How Important is the Diet you Feed your Pet?
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Delicious and Nutritious
As pet parents, we know what our furry friends need the most - love and attention, exercise and socializing, food and water (and a little more love, just because). But when it comes to the diet we decide to feed them, how important are the choices that you make? In this article, we answer that question by taking a look at the importance of nutrition for elevating your pet’s well-being and helping them to thrive.
It’s All About Balance
Good nutrition can help improve your pet’s bone and joint health, immune system, dental health, skin, coats, stools and digestion - the list goes on! Just like humans, our pets benefit from a balanced diet that includes a combination of meat proteins, fruits and vegetables. Together, these provide cats and dogs with the vitamins, minerals, proteins and antioxidants that they need in order to thrive. While nutritional deficiencies have been linked to disease and poor health, good nutrition is considered ‘central’ to restoring their health, providing a multitude of benefits as well as preventing future illness.
So where does good nutrition come from - and how exactly will it help? Meat, vegetables, fruit and superfoods (like the ones found in all of Smack’s delicious pet foods), are all natural immune boosters. They help strengthen our pets' immunity - essential in order to be able to fight infections and prevent diseases, both as a new puppy (or kitten!) and when they reach old age. Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids (found in salmon and chicken, for example) help support healthy skin and a shiny coat, as well as providing anti-inflammatory benefits and improved digestion. Digestive enzymes (found in raw meat and organs in particular) are crucial proteins that help to break food down into smaller pieces, fuelling our pets’ bodies by helping to absorb the nutrients more efficiently. These enzymes include:
- Protease: Helps break down protein into amino acids
- Amylase: Helps break down carbohydrates
- Lipase: Helps with digesting fats
- Cellulase: For breaking down fiber
So a balanced diet is the way to go - simple, right? And it can be! Unfortunately, the traditional kibble that so many of us feed our feline and canine friends is highly processed - and this means it actually lacks those all-important nutrients animals need.
“Nutrients are lost during cooking of any kind, and especially during the high and prolonged heat cooking, plus extrusion, used to manufacture processed pet food.” (Dr. Karen Becker)
The process of cooking food breaks down the enzymes and amino acids that are otherwise so good for our pets’ digestion. A processed diet puts stress on their digestive systems and creates issues with nutrient absorption and digestion. Moreover, the carbs and other fillers found in processed pet foods are harder for animals to digest (even though their resilience means that they are able to survive on this type of diet, as so many do). Essentially, a diet of kibble deprives them of the balance and good nutrition that they need the most, and adds in fillers such as carbs which they do not need. But if this is you, you’re not alone (a 2021 study showed that up to 90% of pet parents are feeding a dry kibble diet). And fortunately, it’s never too late to change.
Finding A Fresher Way Forward
If we know what’s best for our pets (a fresh, balanced diet of good nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals), and what’s not (processed food that lacks the yummy good stuff) - what is the best way to get them what they need? Many pet health experts advocate for a ‘back to basics’ approach when it comes to pet food, and a ‘biologically appropriate’ diet, If we want to move away from highly processed, low-nutrient food, keeping our dogs’ diet as close to natural and raw as possible is really the best thing we can do. They ‘do far better’ on a species-appropriate diet of raw food, which maintains all those nutrients, enzymes and amino acids that bring them so many benefits. A raw diet has been shown to promote healthy teeth and gums, healthier skin and coat, gut and immune system benefits, and of course, provides a food that is easier to digest.
