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Truth about Pet Food

Viva Raw Recall Notice One Lot Duck Recipes

Blue Ridge Beef Issues Voluntary Recall of Blue Ridge Beef Kitten Grind, Blue Ridge Kitten Mix and Blue Ridge Beef Puppy Mix

TFP Nutrition Expands Voluntary Recall of Dry Dog, Dry Cat, and Catfish Food

Mid America Pet Food Expands Voluntary Recall to Include Additional Dog and Cat Food Products

Mid America Pet Food Issues Voluntary Recall of Victor Beef Meal & Rice Dog Food

The Unknown Victims of Pet Food Poisonings

How Much More Serious Does It Have To Get?

Hill’s Surveyed Pet Owners Regarding Low Copper Claims

USDA Finds Malnourished, Diseased Dogs in Pet Food Feeding Trial Facility

Three Months of Sick and Dying Pets

How ‘Real’ is the Real Beef #1 Ingredient Claim?

An Estimated 27 Million Pounds of Condemned Animal Material

Chicken Meal Plant Fined for Pollution

The Disclosed and the Non Disclosed

Pet Food with Lab Cultured Meat Approved in EU

Why Would They Defend Chicken Poop as Feed?

Is it Really Formulated Just for Puppies/Kittens?

The PURR Act Will Leave Pet Owners PURRterbed

How Dare They!

Is your pet receiving enough protein from their pet food?

EPA Failed to Assure Safety of Seresto Collars

The Pet Products Held To No Legal or Safety Standards

EPA Accepting Public Comments Requesting To Cancel Approval of Seresto Collar

How to Report Problems with Flea and Tick Products

A Real Santa Claus for Pets

Pet Food Ingredients

A buyer’s guide to compare pet foods.

Answers to two questions helps you properly evaluate numerous foods.

One of the most common things pet food manufacturers try to make us believe is that their ingredients are better than another pet food. Blue Buffalo has built a years-long advertising campaign on this very marketing message.

Chicken seems better than Chicken by-products, right? Real meat is best, right? Not necessarily.

Don’t let their marketing mislead you. Keep reminding yourself: pet food ingredients are not the same thing as the same ingredient in human food. 

The ingredients in a pet food cannot be compared with another brand until you know these two things about the pet foods…

• the quality of the ingredient 
• what parts of the ingredient are included

Ingredient Quality

The FDA has allowed waste ingredients to be disposed of in pet food for decades (and continues to today), and the agency has never required disclosure of those waste ingredients on a pet food label. In the Compliance Policy Rendered Animal Feed Ingredients the FDA states: “ No regulatory action will be considered for animal feed ingredients resulting from the ordinary rendering process of industry, including those using animals which have died otherwise than by slaughter, provided they are not otherwise in violation of the law .”

The FDA removed this public disclosure of the agency permitting illegal (per federal law) ingredients to be used in pet food/animal feed in 2019 – but at the same time the Director of FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) Dr. Steven Solomon stated: “ we do not believe that the use of diseased animals or animals that died otherwise than by slaughter to make animal food poses a safety concern and we intend to continue to exercise enforcement discretion .”

So…when a pet food brags their pet food is better because ‘real chicken is the first ingredient’ – that real chicken could be condemned chicken. To properly compare pet foods the question of ingredient quality (are meat ingredients USDA inspected and passed?) has to be known.

What Parts?

Pet food marketing frequently pitches consumers with ‘Made with Real Chicken’. But pet food chicken has a very different definition than the chicken consumers are familiar with. 

AAFCO regulations define chicken (poultry) as “the clean combination of flesh and skin with or without accompanying bone, derived from the parts or whole carcasses of slaughtered poultry, or a combination thereof, exclusive of feathers, heads, feet and viscera. If it bears a name descriptive of its kind, it must correspond thereto. If the bone has been removed, the process may be so designated by use of the appropriate feed term. It shall be suitable for use in animal food.”

Pet food chicken is NOT required to be sourced from USDA inspected and passed chicken, and it is NOT required to be meat. Per AAFCO’s definition – what is marketed to pet owners as ‘Real Chicken’ – can be just skin and bones. To properly compare pet foods, must know what parts of the chicken is included in the pet food.

If you are going to compare pet foods, ask these questions first…

• Are all animal origin ingredients sourced from USDA inspected and passed animals?
• Can you provide me with a detailed list of what is included in the ingredient chicken (or beef or pork)? What cuts or parts of the animal are included in the pet food?

Human Grade Pet Foods

The exception to pet food ingredient quality is Human Grade pet foods; pet foods that state on the label (ignore website claims) the words “Human Grade”. This classification of pet food is required to be manufactured in a licensed human food facility which prohibits condemned or un-inspected and passed animal parts. Pet foods labeled with Human Grade would guarantee a pet owner meat ingredients (and all other ingredients including supplements) are human edible.

Pet Owners Should Be Informed

We should not have to ask these types of questions of our pet food manufacturers. In 2020 we ( Association for Truth in Pet Food ) submitted to AAFCO updated animal origin ingredient definitions that would have disclosed the quality (feed grade or human grade) and disclosed exactly what parts of the animal origin ingredient was used. AAFCO ignored our request to update ingredients keeping pet owners in the dark to what is actually in their pet’s food.

And we submitted a formal request to FDA in July 2022 to require disclosure of quality of ingredients on pet food labels. We cited federal law as foundation for our request, which states a food ingredient “ may not be confusingly similar to the name of any other food that is not reasonably encompassed within the same name. Each class or subclass of food shall be given its own common or usual name that states, in clear terms, what it is in a way that distinguishes it from different foods .”

Our request to FDA stated that AAFCO definitions – being of the same food ingredient name but with different legal requirements – are ‘confusingly similar’ to other foods and thus are a subclass which federal law requires to be given its own common name. 

The FDA was required by federal law to respond to our request within 180 days…but, 14 months later the agency has not responded . 

Until regulatory authorities abide by law, pet owners will need to continue to do their pet food homework. 

