Hollywood Feed University pet wellness education Highlights Primal Pet Foods

Highlights from Primal Pet Foods: Elevating the Health of Your Pet Through Fun, Fresh Foods

Reading Time: 9 MIN

What are dogs and cats designed to eat?

 

Dogs and cats are carnivores. However, they are different types of carnivores. Dogs are opportunistic while cats are obligate carnivores. You can tell they are designed to eat meat, because in a dog or cat’s mouth, all teeth are designed for ripping and consuming meat. Insufficient digestive enzymes in the mouth aid in chewing and breaking down food. Humans, on the other hand, have a very different mouth structure. Some teeth are designed for grinding grains while others are for eating meat. Humans have digestive enzymes in saliva that help break down starches.

The Pet Food Spectrum

Carnivorous animals are designed to eat foods that are mostly meat based and composed of a high amount of moisture. The truth is, a raw food exclusive diet may not be best for your pet, but it can be combined with other diets to add characteristics that are ideal for carnivores like dogs and cats.

FDA Safety Standards

With raw foods in the grocery store, cooking kills off pathogens. Raw pet food is designed to be fed raw, so it’s held to a higher standard than raw human food. Raw human food allows for some pathogens, while raw pet food cannot contain any pathogens. All poultry containing raw pet food must go through the HPP process. This helps the food maintain its nutritional integrity while killing bacteria like salmonella.

For non-poultry formulas, they go through a testing protocol. Postproduction tests are completed on all raw products.

Bones

There are several categories of bones. Recreational bones are used as a treat and given in addition to what you feed your pet. These constructively occupy the pet and provide nutritional benefits. For meaty bones, they provide dental benefits, are consumed and then the remains are thrown away.

Goat Milk

If you feed dry food, goat milk can be added to it. Raw goat milk is unpasteurized, so all the nutrients remain intact. Ginger, cinnamon, and fermented probiotic blend enhance the goat milk. Primal offers a base goat milk plus four others that have been supercharged for extra nutrition. Green Goodness, Blueberry Pom Burst, Cranberry Blast, and Pumpkin Spice can be placed in ice cube trays or a Kong for more fun.

Adding in goat milk also serves to add moisture. Dogs and cats often don’t drink enough water, so goat milk can add flavor and moisture to a regular kibble diet.

Bone Broth

Bone broths provide moisture, contribute to joint health, add to the palatability of a diet, and help with skin and immunity issues.

Fresh Toppers

Fresh toppers begin with a thick base of bone broth. There are three varieties to choose from depending on what benefits you’re wanting for your pets. Power Greens give your pet an immune boost. Awesome Squash topper can help with digestive upset. The butternut squash plus additional ingredients work to support GI functions. If your pet has no GI issues but does have skin and coat or hip and joint concerns, the Omega Mussels can help.

Primal Scoop & Serves

These are made for convenience. Easy, scoopable portions that you can serve directly from the freezer and thaw in minutes. Select from either a meal topper to enhance your pet’s current diet or a complete diet.

Our Mission

Primal Pet Foods ultimate mission is to deliver wholesome and fresh pet food, toppers, hydrators, treats, and supplements so every pet can lead a happier, healthier life.

Q and A in word bubbles

Primal’s Responses to Unanswered Questions

Will Primal ever consider making a meal mixer like Stella and Chewy’s?

We can ‘t see into the future, but maybe someday! We do offer a raw topper that is a frozen option that you can mix in.

Would you recommend feeding all raw if possible, instead of mixing in raw with kibble?

Any raw is better than no raw! If you can feed all raw, absolutely!

Is there something I can add to my dog’s food to make her not eat her feces?

Hollywood Feed recommends trying a coprophagia deterrent, such as this one. It is a soft chew that helps deter dogs from consuming their own stool or other dogs’ stool. Every dog in the household should take the chews for it to work effectively. Also recommended to help support the reduction of unpleasant pet odor. Contains a Breath Freshener as well as Enzymes and Probiotics.

Are there any plans of coming out with a strictly fish formula I have 2 dogs with a lot of allergies, one of which is allergic to salmon as well so potentially a cod or whitefish?

We can’t make a complete & balanced fish formula, and since we don’t use synthetic ingredients, we couldn’t do a fish only formula.

Do you guys have a recommendation on a specific formula for dogs with pancreatic issues? I think venison or rabbit are lean.

This is a great conversation for your veterinarian! We would be more than happy to work with that vet to provide any macro or micronutrient information to help choose a diet, topper, or hydrator that would work best for their client.

Is raw ok for dogs with diabetes?

This is a great conversation for your veterinarian! We would be more than happy to work with that vet to provide any macro or micronutrient information to help choose a diet, topper, or hydrator that would work best for their client.

What does Primal do to ensure safety with their raw diet foods? I often see, NOT WITH PRIMAL, companies recall foods due to Salmonella and various other bacteria related to not utilizing heat to help maintain a sterile food.

We either utilize the HPP and final layer is the Hold & Test Protocol.

I have a customer whose dog is allergic to almost every binder, legumes, and pumpkin. The toppers do not contain any of this, and there are ingredients in the elixirs he is also allergic to. How can we help her balance those toppers to make it a complete bowl?

Our toppers are not complete & balanced diet, so it sounds like you may want to work with your vet to find an appropriate option.

My dogs love the pumpkin spice goat milk. We have not tried the other flavors. Can you explain the difference and benefits of each of the goat milk flavors?

