You are what you eat, and the same is true of your dog.
I’m really looking forward to sharing today’s episode with you because I just know you’re going to get so much out of it. Whether you’re brand new to the idea of fresh feeding, or you’re a seasoned pro, this conversation with Kay Stewart, a registered Veterinary Technician who is a researcher, writer, and lead educator of the Feed Real Institute, is packed full of goodies on how to best feed your dog. The Feed Real Institute is such a valuable resource for fresh food feeding, with tons of articles, a feeding calculator, courses, workshops, and even the Feed Real Summit, which are all designed to make feeding your dog real food a breeze.
I know how utterly confusing it is when you’re just trying to do the best for your dog, and you don’t know where to start. Or even if you’ve been fresh feeding your dog for a while. there are so many different philosophies on how to feed your dog, that you sometimes wonder if you’re doing the right thing. I am hoping that this episode will help bring you some clarity.
Kay and I cover a lot of ground, including why fresh food is a better choice for your dog, the importance of using species-appropriate bioavailable ingredients, and even some useful tips for transitioning your dog from kibble to fresh food. 
Kay shares her incredible expertise to help you take the fear and complication out of fresh food feeding as we demystify and debunk the AAFCO, NRC, and FEDIAF guidelines to make it easier for you to embark on, or deepen, your fresh feeding journey. You’ll come away with some helpful tips and resources, whether you just want to start by adding fresh food toppers to your dog’s kibble, or you want to up your DIY raw game. There’s something for everyone!
Are you ready? Ok, let’s go!
TIME STAMPS
00:21  INTRO
05:39 Introducing Kay Stewart, veterinary technician and lead educator of Feed Real Institute, from animal research to getting back into alignment as a fresh food advocate
10:15. Kay’s paradigm shift from kibble to fresh
13:11 Where to start your fresh food journey
14:40 The science behind the benefits of fresh feeding
16:22 What are the problems with kibble and why is fresh food a better option? 
20:53 What are AAFCO, NRC, FEDIAF, and what do their guidelines mean about what is in my dog’s food?
28:28 What does species-appropriate mean and why is it important?
32:55 The longevity of dogs has decreased since the 1970s when kibble became the mainstay
35:00 Putting the pieces together - what you need to feed your dog fresh food
43:10 Feeding the dog in front of you and why spreadsheet models might not be providing you with the certainty you think they are
48:00 Taking a holistic approach - looking beyond food
51:00 Start topping your dog’s kibble with fresh food today with these easy tips
57:20 The benefits of allowing your dog to pick and choose their food items, and what this is telling you
59:00 The fun and joy YOU will experience when feeding your dog fresh food
1:00:00 The Feed Real Summit in San Diego, CA October 5-6, 2024
1:04:20 What dogs have taught Kay about what it means to be human
1:06:00 OUTRO and Takeaways
If you want to learn more about Feed Real, their courses, food calculator, and upcoming summit October 5-6, 2024, check out their website: https://feedreal.com
And you can check out the episode where I spoke with Dr Tom Lonsdale about raw meaty bones as the key to the carnivore code here.
DISCLAIMER: This is not a substitute for medical advice or other relevant professional advice.