Wishing you and your pet(s) the best,

Susan Thixton Pet Food Safety Advocate Author Buyer Beware, Co-Author Dinner PAWsible TruthaboutPetFood.com Association for Truth in Pet Food

Become a member of our pet food consumer Association. Association for Truth in Pet Food is a a stakeholder organization representing the voice of pet food consumers at AAFCO and with FDA. Your membership helps representatives attend meetings and voice consumer concerns with regulatory authorities. Click Here to learn more.

What’s in Your Pet’s Food? Is your dog or cat eating risk ingredients?  Chinese imports? Petsumer Report tells the ‘rest of the story’ on over 5,000 cat foods, dog foods, and pet treats. 30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee. Click Here to preview Petsumer Report. www.PetsumerReport.com

Find Healthy Pet Foods in Your Area Click Here

The 2023 List Susan’s List of trusted pet foods. Click Here to learn more.

The 2023 Treat List Susan’s List of trusted pet treat manufacturers. Click Here to learn more.

Linda Kelly

September 26, 2023 at 1:35 pm

FDA is worthless as we have seen in the plandemic! No one today abides by any laws and they just call the shots based on the corporations that rule them!

September 26, 2023 at 2:44 pm

Does the FDA respond to consumer groups who have sued them? Has Consumer Reports ever investigated pet food? When I’ve contacted manufacturers asking specifics, they dodge the questions. Why aren’t there more human grade foods for cats?

I buy your list nearly every year, but by the time I sort through it and visit each website, I find very few cat options. When you adopt a senior or geriatric, who has eaten grocery store dry food their entire life, you have even fewer choices. I appreciate everything you do, Susan–I’m just frustrated and not able to make my own food.

September 26, 2023 at 3:40 pm

Just came across this info about how human-grade meat is labeled: https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/nutrition/man-exposes-the-truth-about-grass-fed-beef-and-it-s-a-wake-up-call/ar-AA1hhUfb?ocid=hpmsn&cvid=7b26bea370fe4724a6299f004cc0d59e&ei=23

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Human Grade & Feed Grade Do you know what the differences are between Feed Grade and Human Grade pet food? Click Here .

The Regulations Pet Food is regulated by federal and state authorities. Unfortunately, authorities ignore many safety laws. Click Here to learn more about the failures of the U.S. pet food regulatory system.

The Many Styles of Pet Food An overview of the categories, styles, legal requirements and recall data of commercial pet food in the U.S. Click Here .

The Ingredients Did you know that all pet food ingredients have a separate definition than the same ingredient in human food? Click Here .

Click Here for definitions of animal protein ingredients.

Click Here to calculate carbohydrate percentage in your pet’s food.

Sick Pet Caused by a Pet Food?

If your pet has become sick or has died you believe is linked to a pet food, it is important to report the issue to FDA and your State Department of Agriculture.

Save all pet food – do not return it for a refund.

If your pet required veterinary care, ask your veterinarian to report to FDA.

Click Here for FDA and State contacts.

The Treat List

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How to Buy the Best Dog Food

By Kaitlyn Wells and Mel Plaut

Just standing in the dog food aisle is enough to baffle any pet caretaker—the dizzying number of choices can make it difficult to decide what to feed your dog. Should you take the tried-and-true route and go with a kibble from a well-known brand? Or should you experiment with the trendy raw food advertised in your Instagram feed?

The truth is that trying to make a definitive statement about the best dog food is like trying to prove there’s one best food for all humans—it’s just not possible. Finding the right food should be an informed decision between you, your dog, and your veterinarian.

What we can offer is advice on how to identify reputable dog food brands , what pet food labels mean , puppy food requirements, the controversies surrounding raw-food diets and grain-free diets , how to report complaints with your pet’s food , and the fine print to watch out for.

The research

Why you should trust us, what is the best dog food brand, how to tell whether a dog food brand is reputable, how to read a dog food label, the rules to shop by, how much should i feed my dog, what about puppy food, is grain-free dog food bad for dogs, what about raw-food diets, what about vegan and vegetarian diets, what about pet food recalls, a note about research funding in the pet food industry.

This guide’s original author, senior staff writer Kaitlyn Wells, used to run an independent pet food blog. And Kaitlyn interviewed multiple sources for this story—including the manufacturers of 16 pet food brands, from big kibble to fresh startups—to get information on how they formulate their food, their quality-control processes, and their nutritional research.

Mel Plaut, Wirecutter’s pets staff writer, did additional reporting for this guide. Mel interviewed four veterinarians —three of whom were board-certified veterinary nutritionists—to learn more about the specific nutritional requirements for puppies, as well as to update our knowledge of labeling standards, ingredients lists, and non-traditional diets (such as raw and grain-free diets).

During the course of reporting this story, we learned that most of the funding for pet-nutrition research is driven by the industry itself—and many board-certified veterinary nutritionists have worked with these companies in some capacity. Despite these relationships, none of the veterinary experts we spoke with steered us toward or endorsed a specific brand.

“There is no true gold standard for pet food,” admitted Darcia Kostiuk, senior veterinarian with Champion Petfoods (the parent company behind dog food brands Acana and Orijen ), which itself is owned by Mars Petcare.

What’s good for a title-winning agility dog (video) might not be what the pooch on the sofa beside you needs. Like people, dogs are individuals with different activity levels, preferences, temperaments, and metabolisms. As long as you consult your vet and select a product that your dog enjoys eating, you’re well on your way to providing your pup with a great meal.

If your dog is healthy and happy with their current diet, there’s no need to make a change, said Joe Wakshlag, DVM, a veterinary nutritionist and professor at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine. (Wakshlag also consults for Annamaet Pet Foods and The Farmer’s Dog.) But if you’re switching up your dog’s food for any reason, Wakshlag suggests trying different brands.

“I think when you play around with a few different foods, you start to find the one your dog responds to best,” he said. You should try the new food out for two to three months, to get a good idea of whether or not it agrees with your dog.

