Here’s the beef on grass-fed

WRITTEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH DR MARK ROBERTS

Picture this: cattle grazing on lush green grass in open paddocks, wandering as they please, frolicking in the sunshine and daisies… okay, we’re getting a bit cheesy here, but that really is a pretty accurate snapshot of a cow’s life in New Zealand. We pride ourselves on healthy, happy cows down under, and their beef is a really important component of our K9 Natural diets. The fact that they’re grass-fed is a big deal for us – because it’s a big deal for the dogs we’re feeding the meat to. Why? Read on!

What is grass-fed?

In New Zealand, our naturally clean environment allows lush green pastures to thrive. These pastures provide natural fodder for our cattle all year round, and also the ability to wander the land and graze as they wish. This free-range way of life reduces stress and promotes a healthier wellbeing – with no cramped stalls or grain troughs in sight.

Grass over grain

While grass-fed cattle are living happier lives, their meat develops many nutritional benefits that grain just doesn’t offer. The key difference lies in the fatty acids: grass is high in omega-3, while grains primarily contain omega-6.

Omega-6 can be our friend in small quantities, but a foe if high amounts are consumed. Too much omega-6 can cause chronic inflammatory issues such as obesity, inflammatory bowel disease and Alzheimer’s. This omega-6 is passed down the food chain, which is why we steer clear of grain-fed beef – it’s simply not good for our four-legged customers.

Omega-3, however, can stay in our crew. Our favourite quality being their anti-inflammatory effect. Again, that benefit is reaped by grass-fed animals and passed on to pets with a diet high in grass-fed meat. They can also treat chronic itchy skin, degenerative arthritis, and aid in brain development which is super important for puppies – cause we all want a dog that’ll shake our hand on request.

Just as nature intended

Cattle that graze all year round on pastures are living just as nature intended. At K9 Natural that’s the philosophy we follow when creating diets for our pets – and it’s why grass-fed beef is such a key component of our naturally better nutrition.

The Instinctive Diet

DR. JOSIE GOLLAN

“What should I be feeding my dog?” is one of the most common questions I am asked in clinical practice.

Considering the expansive choice, effective marketing and contradictory recommendations, I am not surprised most owners feel utterly bamboozled when deciding what to put in their furry friend’s bowl. Even as a vet, wading through the conflicting evidence can prove a challenge! The recurring debate however, seems to centre on the appropriateness of high levels of carbohydrate in many of the commercial dry foods fed to a large proportion of our canine companions.

From an evolutionary standpoint, the domesticated dog evolved from their wild wolf ancestors approximately 15,000 years ago.

At this point, the diet heavily consisted of raw animal products, high in protein and fat with minimal carbohydrate.

Fast-forward to modern times and many commercial dry foods contain between 30-60% carbohydrate with a much lower ratio of protein and fat. While there is certainly evidence our domesticated pooches are better able to digest and absorb carbohydrates than their wolfish predecessors, the question remains, just because they can eat something…. does it mean they should?

Research out of Massey University in New Zealand is looking at just that and importantly, whether dogs instinctively know what type of diet suits them best. A recent study has shown that given the option of three diets; high in fat, protein or carbohydrates – 65% of dogs were instinctively drawn to the diet high in protein first, and 31% to the high fat diet.

Only 4% chose the carbohydrate heavy diet over the other 2 options.

Further, the average macronutrient ratio of the diets consumed when chosen by the dog over the trial period was 38% protein: 59% fat: 3% carbohydrate.

This is significantly different to many of the commercial dry foods currently fed.

Whilst research is ongoing in this area, this study lends weight to the idea that dogs instinctively prefer to eat a diet closer to that of their evolutionary roots.

So then we ask, just because a dog prefers to eat something… does it mean it is better for them? Whilst the jury is still out on this one and further research needs to be conducted, raw meat diets have shown to be highly digestible, resulting in both low faecal volume and desirable faecal quality.

Should we then all be feeding our dogs a side of beef every night for dinner? The answer is NO. Just like ourselves, a balanced diet including all the essential vitamins, minerals and fibre is critical for a healthy and happy dog. Whilst it is possible to create this at home, it is quite complex and better left to those in the know like the team at K9 Natural. It is also important to remember that if your dog has a medical condition it is imperative you consult with your vet in regards to their diet. In general however, this is an exciting area of research and suggests that instinctively perhaps our pooches do know best! I certainly know what my pup Albus would choose.

Keep kidneys fighting fit

WRITTEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH DR MARK ROBERTS

Keep kidneys fighting fit

“Chronic kidney disease.” It’s not what any pet parent wants to hear from the vet, but unfortunately there’s a lot of us out there who have; chronic kidney disease, or CKD, affects around 30% of cats and 6% of dogs. So, we thought we’d shed some light on the amazing work kidneys achieve on a daily basis, and how we can best look after our furry friend’s organ team.

The ins and outs of kidneys and CKD

The kidneys are key organs in the body – to say the least. They’re essentially the body’s filtration system, balancing substances in the blood and getting rid of waste as urine. Kidneys also maintain normal concentrations of salt and water in the body, control blood pressure and sustain phosphorous levels. They’re essentially one stop shop organs, working around the clock every day. So when kidneys can’t do their thing, toxins build up in the blood making your pet pretty ill. What’s more, symptoms often occur gradually over a long period of time, so it’s often hard to catch early.

Combatting CKD with naturally better nutrition

You may have heard of the term ‘kidney diet’ – a diet to aid kidney health – however, this is often mistaken to mean simply reducing protein, and as a result, often increasing carbohydrate intake. All that will do is deprive your pup or puss of the nutrients it needs to continue to thrive. That’s why we’re placing emphasis on two key dietary components instead of omitting the good stuff all together…

1. the type of protein being fed (as all aren’t created equal) and
2. the importance of water!

We like to refer to our version of a kidney diet as more of a kidney recipe;

The magic recipe

• Reduce phosphorous and sodium intake.
• Ensure the protein you’re feeding is from an animal source, rather than plant based.
• Add omega-3 fatty acids
• Increase water – or moisture.
  

And voilà: a diet that will keep your pets’ kidneys healthy and able to manage their heavy workload. K9 Natural and Feline Natural diets follow such a recipe – all with a base of 100% sustainable, free range, grass fed New Zealand meat (the good protein) and negligible levels of sodium and phosphorus. You may have noticed we underlined the last ingredient in the recipe – water! Turns out a glass of water a day also keeps the vet away! In the human world, we’re told to drink our eight glasses of water, and hydration is equally as important for our pets. Those with CKD are prone to chronic dehydration, which often means kidney health heads downhill fast. Topping up your pet’s water bowl generously and often is vital, but additional moisture content in the food you feed is an extra boost – especially for cats, who are notoriously poor drinkers. K9 Natural and Feline Natural canned diets contain upwards of 80% moisture, all generated from fresh New Zealand water. Even our freeze-dried range can have warm water added to them, providing A+ amounts of this vital ingredient. Moisture works together with the other excellent benefits of K9 Natural and Feline Natural diets, like the inclusion of the all-important omega-3 fatty acids – and also helps reduce both dehydration and the negative impact that some of the minerals from certain proteins can have on kidneys. To put it simply;

Water + Omega-3 fatty acids + appropriate protein source – phosphorus & sodium = happy kidneys

Remember, it’s vital to treat our pets as individuals – every case is different!

If you suspect your pet is suffering from this disease, it’s time to pay your vet a visit and have a chat about getting them back to full health.