“While nutritionally balanced, fresh whole food isn’t the cure for every disease that afflicts cats and dogs, it’s the very best foundation upon which to build a protocol that can return a sick animal to good health.” (Dr. Karen Becker)
To achieve balance and good nutritional value, here are some things to consider:
- Natural, real ingredients
- Minimal processing (clean ingredient panels) to maintain nutritional value
- High quality animal protein (and a variety of proteins for optimal nutrient variety)
- Whole, nutrient-dense superfoods
- Healthy fats and fibres
- Antioxidant-rich foods
- No chemicals or fillers (low/no starch content)
Not Just Surviving, But Thriving
When it comes to nutrition and the foods we choose to feed our pets, clean ingredient panels, premium ingredients and minimal fillers are all key to finding a healthier way forward. At Smack Pet Food, we pride ourselves on our responsibly sourced, high-quality ingredients, as well as a dehydration process that successfully maintains the nutritional value of the food that we provide. We use nothing but GMO-free whole foods and wholesome, organic vegetables and fruits, and all our proteins feature a natural balance of meat, bone and organs, with no fillers, gluten or grain - just the yummy good stuff your dog and cat need. By gently dehydrating our ingredients, a high percentage of the amino acids, enzymes, vitamins and minerals in our foods are not denatured or harmed, resulting in higher bioavailabilities. With our raw dehydrated crunchy style foods, we offer all the benefits of a raw diet, with the safety and storage efficiency of dry food.
It was our own family dog, Zorro, who inspired us to create the world’s best pet food, and help other pets live longer, healthier lives. Our pets don’t get a say in the food they’re fed, but we are passionate about empowering pet parents to make the best choice for them - we help you give your pets’ optimal nutrition, improving their health and well-being in the process.
Read more about our story here
References
https://www.mypetnutritionist.com/post/puppy-nutrition-101
https://animals.mom.com/how-poor-nutrition-leads-to-ill-health-in-animals-12263239.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/saskatchewan/karen-becker-vet-regina-1.4409078
https://roguepetscience.com/2021/07/24/natural-ways-improve-dogs-immune-system/
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/enzymes-and-your-dog/
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2010/01/20/why-pets-need-digestive-enzymes.aspx
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/10/20/pet-food-extrusion.aspx
https://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2018/01/26/biologically-appropriate-pet-food.aspx
https://www.dogsnaturallymagazine.com/kibble-never-a-good-option/
Customer Spotlight
Free Korean Dogs
Free Korean Dogs is an organization that grew out of passion - a passion for rescuing dogs not only from abandonment but also from the Korean dog meat market. Korea is the only country in the world that commercially farms dogs for food - every year, millions of Korean dogs are slaughtered for meat consumption. When EK Park, Founder and Executive Director, visited her native South Korea seven years ago, she witnessed firsthand the brutality that so many dogs are subjected to as a result of this trade. Determined to do something about it, EK Park began rescuing a couple of dogs and bringing them to Canada. What started with the small-scale rescue of a few animals has now evolved into an international rescue and adoption program that saves hundreds of dogs in Korea each year.
For William Yang, who volunteers his time as Treasurer and Corporate Secretary, his role within the organization began as a way to meet people in a new city. When he moved to Toronto six years ago, he volunteered his time for Free Korean Dogs, helping with the clean-up and care of the dogs at adoption events. At that time, the company had only been around for a couple of years, but as the organization grew, with more and more dogs being rescued and adopted, the need for better funding led them to apply to CRA for a formal charity designation. William, who has worked in the banking industry for the past 25 years, became the coordinator of that piece.
It is the passion for building a community that drives William’s ongoing commitment. “We don’t just stop at adoption,” he explains. “We are really trying to build a community as well.” The close knit adoption network is a huge part of the organization. “As I say, it takes a village to rescue one dog.” Once a dog is adopted, a volunteer will follow-up with the new family 30, 60 and 90 days after the adoption, to make sure that the dog is adjusting well to their new environment. A large part of that adjustment is the food that they are fed. Most of the rescue centres in Korea don’t necessarily have the financial resources to feed the dogs very well, and the dogs are often eating simply for survival - “if you don’t eat, there are other dogs going for the same food,” William explains. “The cost of bringing one dog here is actually quite high, so when the dog gets here we really want them to have a good life, we want them to have good nutrition.” This is where Smack Pet Foods comes in. William knows first-hand the value of high-quality dog food, having switched his own two dogs to Smack on the recommendation of a friend. “After switching, I could see that their teeth were cleaner, their breath was better, their fur and temperament were better.” Based on his personal experience, he spoke to EK Park about integrating Smack as one of their recommended brands for adopting families. Each family is provided with a set of protocols and adoption materials, outlining a range of highly-rated, ethical dog food companies. As a partner of Free Korean Dogs, Smack is the premium brand that the organization recommends new owners feed to their dogs. “We definitely want the dog to live a really good life and be healthy,” William says. “The value of good dog food is really important.”