If you want to find out whether a particular brand of food is up to snuff for your pup—or whether that chic-looking new dog food spamming your Instagram feed is worth it—you’ll need to do a little homework before you head to the store.

Ask the company about its processes and research.

If you’re up to the task, you can call each company’s customer service and ask the questions suggested by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association . WSAVA provides guidelines (PDF) to help you find out whether a company employs a vet nutritionist; who is formulating its diets (for example, a pet food formulator with an advanced degree in pet nutrition); its quality-control process; and whether the company conducts any peer-reviewed product or nutritional research. (Note: There are roughly 100 credentialed vet nutritionists in the US, so it’s unlikely every pet food company has one employed full-time.)

If a company won’t answer these questions, WSAVA recommends using caution when trying that particular food. But before you give up on your favorite brand of dog food, do a little more digging because the company may have provided this information elsewhere.

Check your dog food brand against the Pet Nutrition Alliance’s evaluation report.

In recent years, the Pet Nutrition Alliance (a group of major veterinary organizations, including WSAVA) created the Pet Food Manufacturer Evaluation Report , an online tool that lets you easily compare brands without having to call each one. The PNA contacted the manufacturers of every food brand sold in North America and asked them three of WSAVA’s recommended questions. The report lists the answers that each manufacturer provided (or didn’t provide, as the case may be), making it much simpler for pet food shoppers to assess multiple brands.

The PNA tool allows you to set certain preferences. So if you want a dog food brand from a manufacturer that owns 100% of its manufacturing plants and employs a full-time nutritionist, you’ll find eight companies that satisfy these parameters, including the expected multi-brand conglomerates, such as Mars Petcare (which makes Pedigree and Royal Canin , among others) and Purina .

If you’re interested in supporting smaller dog food brands, you might set the tool to show companies that don’t own any manufacturing plants and that either employ or consult with animal nutritionists. This group includes a handful of companies, such as Annamaet Pet Foods (which has been operating since 1986) and Evermore Pet Food (which started in 2009).

Dig around on manufacturers’ websites.

If there’s a dog food brand you’re interested in, but the manufacturer either didn’t respond or declined to answer the PNA’s questions, you may still find some of this information online, though it usually takes some research. For example, Wellness Pet Food , which didn’t respond to the PNA survey, lists ingredient definitions on its website, and it has a page where it provides answers to WSAVA’s list of questions . You can also pose WSAVA’s questions to a company’s customer service representatives over the phone, though that has yielded mixed—if not downright frustrating—results for us in the past.

Standing in the dog food aisle and comparing everything from caloric content to serving sizes is enough to make your head spin. Don’t panic! Remember that, at the bare minimum, the FDA has labeling standards . Those standards include providing the name and address of the producer and listing ingredients in descending order by weight—just like the labeling on packaged foods for humans. Most states have also adopted labeling language that resembles the Model Regulations (PDF) of AAFCO (the Association of American Feed Control Officials). AAFCO is a nonprofit organization that provides nutrition standards, model label regulations, and other guidelines for state, federal, and international pet food regulators.

Every vet we spoke with said pet caretakers should always look for an AAFCO nutritional guarantee on the label of any pet food. Through their own agricultural departments, health departments, or feed regulators, most states in the US have adopted regulations based on AAFCO’s standards. (The FDA currently regulates ingredients and how pet food labels should appear, but not nutritional guarantees or adequacy.)

Look for complete and balanced diets.

“For the average dog owner, I would look to make sure that the diet is complete and balanced,” said Jonathan Stockman, DVM, a veterinary nutritionist and professor at Long Island University. (Stockman is also a consultant for Petco and has received research funding in the past from Royal Canin and Hills.) The best way to do that is to make sure the AAFCO statement—which divides pet food by species, life stage, and type of food—matches up to your dog. For example, feeding senior dogs a calorie-rich dog food designed for active puppies may cause them to gain weight (though sometimes that’s a good thing), and puppies need to have food designed specifically for growth. Also, although this should go without saying, do not feed cats dog food—they require different nutrients.

Seek proof that a formula is healthy and safe.

A dog food label should indicate whether a diet has been formulated to meet nutritional requirements; this is verified through laboratory analysis . If the manufacturer has also tested the formula through feeding trials, to show that the food is safe and effective, the label should indicate that as well.

When a diet has been formulated to meet nutritional needs but hasn’t gone through feeding trials, it simply means the manufacturer matched the ingredients with the appropriate nutritional requirements. Many of these foods are safe and healthy to feed your dog, especially if they’re from established companies with good track records.

While both methods meet AAFCO’s standards, “ideally, I want a diet that’s been formulated through feeding trials,” said Amy Nichelason, a veterinarian and professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “That’s going to give you the highest level of information that the diet and the ingredients are safe in the long term for an animal.”

There’s a third way of substantiating a diet, where a label may “say that the product is very similar to a product that underwent feeding trials and was shown to sustain an animal in that specific life stage,” Stockman said. Because feeding trials are so expensive, a company might use this method for a food that varies only slightly from another food—in flavor, for example.

Treats, toppers, and prescription foods won’t have AAFCO statements—and that’s okay.

If the food doesn’t have an AAFCO statement on the label, check for a phrase that mentions the dog food is only “intended for supplemental feeding.” This typically means that the food should be used only as a treat, a topper , or a mix-in.

These items can supplement your dog’s regular meals. But even though they may have some nutritional information on the label or come in a traditional pet food can , these supplemental foods are not intended to be a pup’s main source of nutrition. A dog’s regular food should make up 90% of their diet, and these special treats can account for the rest.

Another case in which a food may not have the AAFCO statement is when it’s available by prescription only. For example, a vet may recommend a vegetarian diet to help your dog manage a medical condition, and they may prescribe a specialty food that’s not be considered “complete and balanced” by AAFCO.

For an ingredient to make it into a product’s name, the food needs to contain a certain percentage of the ingredient—but there are caveats.

