a dog a treat, I recommend making him sit first. The calmer the dog, the better. Talk calmly to the dog and move slowly to encourage the dog to stay calm and to also move slowly.

Make sure to hold the treat in a closed fist and to slowly lower your hand in front of the dog, below his mouth. Don’t hold your hand above the dog’s head where he will have trouble seeing the treat.

Slowly open your hand as you feel the dog’s tongue. By keeping your fingers closed, they should be safe from getting bitten. It’s also better if you use a smaller treat. If you use one of those long strips of jerky, the dog will try to snap at the end of the treat in an attempt to grab it from you. If you hold a smaller piece in your fist, the dog will not be so eager to snap at it.

Another way that usually works is to hold a small treat in the open palm of your hand in front of the dog, below his mouth. That way the dog can see and smell exactly where the treat is. Keep your fingers closed!

Let me know if you have any other suggestions for giving treats to a dog.

How to get a dog to stop barking for treats

Another problem we had was that Cosmo would bark every time he heard me get out the treats. I trained him to stop this on the first day he lived with us.

It was simple. If Cosmo barked, he did not get a treat. He could tell that I was very unhappy.

If he was quiet, I gave him treats. I might even give him three or four treats. He could tell that I was happy.

Quiet dogs receive treats. Noisy dogs do not.

Let me know if you have any tips for teaching a dog to take treats nicely.

Remember, the dog is not intentionally trying to hurt you. He’s just trying to get the treat. Dogs are dogs, and they can’t rationalize what they’re doing.

Here is Cosmo’s nutty “give me treats” face:

For more info about Cosmo, check out my post
on American Eskimo dog for adoption in Fargo.

My mutt Ace recently completed his 90-day raw dog food trial with Stella & Chewy’s. I thought I’d end his trial with a review of the food.

First of all, Stella & Chewy’s jumped at the opportunity to sponsor Ace’s raw dog food trial. I think that’s pretty awesome.

Any company that recognizes the value of social media, word of mouth, SEO and the power of a crazy dog lady is a pretty cool company. Stella & Chewy’s will always have my support because of this.

My review format is based on a list of questions I thought people might actually want to ask about raw dog food from Stella & Chewy’s. If you still have any questions, feel free to leave a comment. Since Ace ate primarily “Chewy’s Chicken Dinners,” that is the specific food I am reviewing.

Review of Stella & Chewy’s frozen raw dog food – chicken

Would you recommend Stella & Chewy’s raw dog food?

Yes.

If you are interested in feeding your dog raw food, I recommend you start by feeding him commercial raw food.

Some dog owners will argue that a commercial raw diet is not as healthy as a homemade raw diet. Obviously a homemade raw diet can be very healthy or it can be very unhealthy, depending on what you feed the dog.

I would rather not deal with the stress of buying all the ingredients, mixing the food and storing it. I would rather buy a few bags of pre-prepared raw dog food patties and call it good. I will probably make some raw meals for my dog in the future, but for now I’m more comfortable sticking with a dog food company like Stella & Chewy’s.

Now that your trial is over, will you continue feeding Ace Stella & Chewy’s?

No.

I would love to, but Stella & Chewy’s is not sold in my town of Fargo, N.D. The price is also an issue.

Natural Pet Center in Fargo is more than willing to order Stella & Chewy’s for Ace, but that is not something I’m interested in at this time. It’s an inconvenience for me to plan ahead and order enough food and to feel obligated to pick it up at a certain time. I would rather swing by the store at my own convenience (like when I’m completely out of food). That’s just me.

The two commercial raw dog food options sold at Natural Pet Center at this time are Primal and Nature’s Variety. I am considering the option of feeding all my animals one meal of dry food per day and one meal of raw food, but not until fall.

I am doing a lot of weekend traveling this summer, and it’s easier to feed my pets dry food when we travel. I haven’t decided which raw pet food company I’m going to go with, and I’m open to suggestions.

Why is Stella & Chewy’s better than competing raw dog food companies?

Stella & Chewy’s may or may not be any better than the competing raw dog food companies. It is the only brand of raw food I have fed my dog, so I have nothing to compare it to other than dry food (no comparison). But I have done some research on other raw companies.

Here are some of the reasons I like Stella & Chewy’s:

Stella & Chewy’s is made in Wisconsin.

All of Stella & Chewy’s products are produced – from start to finish – at its federally inspected plant in Muskego, Wis., according to its web site.

I will always be loyal to the Midwest and choose to buy products that are made here. Plus, my parents live in Wisconsin so I am biased. A lot of the other raw dog food brands obtain their ingredients from all over the country and likely elsewhere. I’d rather buy a dog food that’s made closer to my home and all in one place.

Stella & Chewy’s uses raw, naturally raised meat.

Stella & Chewy’s only uses pasture-fed meats and cage-free poultry from USDA-inspected facilities without added hormones or antibiotics, according to Marie Moody, president and founder of Stella & Chewy’s. All of the fruits and vegetables the company uses are certified organic.

The food is also free of grain, fillers, artificial preservatives and colorings, according to its web site. No salt or sugar is added, either.

Stella & Chewy’s is safe for your dog.

I am 100 percent in favor of feeding dogs raw food, and I am not at all worried about my dog getting sick from raw food. Dogs are dogs, and they can handle a lot more bacteria than we can.

All of Stella & Chewy’s products are produced using a high-pressure, food-safety system that “squeezes” out food pathogens without cooking any of the nutrients, according to its web site.

Stella & Chewy’s uses a third-party testing facility to test each batch for salmonella and e. coli, according to Moody. The test results are available on Stella & Chewy’s web site for all to see. Batch codes on each package can easily be matched to the test results.

Not bad!

This was especially comforting when my dog came down with pneumonia during his raw food trial, and at the time I wasn’t quite sure what was causing him to feel so sick. It was not his food!

What are the ingredients in the dog food?

These are the ingredients for “Chewy’s Chicken Dinners” (pictured to the right) according to the Stella and Chewy’s web site:

Chicken ground with bone, chicken liver, chicken gizzard, pumpkin seed, potassium chloride, organic cranberries, organic spinach, organic broccoli, organic beets, sodium phosphate monobasic, organic carrots, organic squash, organic apples, organic blueberries, choline chloride, dried pediococcus acidilactici fermentation product, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium longum fermentation product, dried enterococcus faecium fermentation product, taurine, tocopherols (preservative), calcium carbonate, zinc proteinate, zinc sulfate, iron sulfate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin, copper sulfate, copper proteinate, manganese sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese proteinate, thiamine monohydrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, vitamin D3 supplement, calcium iodate, vitamin B12 supplement

I love that the first three ingredients are meat based. The next ingredients are various fruits and vegetables.

Do dogs need fruits and vegetables in their diets?

Some vets and pet owners will argue that dogs do not need fruits and vegetables in their diets and that companies like Stella & Chewy’s use them as cheap (but safe) fillers.

Other vets say that dogs do need fruits and vegetables.

Ace’s vet, Dr. Amy Anderson of West Fargo (N.D.) Animal Hospital, says that dogs have become omnivores and do well with fruits, vegetables and grain in their diets. She also tells me that Science Diet is a high-quality food for my dog, so I don’t take all her nutrition advice seriously.

I asked Moody if dogs really need fruits and vegetables in their diets. She believes they benefit from a small amount, and I like her take on this:

“Dogs are carnivores as well as scavengers,” she said. “In the wild they would eat mostly meat, but also a small amount of fruits and vegetables. Stella & Chewy’s dinners are made up of 95 percent meat and bone and 5 percent organic fruits and vegetables.”

I noticed there are a lot of questionable, unpronounceable ingredients in the raw food from Stella & Chewy’s. I did not look up each of these ingredients, but I do trust they are all safe for my dog.

Whether or not Ace really needs the added minerals and vitamins is the real question.

I’m guessing he does not.

How much does the food cost?

It’s not cheap!

A 6-pound bag of Stella & Chewy’s frozen raw chicken patties is around $25. One bag lasts Ace about four days, so it costs about $200 to feed him Stella & Chewy’s for a month.

Does Stella & Chewy’s offer raw cat food?

Yes! I think this is great!

Is there anything wrong with Stella & Chewy’s raw dog food?

