1)  LOCATIONS & OPENING TIMES 

Hearty Apetite Office 

 

? “Pozitano” Nº5 Str., Sofia 1000, Bulgaria

☎️  Phone number: +359 (0) 888356073

⏰  Working Hours: Monday – Friday 10:00 – 19:00

Saturday – Sunday: CLOSED

 

The Hearty Store

 

? “Cherni Vrah” BLVD 228 А, Store № 4, Dragalevtsi Sofia, 1415

☎️  Phone number: +359 (0) 877 356073

⏰  Working Hours: 

Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 19:00

Saturday: 13:00 – 18:00

Sunday: CLOSED

 

The Hearty Center

 

? “Filip Kutev” 2 Str., kv. Hladilnika, Sofia 1407

☎️  Phone number: +359 (0) 877 356073

⏰  Working Hours:

Monday – Friday: 10:00 – 20:00

Saturday – Sun: 11:00 – 19:00

Have any questions?

Email us hearty@heartyapetite.com

Click here to check out our stockists

 

2) ORDERS, SHIPPING & RETURNS

 

2A) ORDERS

 

HOW CAN I PLACE AN ORDER?

All orders must be completed online. Simply add the products to the online cart that you would like to order and then check out as a guest or set up an account for future orders.

To avoid any errors with your order, please do not call the store to place an order.

HOW CAN I AMEND AN ORDER?

If you would like to amend an order or delivery, please email bark@heartyapetite.com or alternatively please call: +359 (0) 877 356073 (Monday to Friday, 10 am to 7 pm) within 2 hrs of placing the order.

 I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY ORDER, WHAT SHOULD I DO?

Once your order is delivered, you have the option to review it before paying. Please inspect the products before accepting your order. If the packaging is damaged, there is missing content or there are any other inconsistencies with the description we provided online, please inform the driver or courier upon receipt of delivery or contact us before accepting your delivery by calling us on: +359 (0) 877356073 (Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm).

 

2B) SHIPPING

 

WHERE DO YOU DELIVER?

We deliver our entire product range nationally to Bulgaria and our non-frozen range (dry products, cans, treats, cosmetics, supplements & apparel) nationally to Romania and Greece. Frozen products can only be delivered to Bucharest (Zone 6A), twice monthly.

Delivery charges are subject to the zones below.

• We deliver our entire product range across Bulgaria (Zones 1, 2, 3 & 4, 5) Bucharest, Romania (Zone 6)

• We only deliver dry products, cans, and treats (non-frozen) to the Rest of Romania (Zone 6A)
• All frozen raw food (BARF) deliveries to Zones 2, 3, 4, & 5 are delivered to an Econt office via Econt Express
• All orders for all dry products, cans, and treats (non-frozen) can be delivered to a residential address

 

2C) RETURNS

 

WHAT IS YOUR TERURN AND REFUND POLICY?

Purchases In Store

We regret that we cannot offer returns or refunds for any purchases made in store unless the item is faulty. In the unlikely event an item is faulty, please bring the item and receipt to Hearty Apetite, Pozitano Nº5 Str., Sofia 1000 and we will provide an exchange or refund.

Purchases Online

We want you and your pet to be delighted with our products. But we know that sometimes things do not go as planned and there are some really fussy eaters out there!

If, upon receiving your order, you or your pet are not satisfied for any reason, please contact us within 48 hours of receipt of the goods by emailing bark@heartyapetite.com or calling us on +359 (0) 888 356073 (10am – 6pm, Monday – Friday).

Should you wish to return any items bought from us online, we would be more than happy to offer a refund or exchange.

Returns are accepted within the 14th day of the delivery date. Returns are only possible if the product and its original packaging have not been damaged. The cost of returning the goods is at the expense of the customer. We reserve the right to withhold a percentage of the refund value of returned goods if the product or packaging is in such a condition that the item needs to be reduced in price for resale.  Products should be returned to Hearty Apetite, Pozitano Nº5 Str., Sofia 1000 and proof of dispatch emailed to us. Refunds will only be paid in respect of products returned to us in accordance with these Terms for goods that are damaged or faulty.