Don’t get duped into thinking that something called “Dog Food with Chicken” is jam-packed with poultry. AAFCO rules dictate how pet food ingredients can be listed in the product name. If there are multiple ingredients in the title, they must be listed in order of predominance, just as they are in the ingredients list. And though certain percentages of ingredients are required for those items to even make it into a food’s name, they vary greatly—from 3% to 95%. It’s good to know the naming rules (and always check the ingredients list!).

A brand could even have, say, deboned chicken as its number one ingredient, but “it’s kind of like this whole smoke and mirrors Wizard of Oz stuff. Don’t pull back the curtain,” Joe Wakshlag said. “If I dried it all down and made it into astronaut food, that chicken would not really be the number one ingredient,” he explained.

The 95% rule: If a dog food is simply named “[Ingredients] Dog Food,” then 95% of the product must be the named ingredients, excluding extra water added for processing. (Counting the added water, the ingredient will make up 70% of the total.) If a product is called “Beef ’n Liver Dog Food,” the first two ingredients must be beef and liver, respectively, not liver and beef, and they must make up 95% of the product.

The 25% rule (or the “dinner” rule): If a dog food has the term “dinner” in the title, the food can contain as little as 25% of the titular ingredient (or 10%, when not including the added water).

In fact, any product name that includes terms like “dinner,” “entrée,” “formula,” “nuggets,” or “platter” follows this rule. If a product has multiple ingredients that are also listed in the product name, the titular ingredients need to make up just 25% when combined. And any of those named ingredients can account for as little as 3% individually. So something called “Beef ’n Liver Formula Dog Food” might contain only 3% liver and 22% beef.

Because they need to account for just 25% of the total, the ingredients listed in the product name are often not the ingredients that make up the bulk of the food. For example, you’d think that the top three ingredients in Eukanuba Adult Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Dinner Canned Dog Food would be chicken, rice, and vegetables. But the first three ingredients listed are water, chicken, and pork by-products.

This “dinner rule” leaves plenty of room for other ingredients to hide. Therefore it’s a good idea to read the label carefully so you’re not unknowingly buying something with ingredients that your dog doesn’t like or is allergic to.

The 3% rule (or the “with” rule): If a dog food’s name contains the word “with,” the food needs to contain only 3% of that named ingredient. So something called “Dog Food with Chicken” likely contains very little chicken. For instance, although the packaging for Purina Dog Chow High Protein Recipe with Real Lamb & Beef Flavor Dry Dog Food shows a lamb chop and a large cut of beef, the food contains a lot less beef and lamb than shoppers are led to believe. The first—and only—mention of beef is fifth on the ingredients list, appearing as “beef fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols.” The eighth item on the ingredients list is, simply, “lamb.”

Don’t fixate too much on the “guaranteed analysis” section.

AAFCO requires a label’s guaranteed analysis section to provide the percentage of crude protein, fat, fiber, and moisture content. But it guarantees only the minimum amounts of protein and fat, and the maximum amounts of fiber and moisture, notes Lisa M. Freeman, veterinary nutritionist at Tufts University, who has written about this section of the label for the school’s Petfoodology blog. Since there can be a lot of variation between what is listed and what might actually be in a product, the guaranteed analysis section is “fairly useless as a way to compare pet foods or judge the nutrient levels of an individual food,” she writes.

So if your vet tells you that your dog needs to up their moisture intake, for example, and you’re comparing a few different products, consider calling the manufacturers to confirm the amounts, rather than just referencing the guaranteed analysis section.

Don’t be alarmed by some unappetizing ingredients listed on a label.

Here’s what to know about some of the ingredients you might see:

• Meat by-products and meal: “Meat by-product” can include mammal organs, bone, and fatty tissue. “Meat meal” is any mammal tissue, with some exclusions . This is cooked and pulverized into a meal or powder-like substance for pet food. No matter how yucky that sounds to you, “meat and bone meal are concentrated essential amino acids, calcium, and phosphorus, which help your dog maintain lean muscles, as well as strong teeth and bones,” said Rachel Beck, a certified vet tech and director of Veterinary Technician Programs at Banfield Pet Hospital . (Banfield is owned by Mars Petcare .)
• Animal fat and vegetable fat: These add flavor, energy, and nutrients , like omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, to pet food.
• Plant ingredients: Items like barley, corn, rice, and wheat add energy, carbohydrates, and fiber to pet food. Gums from seeds and plants help the food retain its shape or texture.
• Additives, preservatives, thickeners, and emulsifiers: These chemical-sounding names must meet the FDA’s Generally Recognized as Safe rule or be approved as food additives for their intended uses.

The amount of food your dog needs to maintain a healthy weight varies both by pet and by packaging. First, read the label carefully, since even the same line of food within a brand can have different serving requirements.

Next, always measure your dog’s food. Simply eyeballing it can contribute to pet obesity, noted Dr. Jerry Klein, American Kennel Club ’s chief veterinary officer. “Feeding instructions are so highly variable on the bag that most people will just go and say, ‘Okay, well I’ll feed the highest amount in the weight group based on this puppy.’ And that leads to obesity too, because most dogs should be fed at the lower half of that range probably,” Joe Wakshlag said.

Your vet can offer more-personalized advice based on your dog’s activity level, age, breed, and size. They’ll also examine your pet and tell you whether the animal is over- or underweight. This body composition chart , from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), can help you determine whether your dog is at a healthy weight.

Puppies have higher nutritional requirements than average healthy adult dogs, so their food should be specifically “designed for that early period while the animal is growing,” veterinarian Amy Nichelason said. When you’re shopping for puppy food, you should look for food with an AAFCO statement that says it’s appropriate either for “growth” or for “all life stages,” which includes puppyhood.

“Because they are growing very quickly and they have a very high nutritional need, puppy foods are going to be diets that are higher in fat and protein to compensate for that growth and development. They’re going to usually be higher than an adult food in calcium. They’re going to have very specific calcium phosphorus ratios to really focus on bone and tooth development,” Nichelason explained.

