Sorry about that! It looks like we’ve run out of stock for that product. Sign in below and we’ll send you an update when it’s back in stock.
Contact our Head Office for a 20% discount on your first order! 01202 625728
Weight control doesn't have to be difficult, you don't need to spend a fortune on expensive science bassed diets.
Navigating the world of pet nutrition can be overwhelming, with brands bombarding you with flashy ads and promises. At Nurturing by Nature, we recognise the challenges that pet owners like you face in sifting through the glossy marketing clutter. More than just a business, we're a thriving community of dedicated pet enthusiasts, and we're here to support you every step of the way, feeding raw pet food is a positive lifestyle choice.
Having been on a raw pet food journey ourselves, from knowing how to start on raw, to managing weight, allergies & more, so if you have questions about the best raw dog food, the benefits of the barf diet for dogs, or the overall quality of raw dog food? Our experts are ready to guide & support you. We're not just about premium raw dog food – we're about providing insight, expertise, and care for a creating a nurtured lifestyle for you & your four legged family friend.
If you get stuck reach out to us at 01202 625728. We are here for you, always here for you on the end of the phone, in our stores or even online.
A topic we get a lot of questions about is overweight pets and how best to tackle the task of helping your dog or cat to lose weight healthily. So, in this article one of our in house specialists, Sue Morris gives us her tried and tested advice.
What is the correct weight for my pet? Is my dog overweight? My pet hardly eats anything and yet it looks chubby.
We hear all the above on almost a daily basis and the answer to each is... let’s look at your pet as an individual and we can work it out from there.
It’s true to say there are breed standards for each breed of dog and cat, but unless you have a show standard dog or cat it’s also true to say that, like humans, each animal needs to be looked at as an individual.
Most of us know that being overweight is not healthy and being obesely overweight can lead to further and sometimes very serious health complications.
Carrying extra weight puts strain on all the joints and also internal organs i.e. heart and lungs etc. The other fact is, for all the extra weight there is also extra fat around the internal organs, adding additional strain.
Some breeds are naturally more disposed to being overweight than others, but ideally we should all strive to keep our pets as healthy and in peak condition as possible.
Feeding a raw dog food or cat food diet is a naturally great diet where animals lose body fat and gain body muscle. However, just because your pet is eating a raw diet doesn't mean your pet won’t put weight on, especially if they are over eating or suffering from a lack of exercise. Even neutering can be a cause of weight gain.
These are four key points to consider before we can start to work out approximately how much raw dog food or raw cat food per day we should be feeding our pets.
• Diet - What are your pets eating currently?
• Activity levels – Are they working dogs or are they walked daily and for how long?
• Age – Generally the older the cat or dog the less calories they need to consume.
• Is pet neutered? - The loss of oestrogens and androgens (sex hormones) from neutering dogs and cats causes a decrease in metabolic rate, thus their energy needs are lower. Also the roaming behaviour and general activity levels become lower.
Weight loss needs to be a gradual process, it can be harmful to lose too much too quickly. Also if the amount of food being fed per day is suddenly cut down considerably, then the cat or dog in question doesn't have time to adjust to a smaller quantity. The outcome is your pet becomes a nuisance at meals times, bin raiding and generally trying to steal food from at every opportunity.
The best way is to slowly reduce the amount of food per day, this might be as much as 25g for a small dog every 3 or 4 days or even weekly, and for a large dog possibly about 100g per week until the optimal amount is reached.
As a rule we feed for the weight required but as mentioned above, by cutting down drastically on portions and treats is not the way.
Looking at what your pet consumes daily can often be the answer. For example, does your dog get left over toast crusts in the morning or perhaps the left over milk from cereal bowls? Does it get the scraps left over from dinner or a biscuit at coffee time?
Does your cat catch his food outside as well as what you feed them, or does he get fed at another house (as many cats cheekily do)? Also more so these days, cats tend to be indoor cats requiring fewer calories per day than the more active outdoor ones.
Puppies and dogs being trained with treats (natural dog treats of course), some are high in calories so this also needs to be considered and perhaps feed them a little less at meal times to compensate.
The older our pets get the less they need in the way of calories per day as they become less active, approx. 1% of their body weight.
The bottom line here is that all the above needs to be factored in when considering weight loss.
Just by cutting out those unnecessary extras can sometimes be the answer, or perhaps increasing activity levels where possible.
As your pet starts to lose weight they become more alert, more active, and generally more interested in life.
Feeding the right types of foods will help the weight loss process, but you should still maintain a good variety to ensure your pet is getting all the right vitamins and minerals. For example, when looking at raw dog food or raw cat food proteins, adding more white fish, tripe, beef and turkey is a good idea. Try to avoid lamb and oily fish. Also add more green leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, cabbage and parsley, and cut down on the root vegetables which contain more natural sugars like carrots.
As we touched upon above, our pets are individuals so what works for one may not work for another. You’ll have to find the mix for your very individual pet.
"Reduce meal sizes gradually. Looking down at your dinner & only seeing half a plate isn't easy for anyone. Our cat's & dogs are just the same. Reduced meal sizes gradually & also explore other ways to feed Raw meal, like using a kong - make the meal a challenge."
Top Tip: Be honest, when it comes to managing your pet's weight. The odd treat here or there often can have a big impact. Do your parents look after your pet? Dad loves to give him a biscuit when he has a cup of tea..... It can often be the unseen meals that are the source of weight gain. Owning a pet is a lifestyle full of daily emotions be honest with your habits. The great thing about Raw Pet Food from Nurturing by Nature is that we offer a whole range of different enrichment meals. Ask one of our teams for support & guidance on how you can feed the same meals but enhance your pet's meal time.
Puppies & kittens can have up to 10% of their bodyweight in meat per day. As the animal gets older they need less so a 6 month old pet will need more like 5-7% of their bodyweight in meat per day.
Adults need 2-3% of their bodyweight in meat per day whilst large breeds and some older pets may only need as little as 1% of their bodyweight in meat per day. We would also increase the amount of meat if you have a dog that is working or is highly active.
Working out the percentage is simple - here is an example:
12kg 6 month old dog - suggested feeding raw of 5-7% in bodyweight in meat per day.
12 x 5 = 60 add 0 = 5% = 600g
12 x 7 = 84 add 0 = 7% = 840g
So, for a 12kg, 6 month old dog we would recommend you feed 600 to 840 grams of raw dog food per day.
Overweight pets is something we deal with all the time, so if you feel you need help to find the right solution for your overweight (or underweight) pet then please do get in touch and we will do our very best to help you achieve your pet’s weight goals.
Click here to read about how we helped Zeus the overweight Alaskan Malamute.