The feeding costs will depend on the age, size and activity level of your dog however, the following formula will help you estimate a budget. Weight of Dog x 2% x $2.85 (average cost per lb) x 28 days = Cost per month.

Please keep in mind that the cost will vary dependent on your protein choices, Turkey and Beef are more inexpensive than the more novel proteins such as Rabbit and Kangaroo.

Also, including raw meaty bones to their diet plan such as chicken and turkey necks is not only beneficial for their health but may help in reducing the weekly feeding cost.

Maths not your thing…come into one of our locations and our team will put together a customized meal plan and budget for you.

We do not recommend that you feed both raw and kibble. The artificial ingredients and preservatives that make up kibble take 10-12 hours to digest in the stomach whereas raw meat is able to digest at the natural pace of 3-4 hours. Mixing kibble with raw will slow digestion and create a stomach soup that may encourage fermentation and potentially a build-up of bacteria… blurgh!

Uncooked raw bones are safe for your dog or cat and give them essential calcium and help to keep their teeth clean and strong. However, cooked bones are a definite no as they are more brittle which increases the likelihood of splintering into shards which can cause choking and damage to your pet's mouth, throat, and intestines.

If it is your first time shopping for a bone for your pet, ask one of our team to help you select as it is dependent on age and experience of your pet and whether you are looking for a meal replacement bone or a recreational chewing bone.

ALWAYS supervise your pet when feeding raw bones.

Safe handling of raw food is the same for animals as for humans. Always wash your hands before and after touching raw meat and give careful cleaning of utensils, feeding bowls and other equipment used and correct storage of prepared food.

More and more vets are coming on board to a raw feeding diet as they have seen firsthand the benefits in their patients' overall health. Everyone knows that a natural, whole food diet is healthier than a processed diet so it is unlikely that any veterinarian would go to the extreme of telling you not to feed healthy food over processed food for a ‘kickback'. However, if your vet does have concerns, ask them why and let us know their concerns, we are here to guide you and those around you.

Transitioning to Raw is a simple step by step process.

1. We recommend that you fast your dog for a period of 12hrs prior to giving their first raw meal (stay strong to those hungry eyes it is for the greater good).
2. Start with a protein that is lean and easy to digest such as Turkey or Rabbit.
3. Serve the raw meal at room temperature as this enhances the aromas but also serving icy cold food can make your dog vomit.
4. To start with offer half of the recommended portion and wait 10 minutes to give the remainder of the portion. This will stop the more voracious eaters (who are still giving you the stink eye for fasting them) from eating too quickly and regurgitating the food.
5. Once your dog has adjusted to their new diet, it is recommended that you rotate at least 3 proteins throughout the month.

If you know your dog has a sensitive stomach then we would advise a gradual transition with the help of a probiotic and a pumpkin powder or puree.

Do not be disappointed if your dog looks at their new food as if it is otherworldly, like any change it may take some getting used to!