Raw food offers many unique nutritional benefits that can not be met by other types of dog food. While some people decide that raw food won’t work for their household, there are other people who are willing to switch when they hear about the health benefits of raw food.
To find out more about the health benefits of raw food, we talked to Lacey Store Staff Member Max Hanckel. Max has been a Muddy for two years, but he’s spent a lot of that time helping people find the right food for their dog. With three dogs in his own family, he’s seen firsthand the impact that feeding raw can have on a dog’s health and overall happiness.
MH: There are so many! It improves digestion because it’s much less processed. A healthy gut contributes to a stronger immune system. There are fewer indigestible carbohydrates, so there are smaller stools. Dogs typically have visibly healthier skin and coats after switching to raw food. There’s also a visible improvement in overall dental health; many people report that they see less tartar on their dogs’ teeth. The high moisture content of raw food prevents chronic dehydration and the health issues associated with dehydration.
I would also say increased energy levels is something that people notice when their dogs switch to raw food. By choosing raw food, you avoid a lot of unnecessary carbohydrates.
I’ve seen all these improvements and more in my own dog. I never thought that my dog had any joint issues, but when I put him on raw, I noticed him bouncing off the walls. He’s had fewer ear and skin infections and no daily (horrible) digestive upset. There was a definite improvement in his health.
MH: Frozen raw and wet foods have similar moisture content, so they’re both good options if you want to keep your dog hydrated. There’s also a significant increase in high-quality protein in wet food when compared to kibble. You do want to check the label of any wet food you buy if you want to limit the carbohydrates because that varies.
But ultimately, wet food is a cooked product, and therefore more processed than raw. Cooking destroys some vital nutrients, which is why many wet foods need added vitamins to meet your dog’s nutritional requirements. With raw food, you’re getting what you need directly from the food. And with a raw product, you preserve the natural living enzymes in the food that are killed through the heating process. It’s those enzymes that increase digestive efficiency.
MH: I like to tell people that 25-percent raw food is a great amount to feed your dog. It’s a large enough percentage of raw food that your dog gets a lot of the benefits without a significant cost increase. Some people find that buying a bag of small bite freeze-dried raw food works well because they can just add some raw food on top of the kibble when they feed their dogs. For small dogs, or any pet eating primarily wet food, it can be comparable in price to feed frozen raw, and you get all the added benefits of raw.
But for people who are willing to feed frozen raw, you get the intercellular moisture that’s not in dried raw food options. I find that people who use freeze-dried food don’t always mix it with water. They just top it off with freeze-dried food. Hydration is a major component of what makes frozen raw such a healthy option. Frozen raw is also the most cost-effective option.
If someone can’t feed their dog 25-percent raw food consistently, I recommend using freeze-dried dog treats as rewards, giving your dog raw bones to chew on and thinking about other ways to boost the amount of raw food they eat. There are also brands that make foods that are a mix of raw bits and kibble, which is a great way to add some raw into your dog’s diet.
MH: It’s really simple because all you need is some warm—not boiling—water. When you buy freeze-dried raw food, there should be instructions on the bag, but most instructions are very similar. Add enough warm water to cover the food and wait for five to ten minutes before giving it to your dog. And don’t microwave the water and freeze-dried food together or use hot water. Both of those steps cook the food, which destroys the enzymes and nutrients, thus defeating the purpose of feeding raw food.
Although you could, theoretically, use cold water to rehydrate, warm water helps make the smell of raw food more apparent. The smell makes it more appealing to dogs. There are also some picky dogs who don’t like raw food right out of the bag but love it rehydrated with some warm water or bone broth.
Also play around with how much warm water to add. Some dogs only like a little bit of warm water added, while others like their food soupier. It’s important to remember that enzymes need moisture to activate. From a nutritional standpoint, if they’re eating all the food and broth, you can’t add too much water. If you look on the package of your food, there’s a usually recommended amount of water to use.
I also really love rehydrating freeze-dried food with bone broth for my own dogs because of the additional health benefits involved. Bone broth supports good digestion and healthy joints.
MH: It’s really easy to thaw three day’s worth in the fridge ahead of time, or quickly thaw it by placing it in a sealed plastic bag and placing the plastic bag in warm water. Again, microwaving the raw food will cook the food, and your dog will miss out on unique raw food benefits. I’ve also seen some people add some warm water or some warm bone broth to frozen food. It heats it up a little, adds some extra moisture, and is quicker than other heating methods. Just avoid using hot water.