Large- and giant-breed puppies have different nutritional needs from those of miniature and toy breeds.

If you have a large- or giant-breed dog, like a mastiff or a Great Dane, the AAFCO statement should indicate clearly that the food was formulated for growth, including for puppies whose adult weight will be 70 pounds or more.

These larger breeds “undergo a pretty rapid growth rate for the first six to eight months, and then it kind of tapers off for the next six-ish months,” said Lisa Weeth, a veterinary nutritionist in private practice. (Weeth also sits on the veterinary advisory council for Freshpet, has previously been a paid lecturer for various pet food companies, and has worked with the Waltham Petcare Science Institute, Mars Petcare’s research arm.) “And if the nutrients aren’t right, you can get an abnormal growth rate,” Weeth added. The bones, joints, muscles, and tendons develop at different speeds. If they’re fed the wrong diet, large- and giant-breed puppies run the risk of developing joint problems and diseases that can last for the rest of their lives.

On the flip side, miniature and toy dogs need foods with more carbohydrates. These dogs have small livers that can’t produce enough glucose to maintain an appropriate blood sugar level, so they benefit from the easy calories that carbohydrates provide. “I would never do a high-protein, low-carb diet for a puppy in general,” Weeth said. “But you definitely don’t want to do that for a small- or a toy-breed puppy, because they may not be able to maintain their blood sugar levels.”

Steer clear of trendy, less established diets until your puppy is fully grown.

As for newer, so-called non-traditional diets—including raw, grain-free, homemade, and vegan/vegetarian diets—it’s best to leave those on the shelf during puppyhood. “Unless there’s a medical reason not to feed one of the established puppy foods, I generally discourage people from following diet trends during growth,” Weeth said. All of the vets we spoke with recommend letting your puppy reach its full adult size and weight before transitioning to adult food and before experimenting with non-traditional diets.

Ultimately, “the most important thing is that the diet is complete and balanced for the pet, and that it’s safe for the pet,” veterinary nutritionist Jonathan Stockman said. And, of course, you should always consult with your vet on what’s best for your puppy.

The short answer is no. Grain-free prepared foods might contain potatoes or legumes (beans, lentils, or peas) as a carbohydrate source, rather than the corn, oats, rice, or wheat found in many pet foods. These diets were the subject of controversy when, in 2018, the FDA announced an investigation into a possible link between grain-free pet food and a form of heart disease called dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM).

More-recent research has found a possible association between DCM cases and a high concentration of pulses (such as peas, lentils, and other non-soy legumes) in certain dog foods, regardless of the presence or absence of grains. But while pulses appear on the ingredients lists of both grain-free and grain-containing diets, they are usually found in a greater proportion in grain-free diets, which might explain the initial alarm surrounding them.

The FDA addressed this association in a report , updated in July 2023, that said, “Most of the diets associated with reports of non-hereditary DCM have non-soy legumes and pulses (e.g., peas, lentils, etc.) high in their ingredient lists.”

These ingredients have been used in dog food for years , so you don’t need to avoid them altogether. But Amy Nichelason suggested steering away from diets that have non-soy pulses in the first 10 or so ingredients—regardless of whether or not the food is grain-free—out of an abundance of caution.

Some dog companions might be attracted to the perceived benefits of a raw-food diet for their pups, but it might not be safe for your pooch. What’s more, raw dog food in your home might also make you sick. The CDC, the FDA , and the majority of the animal nutrition community have all deemed raw-meat-based diets unsafe or a concerning public health risk, citing the potential for contamination and nutritional concerns.

Neither homemade raw diets nor those made commercially are perfectly safe.

“We have several types of raw diet. If it’s raw homemade, then there’s a very high likelihood that the diet is not going to be balanced,” said veterinary nutritionist Jonathan Stockman. “And in addition to that, the raw meat can be a source of pathogens, so infectious organisms can be introduced to the pet and also to the people in the household,” he explained. Some commercial raw diets would be considered complete and balanced if they carried the appropriate AAFCO statement. But they may still pose a risk for pathogen contamination. These foods may also be a vehicle of antibiotic resistance in humans.

Some new processing techniques make raw food safer, but they’re not perfect (yet).

Some commercial raw-food manufacturers are employing new methods, such as high-pressure pasteurization, to manage bacterial growth and eliminate potential pathogens. “If an owner is very gung ho, very adamant that they would only feed raw, I would try to steer them toward one of these products that is at least high-pressure pasteurized. But there isn’t any benefit to the animal,” Stockman said. “I generally try to discourage it,” he added.

Besides, some bacteria are resistant to high-pressure pasteurization. And the process itself can have negative impacts , such as eliminating beneficial bacteria and altering a food’s nutritional content, leading some to question whether the food can even be considered “raw” at that point.

Most veterinary organizations recommend caution.

Several notable organizations—including the American Animal Hospital Association , the American Veterinary Medical Association , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (PDF) —don’t support raw-meat-based diets. They cite the high risk of contamination and a lack of evidence supporting the health benefits of any raw-food-based diet (including commercial meals) over traditional pet food.

“Dogs have been eating cooked food as long as we’ve been eating cooked food, and they’ve been evolving with us. They don’t really need a raw-food diet,” Nichelason said.

Vegan and vegetarian prepared foods are specialized diets that are often popular among pet caretakers who are vegan themselves . All of the veterinary nutritionists we spoke with said that as long as a vegan or vegetarian food has an AAFCO statement—which assures that the diet will be complete and balanced—it’s fine for your adult dog. The AAFCO statement ensures that the manufacturer has added in the appropriate balance of amino acids, and other nutrients a dog needs, which aren’t usually found in plant-based proteins.

We recommend consulting a board-certified veterinary nutritionist or a veterinarian with an understanding of nutritional health, to make sure your dog is a good candidate for a vegan or vegetarian diet.