Based in Toronto, Free Korean Dogs has helped more than a thousand dogs find new homes in Canada and the US since it began, but their mission goes beyond rescue and rehoming: they also seek to promote public awareness and improve welfare standards through local education, campaigns and events. Since 2015, the organization has successfully shut down several dog meat farm operations, including restaurants and slaughterhouses. Doing the groundwork in Korea is part of what drives the company in its mission to rescue and rehome dogs. Now registered as a formal charity, Free Korean Dogs prides itself on the high standards of their rescue and adoption process, as well as their aim to create a cultural shift and improve living standards, to give all dogs the lives that they deserve.
Customer Spotlight
George Leonard - MSAR Service Dogs
George Leonard - MSAR Service Dogs
MSAR Service Dogs has a unique goal: to change lives, one dog at a time. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the organization provides world-class dogs trained to serve as working dogs, elite service dogs and therapy dogs. George Leonard, the founder of MSAR and MSAR Courageous Companions (their Alberta-based charity which provides service dogs to veterans and first-responders), developed the program to provide a different kind of treatment for returning soldiers suffering from PTSD - the first of its kind in Canada. A certified Master Dog Trainer, as well as a First Nations Band Constable, head of the Canine Unit and an elite SAR Tech, George was one of the very first people to bring a broader awareness of the ways in which trained service dogs can help those suffering from PTSD. Today, the MSAR and Courageous Companion service dogs are trained to assist people who suffer from a wide variety of medical conditions, both mental and physical.
The organization had its beginnings after George became involved in Search and Rescue, when the demand for assistance in finding missing and murdered Aboriginal people was on the rise, but little support was being offered. “Not a lot of people were helping us from the government,” George explains. “The only ones that were really helping us were veterans.” After spending time with soldiers who had returned from Bosnia and Iraq and seeing the struggles that they were having, George helped put together a pilot program. “We partnered with the Winnipeg Foundation and put together a pilot project of 300 therapy dogs that worked with soldiers, seniors, kids, autistic people,” he says. “We compiled all of that information and made a service dog program out of it.”
A feature segment on W5 in 2012 showcased the work that George and MSAR were doing with Canadian soldiers, and shone the spotlight on the service dog industry. “It just expanded from there,” George says. Today, that service program is one of the top in the world. The only agency directed by aboriginal elders, advisors and First Nations leadership, MSAR has trainers in 13 countries around the world, including a training school in Israel, with approximately 6300 service dogs globally - 194 of those in placements in Winnipeg. “It’s not just service dogs,” George notes. “We also have a lot of working dogs all over the world.” The working dogs are highly-trained to participate in cadaver programs, anti-explosive programs and even an anti-poaching program in South Africa to help protect the endangered rhinos.
When it comes to the dogs in their care, nutrition is of the utmost importance. Three years ago, MSAR conducted a dog food survey over the course of 18 months to better understand the best diet for their animals. “We went out and got every brand we could think of, we categorized it, we scored it, we measured it, and Smack came out at the top,” George says. Ever since, Smack Pet Foods has played a key role in the daily diet of the service and working dogs. “I don’t know too many foods where you have the option of it being a food, a treat and a topper,” George says. “To have a food that has multi-variation, plus a longer shelf life… Smack is just perfect.” Noting that Smack is their go-to food for any of the dogs with allergies, as well as all their senior dogs, and as a treat for training, George appreciates the versatility and convenience of the product, and the protein-dense, clean ingredients. “It’s hard to find a food that high-quality,” he says. “And all of the people that get our service dogs, I tell them, you want to fuel your dogs with the best foods. You feel better when you feed your dog Smack because you know it’s good.”