Stella & Chewy’s is a great company, and I would feel comfortable feeding it to my dog and cats long term. The only downsides are cost and whether or not cats and dogs really need fruits and vegetables in their food.

I truly believe the owner of the company believes in providing a healthy food for pets.

When Moody adopted her dog Chewy, she said he was really sick and the vet recommended she put him on a diet of natural, raw meat to help him recover.

“I started making his food in my kitchen with a food processor,” she said. “I would have done anything to help him get better. As Chewy recovered and became a healthy, more energetic dog, I was convinced that the right food – and a lot of love – really did matter.”

This is when Moody got the idea to create a food similar to what she prepared in her own kitchen and offer it to the public to help pets live “healthier and longer lives.”

If you are going to feed your pets a commercial raw dog food, you can’t go wrong with Stella & Chewy’s. Just make sure to do some research on the pros and cons of raw dog food first so you understand what it entails.

So now I’m asking you:

Do you feed your dog raw food? What is your favorite raw dog food company?

Stella & Chewy’s provided my dog with 90 days worth of pre-prepared raw dog food patties. Thank you, Stella & Chewy’s!

When people question why I would want to feed my animals a raw diet, I tell them that eating raw meat is natural for dogs and cats.

They are carnivores, right?

This is sometimes hard for people to grasp. We’re so used to feeding our pets grain-based, commercial food that feeding them raw meat, organs and bones seems odd or even dangerous.

One of the things I love about cats is how they have maintained some sort of wildness, even after domestication. Most cats could get along just fine without humans. They are true hunters. True survivors.

Our cat Beamer has killed dozens, if not hundreds, of insects, mice, birds and rabbits.

Josh loves to tell the story about a time when he and some friends were grilling in south Moorhead.

Beamer suddenly squeezed himself through the slats of the fence, carrying a freshly killed rabbit. He then proceeded to drag the rabbit across the yard and place it a few feet from the grill.

Apparently Beamer had decided he would join the party as well, BYOB style.

That’s bring your own bunny.

Beamer ate the entire (raw) bunny – the eyes, the brain, the bones, the intestines, the heart, the kidneys, you name it – everything but the fur. And then he relaxed on the deck in the sun, full and happy and probably purring.

That story comes to mind very often when I’m contemplating whether or not to feed my animals raw food.

When our dogs and cats live mostly indoors, we forget they are animals, hunters and carnivores.

I’ve been focusing on raw food for dogs for the last few months, so I wanted to dedicate a post to raw food for cats.

Should I feed my cat a raw diet?

My dog Ace is on a raw diet, so what about my cats?

Ace doesn’t deserve to eat healthier than my cats. I just conveniently write a dog blog and Stella & Chewy’s was nice enough to sponsor a 90-day raw food trial for my dog.

I would love to feed all my animals raw food. For right now, I’m trying to figure out the best choice for me as far as costs and convenience. More than likely, I will start feeding my cats one raw meal per day and one dry meal.

Many vets and pet owners do not recommend feeding a raw/dry combo. This is because raw food is easy to digest and dry food is difficult to digest. Combining the two can apparently cause issues for some dogs and cats, although it has never bothered Ace. Something tells me Beamer would be fine, too!

I am interested in feeding my cats raw food because of the potential health benefits for them.

Beamer spends the majority of his time searching for food. He goes into a panic trying to get at, say, a dropped piece of lettuce or a single Cheerio. A few weeks ago I left a bag of raw carrots on the counter thinking he wouldn’t get into carrots! Let’s just say by the time I finished my shower, my kitchen floor was covered in half-eaten carrots. For more info on my cat’s food obsession, read my post on my cat is fat.

I realize Beamer’s issues are mostly psychological, but I can’t help but wonder how he would do if we put him on a healthier diet. Perhaps some of his food-obsession issues would go away just as Ace’s water obsession has decreased after switching him to raw food. It’s worth a try.

My other cat Scout has had allergies for the last year or two. I don’t know what causes his allergies. It could be something in his food, or it could be something in the environment. Who knows. He sneezes all the time, and he has nasty discharge in his eyes. He also tends to get a lot of hairballs. Sure, he can live with allergies, but a raw diet might make him feel better. He has done better since I’ve kept him on a grain-free dry cat food (Nature’s Variety Instinct).

And then there’s Ninja – our foster cat. I probably won’t be switching her over to raw food other than maybe a little bit here and there as a treat. She’s lucky enough to have made it out of the pound; I think she can deal with eating the highest quality dry cat food for now

Ninja is up for adoption with Adopt-A-Pet of Fargo-Moorhead! Read more about Ninja in my post on black cat for adoption Fargo.

So that’s where I stand with my cats right now.

Switching them to a raw diet is definitely something to consider.

What are the benefits of a raw food diet for cats?

Most cats will benefit from a raw diet. Here are just a few of the benefits:

1. Raw, organic cat food is the healthiest food for (most) cats.

This is because raw food is fresh, whole and unprocessed. It’s the natural way a cat would eat in the wild. Raw food contains live enzymes that are important for digestion and absorbing nutrients. These enzymes are killed when food is cooked.

2. A heavily processed diet is not healthy for a cat.

A highly processed diet is not healthy for anyone!

3. Cats don’t get enough moisture from dry cat food.

Cats don’t get enough water from dry food, even when they have fresh water available at all times. I have met and heard about way too many cats with kidney issues and urinary tract infections. I strongly believe this is directly related to a long-term diet of strictly dry food.

4. A raw diet can help a cat lose weight.

Nearly every house cat I know is overweight. A poor diet contributes to obesity. Cats do not need all the carbohydrates found in most commercial dry foods. They need real protein, not corn and cheap rice by-products.

If your cat is lean and healthy, he will have a decreased risk for heart disease, arthritis, cancer, diabetes and so on.

5. A cat that eats raw food will have healthier teeth and gums.

This is especially true when a cat eats a raw diet that consists of raw, meaty bones rather than ground raw food. The action of chewing on a bone cleans a cat’s teeth the same way chewing on a bone cleans a dog’s teeth.

This also means less smelly breath!

6. Eating raw food is the natural way for your cat to eat!

Eating raw meat will make your cat happy because he is designed to eat whole animals like mice and rabbits. I notice that my cats have a hard time chewing their dry food. Scout eats his food very slowly, one piece or so at a time, chewing with the side of his mouth. And Beamer pretty much swallows his dry food whole.

7. Your cat will poop less if he eats raw food.

The reason for this is because a natural raw diet will provide your cat with all the nutrients he needs rather than fill him up with unnecessary, cheap ingredients like corn. That means less waste. A lot less.

8. Cats have been eating raw food ever since cats existed!

Commercial dry cat food is a fairly new idea. Before “kibble” was invented, cats thrived on real food.

Why is commercial dry cat food bad for cats?

Because the ingredients are cheap, processed and unnatural.

You definitely want to read the ingredients of your cat’s current food. Avoid any cat foods that contain by-products, animal digest, brewers rice or corn. For more info, check out my post on why dry food is bad for dogs and cats.

Will my cat get sick from raw food?

What about parasites? Bacteria?

Cats won’t get sick from eating fresh raw meat because they are carnivores. Like dogs, cats have highly acidic stomachs and short digestive tracts. This prevents bacteria from colonizing.

However, while dogs can usually eat meat that has been in the fridge for quite some time, cats need to eat the meat while it’s fresh, according to Carissa Kuehn of RawFed.com. Kuehn worked for four years in the Clinical Sciences Department at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She has fed her cats and dogs raw food since 2001.

Cats do not have the ability to digest “ripe” food and get rid of any toxic by-products the way dogs can, Kuehn said. But as long as you feed your cat fresh meat, he should be fine. Storing the meat in your freezer and de-frosting it as needed is the safest way to go.

My dog eats raw dog food – day 80 update

Ace says, “Enough with the cats! Let’s talk about me!”

Ace is doing wonderful on his raw diet.

Here are some of my observations in the last week or so:

Lip smacking

The odd lip smacking behavior he was doing a few weeks ago has seemed to stop. I’m not really sure what was causing this.

Coat

Ace’s coat looks shiny and healthy. He’s one pretty boy.

Weight

I increased the amount of food Ace was getting and he is still looking lean and healthy. I haven’t weighed him, but I assume he’s right around 65 pounds. He is eating 1.75 patties per meal, which is about 28 ounces per day.

