03/14/2023
Our Recipe
Brown Rice
Brown rice contains natural fibre which can aid in a dog’s digestion. It also contains high carbohydrates, vitamin B2, (known as riboflavin) B9, (known as folate). And vitamin D.
Why brown rice and not white?
Although brown rice can be a little harder for dogs to digest when compared to white rice, the nutritional benefits of brown rice is hard to over look. White rice is heavily processed, the outer coat of the white rice is missing and that is where most of the nutrients is stored. White rice also has a higher glycemic index and that can cause blood sugar to rise thus increase chance of weight gain. Although white rice is fine to give occasionally or if your pup has an upset tummy, feeding your dog white rice daily is generally not recommended.
Should dogs have grains?
There are so many different types of diet and foods out there that it can be overwhelming. Should we feed raw food? Should we feed kibble? Do we want a grain free diet? Are whole grains the better option? With so many choices it can be tough to choose what is actually the healthiest option for your dog.
From the research we have done and after discussing the topic with several vets at our local office, it is our opinion that dogs should be having whole grains in their diets. The whole grains have important nutrients dogs need including vitamin B, iron, magnesium, selenium, carbs and fibre. The whole grain we use is brown rice, its a healthy and safe option for dogs to help support heart health, amongst other benefits.
Red Lentils
Lentils contain high amounts of fibre, protein and critical micronutrients such as vitamin C and multiple B vitamins. Lentils also contain important minerals such as potassium, magnesium, phosphorous, calcium, iron and zinc. Lentils must be cooked properly as this complex carbohydrate does take longer to digest with its high fibre content. I have found red lentils to be the easiest for dogs to digest and offer wonderful health benefits.
The benefits attributed to lentils are:
Lowered cholesterol levels.
Reduced risks of heart disease
Reduction in blood pressure
Weight loss.
While there are conflicting information about the use of lentils in dogs, the amount we use is low and we have seen only positive results. Of course if this is a concern to you we are happy to omit it from your dog’s meal.
Yams
Yams are our staple starchy root vegetable which make up a healthy portion of our food because they are jam packed with nutrients such as:
Beta Carotene is full of vitamin A which is shown to reduce the risk of heart disease as well as reduce certain cancers.
Calcium increases bone strength as well as positively effects muscle and heart health.
Diosgenin is another nutrient that boosts brain performance and is also a natural anti- inflammatory.
Fibre- Dietary fibre helps aid your dog’s digestive track.
Magnesium + Manganese- two minerals that help produce energy.
Potassium- Boosts energy levels.
Vitamin C- Boosts dogs energy levels.
Vitamin B6- increases energy and brain function.
White Beans (Cannellini Aka White kidney beans)
White beans are packed with proteins, fibre, amino acids and antioxidants. Served in moderation and cooked properly, white beans are a great addition to a healthy diet.
Zucchini
Zucchini is added to every meal we make because it is full of fibre, vitamins, minerals and low in calories. This squash is generally easy to digest and we steam it so it doesn’t lose its nutritional benefits.
Pork
Where’s the Meat!?
Each 6 QT batch of our dog food is made with approximately 1 kg of lean pork as our staple meat. Healthy, nutritious and super tasty, pork is an excellent source of amino acids and vitamin B1. Pork is also high in thiamine, which is an essential mineral used in the function of cells. This protien tends to be less of an allergin threat to dogs than chicken. Different proteins available upon request at an additional cost.
Organ Meat
Purchased from the Cowichan Valley the organ meat we use in our dog food is top notch. To give your dog all the benefits of different organs, we switch up the organ meat frequently. This may include:
Beef heart, kidney and liver.
Lamb tongue, heart and kidney.
Pork kidney heart and liver.
Chicken heart and liver.
Duck heart, kidney and liver.
The benefits from organ meat include vitamins A, B, D, and E. Minerals such as Copper, Iron, Phosphorus, Selenium, Zinc, Folic acid and many other trace minerals.
Apples, Blueberries and Cranberries
We switch up the fruits and vegetable to make sure your dog is getting a variety of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Generally you will see one or more of these fruits in your dog's food.
Apples are a good source of vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, antioxidants and full of fibre- especially the peels.
Blueberries contain minerals, antioxidants, vitamin C, fibre and phytochemicals- which have cancer fighting properties.
Cranberries (in moderation) help treat and prevent UTIs, are a great source of vitamin C and antioxidants.
Other Vegetables
Depending on the season, price and availability there will often be other vegetables in our dog food. Generally we like to use butternut squash and beets as it is easy on their digestive tract, filling and dogs LOVE this mix. We have several other vegetables you may choose from to cater to your dogs specific likes and needs.
Cabbage
Broccoli
Carrots
Green Beans
Chard
Pumpkin (Great for sensitive tummy)
Brussel sprouts
Peas
Cauliflower
Kale
Green Pepper
Watermelon
Strawberries
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Pear
Supplements
Along with our dog food we highly recommend purchasing additional supplements to ensure your dog is getting everything they need from their diet. This includes an Omega 3 fatty acid, Ground flax seed meal, and a kelp or seaweed supplement. We are happy to provide a sample of what we use, or help you choose something that will be a good fit for your dog.
Fresh or Frozen
We offer both. Our food keeps well in the freezer up to 6 months. Simply leave the container in the fridge, on the counter to defrost or defrost in the microwave and its ready to serve. If your dog is a bit on the picky side or you just want to serve them the freshest option out there we have you covered. Served warm or cold your dog will love either!
Bone Broth
Freshly made bone broth in different varieties (Beef, Chicken, Duck, Lamb, Pork, and Turkey – as supply allows ) frozen into appropriate puck sized portions perfect for your dog. Just throw the puck on top of your dog’s meal partially frozen or allow to defrost in the fridge.
Bone broth is highly recommended! It has TONS of health benefits including collagen, gulcosamine, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, minerals, magnesium, calcium, sulfur, silicon, and phosphorus. These highly important nutrients play a crucial role in the health of your dog’s nervous system, heart, muscles, gut, joints, liver, and digestion.
End Statement
Every dog is an individual and the variation of benefits will vary based on a number of factors. These factors include and are not limited to the general health of your dog, any underlying conditions and each dog's own gut microbes. Our dog food formula has made our dogs healthier and happier and we want to share the benefits with you and your dog too. We believe that all dogs should have the benefit of a wholesome healthy, balanced, human grade diet.