In the unlikely event that your order from us arrives damaged, we’ll collect these items from you, and replace them with products in pristine condition, at our expense. You can alternatively choose to be refunded for them.

Non-Refundable Products

We regret that we cannot offer returns for the purchase of perishable goods (frozen products) unless they arrive damaged, faulty, or not the item that has been ordered. Sale items are not eligible for return, exchange, or refund. If any of these circumstances should prevail, please use the procedures explained within the returns section above by notifying us within 48 hours of receipt of the goods and returning the goods accordingly.

Please note that if we approve frozen products for return, we will arrange a collection time and day with you at our expense using the appropriate transport to preserve their condition. Should you choose to send the goods via a different transport method that jeopardizes the products’ quality characteristics no credit will be given for the return.

As per the legal requirements, if a product is returned, the refund will be processed within 14 (fourteen) days of the return date (the day/date the returned item reaches our premises not the date it has been sent to us).

 

 

3) BILLING & PAYMENTS

 

WHAT PAYMENT METHODS DO YOU ACCEPT?

You can pay for orders in the following ways:

• Debit card or Credit card (we accept the following cards: Visa, MasterCard, and Maestro);

During the authenticity check of your card SSL Certificates protect your card’s sensitive information.

• Cash upon receipt of the goods from our carrier;
• ePay/EasyPay
• Bank transfer
• PayPal – all payments made via PayPal incur a 3% credit card handling fee [ORLIN NEEDS TO ADD 3% TO ODERS]

HOW CAN I VIEW MY ORDER?

Once you have completed your order, the email address you completed the order with will be emailed a copy of the order. If you have registered an account on the Hearty Apetite website, you will be able to access past orders in /my-account/orders/ section.

CAN I GET AN INVOICE?

You will receive an invoice if you pay by bank transfer. If you would like an invoice but want to pay with an alternative method, please request one at bark@heartyapetite.com

 

 

4) RAW FEEDING

 

IS RAW FOOD (BARF) SAFE? WHAT ABOUT PATHOGENS?

Some pet owners considering switching their pets to a healthier raw diet (BARF) express concerns over whether a raw meat diet is safe or not. We’ve all been taught that raw meat can contain dangerous pathogens like e-coli and salmonella, but should we really be concerned?

The answer is not at all. Dogs and cats in the wild have been eating raw meat for centuries, and all around the globe seasoned pet parents are reaping the benefits of feeding their domesticated animals raw diets without any problems. The key is to follow a simple set of rules when handling raw meat. The same procedures you would follow when handling raw meats for your own consumption apply here.

IS SALMONELA A CONCERN FOR DOGS & CATS? CAN THEY BE CONTAMINATED?

Salmonella can certainly be a concern for mammals but is much less of an issue for carnivores. Salmonella lives in most places in our natural environment- water, soil and even plants. This bacteria thrives in environments such as sitting water, wet soil shielded from the sun, and unclean faecal contaminated areas where humidity, temperature and pH levels are conducive to its existence. The principal habitat of Salmonella is the intestinal tract of humans and animals making all mammals susceptible to salmonella. Birds and reptiles, for instance, have salmonella in their GI tract as normal bacteria.

It is important to acknowledge that about 36% of all healthy dogs (Carnivorous Omnivores) and 18% of healthy cats (Carnivores) already have some salmonella residing in their GI tracts, regardless of whether they are fed raw meats or not. It is perfectly normal for healthy pets to harbour these bacteria as part of their natural gastrointestinal flora and to organically shed salmonella organisms in their faeces and saliva. Therefore it is impossible to contaminate them with something they already have.

Furthermore, dogs and cats have a short GI tract, designed to quickly digest food minimising the time bacteria has to colonise. Food passes through their systems in about 13 hours. Humans (omnivores) in comparison take two to three times as long.
Cats and dogs also have immensely strong stomach acid (PH1) which helps to break down and destroy a lot of parasites which would normally affect us humans.

Their saliva is a bactericide and it contains many compounds which are antibacterial. These enzymes break down and destroy bacteria, meaning salmonella and e-coli are unable to survive within a dog or a cat’s mouth. Combined with healthy teeth with zero plaque to bind on to, bacteria doesn’t stand much of a chance.