Energy

Ace seems to have a normal amount of energy for him (which is not a lot). He likes to lie around the house all day, but he’s eager to take part in any kind of walk, training or outdoor adventure. I’m not worried about his lack of energy anymore. Perhaps increasing his food helped a bit. He still gets very excited to chase a ball or greet his friends, so that’s good to see.

My dog is always thirsty/throwing up

OK, so I was sitting on the floor last weekend petting Ace, and he puked right in my lap! This was when my friend Becky was over and Josh was also in the room. Talk about embarrassing! It’s one thing when a dog throws up his water or kibble in your lap – but a bunch of ground raw meat? Gross!

Ace has always had issues with throwing up after eating or drinking too fast. Cleaning up dog puke is a normal occurrence at our house. Since he’s been on a raw diet, he’s been drinking less water and therefore throwing up his water less often. However, he’s been throwing up his food more often because he eats it too fast. I know Ace can’t help it, but I get really mad at him when he throws up all the time.

I’ve been doing some research on this and one suggestion I’ve found is to feed the raw food at room temperature. Sometimes a dog has issues with a bunch of cold, slightly frozen meat in his stomach. I’m not planning on taking the time to warm Ace’s food up by placing his bowl in warm water, but I could try to de-frost the food for 2 or 3 days instead of overnight. I’m a lot less concerned with bacteria now than I was when I started Ace’s raw food trial.

Will I continue feeding raw food after the 90-day trial?

Overall, I see no issues with continuing to feed my dog commercial raw dog food other than the cost. I haven’t decided if this is something I am going to continue or not. What I will most likely do is feed one meal of dry food and one meal of raw food to all of my pets every day as long as they seem to do OK with the combo. This will save some money.

Alternating between raw food and dry food

I’ve been feeding Ace a meal of dry food (Evo) every now and then, and he has no problem switching back and forth between dry and raw. He will be eating dry food this weekend when we travel to Wisconsin, and he will be eating dry food whenever he stays at a kennel or pet sitter’s house. I like the convenience of being able to switch him to dry food from time to time without a transition.

I plan to write a full review on Stella  & Chewy’s raw dog food in my next raw food post, so stay tuned!

Thank you Michelle from Natural Pet Center for putting up with all of Ace’s raw food deliveries!

Do you feed your cat raw food?

I was interested in raw food diets for people years before I thought about the benefits of raw food for dogs.

I chose to try feeding my dog raw food because I’m also trying to eat more raw food. I don’t see this as some sort of fad diet. I see it as a lifestyle change and a natural, healthy way of eating.

Real, live foods contain live enzymes that benefit our digestion, nutrient absorption and health. When food is heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit or so, these enzymes are destroyed.

Some people go as far as eating 100 percent raw food. That would be a diet of raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, grain, legumes and maybe even some jerky.

There is no possible way I can maintain a 100 percent raw diet at this point in my life. I’ve tried 30-day raw food trials and failed. I love cooked food too much, and I also require a high amount of calories per day (about 3,700). When I try to eat 100 percent raw, I don’t get enough to eat. Although I’m sure there are athletes who thrive on a mostly raw diet, I do not have the time to prepare and eat all that food. It’s also expensive.

What I can do is try to eat 50 percent raw. I am definitely not there yet, but it’s a goal.

Some easy ways to eat more live foods are to make a large fruit/veggie smoothie or a salad with every meal. I also try to snack on fruits, veggies and raw nuts throughout the day. The more live foods I eat, the less interest I have in fatty and processed foods.

I became a vegetarian in August 2007. This was an extremely easy switch for me, and I’ve had no second thoughts. I still eat eggs and seafood and on rare occasions, venison.

I originally stopped eating meat for ethical reasons, as I am deeply disturbed by the way animals are raised for food in the United States. But lately I am more concerned with my own health than I am with the well-being of these animals. Their bodies are extremely unhealthy and unnatural, and I definitely don’t want to be eating toxic animals.

If someone wants to eat hamburger or chicken or pork, that’s fine. But I do believe it should be a conscious decision. Unfortunately, for most people, it is not.

People live their lives on autopilot and consume whatever is most easily obtained. Where that food came from is of little importance. Most of us are so far removed from the factory/slaughtering process that we forget ham comes from real pigs and hamburger comes from real cows.

That is where we are losing.

So before you worry too much about what your dog is eating or whether or not you should switch your dog to raw food, look at what you are feeding yourself.

Obviously I’ve been writing about raw dog food a lot lately – thanks for sticking around to read my posts.

Here’s an example of a raw smoothie I made for an afternoon snack yesterday:

1.5 C. water

1 banana

1 C. frozen strawberries

1/2 C. baby carrots

1 C. spinach

There’s no science to it. Just pour some water into the blender, add whatever fruits and vegetables you happen to have and blend. No need to add any sugar, yogurt, milk or ice cream. Don’t worry, you can’t taste the spinach.

Here are just a few more reasons to make a salad and buy a bunch of fruit:

Reasons for people to eat more raw food

1. Raw foods contain more vitamins and minerals.

Americans are deprived of vitamins and minerals because we eat mostly processed, nutrient-deficient foods like mini corndogs and white bread. You have the option to make better choices for yourself. For more info, I highly recommend the documentary “Food Matters.”

2. A raw food diet is friendlier to animals.

I don’t think this needs explaining. A good documentary to watch on this subject is “Food, Inc.” For a more disturbing take (one that makes me want to throw up, actually), check out PETA’s Meet Your Meat video. I purposely didn’t link to it, but you can easily find it.

3. Raw foods will give you healthier skin.

Your entire body will be healthier if you eat more live foods, including your skin. I am always worried about sun damage and skin cancer because I am blessed with freakishly white skin, and I’m outside all the time. If the antioxidants in raw foods will help my skin, I’m in!

4. Raw food will give you more energy and mental clarity.

People who eat 100 percent raw food swear they have more energy. And dog owners who feed their dogs raw swear their dogs have more energy. One of the reasons for this is because raw food is easy for the body to digest. That means more energy is left for the rest of the body and mind. Just make sure you are getting enough calories. If you’re not eating enough, you will not have a lot of energy. Quite the concept, I know

Keep in mind that if you switch from a highly processed diet to a mostly vegan or raw diet, you will likely experience a period of detox where your body will get rid of all that extra crap, and you will temporarily feel tired and/or sick.

5. Eating more raw food will help you lose weight.

When you eat raw food, you don’t have to worry about counting calories. You can never get enough fruit or vegetables. So eat up! The more raw food you eat, the less hungry you will be for fried and processed foods. Eventually, cravings for those foods will decrease and some cravings will go away. I no longer crave hamburgers, fries or chicken strips, for example.

My dog eats raw dog food – day 64 update

Ace has tried several kinds of Stella & Chewy’s frozen raw food and he’s done just fine with each one – chicken, beef and duck.

Energy

My main concern right now is my dog’s lack of energy, but this started before he began eating raw food.

So many dog owners claim their dogs have an increase in energy once they switch to raw.

Well, my dog is a complete pile. Like, all the time! Usually, he’s snoring. Loudly.

Weight

I don’t have a scale that works, but Ace looks like he’s lost a pound or two. I increased the amount of food he’s getting since he did not need to lose any weight. The recommended amount for a dog his size is 3 patties a day (24 ounces). I’ve increased it to 3.5 patties per day (28 ounces).

Ear infections

Ace is fighting off an ear infection, and of course that might be why he is low on energy at the moment. As I’ve said before, I don’t know if his ear infections are caused by allergies or not.

Eyes

Ace’s eyes are runny, especially in the mornings. I’m assuming this is allergy related – not sure if it’s something in the environment or his food.

Teeth/breath

A lot of dog owners say their dogs’ teeth begin to look whiter once they switch their dogs to raw food. Ace’s teeth definitely aren’t any whiter, but I do not give him raw bones to chew. I don’t brush his teeth, either. I plan to buy more bones for him or start brushing his teeth. Hopefully that will help his bad breath go away, too.

Lip smacking

Ace has been licking his lips and swallowing an awful lot. I’ve noticed this ever since I switched him to raw, and it seems odd to me. I realize dogs will lick their lips when they are feeling stressed, but I don’t think Ace is stressed. Even when he appears completely relaxed – like when he’s passed out on his bed – he seems to swallow and lick his lips a lot. I may mention this to his vet.

