Education & FAQs

• The Balance IT system, including a Balance IT Canine Plus supplement, is used when creating the recipes to ensure that the food is nutritionally complete and balanced. It's important to note that we make no commissions on this product..

• Each recipe goes through vet approval. The veterinarian we work with specializes in nutrition and also cooks for her own dogs.

• Ensuring that a dog's food contains all the essential nutrients, including protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins, and minerals, and avoiding too much of any one mineral, which can be toxic, is crucial for the dog's health. A diet lacking any essential nutrient or with too much of any nutrient can cause health problems.

• Each recipe contains a combination of nutrient-dense ingredients that include:

  • High-quality proteins such as meat, poultry, seafood, eggs, or legumes.

  • Complex carbohydrates such as sweet potatoes, brown rice, buckwheat, and quinoa that provide energy to fuel the body.

  • Fibers from a variety of vegetables and fruits such as carrots, broccoli, green beans, zucchinis, berries, apples, and bananas that promote healthy digestion and lower cholesterol levels.

  • Healthy fats such as fish oil, safflower oil, corn oil, coconut oil, olive oil, hemp oil, or flax oil, which are essential for proper body functioning. While the amount of fat may vary, fish oil is recommended up to the healthy daily maximum.

• Although nutritional supplements are great, just like how humans benefit from a range of natural vitamins vs. vitamin pills, dogs benefit from a diverse diet that provides nutrients naturally.

• Our recipes include different protein sources, grains, and vegetables to provide a range of nutrients and keep dogs interested in their food.

• This is one of the reasons cooking is better than using a set rotation of recipes from Farmers Dog, Ollie Pet, Nom Nom Now, etc. More variety each week!

• Kibble is highly processed and often contains preservatives and fillers, which is detrimental to a dog's health. Additionally, kibble is often high in carbohydrates and low in protein, which is required to produce a kibble that sticks together. This can lead to weight gain and other health issues. A study published in the Journal of Animal Physiology and Animal Nutrition found that dogs fed a high-carbohydrate kibble diet had higher levels of insulin and triglycerides, which are markers for obesity and diabetes.

• Studies show that feeding fresh food instead of kibble can add up to 1-3 years of lifespan. For instance, a study published in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found that dogs fed a diet consisting of at least 30% fresh food had a 15% longer lifespan compared to dogs fed a kibble-only diet. Fresh food is also better for digestion, weight, and allergies.

• While raw food can be digestible for healthy dogs and is considered by some to be better than kibble from a nutrition point of view, it can be contaminated with harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria. These bacteria can cause illness in dogs and humans, especially if your dog likes to give licks and kisses, which can spread the deadly bacteria to you and your family. FYI, freeze-dried treats that are not labeled "irradiated" have the same bacteria problem because these treats are still raw. Irradiation may sound like a scary word, but it is actually the process to kill bacteria off these raw treats.

• Cooking at home gives you more safety controls than other fresh food companies like Farmers Dog, Ollie Pet, Nom Nom Now, etc which can be subject to recalls from the manufacturing process. If you cook small-batch at home, you know every ingredient going in is fresh and unspoiled and food is thouroughly cooked to eliminate dangerous bacteria.

• Grains such as rice, barley, and quinoa can be a great source of energy and nutrition for dogs. They are often high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals that can support overall health and well-being. Additionally, some grains like rice can be easy to digest and can help soothe upset stomachs in dogs. While some dogs may have food sensitivities or allergies to grains, for most dogs, a diet that includes grains in moderation can be a healthy and nutritious option. It's important to note that not all grains are created equal, and some may be more beneficial than others.

• The grain-free trend is not backed by scientific evidence and may actually be harmful to dogs. Many grain-free diets are high in legumes, which can cause health issues if overused. Legumes can lead to a deficiency of certain amino acids found in grains but not in legumes, which can increase the risk of heart problems such as dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Grain-free diets can be lacking in essential nutrients such as fiber, vitamins, and minerals, leading to health issues such as digestive problems, skin and coat issues, and weight gain.

• There's no ideal ratio for dogs when it comes to protein, fat, and carbs. Healthy dogs can tolerate a wide range of fat content, which can vary depending on their individual needs and health conditions.

• However, there are minimums that should be met. For adult dogs, the minimum protein requirement is 18% (22% for puppies), and the minimum fat requirement is 5% (8% for puppies). Carbs make up the rest of the diet.

• Healthy dogs are typically able to tolerate a wide range of fat content, with sled dogs' diets sometimes containing over 60% fat.

• All of our recipes are calorie-controlled and tailored to match super-premium fresh dog foods, with input from a veterinarian to keep dogs full, happy, and healthy.

These recipes are made for healthy adult dogs. Senior dogs and puppies have different nutritional needs.