It’s worth paying attention to pet food recalls , to ensure that your pet doesn’t get sick. Although recalls can be concerning, you don’t have to permanently write off a brand you generally trust based on one report. Recalls can affect both boutique brands and huge conglomerates, for problems such as elevated mineral levels, salmonella contamination, or incorrect compliance guidelines.

If your dog’s favorite brand is recalled, don’t panic. Just stop feeding the food to your dog, return it to the store or manufacturer for a refund, and watch for any signs that your dog might be sick. You can always ensure that your dog’s food is safe by checking the FDA’s dog food recall history . If your pet food hasn’t been recalled but your dog develops digestive upset, or you spot moldy kibble in the bowl, you can—and should—report this to the FDA. Consult its How to Report a Pet Food Complaint page.

At Wirecutter, we always check for conflicts of interest between our expert sources and companies. But for this story, it was a unique challenge due to the close relationship between veterinary nutrition researchers and pet food manufacturers. Our experts noted that most of the research is industry-driven, and veterinary nutritionists have few other options for funding.

Many board-certified veterinary nutritionists have relationships with pet food companies, whether that’s as full-time staff, part-time consultants, sponsored speakers, funding recipients, or even through endowed professorships.

“There’s a collaborative relationship between veterinary nutritionists and pet food companies, and part of it is, if you’re doing research, if you’re wanting to do a residency in nutrition, that all costs money. And so who pays for that?” said Lisa Weeth, one of the veterinary nutritionists we spoke to.

“It’s not like the government goes out and says, I need to spend tons of money through the National Institutes of Health on the proper diet for a dog,” said veterinary nutritionist Joe Wakshlag, who consults for several pet food brands.

This article was edited by Joshua Lyon and Harry Sawyers.

Amy Nichelason, DVM, DABVP in canine and feline practice, clinical assistant professor, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine , phone interview , February 6, 2024

Jonathan Stockman, DVM, DACVIM (nutrition), assistant professor, department of clinical veterinary sciences, Long Island University College of Veterinary Medicine , phone interview , February 12, 2024

Joe Wakshlag, DVM, DACVIM (nutrition), PhD, professor, sections of clinical nutrition and sports medicine and rehabilitation, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine , phone interview , February 23, 2024

Lisa Weeth, DVM, DACVIM (Nutrition), principal veterinary nutritionist at Weeth Veterinary Services, Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital in Los Angeles , phone interview , February 28, 2024

José Arce, DVM, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association , email interview , February 3, 2022

Parisa Fowles-Pazdro, founder and CEO of Maxbone , email interview , January 31, 2022

Danielle Bernal, BVSc, veterinarian with Wellness Pet Company , phone interview , January 31, 2022

Karen Fine, DVM, CVA, holistic veterinarian at Central Animal Hospital , email interview , January 31, 2022

Darcia Kostiuk, DVM, senior veterinarian with Champion Petfoods , email interview , January 31, 2022

Rachel Beck, CVT, PMP, director of Veterinary Technician Programs at Banfield Pet Hospital , email interview , January 28, 2022

Jerry Klein, DVM, chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club, , email interview , January 28, 2022

Chris and Holly Reed, owners of Bayou, the giant schnauzer who won the 2021 AKC National Championship , phone interview , February 3, 2022

Meet your guides

Kaitlyn Wells

Kaitlyn Wells is a senior staff writer who advocates for greater work flexibility by showing you how to work smarter remotely without losing yourself. Previously, she covered pets and style for Wirecutter. She's never met a pet she didn’t like, although she can’t say the same thing about productivity apps. Her first picture book, A Family Looks Like Love , follows a pup who learns that love, rather than how you look, is what makes a family.

Mel Plaut is a staff writer covering pets at Wirecutter. They developed a special affinity for animals at an early age, when every stray cat and runaway dog ended up at their family’s doorstep. Their writing has appeared in The New York Times, the New York Daily News, USA Today, HuffPost, NPR’s All Things Considered , and others.

Further reading

The 12 Best Dog Toys, According to Our Pups

by Wirecutter Staff

The dogs of Wirecutter share their favorite toys for chewing, fetching, food dispensing, and destroying. These will keep your dog engaged longer than the rest.

3 Puzzle Toys to Keep Your Dog Entertained in Quarantine (and Beyond)

by Kaitlyn Wells

An enrichment toy will keep your dog busy and stimulated during lockdown, and beyond.

What Is Fresh Pet Food and Is It Actually Better?

by Haley Sprankle

Uncovering what makes fresh pet food different from the traditional stuff—and why you might consider it.

Adopting a New Dog Checklist

Before you bring home a dog for the first time, make sure you have everything to keep your new pet happy and healthy.

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From Our Listeners

Sometimes the dog really does eat your homework.

Last week, we brought you the story of how the phrase "The Dog Ate My Homework" came to be and how it morphed into a palpably ridiculous excuse. Turns out, sometimes its not an excuse at all. Weekend Edition host Scott Simon has a few stories from our listeners that swear, honest, the dog did eat their homework.

Copyright © 2012 NPR. All rights reserved. Visit our website terms of use and permissions pages at www.npr.org for further information.

NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by an NPR contractor. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record.

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How to Make Homemade Dog Food

Many health benefits come with preparing your dog's food at home. Unlike processed kibble dog food, a homemade diet lets you know exactly what your dogs are eating, giving you peace of mind and reassurance that they're getting what they need to maintain optimal health. Here you can discover our guide to DIY dog food, including tips for choosing the best meats and veggies, to ensure your pets fulfill all their nutritional needs.

Improving your dog's health with a homemade diet

Balancing the diet is the most important factor. If the meal plan is not balanced, it can ultimately lead to many deficiencies. If there is an imbalance of vitamins or minerals (especially calcium) in the diet, dogs can run into health problems quite quickly. Especially in puppies, it can happen in just a few months. This is the main reason that vets are opposed to homemade meals, they are the ones who witness all the deficiencies firsthand.

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How to ensure your dogs get a balanced diet.