Skin/coat

Ace is scratching less. His coat is starting to look really shiny, and he just looks lean and muscular. He is one handsome boy!

Less poop!

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the poop is small, kids! He poops less often, and it magically starts to disappear if I don’t pick it up right away! Ace has never had diarrhea or signs of an upset stomach while eating raw food except when he was on antibiotics for pneumonia. I am over my fear of Ace getting sick from bacteria in raw food. He’s a dog. Dogs are meant to eat raw meat.

My dog is always thirsty

The mutt is still drinking a normal amount of water without obsessing over drinking the entire bowl like he did when he ate dry food. I feel bad that his dry food was possibly keeping him dehydrated.

All in all, I’m happy with the raw food for Ace, and I’m happy with Stella & Chewy’s. I am worried about his lack of energy and the odd lick smacking behavior, so those are some things to watch in the next couple of weeks.

What about you? Do you eat a lot of raw food? Does your dog eat raw food?

A lot of dog owners would like to feed their dogs raw dog food but can’t afford it.

Once Ace’s 90-day raw food trial is up with Stella & Chewy’s, I will also have to decide whether or not I want to spend $150+ on raw food for my dog each month.

To help myself and others decide if we can afford to feed raw dog food, I compared some prices for commercial raw food, homemade raw food, natural dry dog food and standard dry dog food.

These are just some general examples intended to give you an idea of what the dog food costs without spending time searching for sales or coupons or anything like that. There are all kinds of ways to save money on certain food such as shopping at Sam’s Club, buying in massive quantities, only buying food that is on sale or working out a deal with a friend who hunts or farms or whatever. That’s not what this post is about.

My dog is a 5-year-old, 67-pound black lab/hound mix with a naturally lean build. I keep him active, but he is not a high-energy dog. The following examples are based on the amount of food he would eat per day (generally 1.5 pounds raw or 3 cups dry) and the cost per day and per month to feed him. Since Ace primarily eats chicken as his main protein source, that’s what I used for the following examples.

Commercial raw dog food – about $210 per month

The prices of commercial raw dog food brands vary quite a bit from store to store, state to state, etc. I did my best to take the average prices, so don’t freak out if you find a certain brand for a lot more or a lot less. I also did not include any shipping costs if you plan to order online.

Stella & Chewy’s - Chewy’s chicken frozen dinner

$26.99 per 6-pound bag

$6.75 per day or $202 per month

Primal - canine chicken formula

$34.99 per 8-pound bag

$6.60 per day or $198 per month

Nature’s Variety Instinct - organic chicken formula

$29.99 per 6-pound bag

$7.50 per day or $225 per month

Homemade raw dog food – about $115 per month

There is a ton of flexibility here depending on what you want to feed your dog. If you want to spend significantly less on homemade raw dog food, you really need to buy directly from a butcher or buy in bulk. You can easily cut your costs for meat in half by shopping this way. For those of you who feed homemade raw dog food, I would love to hear your money-saving tips!

These prices are from my standard grocery store, nothing special. I wasn’t worried about organic meat or what was on sale. I just took 15 minutes to walk through the store and jot down some prices of some foods I would use if I were to make homemade food for Ace.

Chicken thighs: $1.72 per pound, $2.58 per day or $78 per month

Ace would eat about 1.5 pounds of meat per day.

Vegetables: $0.50 per day or $15 per month

For fruits and vegetables, I would just feed Ace whatever I happened to be eating that week (lettuce, spinach, bananas, apples, carrots, zucchini, asparagus or whatever). He would get 1/4 C. or so of veggies per meal. On the high end, that might equal out to $0.50 per day.

Yogurt: $1.25 per cup, $0.63 per day or $19 per month

Ace would get 1/4 C. of yogurt or so per meal.

Other:

Other expenses not included could be calcium tabs, glucosamine tabs, fish oil, organ meat, raw bones, raw eggs, etc. These are all things that could be included in my dog’s meals from time to time regardless of whether I’m making his food or not.

Natural dry dog food – $50 to $75 per month

Ace would generally eat about 3 cups of high-quality dry food per day.

Evo - chicken and turkey formula (Ace’s typical dry food)

$46.99 per 28.6-pound bag

$2.47 per day or $75 per month

Canidae – chicken and rice

$52.46 per 44-pound bag

$1.80 per day or $54 per month

Taste of the Wild – wetlands canine formula (wild fowl)

$47.49 per 30-pound bag

$2.37 per day or $71 per month

Standard dry dog food – $50 to $65 per month

Ace would generally eat about 4 cups of standard-quality dry dog food per day.

Iams – large breed chunks (chicken)

$31.95 per 40-pound bag

$1.60 per day or $48 per month

Hills Science Diet – large breed adult formula

Just want to point out that corn is the #1 ingredient in this food highly recommended by most vets!

$35.99 per 35-pound bag

$2.05 per day or $62 per month

Purina One – Smartblend chicken and rice forumula

$35.99 per 34-pound bag

$2.12 per day or $64 per month

I didn’t realize how expensive standard dry dog food has gotten. It’s almost as expensive as higher-quality brands. All the more reason to switch to natural dog food!

How much do you pay for your dog’s food?

I’m not out to make anyone feel bad about not being able to afford raw dog food or high-quality dry dog food. Worry about yourself and your family before you worry about what your dog is eating. Sometimes I look at my dog’s food and my cats’ food and see that all the ingredients are natural or organic and then I look at the food I’m eating – usually not organic! We definitely should not put our pets before ourselves.

Dogs can get by on a lower-quality food just like people can get by on a lower-quality diet. I do not believe someone shouldn’t have a dog just because she can’t afford the best food. That would be ridiculous. My dog and cats ate Purina One for a good two years. Eventually I started buying higher-quality food every other month or mixing the two together to save $10 here and there.

My dog eats raw dog food – day 53 update

Ace is doing great on 100 percent raw food. I am now a true believer in feeding dogs and cats raw! Ace has eaten mostly raw chicken but he’s also been eating some raw beef. I’m seriously thinking of switching my cats over to raw as well.

Ear infections

Poor Ace does seem to have an ear infection. And he has watery eyes, too. Food allergies or environmental allergies could be the cause. It is finally spring here and the grass is finally starting to turn green. Ace typically gets an ear infection around this time of year, and it’s always in one ear!

Itchy skin/dandruff

Unfortunately he still seems itchy. Part of this is behavioral. He scratches when he’s not sure what else to do, like when a cat is staring at him I don’t notice any dandruff, just scratching around his collar. He also continues to chew and lick his paws often.

Gray hair

Ace is getting noticeably more gray fur on his paws, legs, tummy and face.

Less poop!

He has less poop now than when he was eating Evo. Always a plus!

My dog is always thirsty

Ace is definitely not as thirsty anymore! He drinks a normal amount of water (6-8 cups per day or so) and he’s not obsessive about drinking it all at once.

Teeth/breath

No noticeable change. I never thought Ace had horrible teeth or breath, but I’m sure other people think otherwise!

Energy

I haven’t noticed an increase in Ace’s energy. He’s always tired from playing with his dog friends!

Let me know what your dog eats and how you save money on dog food!

Thank you Natural Pet Center for helping out with my raw food deliveries!

Remember, during Ace’s 90-day raw food trial, Natural Pet Center will give all readers of That Mutt 15 percent off on all orders of Stella & Chewy’s! Just send me an email at Lindsay@ThatMutt.com for more info.

Ace has been eating pre-prepared raw dog food patties for the last couple of weeks. Although these patties are a convenient way to feed my dog raw food at home, they’re not so convenient for traveling.

Ace and I drove five hours to visit my parents in Wisconsin last weekend. I did not want to risk packing his frozen raw dog food patties in a cooler, so I had to think of something else.

I ended up bringing along his dry dog food (Evo) and feeding him that for the weekend. He seemed to do just fine with the temporary switch, but there are other options.

How to feed a dog raw food when you travel

One thing to keep in mind is your dog’s sensitive digestive system. Make sure you do not feed him anything new while you travel. Don’t switch him to a dry food he has eaten in a few months. Don’t switch him to a freeze-dried raw dog food with a different protein source than he’s used to. Don’t even feed him new treats or bones. A dog with explosive diarrhea is the last thing you want to worry about during your roadtrip!