MH: I think choosing the protein that your dog already enjoys is the easiest way to encourage an easy transition. If your dog loves beef wet food, try the beef raw food. The other thing is warming the raw food, again by either by adding warm liquid directly to the food or placing the food in a bag in warm water. It’s also good to add new food slowly to prevent pickiness.
It can help to transition a kibble-fed dog to a canned food diet first, and then slowly incorporating raw.
Also, if your dog has a sensitive stomach, I highly recommend chicken as the protein. The chicken seems to be easier on a lot of dogs’ stomachs. And following a transition schedule that starts with small amounts of raw food and takes two to four weeks for a complete switch, will also protect your dog’s digestive system. ***
Two-year Muddy Max Hanckel is a Lacey store staff member. He’s always happy to help customers find the food that meets all of their dogs’ and households’ needs, so come say hello. If you don’t see him at the store, he’s probably spending time with one of his three dogs.
Furvor bone 🦴 broth for dogs is made with 100% human-grade ingredients and is highly concentrated, so every squeeze adds real nutrition to your dog’s routine.
🐕 It’s packed with protein, amino acids, and nutrients that can support gut health, mobility, skin and coat, and overall wellness.
🐾
It’s also an easy way to boost hydration and bring a little excitement back to the bowl—especially for picky eaters. Just mix it with water, pour it over kibble, or serve it on its own.
🐶
Shop Furvor 🛒 🛍️ 🐕 Bone Broth in-store or online at Mud Bay!
#mudbay #furvor #bonebroth #dogs #healthypets
Weruva WX Phos Focused Freeze-Dried Chicken and Tilapia is a low-phosphorus, high-protein supplement made from 93% boneless, skinless chicken breast, tilapia, and egg white. It has no grains, fillers, bones, or organs.
🐈
Due to its naturally low phosphorus content, this food is suitable for cats requiring phosphorus management, particularly those with kidney conditions. Additionally, it’s highly digestible protein helps maintain lean muscle mass.
🐈
You can serve it dry or add water to soften the texture. Adding water can help your cat digest it more easily and boost their daily water intake. This recipe is meant as a supplement and works well as a topper or treat alongside a complete, balanced diet.
🐈
If you want help figuring out if this is right for your cat, visit your local Mud Bay and speak with a Muddy, or shop with us online today.
#mudbay #healthypets #kidneyhealth #cats #catfood
If your pup brings the energy indoors, meet their new favorite toy. The ultra plush Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball is designed for fetch, toss, and all-out play.
⚽ 🐕
With a strong inner mesh liner and concealed double stitching, it delivers the durability Fluff & Tuff is known for in a soft, soccer-inspired design.
⚽ 🐕
Kick off the fun and shop the Fluff & Tuff Soccer Ball in-store or online at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogs #timetoplay #healthypets
Need to keep your dog engaged while you work, host, or help them burn energy?
🐕 🐶
The Woof LickMat and LickMix make enrichment easy.
The textured design encourages longer licking, helping promote calm behavior and engagement. Premeasured lines make portioning easy every time.
🐾 🐕
Simply mix the grain-free Cheddar and Bacon LickMix. It’s easy to digest, simple to prepare, and each bag provides 10 or more lick sessions. Made from 100 percent silicone, BPA-free, and dishwasher safe. Strong suction cups keep the LickMat stable for easy, everyday use.
🐕 🐶
Enhance your dog’s daily enrichment—visit us in-store or online and bring home the woof LickMat and LickMix today.
#mudbay #woof #healthypets #dogs #petenrichment
👀 Looking for a way to slow down mealtime and keep your dog thinking? The GURU Pet Company Bobble Ball turns your dog’s food into an interactive activity.
🐕
Simply fill it with kibble or small treats, screw the top back on, and let the wobble begin. The weighted base creates unpredictable movement that keeps dogs engaged and working for every bite.
🐾
A great option for dogs new to enrichment or seasoned puzzle pros.
🐕
Shop in-store or online at Mud Bay today.
#mudbay #dogs #staybusy #healthypets #dogtoys
🎉 New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are now available in-store and online at Mud Bay!
🐕
We’re excited to offer two new formulas that are complete and balanced for both cats and dogs.
🐈
The Digestive Support Formula has beneficial fiber from lentils and sweet potato, along with probiotic inulin from chicory root. It also includes organic apple cider vinegar for extra immune and digestive support.
🐾
Our Hip & Joint Support Formula features turmeric, oat flour, and omega-3 fatty acids from tuna 🐟 to help support joint mobility and immune health.
🐕
All Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated and free of corn, wheat, soy, and artificial preservatives. And they are convenient and easy to use as a complete meal, a treat, or a topper.