There is one thing to keep in mind, however. Dogs and cats can pass on salmonella through their stools regardless of the type of food they consume. It is important that any waste is picked up and discarded as soon as possible to eliminate any possible spread of bacteria.

CAN I GET SICK FROM MY RAW FED DOG?

There’s a lot of misleading information on the internet, mainly originating from misinformed sources profusely against raw feeding such as uneducated vets and mainstream pet food companies.

Salmonella has always been a concern with regards to the people in the household not the pets. Most of the emphasis on safe handling is to protect the humans rather than the animals. Dogs and cats are perfectly designed to be pathogen resistant. Even if they ingest salmonella bacteria, they will usually be unaffected by it due to their bodies’ sophisticated defence functions and mechanisms which disallow pathogens to proliferate in their systems. Keep in mind that this applies to healthy cats and dogs; resistance to pathogen invaders can be severely diminished in a poorly pet that is struck by an illness.

No you will not get sick if your dog licks you.

The fact is the majority of human salmonellosis cases are acquired through ingestion or handling of contaminated dry pet foods and treats – not raw meat. There has been no known reported incidence of human beings being infected with salmonella by raw-fed cats and dogs.

Even if your dog was to eat a 100% salmonella infected meal, research has proven that there is no trace of it in their mouths or on their skin afterwards. The only way to catch salmonella from a dog or cat is to eat their poo, and we certainly don’t know many people who do that! For the paranoid, you can wipe off your furry friend’s face after meal time but it is really not necessary.

HOW DO RAW PET FOOD MANUFACTURERS DEAL WITH PATHOGENS AND GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF THEIR PRODUCTS?

In general raw pet food manufacturers have two different ways of dealing with salmonella, E. coli, and other pathogens sometimes found in raw food. Some companies have adopted a technology called “high pressure processing”, also referred to as “high-pressure pasteurization (HPP)”. It exposes meat products to extremely high water pressure of up to 87,000 pounds per square inch. HPP achieves microbial inactivation of pathogenic bacteria, including listeria, E. coli, salmonella. The end result is essentially “sterile” raw food.

Performing quality control through batch-testing for pathogenic bacteria is the second option used by raw pet food companies that do not wish to produce a sterile product. This is an efficient method that The European Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (FEDIAF) also implements to inspect our human meat supply. Because most raw pet food manufacturers use FEDIAF inspected meats in their products, the pet food ends up being inspected twice. Consequently, meats that go into raw pet food production actually surpass human inspection standards.

A third method that top raw pet food companies rely on to address potential microbes in the food is herd health monitoring. Research has shown that pastured, happy, drug-free livestock shed considerably less E. coli and salmonella than stressed, feedlot cattle.

Here at Hearty Apetite we only endorse brands that are not only truly passionate about pet nutrition but also care about the welfare of the animals that are in their supply chain. They go to great lengths to source meats that either only come from farmers of pasture- raised animals or they themselves have an in-house production and personally see to it that their livestock roams free, is grass fed and is treated humanely. In this way they greatly reduce the risk of opportunistic bacteria making its way to their final product via the meat these animals produce.

WHY CAN’T I JUST MAKE MY PET’S MEAL MYSELF?

You could! But recent research found 95% of home recipes are lacking in vital nutrients for dogs. Nutrient deficiencies cause serious complications (and, more commonly, overdosing) could arise if a recipe hasn’t been properly formulated.

Putting a few ingredients into a bowl is very different from producing a balanced meal for your animal. The latter maintains and bolsters their health whereas the former can create deficiencies and health issues.

Any dog whether it be a Great Dane or a Chihuahua, shares 99.8% of its DNA with the Gray Wolf and therefore differs at most from it by 0.2%. As such, their digestive system and nutritional needs are almost identical. Similarly, house cats share 95.6% of their DNA with tigers from which they diverged on the evolutionary tree about 10.8 million years ago.

Since our pets no longer hunt whole prey it is our responsibility as their guardians to offer them species appropriate balanced nutrition that best nourishes their bodies and mimics the food they would naturally eat in the wild.