Here are the options I considered for my dog Ace when we went on a roadtrip last weekend:

Feed your dog dry dog food during your trip.

I decided to pack and feed Ace dry dog food during our trip. This seemed like the easiest way to go. I thought Ace would be fine eating dry food for just a day and a half, and I was right. He ate raw food on Friday before we left, dry food for both meals on Saturday and one meal dry and one meal raw on Sunday. No big deal.

I was hesitant to switch him back to dry dog food for the weekend because I have heard that dogs do not do well when switching from raw food (easy on the body to digest) to dry food (difficult to digest). Still, other dog owners swear their dogs are fine when they eat one dry meal and one raw meal every day or even when they mix the two for every meal. I’m sure it depends on the dog and the specific foods the dog is eating.

Ace might’ve had an easier time switching back to dry food for the weekend because he had only been eating 100 percent raw for five days. He had just eaten his dry food the previous weekend.

If I do continue feeding Ace raw food for the longterm, it might be worth it to feed him dry food once a week or so. That way if I feed him dry food on vacation, it shouldn’t be a huge surprise on his system.

Feed commercial freeze-dried raw dog food while traveling.

Another option I looked into was buying some freeze-dried raw dog food for the weekend. This is great for traveling because it does not have to be refrigerated or frozen. Since the price of freeze-dried raw dog food is much higher than dry food, I went with dry.

I also did not want to risk Ace getting sick from eating a brand new type of food. He’s never eaten freeze-dried raw food before. If I ever do feed him freeze-dried dog food while traveling, I will feed it to him for two to three days as a trial before we leave town.

Buy commercial raw dog food once you reach your destination.

This wasn’t a realistic option for me because I was headed to a small town in Wisconsin. I arrived at 9 p.m. and even if there was a natural pet food store in town, it probably wouldn’t be open that late on a Friday.

If you are headed to a larger city and you are getting there at a convenient time to pick up some raw dog food, then maybe this could be a realistic option for you.

Hopefully you are staying with understanding pet owners with a lot of freezer space. Be considerate and ask them ahead of time if it’s OK for your dog to eat raw food at their house, and if it’s OK to use their freezer for storage. A lot of people are really bothered by dogs eating raw meat, and they are afraid of coming into contact with bacteria.

If you are staying at a hotel, ask for a room with a mini fridge and freezer and bring your own cooler along just in case.

I would rather feed my dog dry food during a trip than risk staying in a hotel room without a freezer and worrying that my cooler is not cold enough. Those mini fridges with a tiny “freezer” on top don’t seem very cold to me.

Buy raw dog food ingredients like raw chicken from the grocery store once you arrive.

Buying ingredients for your dog’s meals at the local supermarket could be an option depending on where you are going, the time of day you are arriving and who you are staying with.

Again, I wouldn’t do this unless you have experience making your dog’s raw meals and he’s used to eating homemade raw food. Feed him foods he has eaten recently so you know he won’t get an upset stomach.

Can I leave raw dog food for my dog if he stays at a kennel?

That depends on each individual boarding facility. I pet sit a lot of dogs and I will absolutely feed dogs and cats raw food while their owners are away. I used to work at a boarding kennel, and even in 1999, dog owners were requesting that we feed their dogs raw. We did, and it really wasn’t a big deal.

If you are going to leave your dog at a kennel, dog daycare or pet sitter’s house, just make sure to ask in advance if it is OK to leave raw food for your dog. Make sure whoever is caring for your dog understands what raw feeding involves – keeping the food frozen, washing the bowls and feeding area, etc. You’ll probably find that most dog care businesses are eager to go out of their way for you. They want your dog’s routine to be as normal as possible while you are away.

If your dog’s particular kennel or pet sitter is not willing to feed raw food, then you may want to consider leaving your dog somewhere else. Or, you could switch your dog to dry food while you are away. Start feeding him dry food about a week before you leave in order to make sure his digestive system is doing OK with the switch. That way he won’t have a tummy-ache when you are gone. You’ll also spare his caregiver some cleanup work

My dog eats raw dog food – day 42 update

Ace is continuing to do well eating raw dog food. I’m glad I didn’t decide to end the trial after he got sick from pneumonia and then his antibiotics.

There is not a whole lot to report other than he did just fine eating dry food for the weekend. I’ll probably feed him dry food every time we travel.

Ear infections

Ace’s ears seem normal. A few days ago, I thought he might be getting an ear infection, but today he seems fine. He is not shaking his head or scratching his ears anymore.

Itchy skin/dandruff

Ace is generally still itchy. He scratches all the time (most noticeably when I’m trying to sleep). And he still licks and chews his paws a lot.

Less poop!

Much of the same – small, hard turds that magically start to disappear into the ground if I don’t pick them up right away. Sometimes they are a bit crumbly. Maybe someone can tell me what that means. I wonder if he needs more fat in his diet – he’s about as lean as dogs can be!

My dog is always thirsty

Ace is burping and spitting up water in his mouth quite often – gross, I know. He throws up at least once a day when he gets too excited like when he runs up the stairs or chases after a ball. He also does this if he drinks too much water, so it’s a common occurrence at our house. It’s gotten worse since he’s been eating raw food.

Ace was very thirsty during our weekend trip while he ate dry food. I was giving him less water while we traveled, and he acted very thirsty all weekend. He took advantage of every opportunity to drink from the toilet – that’s my boy!

Now that we are home and he’s back to eating raw food, he hasn’t been as thirsty. He’s had water available all day and he’s only drank about 4 cups so far. He drinks about 8 cups of water per day.

Energy

Like always, my dog is pretty lazy. He’s still catching up on sleep from our “exciting” weekend. He is content to sleep the entire day. I have to make a point to take him out for at least one fun walk/fetch session each day even if he’s not full of energy.

Do you feed your dog raw dog food? What do you feed him when he travels?

Thank you Stella & Chewy’s for providing Ace with raw dog food patties!

Thank you Natural Pet Center for helping us out with the deliveries! Remember, during Ace’s 90-day raw food trial, Natural Pet Center will give all readers of That Mutt 15 percent off on all orders of Stella & Chewy’s! Just send me an email at Lindsay@ThatMutt.com for more info.

I have been feeding my mutt Ace a commercial raw dog food from a company called Stella & Chewy’s. This is the most convenient way to feed a dog raw food. All I do is de-frost the raw chicken patties over night and toss the food in his bowl at mealtimes. It’s almost as easy as feeding dry dog food.

The main downside to feeding commercial raw dog food is the price.

Ace is a 67-pound black lab/hound mix. A 6-pound bag of raw food from Stella & Chewy’s is roughly $27 and will last my dog just four days. It costs about $200 to feed him Stella & Chewy’s for one month. $$$$!

Most of us do not have $200 in our monthly budgets for dog food. That’s the equivalent or more of feeding an extra person.

If you still want to feed your dog raw, you can save money if you buy all the ingredients yourself. These ingredients would be foods like raw beef or raw chicken meat, raw organs like hearts, raw bones and raw veggies.

You can buy most of these ingredients at your local grocery store or butcher. Look for meat that is higher in fat. This meat is cheaper and considered lower-quality meat for humans, but most dogs need the extra fat in their diets. You can likely save even more if you know any local ranchers, farmers or hunters. Deer meat and guts are perfect for dogs!

The added benefit of buying your own raw dog food ingredients is that you will know exactly what your dog is eating.

The drawback, of course, is time and making sure the meals are generally balanced.

How much raw dog food should I feed my dog?

The general rule of thumb is to feed your dog 2 percent of his body weight. This is just a general rule of thumb. Some dogs will only require 1 percent while others may need 3 percent.

Here’s a simple equation you can use to find out how much to feed your dog in ounces:

(Your dog’s weight in pounds) x 16 = your dog’s weight in ounces.

(Your dog’s weight in ounces) x .02 = roughly the amount of food your dog should eat in ounces per day.

According to the above example, my 67 pound dog should be eating 21.44 ounces of food per day. I feed him a bit more (24 ounces per day) since he is naturally lean and burns a lot of calories. You also want to factor in the treats you feed your dog. Ace barely gets any treats because I am a mean dog mom.