It’s clear that MSAR is doing incredible work in the world of service dogs and is committed to bettering the industry. George is the president of the Canadian Association of Service Dog Trainers, as well as serving on the National Standards Council Committee, which is working to come up with a national standard for service dogs. MSAR also offers a training program of their own that is accredited through Yellowquill College. “We wanted to help stabilize the industry, because there are so many bad trainers out there,” George explains. Even as they grow, their mission remains the same - the welfare, care, security and after-care of their dogs, and a global mandate to assist anyone; to serve all people and continue changing lives, one dog at a time.
MSAR Service Dogs has a unique goal: to change lives, one dog at a time. Based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the organization provides world-class dogs trained to serve as working dogs, elite service dogs and therapy dogs. George Leonard, the founder of MSAR and MSAR Courageous Companions (their Alberta-based charity which provides service dogs to veterans and first-responders), developed the program to provide a different kind of treatment for returning soldiers suffering from PTSD - the first of its kind in Canada. A certified Master Dog Trainer, as well as a First Nations Band Constable, head of the Canine Unit and an elite SAR Tech, George was one of the very first people to bring a broader awareness of the ways in which trained service dogs can help those suffering from PTSD. Today, the MSAR and Courageous Companion service dogs are trained to assist people who suffer from a wide variety of medical conditions, both mental and physical.
The organization had its beginnings after George became involved in Search and Rescue, when the demand for assistance in finding missing and murdered Aboriginal people was on the rise, but little support was being offered. “Not a lot of people were helping us from the government,” George explains. “The only ones that were really helping us were veterans.” After spending time with soldiers who had returned from Bosnia and Iraq and seeing the struggles that they were having, George helped put together a pilot program. “We partnered with the Winnipeg Foundation and put together a pilot project of 300 therapy dogs that worked with soldiers, seniors, kids, autistic people,” he says. “We compiled all of that information and made a service dog program out of it.”
A feature segment on W5 in 2012 showcased the work that George and MSAR were doing with Canadian soldiers, and shone the spotlight on the service dog industry. “It just expanded from there,” George says. Today, that service program is one of the top in the world. The only agency directed by aboriginal elders, advisors and First Nations leadership, MSAR has trainers in 13 countries around the world, including a training school in Israel, with approximately 6300 service dogs globally - 194 of those in placements in Winnipeg. “It’s not just service dogs,” George notes. “We also have a lot of working dogs all over the world.” The working dogs are highly-trained to participate in cadaver programs, anti-explosive programs and even an anti-poaching program in South Africa to help protect the endangered rhinos.
When it comes to the dogs in their care, nutrition is of the utmost importance. Three years ago, MSAR conducted a dog food survey over the course of 18 months to better understand the best diet for their animals. “We went out and got every brand we could think of, we categorized it, we scored it, we measured it, and Smack came out at the top,” George says. Ever since, Smack Pet Foods has played a key role in the daily diet of the service and working dogs. “I don’t know too many foods where you have the option of it being a food, a treat and a topper,” George says. “To have a food that has multi-variation, plus a longer shelf life… Smack is just perfect.” Noting that Smack is their go-to food for any of the dogs with allergies, as well as all their senior dogs, and as a treat for training, George appreciates the versatility and convenience of the product, and the protein-dense, clean ingredients. “It’s hard to find a food that high-quality,” he says. “And all of the people that get our service dogs, I tell them, you want to fuel your dogs with the best foods. You feel better when you feed your dog Smack because you know it’s good.”
It’s clear that MSAR is doing incredible work in the world of service dogs and is committed to bettering the industry. George is the president of the Canadian Association of Service Dog Trainers, as well as serving on the National Standards Council Committee, which is working to come up with a national standard for service dogs. MSAR also offers a training program of their own that is accredited through Yellowquill College. “We wanted to help stabilize the industry, because there are so many bad trainers out there,” George explains. Even as they grow, their mission remains the same - the welfare, care, security and after-care of their dogs, and a global mandate to assist anyone; to serve all people and continue changing lives, one dog at a time.