Aside from quality proteins, fats, vegetables & fruits, dogs and cats, require natural sources of trace minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids. Those must be added separately and in pre-calculated amounts, since the soils in which most foods are grown today are depleted of many of the nutrients pets (and humans for that matter!) need. Modern intensive agricultural methods have stripped increasing amounts of nutrients from the soil. Consequently, fruits and vegetables (which are the source of antioxidants and fibre to domestic animals) grown decades ago were much richer in vitamins, minerals and other vital micro nutrients than those most of us have access to today. Similarly, the animals feeding off of this vegetation produce meats that lack certain vital nutrients which need to therefore be added separately. The nutritional content of each meal today is therefore poorer and so any attempts to replicate a balanced diet for your beloved pet must be based and backed by scientific knowledge and research. Throwing them a chicken fillet and a carrot simply won’t do. In fact, offering an unbalanced diet poses a far greater threat to pets than feeding cheap kibble, so we strongly discourage it.

You need to therefore really do your homework before you embark upon the great task of catering to your pet’s nutritional needs.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF FEEDING A RAW DIET TO CATS AND DOGS?

• Healthy skin and coat – Many pets are allergic to grains, which can lead to pathologic skin conditions. A raw natural diet provides allergy relief, reduction and/or eradication.
• Cleaner, whiter and stronger teeth – Many dry foods leave a starchy coating on the teeth, which promotes plaque. Feeding a raw diet maintains healthier teeth and gums as well as fresher breath.
• Stools – Harder, smaller, less smelly stools that are easier to scoop up from the little box or pick up in the garden. Less smelly flatulence.
• Decreased litter box odour – Many pet foods include protein that is indigestible for cats (and dogs), which leads to an undesirable odour at the litter box.
• Natural weight control – Cats and dogs are healthiest on a high protein, low carbohydrate diet.
• A stronger immune system, more energy and stamina – Pet’s digestive systems are designed to ingest raw meat and are healthiest eating what Nature intended.

WHAT CHANGES CAN I EXPECT FEEDING A RAW DIET TO CATS AND DOGS?

• After a full transition to a raw diet, pets will typically drink less water. In the wild they get most of their water from their prey. A raw meat diet naturally contains more moisture than dry or canned food, so your cat or dog may be less thirsty, yet be getting plenty of water.
• There will likely be a change in the size, odour, and colour of the pet’s faeces. They will stink less! They may also be somewhat harder and dryer and be coloured shades of dark and light brown. Much of the crude protein and crude fibre in most commercial dry and canned pet foods is not digestible and hence contributes to a higher stool volume. Along with the assurance of knowing that all the food your beloved pooch or feline is ingesting, is actually being digested, the less stinky poops are certainly a nice bonus!
• Overweight Cats and Dogs tend to lose weight. However, weight loss must be closely monitored. Rapid weight loss can lead to serious health problems. Make sure you transition your pet to a raw diet gradually and seek professional advice, especially when transitioning an animal with chronic health issues.
• Lethargic Pets begin feeling more energised, start to play more and may even exhibit hunting behaviour. Dogs and cats are healthiest when fed a high protein, low carbohydrate diet. When they aren’t experiencing the metabolic highs and lows associated with high carbohydrate intake from grains, typically found in kibble, they will use protein as their energy source, just as they were designed by nature to do. This tends to provide more sustained energy throughout the day and reduces the need to “graze”.
• Allergies tend to clear up, which may be a result of less exposure to potential food allergens. Many pets have allergies to grains that can range from very mild to severe. These allergies can manifest on the skin, can affect digestion, and also contribute to runny eyes & nose and itchy ears or paws. The reduction in allergic symptoms may be a result of not only a reduced exposure to allergens from a higher food quality, but also from a stronger immune system. The more nutritious the food, the stronger the immune system will be.
• Fur becomes incredibly soft and shedding is reduced. This is typically one of the initial benefits observed after changing to a raw diet and is a direct result of better nutrition. The humans in the household also stand to gain a lot as well, when switching their pets to raw, as they are less likely to suffer allergic reactions due to the reduction of dander.

HOW SHOULD I DEFROST RAW FOOD? 

Defrost your pet’s food on the bottom shelf of your fridge. Individual meatballs and 500g patties and chubs usually defrost overnight. Defrosting over 500g might take up to 24 hours depending on your fridge settings and the number of products you have defrosting at a time.

