FOOD
Woofers carries a complete line of all-natural holistic pet foods, but what does that mean? Holistic foods are made of real, whole ingredients that have not been broken down or processed. That means human grade meats, whole grains, vitamins, minerals, herbs and absolutely no by-products  (organ meat or other left-overs), grain fractions (glutens), or chemicals. Holistic foods have no fillers such as corn or soy and many are also hormone, antibiotic, and wheat free.

           

Learning about holistic foods may take a complete overhaul of what you already know about commercial dog foods. Your feeding guidelines are less. Everyone in your house can eat the same food. You’ll have less yard waste. You’ll finally keep those allergies and other health problem under control. “It all sounds great – but how is it possible?” you may ask yourself. Let the experts at Woofers show you how.

How much does it cost, and how much do I feed?
Your pet will consume about half as much of a holistic food as most commercial dog foods. All-natural pet foods are packed full of nutrition found in real meat, fruits and veggies instead of extra fillers. Your pet will need less food to be full and happy. Their bodies will use the food more efficiently, meaning a healthier pet and (Bonus!) less waste to pick up in the backyard. While you pay a little more per bag, you are feeding less. Your food bill will even out, not to mention the tremendous health benefits to your pet, which are priceless.

How is it possible for all of my dogs or cats to be on the same food when they are all different ages and weights (or overweights as the case may be)?
Commercial foods contain lots of by-products made of animal fats and indigestible parts. Specifically designed “weight control” or “senior” formulas often contain more fillers to reduce the fat percentage rather than taking the extra (and more costly step) to reduce the fat going into those foods. “Puppy” foods often contain more fats and less real meat. Most holistic foods (and everything we carry at Woofers) are considered all-life stage pet foods; puppies, adults and seniors, underweight or those on the tubby side will all eat the same food. Nature makes no distinction between animals of different ages or weights when it comes to diet. Wild animals regulate their weight by eating more or less depending on their bodily needs. Taking your pet’s food back to nature means their body will come back to a more natural state – lean and healthy. Simply feed more or less depending on your pet’s age or weight. This makes feeding time in multi-pet households much simpler. No more worrying about him getting into her bowl – they all get the same food!

How can food help my pet’s allergies, itching, smelly coat, bad breath, ear problems, or other health problems and common annoyances?
Pet allergies, food intolerances and chronic illness seem to be becoming more and more prevalent among pets in recent years. This can be any type of malady ranging from the mild such as shedding, scratching, smelliness, bad breath and obesity to more serious problems such as skin allergies, pancreatitis, liver disease, or even cancers.

First, the annoyances – shedding, scratching, smelly dog, bad breath. Corn, wheat gluten, and by-products, all inexpensive filler ingredients found in many commercial dog foods, are indigestible by dogs. Dogs detoxify through their skin, ears and gums what they are not able to digest causing the smell, ear build-up and tartar. It also causes the skin to be far more sensitive to normal allergens such as fleas and dust. Your pet will scratch, chew on its paws, or have red skin usually on the belly. By providing a food that is natural and completely digestible, your pet will have nothing to detox. Your pets immunity system will be stronger and therefore able to fight off true health problems. And because a natural diet is, well, natural, your are more able to control excess protein or fats in the diet that can cause liver, pancreas, and urinary disease. While a great diet is no guarantee your pet will never have a health problem, the better the diet the fewer trips to see the doctor.

Kibble, Cans, or Raw Frozen – what is the difference and which is better?
First, all forms of holistic foods are good for your dogs, and none are “better” for their teeth. Buildup on the teeth comes from detoxing indigestible ingredients through the gums. None of those bad things are in holistic food, so your pet’s teeth will be just as healthy no matter what the consistency of the diet.

Kibble is the hard, crunchy food in the bags. It is usually the most cost effective and convenient way of feeding your pet. Canned food, also known as soft or wet food, is found in cans or pouches in either loaf (single consistency) or stew style. Many now have real chunks of steak or whole chicken thighs swimming in real broth with potatoes, green beans, apples or other goodies making canned foods more palatable. They are great to feed by themselves or as mixers to get a picky puppy to eat. It is slightly more expensive and it cannot sit out as long as kibble, but is more nutritious due to being processed at a lower temperature preserving more vitamins and minerals. The raw frozen includes raw meat, vegetables, supplements or vitamins, and sometimes a grain source. The forms can range anywhere from frozen meat grinds (just meat and ground bones) that can be added to a dry supplement base to commercial diets that already have everything mixed together in frozen packages. This is the healthiest of all the diets because it goes back to the same diet an animal would eat in the wild; however it is also the most expensive and least convenient.

How do I switch?
We recommend taking a week and a half to two weeks to switch pet foods; three to four days of 75% old food and 25% new food, three days of 50/50, and three days of 25% old food and 75% new food. And as for “digestive issues”, you may see a few days of heavy or soft stool as your pet flushes all of the old food out of its body, but then a significant decrease in waste as their body will use the holistic food more. Good Food = nothing to get rid of = a healthier pet!

Using superior natural ingredients means not sacrificing quality for a lower cost. Less expensive foods use processed ingredients that have lost their natural nutrients. Feeding holistic foods means your pet will be getting all of the vital vitamins, minerals and nutrients they need to be naturally healthy. You can be assured that there is nothing you are giving to your pet that you would not put on your own kitchen table. After all, this is another member of you family. Shouldn’t your best friend eat as well (and let’s face it – probably better) than you do?