Pumpkin Spice is great for the gut. Green Goodness contains Organic Kale and Organic Quinoa. Blueberry is rich in antioxidants. Cranberry has Organic Cranberries, and many cat customers use for urinary support.

How should we start a transition from dry to raw?

Pick the raw format they like, and slowly add in over the next week or two!

Are there any plans to offer a “bulk” option for frozen raw diets?

The reality is, no matter how big the package gets – the price of the product doesn’t change. Hollywood Feed does offer a Frequent Feeder program for Primal Frozen Raw and Primal Freeze-Dried Products. The program is available in-store or through Curbside Pick-Up or Same Day Delivery orders. It is not redeemable through direct shipping orders.

On the analysis, why are the protein percentages much lower than kibbles?

Primarily, because of the moisture content.

What temperature should the raw product be kept at?

As long as frozen items are kept at refrigeration temperature, which is between 35 and 40 degrees, it would last the same amount of time that we have labeled on our bags for refrigeration; so typically about a week depending on the item.

Would you recommend raw for a dog with pancreatitis?

This is a great conversation for your veterinarian! We would be more than happy to work with that vet to provide any macro or micronutrient to help choose a diet, topper, hydrator that would work best for their client.

For clarification, will Primal consider a kombucha based fermentation process?

We use our fermented probiotic blend to make sure we get the same probiotic counts so that it remains consistent for our pets.

“Recipes” with goats’ milk or purées…could you make cheese treats with it? Or would you create your own line?

We have some awesome recipes on our blog with our goat milk and fresh toppers! Check it out on primalpetfoods.com.

How does the Primal goat milk compare to the Answers Any significant differences and similarities?

We can’t speak to other companies. At Primal, we add turmeric, cinnamon, and ginger for extra benefits!

Will there be bones other than beef or bison? Lamb, deer, or elk?

We can’t see into the future, but I can assure you that if we ever come out with a new bone broth product, Hollywood Feed will be one of the first to know!

Are all your foods good for both dogs and cats?

Our Toppers and Hydrators are great for both dogs and cats! But the Complete & Balanced options are species specific to dog or cat.

Is Primal doing any studies on how feeding raw food affects a dog’s life span compared to kibble?

We are not actively conducting any research into this currently.

Using the bone broth for humans in soups?

Our items are sold for pet consumption only.

You mentioned that your goat milk has some fermentation, is that safe for baby animals?

Yes! It’s safe for animals that have been weaned.

How long can bone broth and goats milk stay in my cat’s bowl? She does not eat all her kibble at once.

No more than a couple of hours. Usually 2-3 is a good mark.

Any plans for more fish mixed based diets for dogs?

We have our sardine raw topper. That is currently the only one we are making.

What can I give my kitten as far as chew toy like a rawhide when their teething?

Chicken necks and backs are a great option because it’s pliable and may help soothe their teething gums.

My dogs had some GI upset when I rotated the venison raw into their diet. That was the only new change and 3 or 4 out of our 5 developed very loose stool for about a week.

It sounds like Venison might be the right choice for them. Find the option they love and stick with what works!

What is the clay that is listed in your raw frozen and why is that in the food?

Our montmorillonite clay is a mineral that is included to make sure our pets are getting the right amount of minerals in their diet. It is Zinc Sulfate, Copper Carbonate, and Sodium Selenite.

I have a one-year old Shih Tzu. What would you start him on?

Start with a protein that your pet prefers, if they like chicken – try a chicken freeze-dried or a chicken bone broth.

How can we recommend your product onto owners with large breeds as it can get very expensive?

Try the Market Mix or the Butcher’s Blend as toppers.

We have a few raw feeding customers that buy meat and parts of the animals and make the food for their dogs themselves. I’ve had some of them want to do something like primal just for the convenience when there are times, they can’t do their own prepping. Some of them are hesitant though because they don’t think its meat heavy enough. How would you explain to them why you all only include the meats and parts of the animals you do in the formulas Hope this question made sense?

We can’t follow a prey-model style of feeding; we are all about balanced feeding! You can’t balance a higher content of meat. The fruits & veggies are there to balance out

Any new flavors or mixes we can look forward to?

As of right now, there are no new ones on the way, but if we do – Hollywood Feed will be one of the first to know!

Will Primal ever create a single ingredient jerky like the Hollywood Feed Slab Jerky?

We can’t see into the future, but it’s possible!

How long are fresh toppers good in the refrigerator once opened?

About 7 days.

Have you noticed positive feedback about the new Edible Elixir packaging? Will they remain in the cardboard?

The feedback so far has been good! Especially from an eco-friendly standpoint.

My dog liked the freeze dried better than the frozen. is that normal?

Sure! Dogs and cats have their preferences just like us.

Any new products in the works?

We are always working on new exciting things!

Do you have any food toppers that would possibly help with allergies?

We can’t make those active medical recommendations, but we certainly have products that may support their immune system such as the Power Greens Topper.

How long can I keep these products thawed out in my refrigerator?

About 7 days.

5.5 Maltese has seasonal allergies, what would be the best Primal Pet Food would you recommend?

We can’t make those active medical recommendations, but we certainly have products that may support their immune system such as the Power Greens Topper.

Best choices for small dogs with heart murmur, and, or Lung inflammatory disease?

This is a great conversation for your veterinarian! We would be more than happy to work with that vet to provide any macro or micronutrient to help choose a diet, topper, hydrator that would work best for their client.

 

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