Q. How do I start my dog or cat on Pet Patties? A. Most dogs and cats have been fed sterile (cooked) foods most of their lives, so we recommend Pet Patties be introduced slowly over the first week or so. Small pinches increased daily allow your animal’s digestive system to adjust to the new food. Pet Patties can be steadily increased to 1% of body weight if used as a supplement or 2% of body weight for a total fitness diet. This relates to one 8-ounce patty (per day) for a 25-pound dog or ½ patty (per day) for an average cat Q. Do Raw Diets cost more to feed than traditional foods? A. Our frozen raw diets will cost about the same as feeding a grain-free kibble diet. Animals will often consume up to twice the recommended amount of Pet Patties during transitional periods, until nutritional deficiencies are satisfied. Once nutritionally saturated, usually in the first 30 days, most pets will automatically cut their food intake to normal levels, resulting in costs per day just slightly higher than premium dry or canned foods. Most customers’ analysis of this cost report health promoting Pet Patties as the least expensive way to raise animals, especially when considering money saved on health care costs and supplementation. Q. Why have dogs recently been classified as Omnivores? A. In our dictionaries, Mr. Webster still classifies a dog as carnivorous (flesh-eating), direct descendants of wolf (genus Canis). Perhaps this myth of defining our domestic genus Canis as omnivores has been promoted by self-serving pet food companies trying to justify turning our canine companions into “corn dogs” (a veterinarian nickname for the well apparent unhealthy dogs fed grain filled kibble). We believe that our domesticated genus Canis pals are still carnivores, that they prefer fresh meat, and that they thrive best on nutrition that only the raw meat diets can provide, whether eaten in the wild and/or purchased from a health conscious raw meat manufacturer like us. Unlike pet food advertisements and packaging, natural science proves that a carnivore’s natural biological make-up has not changed throughout the transition from non-domesticated animals into domesticated pets. Q. Is this concept of feeding raw meat to dogs and cats a new philosophy? A. The concept of feeding dogs and cats on raw meat goes back into history. Unfortunately, when the domestic pet trade grew so rapidly the past few decades, most pet food manufacturers opted to go with the convenient methods of manufacturing, transportation and storage. Their emphasis was obviously more on satisfying their own interests and their customers’ convenience and less on the nutritional needs of the animals. AFS takes the opposite approach and commits to nutritional excellence, and accepts the challenge to manufacture, distribute, and store a raw meat diet. Q. Can I make my own meat diet? A. You can! However, if it’s not done with the proper balance of nutrition, you could do more harm than good. AFS has over forty years of combined experience feeding meat diets to the world’s most expensive, exotic and endangered species (white tigers, snow leopards, timber wolves, etc.) under the most stringent scrutiny of zoo veterinarians and nutritionists. We’ve done our homework! Besides, by the time you accumulate all the proper ingredients and allow for your time and effort to grind, mix, package and freeze, you’ll learn that AFS and its distribution network have done all the work for you at a very reasonable cost.

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Let's Talk Nutrition...

