Whoa Nelly Dog Food

21/04/2025

No photoshop! 🌗

12/04/2025

Kibble for humans! Sold as complete nutrition for people.

Here is the creators vision:
“I hypothesized that the body doesn’t need food itself, merely the chemicals and elements it contains. So, I resolved to embark on an experiment. What if I consumed only the raw ingredients the body uses for energy?”

It’s synthetic nutrition without the food.

Very cheap to produce, very expensive to buy.

Same idea as processed dog food. The ingredients look familiar 🤦‍♂️

Ingredients:
Filtered Water Soy Protein Isolate Maltodextrin High Oleic Sunflower Oil Allulose Canola Oil Cocoa Powder (Processed With Alkali) Natural Flavors Vitamin and Mineral Premix Soluble Corn Fiber Soy Lecithin Cellulose Salt Gellan Gum Sucralose, Magnesium Phosphate (Magnesium) Tricalcium Phosphate (Calcium) Dipotassium Phosphate (Potassium) Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) Potassium Chloride (Potassium) Choline Chloride (Choline) DL-Alpha-Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) Niacinamide (Niacin/Vitamin B3) Ferrous Bisglycinate (Iron) Zinc Oxide (Zinc) Manganese Sulfate (Manganese) D-Calcium Pantothenate (Pantothenic Acid) Copper Gluconate (Copper) Thiamine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B1) Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) Vitamin A Palmitate (Vitamin A) Potassium Iodide (Iodine) Folic Acid (B Vitamin) Chromium Chloride (Chromium) Vitamin K1 Sodium Selenite (Selenium) Sodium Molybdate (Molybdenum) Biotin (Part of the B vitamin complex) Ergocalciferol (Vitamin D2) Cyanocobalamin (Vitamin B12)

09/04/2025

I wrote an article on how to prevent bladder stones for our friends at Happy Hounds Dog Walking and Pet Sitting. You can read it here!

Did you know that bladder stones aren’t just a human issue—our four-legged friends can suffer from them too? Thankfully, our friends at Whoa Nelly Dog Food are here to shed some light on the topic and share how you can help prevent them.

Jimi Wall, a Brisbane-based canine nutritionist, is on a mission to help dogs thrive through the power of good nutrition. In 2016, he and his wife Tory—who’s a human nutritionist—launched Whoa Nelly! Raw Dog Food. With over 20 years of combined experience, they’ve made it their goal to make high-quality feeding easy and accessible.

Find out what they have to say about preventing bladder stones in your dog!

Check it out at www.happyhoundspetservices.com/blog/how-to-prevent-canine-bladder-stones

07/04/2025

Can dogs feel your stress? 😭

The other day I was talking with a client whose dog suddenly couldn't stop itching. When I asked if anything stressful was happening at home, she mentioned her partner had just been diagnosed with cancer.

They hadn’t connected the dots, I but think these events are likely related.

I know this might sound a bit out there to some. But science actually backs up this connection. There's solid research showing dogs are incredibly tuned in to our emotional states.

Your dog's health is often a reflection of both your own health and your household stress levels.

𝗗𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀
Dogs have evolved an extraordinary ability to tune into our emotions. They can sense stress hormones through smell and pick up on the subtlest changes in our body language, posture, and facial expressions.

Remarkably, research reveals dogs can detect illness in humans before we even notice symptoms. Their incredible noses can identify conditions like cancer and diabetes with surprising accuracy.

We are also physically connected to our dogs. Studies show that a dog's heart rate is linked with their human's, and they experience stress levels that mirror our own.

Dogs are more than our best friends - they are literally part of us!

However, unlike humans, dogs lack the cognitive filters we use to compartmentalise stress and cannot rationalise emotional signals. Combined with their need for routine, this makes them especially sensitive to disruptions in their environment.

Understanding this connection has profound implications for your dogs health.

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗱𝗼𝗴𝘀
Dogs can respond to physical stress with a variety of physical symptoms. The most common are digestive and skin problems, but there can also be behavioural or other chronic health implications.

Research confirms a direct link between stress and illness in dogs. While brief amounts of stress may boost immunity, chronic stress tends to weaken the immune system. This makes dogs more vulnerable to infections and other health problems.

This can manifest as digestive upset (which is the source of scratching), skin conditions, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight gain or loss, and a depressed mental state.