🐈
You can find the full line—including Skin & Coat, Cognitive, Digestive, and Hip & Joint Support formulas—exclusively at Mud Bay.
#mudbay #healthypets #mealtime #pnwpets #mudbayairdriedtoppers
💫 New at Mud Bay!
🥥 🐕
CocoTherapy Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie Coco-Charms. Small in size and low in calories, they are an ideal training treat.
🥥 🐕
Made with 100% organic ingredients, you can feel good giving them to your dog during longer training sessions. CocoTherapy Coco-Charms are also free from grains, dairy, gluten, eggs, and preservatives, and are low glycemic.
🥥 🐕
Shop the Cranberry Sweet Potato Pie and Peanut Butter Blondie CocoTherapy Coco-Charms in-store or online today!
#mudbay #cocotherapy #trainingtreats #dogs #healthypets
🎉 🎉 GIVEAWAY! New Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers for Cats & Dogs
🐾
We’re excited to give you a chance to win a bag of one of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper formulas.
Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers are veterinarian-formulated, complete and balanced for cats and dogs, and easy to use as a topper, treat, or complete meal.
🐕
New Mud Bay Air-Dried Topper Formulas:
Digestive Support
Made with turkey, chicken, and lentils, plus organic apple cider vinegar and chicory root to help support healthy digestion and immune function.
🐈
Hip and Joint Support:
Made with turkey, chicken, fish, and oats, plus turmeric and omega-3s from tuna to help support mobility and joint health.
🐶
To enter:
👍 Like this post
😃 Tag us and tag a friend
🤝 Follow us
We’ll pick winners at random and notify them on April 16th. Each winner will receive a bag of our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers. 🍀 🤞 Good luck!
#mudbay #foodtoppers #dogs #cats #petfood
Check out these new aquatic-themed toys for your pup from Fluff & Tuff.
🦑
Available in-store now: Claude the squid, with tentacles that are great for tugging.
🐕
We also have Dottie the Puffer Fish, who will keep your pup active with a nice fetch session, and, last but not least, we have Millie the Axolotl, who is an engaging option for all of the above and ready to shake up your pup’s toy selection.
🐠
Shop these fun new Aquatic options for your pup in-store or online today!
#mudbay #fluffandtuff #dogtoys #playtime #pnwpets
We visited the local dog park today to share a fun spring surprise 👀🎉
🐕
The park pups got to try our newest Mud Bay Air-Dried Toppers!
🐾
We can’t share all the details on these new toppers yet, but here’s what we can tell you:
🐾
Two new formulas are coming soon, and you’ll find them both in stores and online. They’ll be available in 8-ounce and 24-ounce bags.
🐕
Just like our current toppers, these new formulas give both cats and dogs complete and balanced nutrition. You can serve them as a full meal, sprinkle them on top of their food, or offer them as a treat.
🐾
Thank you to all the pups who came by to try them today.🐾🎉
Check back next week because we have a giveaway coming up. Stay tuned and have a great spring!🌈 💐 🌷 ☀️ ☔
#mudbay #dogpark #sneaktreat #mudbayairdriedtoppers #new
Keep your pet happy and blissfully engaged with the woof LickMat and LickMix.
🐾 🐕
The LickMat is BPA-free, 100% silicone, and dishwasher safe on the top rack, with suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking. It also features suction cups for stability and a design that encourages longer licking, while its built-in mixing bowl and measuring lines make mixing easy.
🐾 🐕
The Bacon and Cheese LickMix is grain-free and designed for use with the LickMat, woof Pupsicle, or as a meal topper. Each bag yields about 10 LickMat sessions when used as directed.
🐾 🐕
Treat your dog with the Woof LickMat and LickMix. Shop all woof products in-store and online today!
#mudbay #woof #dogs #enrichment #petproducts
Stock up on your dog’s favorite Bulk Biscuits and make every refill count.
🐾
Mud Bay’s Bulk Biscuits are all-natural, with many locally sourced options, including organic and grain-free varieties. When you refill your Mud Bay Mud Bucket, you pay $4.24 per pound instead of $4.99 on every refill. That’s 75 cents saved per pound, or 15% off each refill.
🐕
Our Mud Buckets are BPA-free, dishwasher safe, and come in two handy sizes: 2.75 liters and 8.5 liters. Designed for easy refills and fresher storage, they help make treating your dog simple and eco-friendly.
🐾
Refill. Reuse. Re-Biscuit. Visit your local Mud Bay today to pick up a Mud Bay Mud Bucket and some tasty biscuits for your dog!!
#mudbay #mudbuckets #dogs #treats #healthypets