Q. Why a raw meat diet? A. The answer is very simple – undamaged enzymes and amino acids! A raw meat diet contains natural digestive enzymes and the most complete amino acid profile (the protein building blocks) totally undamaged in this natural state. Many of the important amino acids and all digestive enzymes are destroyed by temperatures in excess of 120 degrees F. Most processed and canned pet foods are cooked at ultra-high temperatures in excess of 212 degrees F. Animals consuming these highly processed foods often become nutritionally compromised and manifest dry and itchy skin, dull coats, weight problems, lethargy, and many more not so obvious symptoms. Enzymes are essential biological catalysts that enhance the quality and quantity of nutrient assimilation. This allows your favorite pet to conserve its own enzyme energy for other important life enriching health benefits such as longevity. Wouldn’t we all like our four legged companions to live long, healthy and happy lives? Q. I am a vegetarian and have a hard time digesting meat - why would it be best then to feed it raw to my dog or cat? A. Human beings, being omnivorous (feeding upon animal and vegetable food), do not have the digestive tools our ancient ancestors had, in order to handle raw meat. Even though we would digest our meat better if eaten raw, we no longer possess the tools to handle the bacteria as well as today's carnivores do when eating or feeding on raw meat. The natural nutrients derived from fresh raw meat diets (frozen or freeze-dried) are necessary for optimum health. The difference between a grain/vegetable and an AFS product fed dog/cat is incredible. Once the condition is seen and compared, there isn't anyone who wouldn't prefer feeding AFS products to their dogs, cats, and ferrets. (The fresh organ meats, meaty bones and blood are necessary to achieve peak health.) Q. How does your diet compare to dry kibble in terms of protein and fat composition? A. When comparing diets, one must always compare on a dry matter basis to get equivalent values. When compared on a dry weight basis AFS diets are not low at all, 44-50% protein and 29-35% fat. The more important aspect of protein is the quality and source of protein, or the biological value (the measurement of how much of the protein is actually turned into body tissue). AFS diets are at the “top of the food chain” when it comes to digestibility and biological value. Q. Can I mix dry kibble food with AFS Raw Meat Diets? A. Not recommended for small breeds, but many large breed and/or multiple dog owners reportedly feed this way when budget restraints are an issue. The reason being is that AFS product ingredients are very rich in all the necessary nutrients, plus fortified with vitamins and minerals (because we cannot be absolutely certain the soil that the free-range cattle are grazing on is complete and balanced at all times and on all days). The quality of the kibble should be considered (price is not a consistent indicator of quality). Even on a 50/50 ratio, in as little as 1-2 weeks, very positive changes will be apparent in your dog's appearance, mobility, behavior and stools (fecies are greatly reduced in size and frequency!). In less than 30 days, it will seem as though you have a different dog--apparent to you AND your neighbors! That's when you will want to make the final decision...stay on the 50/50 ratio, or go all the way and feed AFS products 100%. Kibble will primarily consist of indigestible grains and other ingredients that are simply causing volumes of fecal matter in the yard. In addition, the meat source that goes into most kibble is “meat and bone meal, chicken meal, lamb meal, fish meal, etc.” These ingredients are NOT fresh or whole real meats. Check labels and use kibbles that are predominately meat based. Q. Why is there such a difference in the stools on AFS Diets? A. The high biological value of the protein in AFS Diets will result in a large reduction in the amount and frequency of stool elimination. Most commercial pet foods are filled with indigestible ingredients that cause dogs and cats to overeat which create the need to eliminate several times a day. Animals on AFS Diets generally eliminate just once a day or even every other day. In addition, this kind of digestibility greatly reduces stool odor and is a healthy and more natural occurrence, just as in the wild. Simple test: stools from well-digested foods, when placed in water, “float like a boat.” Q. Is it harmful for me to cook the food before feeding it to my dog or cat? A Meat that is cooked above 120 degrees F loses its natural digestive enzymes as well as some of the important fragile amino acids such as Taurine. The preventative health benefits of an uncooked, balanced, raw meat diet can be seen in the testimonials of AFS customers. Meat eaters, from small pet ferrets, through all sizes of domestic dogs and cats, to the Carnivora Magnificent lions and tigers build strong immune defense mechanisms on AFS diets, protecting them from infection and affording them the healthiest diet prescribed by Mother Nature - raw meat! Q. Aren’t all “complete and balanced” diets equally nutritious? A The words “complete and balanced” on packages of dog or cat food do not speak to their nutritional adequacy or bio-availability of the food. To legally use this phrase, the foods need only meet minimum requirements to keep an average pet alive. Most of us have more than average pets and wish more than to just keep them alive!

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Health & Handling...

