While this may seem like a lot to spend, and it undeniably is, we don’t hesitate to invest in our quality practices. The way we spend in this area has changed a lot throughout the years and also changes each month depending on what projects we’re looking at!
A lot of these items really aren’t the first things you think of when you think about what it takes to make a good food but to us, this is what makes the difference between just a food that anyone can make and a quality food. It’s not just about the final product but every step of the process that goes into what we make.
It’s the start of December and we’ve got our fingers & paws crossed for some snow this year ❄️ It really doesn’t snow much here in NC so it’s always something special to get some powder since it pretty shuts down the whole state. Have you guys already seen your first snow where you’re at?
3 oz beeswax
3 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp shea butter
3 tbsp olive oil
1 dropper (~10 drops) Vitamin E oil - Optional
Warm in a pan to mix and let cool in desired container.
Our pups paws are tough but the cold, snow & salt can still get to it. I don’t know why but making these paw balms just gives me such a cozy feeling. You can literally let them harden in anything - cupcake liners, mason jar lids, silicone molds etc. If you have empty chapstick tubes or mint tins lying around, even better! These were super easy to make and make for an awesome stocking stuffer for anyone looking for an easy, last minute holiday gift 😉
It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving is just about here. And before you know it, it’ll be Christmas, New Years, then 2025. The holidays always feel like a strange time warp where it feels like things are happening at lightning speed but it also feels as if time slows to a crawl and you finally get a chance to take a breath.
This year has been a crazy one for us as I’m sure it has been for many of you guys. But at the end of the day we’re grateful. We’re grateful we get to wake up every day and work on something we have such a passion for, for our team that makes this all possible, and finally for you guys who’ve been on this journey with us. Hope you all have an amazing, warm & cozy Thanksgiving.
1/2 cup turmeric powder
1.5 cup water/broth
1/4 cup coconut oil
1.5 tsp black pepper
Stir together turmeric powder & broth over low heat until it thickens. Add coconut oil & black pepper. Let cool.
Aging is a complex process and although there’s many factors that go into it, diet plays a big role in your pet’s overall health & wellness. The test says that 77% of pets fall within 12 months of their estimated birth date so I’d consider these results pretty good!
Since we only did the test on our own pup, by no means does this test prove anything but it’s still cool to see the results we got! If any of you guys have done an age test on your pets, I’m super curious to hear about the results you’ve seen!
We know a lot of people turn to raw because their pets struggled with allergies & sensitivities while on other foods or they’re looking to run elimination diets and figure out what foods to avoid. That’s why it’s so important for us to make sure our recipes are single protein and here’s what we do make our food as allergy friendly as possible!
🧑🍳 We only process 1 protein a day
🥩 We have our Pure recipes for pets that not only need to avoid specific proteins, but also specific ingredients
🧪 We use these allergen swabs to double-check our cleaning!
Did you get a better score than anyone on the team?
Being fully remote, we’re so grateful our team got to meet up in person for an amazing weekend together. This is the group that truly makes Viva what it is and we would not be here without their passion to better the lives of all pets :) If you recognize anyone you’ve talked to when you reached out to us, give them a shout out 😁
Good sourcing does make a difference (especially for raw products) but it can’t be the only thing you rely on. Don’t get me wrong, quality sourcing is super important and part of our program involves testing for indicator microorganisms in our raw materials so we can monitor how our suppliers are doing in their practices. For companies making raw food, quality sourcing makes a difference because every food safety technology has an upper limit for the amount of microbial load it can handle. So if your ingredients are cleaner coming in, you can have a greater confidence that your interventions will be effective and you’re able to use less invasive techniques!
The fact that pathogens are normally found in raw meat is also why you’ll never see a recall on raw meat at the grocery store for pathogens (E.coli O157 is the exception). If you feed store bought meats to your pets, this is definitely an important difference to be aware of for human food vs. pet food.
USDA Salmonella Performance Standards in Poultry: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-directives/10250.2
I can’t believe it’s already November and our last special of the year is finally here 🦌~
We’ve had grass fed & finished venison in the past but this is our very first time offering it as a 100% single protein recipe.
Let me tell you, I was in awe when we got all of the ingredients in for this recipe 🤩 This warming protein is amazing for the cooler weather and makes for a perfect treat for the upcoming holidays (we better be seeing this in your Thanksgiving & Christmas bowls!)
We can’t wait for you guys to try it out - and of course, we’ve got a very exciting new mystery gift in store for you guys ;) What more reason do you guys need?
It’s not a trick, a special treat is coming your way 👻
Mark your calendars, coming 11/4 🎃
Compared to their full grown counterparts, sprouts are a lot more nutrient dense since the process of germinating breaks down phytates (typically an anti-nutrient) found in plants. Pea, mung bean, alfalfa, broccoli, and radish can be fed to both cats & dogs. These are also a good thing to be adding to your own bowls too 😉
What you’ll need:
🫙 A Jar
🌱 Sprouting Seeds (broccoli & radishes are great!)
🍎 Apple cider vinegar
🫧 Dish soap
🧀 Cheese cloth or strainer lid
1. Add 3-5 tbsp seeds into a jar. Fit mouth of jar with a cheesecloth or strainer lid
2. Rinse with apple cider vinegar + 1 drop dish soap to clean
3. Rinse & fill with water then soak for 8 hrs. Drain afterwards
4. Rinse seeds 2x/day for 3-5 days (or until desired sprouted-ness) and place near window
5. Skim off the seed hulls
6. Mixing into food or refrigerate for later
This experiment is a different setup from the validation studies we’ve done but we wanted to show you guys these pathogen eliminating probiotics “in action”
So how does this work? These probiotics are not the same strains you’d find in fermented foods or even store bought supplements. The strains we use have been researched & specially selected by microbiologists for their ability to eliminate specific pathogens by producing antimicrobial compounds and outcompeting the target bacteria!
Most people tend to think of one thing when talking about probiotics but the reality is that probiotics encompass a broad group of good bacteria that can have very different properties . The common strains found in products yogurt, fermented foods & gut health supplements won’t make much of a difference against specific pathogens but there are specific strains that are great at this “job”. And unlike gut health supplements that need to be in the GI to be active, these probiotics work in the food itself!
So why isn’t everyone doing this? Food safety technologies are not one-size fits all and depending on your sourcing & production process, there are definitely cases in which this technology isn’t a good fit! That’s why it’s so important for to do their own testing on different techniques.
Learned my lesson not be late to my 5-9. 😅