Know Better for Dogs provides everything your dog needs. We only work with high-quality ingredients and include essential nutrients and protein for health and longevity.  Our whole food premix provides your dog with all the essential vitamins and minerals needed. We make it easy and convenient for dog owners to balance a raw or cooked meat diet at home to improve their dogs' health. Our premix is ideal for all life stages, and we only use 100% human-grade ingredients. Know Better for Dogs contains no grains of any kind. Just add raw or cooked meat and water.  Vegetables are optional. 

Making dog food at home is easier than ever – just have fun and enjoy the results!   Play around with different meat & vegetable combinations.  

Choosing the Meat for a Homemade Dog Food

Raw or cooked meat is the main ingredient in homemade dog food. Dogs are essentially obligate carnivores and need a protein-based diet. Meat should be fresh and fit for human consumption. The ideal fat content should be between 8 and 15%.  Here is a list of meats to choose from:

• Beef:  Lean pre-ground stewing meat, heart, boneless steak or roast
• Lamb:  Pre-ground boneless stewing meat shank, leg, or butt
• Poultry:  Pre-ground boneless, skinless breast fillet, or thigh
• Venison:  Pre-ground stewing meat neck, shank, or shoulder

You can also use exotic meats such as buffalo, caribou, elk, moose, duck or rabbit. Because feeding raw fish can lead to a thiamine deficiency*, we don't recommend the use of fish on a regular basis.

*According to Houpt, Hintz & Shepherd in 1978. Ref. The Domestic Dog, Cambridge University Press, 1995)

Vegetables for Homemade Dog Food

Vegetables can make up about 1/4 of the meal and provide vitamins, minerals and fiber. Dogs get more nutrients from vegetables if they are lightly steamed, chopped or pureed. The best vegetables for homemade dog food are:

• Butternut squash
• Sweet potatoes
• Cauliflower
• Brussels sprouts

Things to avoid when making dog food at home  

Here are some common human foods you should avoid when preparing your dog's food: raw beans, peas, spinach, beet greens, kale (every day), chard, onions, garlic, leek, green tomato, potato, and bell peppers.

• Avoid feeding your dog raw green beans because they contain a toxic alkaloid similar to arsenic. Cooking green beans will destroy these toxins.
• Avoid raw, un-aged garlic. It irritates the mouth, esophagus, and stomach and can cause or exacerbate ulcers.
• The use of other members of the Lily family, such as onions, garlic, shallots, and chives, is also not recommended. Dogs can't eat these plants in a raw, cooked, or dried form because it can lead to damage to the red blood cells.
• The nightshade family of plants, such as bell peppers, potatoes, and tomatoes, contains an alkaloid called "Solanine", which can be toxic. Solanine is poisonous to humans too, but we would have to eat it in a much more concentrated amount, like that found in potato sprouts or green potatoes, to induce sickness.
• Avoid feeding carbohydrates, such as corn, wheat, rice, brown rice and potatoes. Dogs lack the digestive enzymes to break down and metabolize carbohydrates.

Carbohydrates are often the main cause of many canine health issues, including gastrointestinal problems, obesity, inflammatory bowel disease, kidney disease, diabetes and food allergies. They are added to commercial dog food because it cuts down on the production cost.

Homemade dog food recipes

Making Holistic vet-approved dog food at home is easier than you think. You can also make larger batches and freeze them for convenience. You can add more water if desired, especially when preparing the food using ground meat. You can see below two recipes, one with cooked meat and one with raw meat:

• Prep time:  5 minutes
• Cooking time:  7 minutes
• Total time:  12 minutes
• Servings:  Make a 3lb. batch of dog food

Ingredients

• 2lbs. (900g) meat of your choice
• 1 1/2 cups of water
• 1/2 cup Know Better for Dogs
• 1/2 lb (225g) steamed vegetables, chopped or pureed (vegetables are optional)

Raw homemade meat recipe

• Add 1 1/2 cups of cold water into a bowl or food container.
• Add 1/2 cup of Know Better premix and incorporate it well.
• Combine 2lbs.(900g) of meat and vegetables (optional). 
• Mix it well and serve.

Home cooked meat dog food recipe

• Combine 1 1/2 cups of water to 2lb. (900g) ground meat.
• Cook for 5 to 7 minutes on medium heat until it turns brown.
• Wait until the meat cools down to room temperature.
• You can then add 1/2 cup Know Better premix to the meat, stir and serve.

The dog food will stay fresh for 24 hours after you thaw and refrigerate it. You can also freeze the finished product for storage and thaw it as needed. To thaw frozen dog food, warm it to room temperature in a tepid water before serving. 

Wait for your dog to eat and then remove what's left within 30 minutes to be refrigerated. Avoid microwaving regularly.

How to portion homemade dog food

If you're wondering about the amount of food to feed your dog, follow the recommendations below. Serving sizes are based on the weight of your dog:

Daily servings:

• 1/4lb. or 1/2 cup:  for a 10-12lb. dog
• 1/2lb. or 1 cup:  for a 20-25lb. dog
• 1lb. or 2 cups:  for a 40-50lb. dog
• 2lbs. or 4 cups:  for a 100lb. dog

Know Better Pet Food Ingredients

Egg yolk, calcium lactate, beef (or chicken) liver powder, gelatin, rice bran, whey protein concentrate, beetroot, psyllium husks, EFA from fish, barley grass powder, kelp, taurine, rose hip, parsley, Vitamin B complex.

You can use any of our Premixes with different types of meat. All of our ingredients, without exception, are of human-grade quality. Our raw materials are 100% natural, and we don't use any preservatives, colors, or other artificial additives.

The Beef Recipe Premix contains beef liver powder, whereas the  Chicken Recipe Premix  is made with chicken liver.  Click here to see the nutritional table .

Know Better for Dogs contains all the essential vitamins and minerals. Adding optional vegetables to a dog's diet is a source of carbohydrates, particularly for larger or highly active dogs. According to veterinary sources, dogs do not need carbs unless a female is lactating.

