Can Dogs and Cats Be Vegetarians?
Written on Saturday, July 30th, 2016
There are a number of vegetarians and vegans out there looking for ways to keep their pets healthy without feeding meat or animal products. The question is: can dogs and cats be healthy for their entire lifetime eating this way? While it’s a romantic idea, the answer is, almost undeniably, no. While there are some vegetarian diets that can sustain dogs, you will find it is not ideal. Cats cannot be fed anything except a meat-based diet. They cannot use vegetable proteins to sustain themselves and will die without animal tissue in their diet. If you are a vegan and cannot bring yourself to handle meat products, a carnivorous animal is not for you!
Human Grade Vs. Natural Meats: Affordability Vs. Quality
Written on Monday, July 11th, 2016
What's the difference between our "regular" line and our "natural" line? We get this question a lot. I wanted to address it so people understand the differences in meat quality across the board, not just with our products but with commercially prepared raw pet foods in general.
There are several "grades" of meat that you can purchase for your pet. 3P uses only 2 grades: human-grade (our regular line) and natural-grade. There are other grades of meat as well, but we will talk about these two first. Below are the differences so that you can make the most informed decision about what to feed your pet.
Does Raw Pet Food Meet AAFCO Standards?
Written on Saturday, June 4th, 2016
This is probably one of the more controversial posts I will make on our blog. I feel strongly about this subject and hope that through my learning, I can help others learn too. Often, I am told by pet owners that their vets have asked them to check with us, as a raw pet food manufacturer, on whether or not our raw foods meet AAFCO standards. AAFCO is the American Association of Food Control Officials. They write standards that veterinarians and pet food manufacturers to follow to ensure that all required nutrients are available in pet food….or so they say…. Let’s look a little closer look at all of this.
In a recent online seminar conducted by Dogs Naturally Magazine during their popular Raw Roundup seminar series, Dr. Ian Billinghurst, DVM spoke on the confusing subject of AAFCO standards and why it might not be the holy grail of how to distinguish the nutritional integrity of your pet’s food. For those of you who don’t already know who Dr. Billinghurst is, he is the author of “Give Your Dog A Bone” and “The BARF Diet for Dogs and Cats.” He was one of the first vets to speak out about the detrimental effects of processed pet foods and to teach pet owners and vets about feeding a biologically appropriate diet. This article is a product of what I learned while participating in Dr. Billinghurt’s informative talk and what I have learned about pet food of all types over the last 15 years.
10 Basic Supplements for Canine Wellness
Written on Monday, November 9th, 2015
Could Your Pet Have a Thiamine Deficiency?
Written on Saturday, September 19th, 2015
Is Your Dog Missing Vital Nutrients?
Written on Monday, August 31st, 2015
Please follow the link below to learn about how to ensure your pet isn't missing key ingredients in his or her diet:
Keep yourself up to date by visiting our blog regularly or following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @3pnaturals
The Importance of Including Organ Meats to the Raw Diet
Written on Monday, June 22nd, 2015
Organ meats? Gross, right? Well, even though they may seem gross to most of us, organ meats are an extremely important component of a carnivore’s diet. They contain an array of important trace minerals, vitamins, and amino acids that are essential for helping your pet stay healthy and vital.
Dogs: Approximately 10% of the dog’s diet should consist of organ meat.
Cats: Cats require 15-20% of the total diet to consist of organ meat, mainly liver and heart. Heart meat is a great source of taurine for cats and is essential to them since they cannot synthesize it from precursor substances.
Menu items from 3P Naturals include: Heart & liver from beef, buffalo, lamb, chicken, turkey, duck, and more
NUTRIENTS FOUND IN LIVER AND HEART
Just by adding organ meats to the diet, you will be providing the following important nutrients.
Preventing Fleas, Naturally
Written on Monday, May 11th, 2015
An issue that pops up this time of year is fleas! YUCK! Many pet parents have chosen to feed raw because we don't want to add to the environmental stresses that today's domestic pets are exposed to. Most of us would rather avoid using chemicals to get rid of fleas if we can. Healthy skin is a major factor in keeping fleas at bay. A correctly fed raw diet is a great start to flea prevention along with nutritional supplementation and a natural flea spray that contains essential oils that deter pests. If your pet does have fleas, you will need to treat your pet and your house too. If the flea infestation is bad enough, you may have to go the chemical route but working towards prevention is key! A natural solution for your house other than chemical flea powders is to use diatomaceous earth in all corners, furniture, and on any carpet, you may have. Ask your natural pet food store if they carry this product. There are also effective aromatherapy sprays that can also be used to help deter fleas on a daily basis when your pet goes outside where they could pick up a flea. These options might not always solve a flea issue but they are a great way to prevent flea problems from arising. A great natural option can be found online from Equus Soap Co. If you're worried about a more serious problem like a flea infestation, it's time to talk to your veterinarian.
Good luck fighting those little fleas this spring!
Meet Kai, Our Mascot
Written on Monday, May 11th, 2015
Did you know that Kai is a Desi dog? That means he is from the streets of India and traveled thousands of miles on a plane to come to Canada and live with 3P co-owners Debbie and Paul Benson. What a lucky boy! Here is his story from the rescue agency that brought him to Canada:
Kai was born on Dec 3rd, 2012. The litter had 6 boys and 2 girls. They were born in a park in a residential area. For the first 3 weeks, they lived safely in a little puppy pen made for them. When they started to move about at 3-4 weeks, there were many complaints as they were running all over the park and getting in the way of walkers and joggers. I had to relocate them to the corner of a road and create an enclosure so that they would not run out onto the road. In a couple of weeks, they outgrew this enclosure and had to be moved out into a small room, where they were fed and cared for but had a sorry life as they did not have much space. Only after a foster home was found for them did they start to enjoy life.
Meet Jerry
Written on Friday, April 3rd, 2015
Jerry is a Jack Russel/chihuahua mix. He was surrendered to a shelter in San Bernadino, California at the age of 8 months. He was then neutered and sent to Canada at the end of October 2014 at 9 months, very sick, timid, and thin. He was extremely picky about food. His foster mom, Diane tried many different varieties of food with not much luck until one day, Jerry started to steal her dog's food. He finally started to eat without being hand-fed. Jerry then began to eat everything and wait for his chewy treats afterward. 3P co-owners Debbie & Paul Benson adopted him at the age of 1 year old. He eats everything now including wood! The rest is pretty much history and he loves his new home and his new raw diet. He is thriving now! Jerry has been an amazing addition to the family and we can't thank L.E.A.S.H. enough for bringing us together.
Switching To A Raw Food Diet
Find out everything you need to know about a raw pet food diet, and how you can make the switch.
Contact Us Today!
If you are a retailer or veterinarian and would like to place an order, contact us today!