It doesn’t have to be complicated. If your dog is underweight, feed him a bit more. If he’s fat, feed him less.

Since I do not have experience with making raw dog food for Ace, I asked some readers and friends of mine to share some raw dog food “recipes.”

Examples of homemade raw dog food recipes

These raw dog food recipes are not necessarily 100 percent balanced or meant to be fed every day. They are not necessarily recommended by a veterinarian. They are not necessarily right for your particular dog. These are just some real examples of real raw meals real dog owners have fed their dogs.

If you feed your dog raw, please share some examples of meals you feed your dog. It would be extra helpful if you could also tell us the weight, breed and activity level of your dog and where you buy the ingredients.

This following recipe is from Ace’s friend Biggie. Make sure to check out Biggie’s helpful posts on raw dog food:

Raw meat/veggie mix

This is for a 100-pound Kuvasz, twice per day:

1/4 C. plain yogurt

1/4 -1/2 C. chopped or ground veggies (carrots, leafy greens, apples, broccoli or peas)

A skinned chicken leg quarter with bone (chicken leg, thigh and some of the back, which usually weighs about 1 lb)

If the meat does not have a lot of bone, sometimes Biggie’s owners will add a calcium tablet.

Here’s another easy raw food recipe from a friend of mine:

Raw beef/organ/veggie mix

This is for an active springer/pointer mix:

2 C. raw ground beef or chicken (from local meat shop)

1 C. organ meat (from grocery store)

1 C. vegetables/fruit

Rotate the kinds of organ meat and veggies you use. Blend the organ meat and veggies and mix with the already ground meat. Add an egg if desired.

The example below is from a blogger and trainer over at Poodle and Pitbull:

Raw beef stuffed in Kongs

This method is intended to keep the dogs (a standard poodle and a pitbull) occupied while their owner goes to work. It’s as easy as it sounds. Simply stuff several Kong toys with raw meat. Then freeze and serve.

In this case, each dog gets 2 to 3 frozen Kongs per day. The Kongs are typically filled with raw ground beef from Hare Today, a farm located in Pennsylvania that grinds, cuts and packages whole animals.

In addition to the Kongs, a large portion of their daily food intake also comes from treats. Their owner typically follows the breakdown of 80 percent meat, 5 percent liver, 5 percent other organs and 10 percent edible bone. Vegetables are sometimes fed as treats.

The next recipe is from a reader and her dog with special dietary needs. Pumpkin paws are not intended as a meal for most dogs, but they make a great treat. Read more about dog health here.

Pumpkin paws

Small amount of any raw meat (optional)

Small amount of spinach, chopped carrots or broccoli (optional)

2 C. water

1 large can of pumpkin puree (not pie filling)

1 small can of tomato puree

9-ounce paper cups

If using meat, make sure it is finely chopped or ground. Otherwise, put it in a food processor with the water to make a soup. Mix all ingredients in a bowl until well blended. Put a very generous tablespoon in each paper cup. Freeze and serve. You probably want to serve outside!

Some reminders about feeding raw dog food:

Remember to freeze all pork meat and pork bones for three weeks to kill potential parasites. Also, remember that some fruits and vegetables are not good for dogs such as grapes, onions and avocados. And never give your dog cooked bones or sharp raw bones.

If you are going to make your dog’s raw food yourself, I highly recommend making at least a week’s worth at a time and storing it in your freezer. For more information on making your dog’s meals, see my post on how to feed your dog raw food.

My dog eats raw food – day 39

All the above recipes sound easy, right? I think so. It’s just a matter of buying the food ahead of time and planning ahead. I am thinking about feeding Ace homemade raw dog food for one meal and commercial raw dog food for the second meal until I feel more comfortable making his food myself.

Ace was on antibiotics to treat pneumonia during the second week of this raw food trial, so that interrupted our raw feeding plan. I switched him back to dry food while he was on antibiotics in order to determine the cause of his upset stomach. As I suspected, it was the antibiotics. He’s back to normal now, eating 100 percent raw and doing great!

Ace started eating raw food again on Monday. So I guess you could say today is really day 6 of his raw food trial all over again.

Gradual switch vs. quick switch

Back in the beginning of March when I first introduced Ace to raw food, I gradually switched him from dry dog food to raw dog food by mixing the two together over eight days. Since he had no trouble adjusting to the raw food during the gradual switch, I went ahead and switched his food with no transition this time. He’s doing awesome!

After the pneumonia scare and our weekend trip to the doggy ER a few weeks ago, I am a bit nervous about feeding Ace raw food again. He got sick on day 10 of this raw food trial, so I will be glad when we pass the 10-day point this time around. I realize pneumonia is not caused by diet, but there’s always that chance that something else was wrong. I’m just a worrier.

Friends and family who are skeptical of raw dog food

This is just a small annoyance, but there are people who are obviously opposed to Ace eating raw food. I have to just brush their opinions aside and worry about myself. I wanted to mention this because it’s something you will likely come across if you switch your dog to a raw diet. I don’t waste time trying to explain the diet to certain friends and family members. I know what’s best for me and my dog. They can feed their dogs what they want.

So, after just six days of 100 percent raw food, here are some updates on how Ace is doing:

Ear infections

Unfortunately Ace has been shaking his head around lately as though he has an ear infection. He gets about two ear infections a year so I haven’t been overly concerned about food allergies or environmental allergies. This is just something we deal with every six months or so. It may or may not be related to his diet.

Itchy skin/dandruff

Ace seems to be scratching a lot less and he has no visible dandruff. It has also been much warmer (until yesterday when it snowed!).We haven’t been running our heater or fireplace at all. I do still notice Ace chewing and licking his feet a lot, and licking, you know, there.

Teeth

I don’t expect to notice a difference in Ace’s teeth, and so far they do not appear any whiter. No surprise there.

Shedding

I don’t notice a difference in the amount of shedding, either.

Less poop!

I know this is more information than you want to hear, but Ace’s poop is tiny and hard – just what I like to see! He has no more diarrhea, which was caused by the antibiotics.

My dog is always thirsty

Once again, Ace is not as obsessive about water while eating raw food. I credit this to the higher moisture content in his food. He does seem to be burping and throwing up more often, though, similar to what happens when he does drink too much water at once. It’s usually water with some food substance that he throws up (not bile or foam), and it happens when he gets too excited.

Weight

Ace is a healthy 67.4 pounds. He hasn’t lost or gained any weight, although his weight fluctuated a bit while he had pneumonia.

Gray hair

I’m not expecting to see a change here. If anything, he has gotten more gray hair since starting the raw food. I guess this is just a natural part of aging – my boy is getting old! I can see more gray hair on his feet and legs now, probably because I’m actually looking for it.

Energy

My dog definitely has less energy than a year ago. He doesn’t go running with me very often anymore. We stick to walking. I haven’t noticed much of a change in his energy since he’s been eating raw. He is naturally a low- to medium-energy dog (unless you bring out a tennis ball or take him to agility practice). Plus, at 5 years old, he’s well into middle age for a dog his size.

Let me know if you have fed your dog homemade raw dog food. Please share some examples of raw dog food “recipes” you have used.

Why doesn’t my dog’s vet recommend a raw diet?

Because doctors in general overlook nutrition.

I’m not trying to rip on veterinarians. Ace has a great vet who has helped us out in all kinds of situations.

Most vets are true animal lovers who are deeply passionate about their work. Most vets do not have an “agenda” other than helping animals. Most vets are not influenced by dog food companies like Science Diet or Purina. At least I hope not.

But whether their patients are hoomans or dogs, doctors tend to prescribe a bunch of pills to temporarily get rid of symptoms. They don’t even bother to ask us what we’re eating.

I don’t need a medical degree to understand the connection between diet and health, yet most people are in denial about it.

Doctors know that most people would rather get a quick fix than make a lifestyle change. So prescriptions are handed out like candy, while diet, exercise and sleep are never discussed.

What does this have to do with dogs?

Veterinarians know the average person is pretty darn lazy.

Vets are fully aware that most dog owners do not take the time to teach their dogs a reliable sit-stay, for example. They also know that most dog owners do not walk their dogs.

What dog owner is going to take the time to do the research on how to prepare balanced raw dog food? What dog owner is going to stick with it and continue to prepare raw food on a daily basis?