Obviously this is only part of the picture, but if your dog is unwell it’s worth looking at the environment they live in (which includes you!) to see if there is anything that may be contributing to it.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀
• new family members
• relationship changes
• death in the family
• moving house
• arguments or stress at home
• human illness

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗼𝗴 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱
Stability: Create a consistent routine for your dog with regular feeding times and walks. Dogs thrive on predictability, and having a predictable schedule helps to them feel secure. When changes must occur, introducing them gradually can help to reduce stress.

Environmental Enrichment: Provide mental stimulation through puzzle toys, training sessions, and rotating toys to prevent boredom. Enrichment activities engage your dog's natural instincts and problem solving abilities, redirecting nervous energy. Even simple games like hiding treats around the house can help reduce anxiety - and be fun!

Exercise: Ensure your dog receives adequate physical activity appropriate for their breed, age, and health status. Regular exercise releases endorphins that naturally combat stress and reduces restless behaviour. A tired dog is typically a calmer dog, with fewer stress behaviours like excessive barking or destructive chewing.

CBD: Research on CBD for canine stress is still emerging, but preliminary studies suggest it may help some dogs. We have found CBD to be extremely helpful with Nelly in reducing her anxiety after her dog attack a few years ago.

24/03/2025

We’ve been selected for the Feedspot top Dog Food Blog list. It’s a list ranking the best dog food and nutrition blogs worldwide, including Dog Food Advisor & Truth About Pet Food.

Pretty chuffed to come in at #20!

21/03/2025

Happy weekend! 😄

19/03/2025

Why is dog food sold in the pesticide aisle?? 😩

13/03/2025

If your dogs has issues with their a**l glands, the solution is not to get the glands expressed 💩

Manually expressing healthy a**l glands can cause long term trauma, which often results in inflammation, infection and reoccurring health problems.

The reality is that healthy a**l glands express themselves. If your dog has glands that are not doing that, there is an underlying issue which needs addressing.

The great news is that this a common issue that can be easily resolved!

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬?
Dogs have two glands that sit like ni***es on either side of their a**s. The glands produce an oily scent that is added to their poo. The scent is used to mark territory and communicate with other dogs.

They are the reason that dogs sniff each others butts!

The glands work by emptying from the pressure of passing a stool. If your dog makes healthy firm poos their glands will naturally express.

However if your dog makes sloppy, watery or loose stools then the glands will be unable to naturally release themselves. Instead, the oily substance in the glands builds up as it thickens. This can result in irritation, inflammation and an infection in their bum. Gross 🤢

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐞𝐬?
The most common cause of a**l gland issues is gut inflammation and soft poos. Which is why this is almost exclusively an issue with dogs fed processed dry food. Even the expensive kibble causes a**l gland issues. The problem is the with make up of the food itself.

There are three main causes of a**l gland issues in dogs:
1. Diet
2. Gland trauma
3. Gland location

𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬
Kibble is different from raw food both in ingredients and in processing. Dry food almost always contains low quality ingredients (even the “premium” brands), and the high temperature processing results in low digestibility and an increase in the water content of stools.

Ultimately this means that kibble fed dogs produce poos that are not firm enough to naturally express the a**l glands.

Kibble manufacturers try to combat this with ingredients like beet pulp to “bulk up” the poo. This is like having a vitamin supplement with your Big Mac - it’s probably not going to work.

Dogs eating a high quality raw diet produce healthy firm poos. Invariably this means they do not have issues with their a**l glands or need them to be manually expressed. Eating a biologically appropriate diet keeps the a**l glands healthy and functioning normally 🐾

12/03/2025

Our supplier had organic purple carrots this week, so we had to give them a try! They have twice the amount of carotene and more antioxidants than regular orange carrots, while looking more like a beetroot. Pretty interesting mix and they smell delicious.

Heads up they're in our Beef & Chicken and Kangaroo & Chicken recipes this week so the food is a slightly different colour 👀

09/03/2025

CYCLONE UPDATE 🌨

Hope you are all safe and dry. I’ve just been to the kitchen and thankfully we still have power.

At this stage we will be packing orders tomorrow and delivering as usual on Tuesday.

We appreciate that many homes are currently without electricity, so we will do our absolute best to accomodate late orders as they come in.

Hopefully we are through the worst. Nelly is over it and can’t wait to go for a walk!

05/03/2025

With the cyclone looming we decided to do our entire production today in case we can’t get to the kitchen tomorrow. Happy to say we have a freezer full of food - thanks to some help from our little friend!

Stay safe everyone ❤️

24/02/2025

Profound advice from 400BC. Every problem has a source, every illness has a cause.

