i promised you a more intersting post, so i hit up one of my customers, who feeds her two LARGE dogs raw food, to write me a testimonial. so here it is:
Dear Heidi,
Here is the testimonial you asked me to write up for you. I’m sorry it’s so long.
I know you wanted the hard finances written up, so that’s in at the end. If you want me to clarify anything, let me know without a worry.
My 8 year old rott/shephard female mix and my 4 year old male alaskan malamute began shopping at Meat for Cats and Dogs four months ago. Prior to Meat, the mix had been fed Iams Large Breed and the mal tried many different ’natural’ kibbles and diets to manage his painful summer skin rashes. Nothing helped. A friend told me to check out MCD (meat for cats and dogs), so I did some online research into the ‘raw-food’ thing.
I was nervous for three reasons: the change in daily routine, fear of food aggression in my large dogs, and cost. I went in to MCD and talked with Heidi about my worries.
She was wonderful! She asked about the situation and sent us away with kibble samples, suggesting a fish formula for the malamute. It was all the best quality kibble I’d ever seen, and my dogs love their new breakfast kibble. For dinnertime, Heidi guided us through raw meat portions, varieties, and dietary needs. It’s easy–we just thaw during the day or in warm water.
I was nervous feeding such large dogs raw, but it’s been great! Both of my dogs have relaxed since their diet change. The mal’s restlessness and rowdiness is gone, and my rott/shep’s not anxious! Both have really just chilled out into happy little loving porch pets, it was almost shocking. There has not been the slightest hint of aggression in my dogs–only joy!
My mal’s summer belly rash disappeared, and he is quite happy. No longer hyperactive, he seems generally more satisfied. He was confused the first time he ate a neck, because he didn’t know how to use his jaws to eat–now he chomps gleefully on even bones as he should! It seems like he has released a lot of pent up energy with the meat/bones, energy that wasn’t relieved by 25+ mi/wk running. He is now a calm, loving, pack-oriented and delightfully playful boy! His ears/eyes/teeth look great, and his coat has gotten a lot softer and more lustrous.
Additionally, the mix’s ears, often infected, now are perfectly clean and pink. Her teeth are now ideal–after having been covered in thick plaque–and she will not require anesthesia, cleaning and likely extraction now. Her eyes were beginning to get cloudy, and they’ve brightened and cleared also! She looks half her age now, acting more playful and energetic.
My vet is very happy and says they’re doing perfectly. A friend of mine once kept and cared for wild wolves in a rehabilitation facility in WA, and one way to monitor the health status of wild animals in the stool. He says their stools before we switched were too airy, light and soft, indicating digestion problems with the food. Their stools are perfect now, being small, dense, easily passed and everything is well digested.
So it’s been great, but what’s this costing me? I am a grad student, so cost matters. I did the numbers. I spent $100/mo to feed both dogs pet-store kibble before; I now spend $150-160/mo to feed them no-grain fish kibble and raw meats. $50-60/mo extra seemed a lot, so I reviewed my vet bills. I have already saved at least $1,000 in the last 4 months on ear, rash and tooth bills alone! Their health more than pays for their food, even on paper! (I expect avg. net annual savings to run ~$600/yr or higher.)
Add to all of this that the staff at MCD is always friendly, helpful and knowledgeable, that they have the best selection in town at the best prices (I drive from Hillsboro). They are responsible, locally owned, stock many local products, give back into the community, work with charities, and generally devote themselves and the store to pursuing to good causes–so I always feel good spending my dollars there, too.