Do not microwave raw food to warm it as it may cook instead, reducing the available nutrients you’re trying to preserve. Additionally, cooking makes any bone in the food brittle, indigestible and possibly dangerous.

HOW LONG DOES RAW FOOD LAST IN THE FRIDGE?

Once defrosted the frozen food packet can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days however, for maximum nutritional benefits, we suggest you feed within the first 48 hours.

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I FORGOT TO DEFROST A MEAL?

If you forget to defrost a meal, put the item into a freezer bag and leave it in a bowl of warm water to defrost and it will typically take up to 1 hour if defrosting a full tub and a little less for smaller items.

You can also keep a spare bag of frieze dried food [INSERT LINK TO FRIEZE DRIED] which just needs warm water added and is ready in a matter of minutes. Alternatively, keep an extra bag of Canireo [INSERT LINK TO CANIREO] in the cupboard as a tasty substitute meal.

– how do I introduce my dog to raw feeding? (Partly from Hearty site from “will my pet need persuading?”)

– how do I introduce my cat to raw feeding? Same as above – see specific cat food product “tips and recommendations” https://www.heartyapetite.com/en-gb/product/mush-b-a-r-f-vaisto-cat-pink-pork-chicken-menu-800g/

 

5) HOW DO I TRANSITION MY CAT ONTO A RAW DIET?

 

There are various methods for transitioning cats to a raw-meat diet. A cat’s natural instinct is to ‘fixate’ on food, which helps kittens to learn what is food and to recognize it when they see and smell it. They also do not like change, whether it is the food in their bowl or their living environment. What is sometimes referred to as a cat being ‘finicky’ is really a manifestation of this natural tendency. Some cats require a gradual transition to a raw diet, while others take to it immediately. Use the method that seems to fit your cat’s personality best. When changing to a raw meat diet, we recommend eventually stopping all feeding of dry food – completely.

• Cats Currently on a Kibble Diet Only

Begin by offering a small morsel of raw food. If they taste it at all, begin offering small amounts as a treat throughout the day and do not offer kibble outside of mealtimes at all so it is not lying around for them to get full on. Gradually move toward one set meal of raw food in the morning and one of dry food in the evening. Slowly increase the raw portion and decrease the amount of kibble you feed until your cat is completely transitioned.

Another option is to transition to a high quality canned wet food, then transition to the raw diet from the canned food.

• Cats Currently on Wet Food Only

Begin a feeding schedule of twice per day. Place a small morsel of the raw food next to your cat’s regular food or mix it in with their current wet food. Gradually begin increasing the ratio of raw to canned until the transition is complete.

• Cats Currently Eating both Dry and Wet Food

Slowly move to a wet food feeding schedule twice daily and reduce the amount of kibble left out during the day for grazing. Add small morsels of the raw diet to the canned wet food or offer as a separate treat at mealtimes. Gradually begin offering kibble only during meals, and eventually remove from your cat’s diet completely.

• Super Finicky Cats

For cats that have trouble recognizing a raw diet as food and are completely ignoring it all together, here is something to try:

Place a tablespoon of raw food next to their regular food. This will get your cat to begin associating raw food with their meal time. It may be a slow process, with the cat only sniffing it at first. Gradually, they will begin to adjust to the look, feel and smell of raw food and will be more inclined to taste it, with the transition eventually taking place.

Patience is key here, but once your cat has crossed over to the land of health and vitality it will all be well worth the efforts!

• Green Beef Tripe

The last trick up our sleeve can be used for all situations, but it works wonders for picky eaters! Regardless of whether you fall under the category of kibble feeders or whether you give your cat a mix of wet and dry and are trying to transition to raw- Green Beef Tripe is here to help you!

We are strong advocates of feeding green beef tripe to pets regularly, in general, but when it comes to transitioning animals especially finicky cats, tripe is our go to food. Despite it living up to its reputation of being incredibly stinky, raw green beef tripe is not only packed with digestive enzymes and hence super healthy, but it is also considered an absolute delicacy by all cats and dogs!

