Beastro Team Member Nikki Eno Talks About Raw Feeding Certification For Pets

• Posted on 9 June 2020
• By Staff Blogger: Nikki Eno
• Posted in dog cat, natural, nutrition, pet food, raw, raw certification, Wellness
• 0

Our staff has completed the raw certification course. It has given them the tools needed to help educate and inform customers about all the benefits of raw feeding and how to properly build a complete and balanced raw diet for their pets.

DNM Raw Certification - What it has taught me and meant to me

Completing the Dogs Naturally Magazine Raw Certification has helped me become more educated and confident on how to teach and inform customers about all the benefits of raw feeding and how to properly build a complete and balanced raw diet for their pets. I now know the origins of the raw diet, why it is better for pets, how to build a raw diet, the benefits of each aspect of a raw diet, and so much more. Completing the course has meant a lot to me because it has allowed me to better feed my own pet as well as your pets.

About My Pet:

I have a one-year-old black miniature dachshund named Bean. He weighs about 12 lbs, so feeding him a fully raw diet has been pretty easy and cost-effective. He enjoys a raw diet of frozen nuggets usually from the Primal or Northwest Naturals brands. His favorite protein is Primal’s frozen venison nuggets. He also loves Northwest Naturals frozen lamb and Primal frozen duck Pronto. He also likes to switch up his routine by enjoying some Primal freeze-dried beef, lamb, chicken, or duck. I try to add goat’s milk and bone broth to his diet wherever I can for extra nutrition and hydration. 

Why Learn About Raw:

I learned about raw after starting to work at The Pet Beastro. Dr. Jill showed how important it is to learn about all the benefits of a raw diet and how to tailor a raw diet to your pet. After hearing all the positive outcomes feeding a raw diet had, I was eager to dive in and transition my puppy onto a fully raw diet. 

How I transitioned My Pet To Raw:

Luckily, I transitioned Bean to a fully raw diet when he was still a puppy, around six months old, so I believe that made transitioning a bit easier. I started by adding small amounts of frozen raw food to his kibble as well as adding the occasional freeze-dried raw treats as a food topper. It didn’t take him too long to get used to it and he appeared to love it right away! Within a week or two he has completely transitioned to a completely raw diet of Primal frozen duck Pronto and Primal frozen venison nuggets. 

How Has Raw Feeding Helped My Pet:

I have seen so many positive outcomes after transitioning Bean onto a raw diet! 

• One of the quickest differences I noticed was the lack of odor and the smaller size of his bowel movements. 
• Instead of a lot of waste, Bean’s were much smaller and without any strong odor. 
• He had significantly less gas. 
• It reduced his chances of the occasional stomach upset. 
• His coat was already shiny, but once he transitioned to a raw diet, his coat became extremely shiny and healthy! 
• He has absolutely no stereotypical “dog” odor. 
• His breath always smells fresh. His teeth are strong and healthy with no plaque or tartar buildup. 

There are countless benefits I’ve seen after switching to a raw diet!

Tips For Finicky Pets

Since Bean is a miniature dachshund, he definitely falls into the stereotype of being a picky little guy! They are known for their distinct tastes! ;-) He does enjoy trying new things, but sometimes it takes him a bit longer to warm up to something new. Since transitioning him to a raw diet, I discovered a few tricks to get him to try new things. My number one solution has been to hide new types of food or treats into his Outward Hound Nina Ottosson Dog Smart Bone Puzzle! He loves flipping up the little bone compartments to get to the goodies underneath! This has been a perfect way to get him to try new things since he’s so excited to reach the food underneath the compartment! Another way I get Bean to try new foods and treats is to get him excited about eating it and praising him when he tries something new. Much like positively reinforcing a child, he responds well to praise and patience when trying something new. Patience and creativity are essential when trying to get a finicky pet to try something new.

Small Dogs vs. Large Breed Dogs:

Feeding a completely raw diet is cost-effective for me since Bean’s small size since he doesn’t require a ton of raw food each day. However, feeding a completely raw diet can be more costly when trying to feed a large breed dog. There are a few cost-effective ways to incorporate raw into a large breed dog’s diet without breaking the bank. One way is to use raw food as a mixer during mealtime. Try adding a few nuggets of frozen or freeze-dried in with kibble to add some extra protein and nutrition. This allows your bags of frozen or freeze-dried raw food to last longer and lets you incorporate raw nutrition into your larger dog’s diet.  Adding goat's milk, bone broth, or frozen Primal Elixirs are more great ways to add extra raw nutrition and hydration to a large breed dog’s diet.

Importance Of A Complete & Balanced Raw Diet

The importance of complete and balanced meals in your pet’s diet is essential in ensuring they are achieving peak nutrition and health. Complete and balanced meals ensure that your pet is getting all the essential vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and more that they need in order to stay healthy. Let us help your pet enjoy the many health benefits of raw today. Stop by The Pet Beastro and we can provide suggestions based on your specific pet’s breed, age, activity level, and health conditions.