Bacteria and raw diets
Raw diets sometimes get a bad rap when it comes to bacteria. Bacteria is present in human foods that we consume daily and is imperative for our gut health and well being. It is the same with dogs. Bacteria is a very interictal part of their diet. Good and bad bacteria is present in many foods. In addition to meats and poultry, bacteria can be present in grains, fruits, nuts, and vegetables that we also eat every day.  A dogs system is built to break down and handle most bacteria. Your pup has an abundance of hydrochloric acid to facilitate this break down of bacteria .  With that said, every dog is different. ** It is important to consult your vet of any concerns you have.   If you’ve prepared meat for your own family, you’re probably already aware of how to feed a raw diet to your dog safely.

To make sure you stay safe, follow some common-sense, easy guidelines.

• After handling any raw meat, wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap and warm water
• Thoroughly wipe down any counters or other surfaces the raw meat touched with a disinfectant/cleaner.
• Wash any tools, knives, countertops, cutting boards that the food came in contact with (including the bowls you served it in and the container you defrosted it in) with hot soapy water.  Be very careful to make sure all the soap is thoroughly rinsed off your dogs bowls as it can cause an upset tummy as well as runny poos !!!
• Keep your food frozen until ready to defrost and serve.  Defrost all your Vibrant K9 in the refrigerator. Cover and store any unused food and keep separated from your human's grub in the refrigerator.  Food will last approximately 3 days. 

Bones and Raw Diets

Dogs are carnivores, and that means they need bones as part of a healthy, species-appropriate diet.

Our food contains ground bone, which means it’s safe for dogs to eat. Can I give too much bone you ask? Well yes and no. The great thing about your dogs anatomy and physiology is it will digest what it needs and eliminate the rest, but too much bone will result in your dogs poo being dry and chalky.   The occasional raw meaty bone added to your dogs diet is absolutely encouraged for their health, strength and mental stimulation.   If you have any concerns on bone, please call us.  Lets talk !! We love educating and encourage conversation and will always address your concerns.  

If you decide you want to give your dog a bone to chew on in addition to our food, just follow a few simple guidelines to keep your dog safe:

• Only feed raw bones. Raw bones are pliable and relatively soft. Cooked bones, on the other hand, can splinter, and cause damage internally. 
• Feed bones that are bigger than your dog’s mouth. That will help prevent your dog from trying to swallow the bone whole.
• Feed bones that have a small amount of meat attached to them, if possible (what we call “raw meaty bones” in the raw feeding world). That will encourage your dog to take their time eating, picking and tearing at the meat on the bone, instead of gulping it down and possibly becoming a choking hazard.
• Good rule of thumb, do not feed any weight bearing bones such as leg bones. They can be very dense and heavy. We don't want your dog to break a tooth!!

Monitor your dog at all times while eating any bones. This is especially important for novice chewers, but even dogs that are pros at eating raw bones should still be monitored at all times.