Mix it in with the rest of your raw food and it will encourage your cat to try its new, healthier diet! Go on, give it a try!

Feeding Tips

• Any change to a cat’s diet can cause digestive upset, so close monitoring through the transition period is essential.
• Go slow, use caution, and consult an experienced raw feeding expert or a holistic veterinarian if you are experiencing any problems.
• Feed on a flat dish. Cats sometimes are bothered when their whiskers touch the sides of the bowl.
• Adult cats should be fed twice daily.
• Younger cats may eat larger meals, more often.
• Weaned kittens should be fed multiple small meals throughout the day.
• It is best to serve food at room temperature. Do not cook.

WHY IS RAW FOOD MORE EXPENSIVE THAN REGULAR PET FOOD?

Due to the high quality of the ingredients in raw pet food it typically comes with an elevated price tag than conventional mass-produced commercial cans and kibble. The cost of safely storing and transporting raw food in temperature-controlled environments also affect this. However, seeing your pet thrive with the health benefits of raw food doesn’t have a price tag and you really do get what you pay for!

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A COMPLETE AND BALANCED MEAL AND COMPLEMENTARY FOOD?

Complete meals include all of the essential nutrients that a pet needs to maintain health for a long period of time. Balanced meals mean the nutrients are correct proportionally. All our complete meals are both nutritionally complete and balanced. Unlike complete meals, complementary foods do not contain enough essential nutrients for cats or dogs’ needs and so must be combined with other foods to form a balanced diet and maintain lifetime health. For example, meat and fish provide essential amino acids and healthy fats whereas bone provides minerals and organs are rich in vitamins.

Typically, complementary foods are added to complete meals to increase the protein amount or can be helpful starter foods when transitioning to raw food or used for owners who make their own meals.

CAN I GIVE RAW FOOD IF MY PET HAS A SENSITIVE STOMACH?

Pets with sensitive stomachs and gastrointestinal issues can react to any changes in diets, including food and treats. Sensitive stomachs can be caused by a variety of factors such as an allergy or an incapability to break down certain nutrients however, the most common cause is due to an imbalance in the microbiome (the good bacteria in the gut).

Many pet parents are nervous to change their pets’ food for fear of any digestive reactions however, the best way to transition is to switch to a high quality canned cooked food for 3-5 days. This gives your pet’s microbiome time to adjust to the “living” nutrients, such as healthy probiotic bacteria found in fresher food. They can then transition straight onto raw food after this period, without experiencing any stomach upsets.

You can see how to transition your cat and dog onto raw food, here.

TIPS FOR HANDLING RAW MEAT

The raw meat used in commercially available raw pet food diets adheres to strict EU requirements and is subject to regular FEDIAF inspections. It is therefore no different from the chicken or steak purchased from the grocery store for human consumption.

Raw meat should be handled with the same safety precautions you use when you prepare meats for your family. It’s all the same meat. Your counters, bowls, cutting surfaces and utensils should be disinfected whether the raw meat is intended for your pet or human family members.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends:

• Washing your hands for at least 20 seconds with warm water and soap right before and after handling pet foods (whether raw, canned or kibble) and treats. (The same advice is offered for human food preparation and prior to eating.)
• Infants and children should be kept away from pet food areas and pet feeding stations, and kids should not be allowed to touch or eat pet food.
• Washing pet bowls and scooping utensils before and after feeding and sanitizing eating surfaces regularly.
• Pet bowls should not be used as scooping utensils. Instead, a clean scoop, spoon, or cup should be used for scooping pet food.
• Raw (or any other) food that has been sitting out too long should be discarded.
• Only thaw frozen meat in the refrigerator, never at room temperature.
• Use metal or glass plates and/or bowls to serve raw food. Plastic can develop scratches with use that are conducive to harbouring bacteria.
• It’s a good idea to wear gloves when handling raw meat.

 

6) FEEDING GUIDELINES

 

If you are new to raw feeding, you may be rather pleasantly surprised as your pet’s health improves while they transition to a healthier diet. It’s essential to feed your animals the appropriate daily amounts based on their unique characteristics and lifestyle. Animals on a raw food diet tend to require less food than their kibble/grain-based diet fed counterparts. This is because raw food has so much more nutritional value. There are a few key factors that will influence the recommended daily feeding amounts for each pet, such as age, breed, activity level, spay/neuter status and weight goals.