Q. Why do some animals apparently do fine on commercial dry and canned food, and yet others do so poorly? A. Some dogs, especially when they are young, have an amazing ability to digest just about anything that looks like food and do well on it. However, even they have a tendency to degenerate as they grow older, usually at 4-5 years of age. When the organs of the body, especially the all important digestive machine, the pancreas, starts to age, it is much easier on the animal’s system to be eating a diet with the digestive enzymes still intact and undamaged by heat processing. Raw foods provide this. Numerous people from European countries who feed raw meat diets confirm the health benefits and longevity of large breed dogs, i.e. Great Danes, Rottweilers, Mastiffs, etc. to ages of 15 years or longer. This reality is nearly unheard of in our country, except those companion pets on raw meat diets like those produced by AFS. Wouldn’t you want the same for your favorite furry companion? Q. What if my veterinarian says a raw meat diet is unsafe? A. Unfortunately, many veterinary schools provide less than adequate education on basic canine and feline nutrition. Few veterinarians know that AFS has provided these same raw meat diets to zoos, circuses, wildlife parks, and professional dog and cat breeders for nearly three decades. AFS raw meat diets were developed under the scrutiny of, and consultation with the most discriminating veterinarians and animal nutritionists. Ask any Pet Patty customer, and you will discover health benefits from a raw meat diet that far outweigh any risk factors. Q. Does the AFS raw diet reduce/prevent tartar on teeth – why? A. Raw meat diets do not produce tartar on teeth for one reason – enzymes. Raw meat left between teeth or along the gum line will self-digest because of the undestroyed natural digestive enzymes. On the other hand, cooked food particles can remain on the gum line, setting up the perfect host for bacteria to proliferate, causing tartar and bad breath. Excessive tartar can cause periodontal disease. Q. What is the proper way to feed the 5-pound rolls? How do I thaw the rolls before feeding? A. Defrosting AFS raw meat diets should always be done slowly in the refrigerator. Remove the plastic wrapper from the frozen roll, place in a covered container and place in refrigerator. Each day the outer layer of meat will be thawed enough for feeding. Another technique: place 5-pound roll in refrigerator overnight, then cut with large or electric knife into desired daily portions for individual defrosting. Wrap and replace unused cut portions in the freezer immediately.

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It's What Is Inside That Counts...

Q. Do you use any chemicals or preservatives in the diet? A. AFS adds no artificial colors or preservatives to our meat diets. We preserve our products through freezing (at –40 degrees F) or freeze-drying which are the only methods of protecting the natural nutrition in Mother Nature’s most complete and balanced food – a raw meat diet. Q. What is the freeze-drying process and the advantages of processing the diet this way? A. Freeze-drying is a process that removes the moisture from the meat in a vacuum chamber, while still frozen. By bringing the temperature to the triple point 32 degrees F (where moisture can exist as an ice crystal, water or gas), the moisture is evacuated from an ice crystal to a gas without entering the liquid stage. The minimum amount of added heat to accomplish this is insufficient to destroy the amino acids or digestive enzymes. Freeze-drying, though considerably higher in cost, is the only way to preserve meat without chemicals, irradiation, or heat damage to the nutrition and bio-availability of the food. It is yet another example of Animal Food Services’ commitment to nutritional excellence. Q. How can I travel with my pet and a raw meat diet? A. Traveling with frozen Pet Patties can be a challenge. That’s why AFS developed the freeze-dried version. Freeze-drying is the only way to preserve the nutritional integrity of the health promoting Pet Patties while offering the convenience of a shelf stable product needing no refrigeration. Freeze-dried Pet Patties can be broken into small pieces and fed dry. Pet Patties make wonderful treats! Q. You claim your diet is more natural than most pet foods. Why? A. The word “natural” when applied to some of today’s pet foods, is a real stretch of Mr. Webster’s primary definition, of or arising from nature: in accordance with what is found or expected in nature. How many commercial pet foods have corn, wheat, soy, or barley as prominent ingredients? These are all natural products for herbivores (feeding chiefly on grass or other plants i.e. cattle, horses, buffalo, goats, deer). Think about it...how many carnivores (dog, cat, wolf, lion, tiger) have you observed in nature (the wild, or on the "Discovery" channel) feasting on these products? They are not “natural” for dogs and cats. Fresh raw meat diets are! Simply put, you will never see a dog or cat jumping up and down with excitement in a corn patch, but, what you will see is a dog or cat chasing after some prey with a beating heart...real meat!