Not many.

I get where vets are coming from.

It’s the same reason why I don’t go around recommending raw dog food.

I don’t want to be blamed when someone feeds their dog nothing but raw hamburger and the dog gets sick. I don’t want to be blamed when a dog gets a piece of bone stuck in his throat.

Since I’ve started this raw dog food trial with my dog Ace, I’ve talked with four different “by the books” veterinarians in Fargo about raw food. I talked to a fifth vet about raw food before I started the trial.

I approached each of these five vets by telling them I am feeding my dog a raw diet, not asking if I should make the switch.

Each of these vets thought I should have a specific reason to feed my dog raw, with the attitude of  ”if it’s not broke, why fix it?”

They all wanted to hear I was feeding raw in order to prevent a food allergy.

They were disappointed to hear I have little concern with food allergies, and my reason for feeding my dog raw is because I want what’s healthiest for him. I’ve been researching raw food for people and dogs for the last three years, and I’m finally confident enough to try it.

I found it interesting that without any prompting, three of the five vets referenced Eukanuba and Science Diet as perfectly acceptable, high-quality dog food brands.

I guess everyone has a different definition of “acceptable.”

Find a holistic veterinarian in your area

Before you switch your dog to a raw diet, consider consulting with a holistic veterinarian in your area and take your dog in for a basic checkup and bloodwork.

I wish I had done this before switching Ace to raw because he was diagnosed with pneumonia two weeks into his raw food trial. This made it difficult to know which symptoms were caused by the pneumonia and antibiotics and which, if any, were caused by the raw food.

I wrongly assumed my dog was healthy.

If I had taken him to the vet a week before his raw food trial, maybe the vet would’ve noticed something was a little off. I could’ve gotten his health back up to par before adding the extra stress of an entirely new diet when his body was already working overtime to fight off an infection.

I also wish I had a holistic veterinarian to consult with throughout this whole process. There is at least one in our region I may talk with.

Ace’s local vet isn’t necessarily anti-raw food, but she doesn’t encourage it, either. It would be less frustrating if we were on the same page. It often feels as though we are working around one another rather than together.

From my experience, here are some reasons why most vets do not encourage dog owners to feed their dogs raw:

Reasons why vets do not recommend raw dog food

1. Most vets do not have a background in nutrition.

Most vets and most doctors in general are not nutritionists.

If your dog’s vet hasn’t done adequate research on raw dog food, then she shouldn’t be giving advice on whether it’s right or wrong for your dog. If the vet isn’t well informed about raw food, she should suggest another vet in the area who is informed.

2. Vets know that most dog owners won’t do the research.

Raw can be the best food for your dog, but it can also be the worst.

If you are going to make raw food for your dog, you have to know how to keep the food generally balanced. It’s not that hard, but it does take planning and time. If a dog owner is too lazy to take one obedience class, he is not going to take the time to research how to feed a balanced raw dog food diet.

3. There are plenty of high-quality dry dog foods out there.

It’s easier for most dog owners to feed their dogs dry food rather than raw. There are plenty of healthy dry dog foods out there for vets to recommend such as Nature’s Variety, Innova and Canidae.

4. Most dogs can “get by” on an average dry dog food.

Most people “get by” on a poor diet high in red meat, carbs and fat. Most dogs can also “get by” on a poor diet high in corn, carbs and by-products. As one of the vets I talked to said, most dogs can eat Purina One and be “fine.”

5. There is a chance the dog could get really sick from raw dog food.

Vets hear a lot of stories about the dogs that get sick from raw food because those are the dogs that end up at the vet. The dogs that do not get sick from raw food are not heading to the vet with upset stomachs.

Dogs can get sick from raw meat just like people can. The chances of this are very low, but it can happen. It’s up to the dog owner to keep the meat frozen and then refrigerated until serving. It’s up to the owner to wash the dog’s bowls and the area where the food is prepared. It’s up to the owner to research what kinds of raw food are safe for dogs and what kinds are not.

The vet probably won’t even know a certain dog is eating raw food unless the owner happens to mention it. Unfortunately, it’s not an easy subject to discuss at the vet since most vets are against raw diets.

6. The dog could choke on a raw bone.

Vets only see and hear about the dogs that choke on bones or break their teeth on bones and so on. They don’t see the dogs that chew on raw bones without swallowing harmful pieces.

Again, it’s up to the owner to feed the dog bones that are safe and to supervise the dog to make sure he is chewing the bone rather than breaking off and swallowing jagged pieces. Raw bones for dogs are generally safe. Cooked bones are not.

7. There is a chance the dog could carry salmonella.

Sometimes raw meat and dry dog food contain salmonella. Dogs do not get sick from salmonella because of the acidity of their stomachs. However, the salmonella can pass through the dog’s system. Vets will use this as an excuse for people not to feed raw because a person could get sick from the salmonella in the dog’s poop.

As far as I know, most people don’t eat dog poop.

Yes, it’s important to be careful. Pick up after your dog right away. Take your dog for a walk to “do his business” rather than let him crap all over the yard where your kids play. Wash your hands after you pick it up. Don’t let your dog lick you in the face. Don’t eat a picnic lunch in the grass if you know what I mean.

8. Raw dog food diets are only a trend.

Raw diets are very popular right now because people are becoming more focused on health and eating natural and organic food themselves.

Ace’s vet referred to raw diets as a trend. I don’t see it that way.

As people become more informed, they are going to be even more interested in feeding their dogs and cats raw food. More people are switching to a healthier lifestyle and buying more organic, natural and raw food for themselves, their families and their pets. This “trend” is not going away anytime soon.

9. Vets are in denial about the nutritional value of raw food.

One vet mocked me by saying:

Who cares if raw food is natural? That doesn’t mean it’s good for dogs. They step in their own pee and then lick their paws. That’s natural. They eat poop. That’s natural. They eat garbage …

I stopped listening at that point.

Natural does not necessarily mean healthy. I get it. You have to be careful and you have to understand what is safe for your dog. A raw diet can be harmful. It can even be fatal. So can dry dog food. I think we all remember the pet food recalls a little too well.

Does your dog’s vet encourage a raw dog food diet for your dog? I’d really like to hear your experiences with this.

The reality is, no one loves your dog more than you. If you don’t get a good feeling from your dog’s vet, get a second or third opinion. And do listen to your vet, because a raw dog food diet is not necessarily best for your particular dog.

My dog eats raw food – day 25 update

Ace was diagnosed with pneumonia two weeks ago, which was about 11 days into his raw food trial. He started having the runs (big time) as soon as he received antibiotics. Just to make sure the upset stomach was caused by the antibiotics and not his diet, I went back to square one and started feeding him dry food again.

Ace has been eating his dry food for 10 days and his stomach issues have not gone away. This tells me his stomach is indeed upset from the antibiotics. Thank God he only has one day left of the antibiotics. I also started him on some probiotics to help balance the good and bad bacteria in his system. This is the sixth day of the probiotics and we have seen no improvement.

I’m optimistic that my dog will be feeling back to normal in a few days once he’s off the antibiotics and continuing the probiotics. We are going to the vet on Monday to discuss all of this.

Here’s a breakdown of Ace’s digestive issues:

Days 1-8: Dry food/raw chicken patty combo (gradual transition) - no issues

Days 9: 100 percent raw chicken patties - no issues

Day 10: Raw chicken patties plus raw beef patty, Ace became very sick with pneumonia but showed no digestive issues

Day 11: No food

Day 12: Dry food at the vet, plus antibiotics

Days 13-15: Dry food/raw chicken patty combo, plus antibiotics - digestive issues

Days 16-20: 100 percent dry food, plus antibiotics - digestive issues continue

Days 21-25: 100 percent dry food, plus antibiotics, plus probiotics - digestive issues continue

Since Ace has been back to eating dry food for the last 10 days, I noticed a few things:

Itchy skin/dandruff

Ace is back to being very itchy. He scratches all the time. When he was eating raw, he was scratching less and had less dandruff.

My dog is always thirsty

Ace has become obsessive about water again. It’s like he can never get enough water. I fill his bowl all the time and he always drinks it all. I haven’t kept track of the actual amount of water he drinks per day. His thirst could also be a side effect from the antibiotics.

I plan to begin feeding Ace raw food again as soon as his tummy is back to normal. I want to start from square one.