We recommend using the bodyweight percentage rule, which estimates daily feeding amounts based on the weight of your pet. We also advise feeding adult pets twice daily so the estimated daily portion should be divided by two. Kittens and puppies should be fed smaller portions, multiple times a day so please factor that in when determining each meal size.

For instance, if you have a 23 kg female adult German Short-Haired Pointerd, then you would want to feed her 2.5% of her body weight, which is 575g per day.

23kg x 2.5% = 575g/daily

Body Weight Percentage Recommendation:  We recommend that you feed your pet the following percentages based on their level of activity and weight goals.

• 1,5% – Overweight
• 2,0% – Average Activity (little outdoor time/2 or fewer 15–20-minute walks a day) or Senior Dogs & Cats
• 2,5% – Above Average Activity (a few hours of activity per day)
• 3,0% – Average Activity with Weight Gain Goals
• 3,5 % – High Activity or Weight Gain Goals (Working Dogs)
• 4-5%+ – Kittens, Puppies and Nursing or Pregnant Pets

Please note our feeding recommendations are guidelines only which provide estimated averages and do not take the dogs breed, activity levels or special conditions such as pregnant or lactating into consideration.

For an adult dog, we advise feeding between 2% to 3% of their body weight per day of healthy, raw food. For working dogs or dogs with high activity we recommend 5% of their body weight per day.

When calculating how much raw food for your dog, remember all dogs are individuals some need a little less and some need more. Consider their size, energy levels, how active they are and how stressed they may be.

 

7) OUR FOOD, TREATS & SUPPLEMENTS 

DO YOU SELL KIBBLE?

Absolutely not! The majority of kibble is produced through an extrusion process, this means all the ingredients are combined together and mixed into a dough and then forced through an extruder machine at a high temperature. Manufacturers like this method of production because it is inexpensive, quick and flexible, allowing for virtually any combinations of ingredients. However during the high-heat process most of the nutrients and taste are lost and taste enhancers, lipids, and synthetic nutrients are added. Additionally, and more worryingly, procedure produces several forms of acrylamide and other carcinogens, which may be harmful to your dog’s long-term health and thus more vet visits!

Hearty Apetite supports ethical and sustainable food production. Our brands only use organic, free-range, and responsibly sourced human-grade meats in their products. All ingredients in the foods we sell are of the best quality; they are produced naturally and with care to preserve their inherent nutritional value. – see kibble section https://www.heartyapetite.com/en-gb/why-hearty/#kibble

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DRIED FOOD AND KIBBLE? HOW CAN I TELL THE DIFFERENCE?

https://www.terracanis.com/en-eu/dog-food/dry-food/

The main difference between dried food and kibble is the method they are produced, with dried food being the healthiest and most nutritional!

Kibble is produced through an extrusion process, this means all the ingredients are combined together and mixed into a dough and then forced through an extruder machine at a high temperature. Manufacturers like this method of production because it is inexpensive, quick and flexible, allowing for virtually any combinations of ingredients. However during the high-heat process most of the nutrients and taste are lost and taste enhancers, lipids, and synthetic nutrients are added. Additionally, and more worryingly, procedure produces several forms of acrylamide and other carcinogens, which may be harmful to your dog’s long-term health and thus more vet visits!

Our dried food, Canireo [link to products here] is baked at 80 degrees without any type of extrusion process or cold press/pressing?. Baking is a completely different process to extrusion as it retains the majority of the nutrients in the food. Canireo is made exclusively with fresh meat (64% fresh muscle meat and 1% fresh liver), healthy vegetables, fruit and herbs and is completely natural and grain-free.

WHAT BRANDS DO YOU SELL?

Link all brands: (Do we want to break this up into food and/or supplements only? Can keep as is too)

• ALIVET
• ANIMOTICS
• CDVET
• DERMADOG
• EBARF & FIX-BARF
• FOUR LEAF ROVER
• FROSTFUTTER PERLEBERG / K&K PETFOOD
• HERRMANN’S
• LEO & WOLF
• MUSH
• NUTRIMENT
• PURE VET PRODUCTS

WHY DID YOU PICK THE BRANDS YOU HAVE?

