By The Farmer's Dog | March 8, 2021

Sometimes when you change something, you don’t notice a big impact right away. It’s often these changes that are the most powerful, and lasting. 

When you feed your dog fresh food, the changes may not be visibly dramatic immediately, but the science is clear—fresh food has real benefits that, short-term and long-term, can contribute to your dog’s health span. 

Think of it as a vitality plan—you add to it each day and the results compound over your dog’s life. 

Here are some of the seemingly “invisible,” yet potentially health-boosting benefits of feeding precisely portioned, human-grade food.

Easy weight management, and inflammation fighters, to protect joints

Pre-portioned packs make weight management easy. And keeping your dog at the right weight can help stave off a raft of diseasesincluding arthritis. Studies show that even a small weight reduction can alleviate this painful condition. 

Our fresh recipes also contain healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, powerful nutrients that can contribute to healthy immunity, and support joint health. And because our food is fresh, it means your dog actually gets these benefits. When bags of kibble sit open for long periods on the other hand, the fats they contain can turn rancid. This doesn’t just make them ineffective; it can make them dangerous—rancid fats contribute to inflammation.

Nutrients that promote a stronger, healthier heart

Fresh, human-grade protein doesn’t just taste REALLY good to your dog—it can do good things for their good heart. 

Our fresh recipes start with real muscle and organ meat (instead of the powdered “meals” in kibble) and we gently cook them at low temperatures. This means the food retains its important nutrients, including the amino sulfonic acid, taurine. (We also supplement our food with taurine for extra peace of mind.) Research has shown that this compound may be associated with keeping canine tickers healthy and ward off heart ailments like DCM

Proven immunity boosters

Simply eliminating highly processed kibble may help reduce inflammation and give your dog an immune boost. But whole, fresh foods could provide your dog even more defense against infection and disease.

The powerhouse Omega-3 fatty acids in our fresh recipes are like nutritional Swiss Army knives—they work on so many areas of your dog’s health. Recent research show that these same long-chain fatty acids that provide glorious gloss to your dog’s coat and help brain health, can also boost immune function.

The phytonutrients found in fresh, gently cooked vegetables (like the carrots and sweet potatoes in our food) have also been shown to improve immune system function in dogs. 

Quality protein that can make for a better mood

Fresh, high-quality protein does more than safeguard your dog’s heart health. Research has shown that real food with real meat is more digestible than rendered scraps and provides nutrients that can affect mood-related hormones like serotonin. That means a happier dog.

We hear it all the time from customers—when they start feeding fresh their dog’s physical health improves, but along the way they also notice a big change in their behavior. And nothing beats a smiling dog. 

Compounds that can reduce the odds of cancer

Oxidative stress (an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants that can lead to tissue damage) and chronic inflammation are a terrible twosome, traveling hand in hand. Where they go, diseases like cancer can follow. Dietary antioxidantslike those found in the fresh vegetables in our food are scientifically proven, powerful allies in warding off cancer, for humans and for dogs. 

Weight plays a role here too. More fat can mean more inflammation—keeping your dog lean can mean reducing their odds of cancer. 

Living proof

Here’s how the benefits of fresh food became very visible in two dogs who were suffering from ill health.

“Our 14-year-old could hardly get up and walk due to so much pain in her hips, after eating your food she’s now running again! I was hoping it would help her but I wasn’t expecting that big of an improvement. Good food reduced her inflammation. You truly are what you eat.”— Myah’s dad

 

 

“Sailor was having so many issues: infections, allergies, joint pain, and she was grossly overweight. I was spending so much money at the vet each month and she still suffered. I’m happy to report she is now off all meds and she is down 16 pounds! She’s always been a happy dog–but now she is SUPER happy and I am too!” — Sailor’s mom