Modern medicine is focused on relieving symptoms, rather that fixing the underlying problem. Maybe that's because there’s less money to be made if everyone is healthy. But maybe it’s because the modern lifestyle isn’t as healthy as we’d like to think.

The reality is that one in three dogs in Australia gets cancer. 41% are overweight or obese. A shocking 50% will experience chronic disease. That’s a lot of sick dogs 😵

So what is making all these dogs sick?

The processed diet that most dogs subsist on seems like a good place to start. It’s certainly backed up by the research!

Studies in humans show that diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked to adverse health outcomes like an increase in chronic disease, reduced quality of life and a shorter lifespan. Hmmm.

Studies in dogs show that fresh food provides superior nutrition, improves digestive health, gives a healthier skin and coat, improves mood and behaviour AND increases lifespan by up to 2.5 years.

Makes you wonder.

Maybe we need to give up what's making them sick?

19/02/2025

In breaking news, Colgate Palmolive have just bought a Prime 100 for $500,000,000. It's set to become a part of the Hill's Pet Nutrition division alongside Science Diet kibble.

The New York-listed consumer products giant is best known for dish soaps and toothpaste brands, but has been growing its exposure to the pet sector.

12/02/2025

10/02/2025

What’s going on with Bird Flu?

This week a new variant was detected in Victorian. While it's a worrying development, all previous outbreaks in Australia have so far been contained. It is hoped our excellent biosecurity will continue to keep us safe 🤞

Sourcing good quality human-grade chickens and proper food safety practices is always the best way to keep your dog safe.

As for Whoa Nelly, we use beautiful Inglewood Organic chicken in our food. These chickens live outside and are super healthy. In my opinion these are the best chickens in QLD!

That said, it’s a real concern so I contacted Inglewood to ask about their safety procedures.

They assure me that they are watching the situation closely and have robust biosecurity protocols in place. Their SEQ farm is quite remote and not near other poultry farms which reduces risk.

In addition Inglewood have recently invested in netting their range areas, which helps prevent contamination from wild birds.

We feel very confident in the quality and safety of the Inglewood Organic chickens we are using in our food. That said we will of course continue to monitor the situation going forward.

As for eggs, the supply issue with eggs is being compounded by major retailers moving away from caged eggs. This is causing massive disruption in the industry as they pivot to free range - but is obviously a fantastic and necessary development.

Unfortunately it means that egg prices are unlikely to drop any time soon.

Overall it’s a concerning development for Australia, and we are keeping a close eye on it to make sure our raw dog food is always safe and amazing quality.

06/02/2025

When to transition your puppy to adult food? The answer is when they stop growing, which depends on the size of breed.

Here’s a general guide:
Small Breed - 12 months
Medium Breed - 15 months
Large Breed - 18 months

The key is to keep an eye on your dogs development. Once they have reached 12 months and stopped growing you can transition them to our adult food.

There’s no wrong answer here! Just use your gut to make the decision after they are at least 12 months old.

29/01/2025

Lots of new dogs at the moment so please let us introduce ourselves 👋

We are Jimi & Tory, the 2 nutritionists behind Whoa Nelly Dog Food. Jimi is a canine nutritionist (HATO) and Tory is a human nutritionist (Batchelor of Health Science). Our aim is to improve the life of every dog that eats our food.

Our focus is on creating the best nutritional foundation for your dog using fresh organic ingredients, naturally fermented probiotics and functional foods like organic turmeric and spirulina.

We believe that the secret to a long & happy life is an amazing diet. In clinical practice we found that most health problems can be resolved or significantly improved simply by getting the foundation of nutrition right.

Issues like chronic scratching, red spots or bumps, sloppy poos or being a bit stinky are all things that we regularly fix just with the raw dog food we make.

We have three main principals:
🥦 All nutrients from whole foods
⚖️ Balance the fats & minerals
💩 Help the gut to be happy

By taking this approach we see a dramatic improvement in nearly all the dogs eating our food. It still blows us away!! We are very grateful to be able to do what we love for a living, and hopefully are having a positive impact on the people and dogs in our community.

We hope your dog loves our food ❤️

Jimi & Tory - Whoa Nelly!
Canine Nutritionist (HATO)
B. H. S. (Nutritional Medicine)

23/01/2025

We've been asked if our food contains horse meat as we are named Whoa Nelly. We'd like to confirm we are not horsing around 🐴