We are meticulous with the brands we have because we all share a belief in giving pets a better chance of a long, happy, and healthy life through fresh, high-quality food. Our brands show, through their research and experience, that high quality meat content and minimum processing ancestral-style nutrition is the best way to avoid many of the health problems that many pets experience today, from allergies to digestive problems and other serious issues.

WHY DO YOU ONLY STOCK SCANDINAVIAN (OR NORDIC?) AND WESTERN EUROPEAN FOOD?

https://mushbarf.de/en/why-mush/

Scandinavia/The Nordics have the most rigorous, pioneering and impeccable standards for both agricultural and manufacturing practices in the world.

Unfortunately, the pet food world is unregulated depending on where you are located and thus, there is a lot of room for unscrupulous companies to provide and market as ‘healthy’ poor quality and nutritionally deficient food to unsuspecting pet owners.

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WHAT IF I CAN’T AFFORD THE RAW FOOD BRANDS YOU SELL? 

You absolutely can, but don’t forget that there is a lot of know-how you need to acquire first. Putting a few ingredients into a bowl is very different from producing a balanced meal for your animal. The latter maintains and bolsters their health whereas the former can create deficiencies and health issues.

Any dog whether it be a Great Dane or a Chihuahua, shares 99.8% of its DNA with the Gray Wolf and therefore differs at most from it by 0.2%. As such, their digestive system and nutritional needs are almost identical. Similarly, house cats share 95.6% of their DNA with tigers from which they diverged on the evolutionary tree about 10.8 million years ago.

Since our pets no longer hunt whole prey it is our responsibility as their guardians to offer them species appropriate balanced nutrition that best nourishes their bodies and mimics the food they would naturally eat in the wild.

Aside from quality proteins, fats, vegetables & fruits, dogs and cats, require natural sources of trace minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids. Those must be added separately and in pre calculated amounts, since the soils in which most foods are grown today are depleted of many of the nutrients pets (and humans for that matter!) need. Modern intensive agricultural methods have stripped increasing amounts of nutrients from the soil. Consequently, fruits and vegetables (which are the source of antioxidants and fibre to domestic animals) grown decades ago were much richer in vitamins, minerals and other vital micro nutrients than those most of us have access to today. Similarly, the animals feeding off of this vegetation produce meats that lack certain vital nutrients which need to therefore be added separately. The nutritional content of each meal today is therefore poorer and so any attempts to replicate a balanced diet for your beloved pet must be based and backed by scientific knowledge and research. Throwing them a chicken fillet and a carrot simply won’t do. In fact offering an unbalanced diet poses a far greater threat to pets than feeding cheap kibble, so we strongly discourage it.

You need to therefore really do your homework before you embark upon the great task of catering to your pet’s nutritional needs.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF PURCHASING PET FOOD FROM A REPUTABLE RAW PET FOOD MANUFACTURER?

• Meat purchased from the butchers or the grocery store is intended for human consumption, which implies that it will end up being cooked prior to consumption. This meat is not intended to be fed raw so the levels of testing and legislation that it is subject to are far lower than those that raw pet food manufacturers must adhere to.
• There are more than 50 pieces of legislation governing the manufacture of pet food in the European Union. From hygiene, safety and marketing claims to additives, restricted raw materials and traceability. The legislation covers a range of topics to ensure safe raw pet food production.
• FEDIAF approved raw pet food producers are legally required to routinely test for salmonella and E.coli, as there is a zero tolerance for these pathogens in commercially produced raw pet foods.
• If you are tempted enough by the substantially lower price of meats for “pet consumption” sold by various vendors always ask for a quality and inspection certificates. There are perfectly good quality cuts of meat that cannot be sold for human consumption for various reasons. Don’t be shy of demanding full disclosure when it comes to why certain meats are sold at only a small fraction of the price of human grade meats. Better safe than sorry! Learn about 4D Meat here.
• When it comes to raw meat, the storage, handling, transportation and suppliers of the ingredients are crucial. If any of these functions are mismanaged or underestimated problems can arise and pets could become sick.