Can a dog get sick from eating raw meat?

Of course he can. Raw meat has the potential to carry bacteria that can make anyone sick.

If you feed your dog raw meat, it is your responsibility to do everything possible to make sure the food is safe for your dog and that neither of you come in contact with harmful bacteria.

Remember, though, that dogs are raw meat eaters and can handle bacteria better than us.

My mutt has eaten cat poop, bird poop, cigarette butts, garbage, dead mice and all kinds of unidentifiable remains without getting sick.

Why doesn’t my dog get sick from eating garbage/dead animals/poop?

For one thing, dogs have enzymes in their saliva that destroy harmful bacteria, according to Carissa Kuehn of RawFed.com. Kuehn worked for four years in the Clinical Sciences Department at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. She has fed her pets raw food since 2001.

Ever notice how your dog poops right after eating?

This is because dogs have short digestive tracts that quickly push the food and bacteria through their systems before any bacteria has time to colonize, according to Kuehn. Dogs also have highly acidic stomachs to prevent bacteria from colonizing.

All of the above are reasons why dogs can usually drink standing puddles of water or eat animal remains with few consequences.

How can I prevent my dog from getting sick from raw meat?

To be on the safe side, here are some tips to keep your dog safe from potential bacteria in raw dog food:

1. Do not feed your dog raw meat if he has a weak immune system.

If your dog is older or if he has a weak immune system, adding raw meat to his diet could make him sick. His body may not be able to fight off certain bacteria the way a healthy dog can, especially if his body is already trying to fight another infection.

If you are not sure how your dog’s immune system is, talk to his vet and consider a blood test.

2. Buy pre-prepared raw food for your dog.

Raw dog food companies will go out of their way to make sure the food is safe for your dog. If too many dogs get sick from their products, no one will buy the food.

Ace is eating pre-made raw dog food from Stella & Chewy’s. The company uses hydrostatic high pressure to keep the food safe from harmful bacteria while retaining the food’s nutrition, according to its web site.

Stella & Chewy’s sanitizes its equipment at the end of each day, and samples of each batch of food are tested for E. coli and Salmonella before shipping.

3. Wash your dog’s bowls regularly.

This is something we should all do regardless of what our dogs eat. Ace probably had a higher chance of getting sick while he ate dry dog food simply because I hardly ever washed his bowls. Dry dog food saturated in water or drool is a great place for bacteria to collect. Now that he eats raw food, I wash his bowls every day. I also wash my hands and the area where I prepared his food.

4. Don’t let the raw dog food sit in your fridge for more than 24 hours.

The food might be OK if it de-frosts in your refrigerator for more than two days, but why risk it? Rather than de-frost a few days’ worth of meals for Ace, I de-frost one meal at a time. The longer food sits in the fridge, the more time bacteria has to grow. I’d rather stay on the safe side.

5. Keep your trash behind a closed door.

We’ve learned to keep our garbage behind a closed door. No garbage can stay in the kitchen. It goes in a trash can in the garage or a trash can in the bathroom. We have a certain cat who likes to crawl into the garbage and eat everything in sight.

To keep our cats and dog safe, it’s better not to give them the opportunity to sneak anything from the trash. We also never leave any food scraps on dirty dishes out, and I wipe down the sink regularly.

6. Don’t feed your dog raw meat.

Chances are, your dog will never get sick from eating raw meat. However, if you are concerned about the potential bacteria, then maybe a raw diet is not the way to go for your dog. It’s not worth it if you are going to be worried all the time. Instead of feeding him raw, feed him cooked meat or a higher-quality dry dog food.

What should I do if my dog gets sick from raw food?

If you are worried about your dog, just take him to the vet! At the very least, call and see what your vet says (read more about Ace’s recent trip to the vet below under “Day 15 update”).

If it’s the weekend or the middle of the night, it will be a tougher decision, and only you can make that choice. In Fargo, the only option at night or on the weekends is the emergency animal hospital. Let’s just say prices are not cheap at the emergency clinic.

If your dog has an upset stomach but is otherwise acting normal, I wouldn’t be too worried. It will most likely pass within 24 hours. How often do you get the runs from eating something new or something extra greasy? Probably pretty often. Your dog will be OK, too. It helps if you have him skip a meal or two (don’t feel bad, he’ll be fine). And make sure to give him plenty of water.

Some signs to watch for that might be more serious:

Remember, I am not a vet. If you think your dog needs to see a vet, then by all means, get going!

The dog might have swallowed a large or sharp piece of bone.

I’ve heard too many vets tell me too many horror stories of dogs getting pieces of bones stuck in their digestive systems. Raw bones are generally safe for dogs if they chew the bones properly (always supervise). Cooked bones are dangerous because they break easily and the dog could swallow the pieces.

The dog might have consumed something toxic.

Is there any chance the dog got into something potentially harmful other than raw meat? Maybe he got into the garbage. Maybe he ate something in the garage or yard? Or, was there any chance you fed him raw meat that had been in your fridge too long?

The dog has a fever.

The normal body temperature for a dog is about 100 to 102 degrees.

The dog refuses his favorite treats.

My dog’s animal instincts tell him not to eat if he is feeling sick, so I’m not too worried if he skips one meal. However, if he turns his head away when I offer him pieces of meat or if he skips more than two meals, that’s when I would worry.

The dog refuses to drink water.

Try to get your dog to take at least a few sips every hour to avoid dehydration. If he doesn’t drink any water for 12 hours or so, call the vet.

The dog has difficulty standing or walking.

Dogs are very good at resting if they are feeling sick or hurt. Whenever Ace pulls a muscle, he takes it easy for a day and then he’s fine. But if my dog shows no interest in getting up for anything – like a ball or food – that’s something I would worry about.

The dog throws up or has diarrea for more than 24 hours.

Most digestive issues are minor and will pass. But if the vomiting or diarrea continues for more than a day, especially if the dog hasn’t eaten anything, I would definitely consult with a vet.

My dog eats raw food – day 16 update

Ace suddenly became very ill Friday night (day 10).

One minute my dog was chasing his frisbee like a nut and within an hour he had trouble walking on his own. He only stood if I forced him up to get outside. He would not eat or drink anything, and he was drooling heavily. He did not even perk his ears up when I offered him a tennis ball.

I could only assume my dog had a bacterial infection from his raw food, and the guilt I felt was horrible. I felt responsible for causing my dog so much discomfort.

We took Ace to the emergency vet and he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He most likely picked it up from another dog somewhere. He plays with other dogs almost every day, so no surprise there.

A weakened immune system?

Although Ace’s diagnosis was a respiratory infection (not gastric), I can’t help but wonder if the recent change in his diet threw his body off temporarily. While his system was trying to adjust to the raw food, maybe the bacteria that caused the pneumonia had an easier time spreading. There’s no way of knowing.

A reaction to raw beef?

Ace became very sick within a few hours of eating raw beef for the first time. Up until that point he had been eating raw chicken. Something tells me his body was reacting to the raw beef in addition to the pneumonia. The vet seemed to believe it was only a coincidence.

Could the raw beef have caused Ace’s fever, refusal to eat and extreme lack of energy? I don’t know.

Antibiotics

There will be little to report on Ace’s raw food trial for the next 10 days or so while he finishes his antibiotics. Anything I notice could be a reaction to his food, the antibiotics or the pneumonia.

Since my dog has had an upset stomach while on the antibiotics, I have decided to go back to feeding him dry food until he is off the medication. This is the only way I can determine whether the raw food or the antibiotics are causing the diarrhea.

Because my dog had absolutely no digestive issues for the first 11 days of his raw food trial (no loose stool, no vomiting), I have to hope he is reacting to the medication.

I truly believe a raw dog food diet is the healthiest way to go for most dogs. I want to continue the raw food trial with Ace, however if he gets another “coincidental” infection of any kind or if something just seems off, I will not hesitate to end the raw food trial completely.

The reason I started this trial was because I love my dog and I believe a raw diet is healthy for him. This trial is also designed to help other dog owners decide whether a raw food diet is right for their dogs. This is why I am reporting the ups as well as the downs.

Thank you for all the get-well wishes over the weekend. Ace (and his mommy!) needed the moral support!

Has your dog even gotten sick from eating raw food?