Sizes available

Know Better for Dogs is available in 4 sizes:

• Trial size 4.8oz - makes 6lbs. of finished food
• 24oz pouch - makes 30lbs. of finished food
• 5lb pouch - makes 100lbs of finished food
• 25lb bucket - makes 500lbs of finished food

Why is rice bran is added?

Rice Bran is an insoluble fiber for dogs' intestinal health. It's not a grain, but the coating of the grain, and it has little carbohydrate content. Sweeps the large intestine much like the fur or feathers of a prey animal.

Frequently Asked Questions About Making Your Own Dog Food

Discover below answers to some frequently asked questions dog owners have about making dog food at home:

What homemade food is good for dogs?

Good homemade food for healthy dogs includes all the vitamins, calcium, proteins and minerals your pet needs to stay healthy. You can add ground beef, chicken, lamb or venison, as well as vegetables, such as zucchini, carrots, parsnips, beets, yams, butternut squash, and sweet potatoes.

Is it OK to feed homemade dog food?

Yes, feeding your dog homemade pet food is OK, as long as you ensure the diet includes all the nutrients your dog requires to stay healthy. Check with your Holistic Veterinarian before introducing new food to your dog's diet.

What is the ratio for homemade dog food?

Dogs are obligate carnivores, so their diet should mainly consist of meats and protein. A good recommendation is 80% meat, 10% vegetable, and 10% Know Better Pet Food Premix.

How much food should you feed your dog?

The amount of food you feed your dog will depend on your dog's size and activity level. Here's our recommendation for daily servings if you're following our home cooked or homemade dog food recipes:

• 1/4lb. or 1/2 cup:  for a 10-12lb. dog
• 1/2lb. or 1 cup:  for a 20-25lb. dog
• 1lb. or 2 cups:  for a 40-50lb. dog

What else should you feed a dog on a homemade diet?

Your pet requires a grain-free diet, with high nutritional value. Dog owners can add proteins from animal sources (beef, chicken, or lamb, for example) and fats (from meat). They also require vital omega-3 fatty acids, calcium and magnesium (from certain plant oils, egg yolks, oatmeal, and other foods). You may also want to include some homemade dog treats such as sardines, eggs, fruits or veggies.

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Learn About Pet Food

• Canadian Pet Food
• Pet Food Safety
• Regulations
• Selling Pet Food
• Pet Food Processing

Canadians love their pets.  In 2020, 63% of households had a dog or cat, with a pet population of over 7.7 million dogs and 8.1 million cats.  They understand the important benefits that pets can provide .

The Canadian pet food supply chain directly and indirectly contributes more than $5.2 billion to the GDP, while also providing more than $742 million in taxes.   The pet food sector is responsible for over 45000 FTE jobs that power the over $1 billion in exports to almost 90 countries, while responsible for $4 billion in domestic sales.

The pet food sector is expected to grow at and average compound annual growth rate of 4.75% in Canada between 2021-25, with the value of exports growing at an average of 12% per year for the past 5 years.

The Canadian industry continues to innovate, and does its part to contribute to sustainable production, sourcing ingredients that would otherwise go to waste (animal products) and is a large purchaser of Canadian farmed products such as meat, grains, pulses, and other ingredients.

Good nutrition is critical to promoting your pet’s wellbeing.  Key nutrients are needed to support a dog or cat’s growth, structure, body systems and metabolism.  A ‘complete and balanced’ pet food recipe will have all the vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, proteins and amino acids that are considered essential to maintain your pet’s health.

The Pet Food Institute in the US has a great description of the nutrients required for complete and balanced nutrition for  dogs  and  cats , which are categorized as essential by the  Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) .

Dogs and cats require more than 40 essential nutrients in their diet. AAFCO has established nutrient levels, which are different for cats and dogs, but are necessary to ensure a complete and balanced diet. Because pets usually only eat one type of food daily, it has to be nutritionally adequate to support different life stages, physical and mental health and activity level.

It is best to consider these and other nutritional facts when choosing the right pet food for your pet .

Pet treats are considered complimentary, because they are not the primary source of nutrition for pets.

All members of the Pet Food Association of Canada generally follow the AAFCO guidelines when creating their recipes.  They formulate the recipes using ingredients in the correct levels that provide the right amount of nutrients needed by your pets.  For this reason, pet food manufacturers often employ or work with animal nutrition specialists to create the right balance in a recipe.  This is one of the many reasons why you should consider choosing commercially prepared pet foods for your pet.

With more pet food options than ever to choose from, PFAC members drive innovation and continuous improvement in the safety of ingredients and finished pet food.  All PFAC members follow a strict, robust food safety program that aims to prevent food safety risks.  They do this by employing the best methods and technology, testing protocols, and ongoing monitoring through the production process.  It is a requirement of membership that members follow a recognized food safety program such as an HACCP based program or those developed using the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) guidelines and carefully consider pet food safety .  Part of these programs is to ensure ingredients being supplied meet high standards of quality and safety.  For this reason, pet food manufacturers inspect and audit their supplier’s own food safety programs and good manufacturing practices.

Methods for processing either dry (kibble) or wet (canned) pet food, add to its safety, because in both cases the ingredients and/or finished product have been heat treated.  Pet food companies also utilize other technology to reduce pathogens, such as high-pressure processing and other methods.  This makes it safe for both pets and humans who handle it.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspects pet food facilities regularly to ensure they meet regulatory and export requirements.  Since most Canadian companies also export to the US, they have to meet the regulations and oversight of the Food and Drug Administration and United States Department of Agriculture in the US.  Because Canadian pet food is also sold around the world to other countries that have strict regulations for animal health and food safety, you can be assured that Canadian pet food is safe.

Pet food is not regulated in the same way in Canada as it is in other countries.  In the US for example, pet food falls under regulations that also include livestock feed, and others created for human food.  This doesn’t mean that Canadian companies can do whatever they want, however.  Because most Canadian companies export to the US and other countries around the world, they have to meet  various regulations  from many other countries and are inspected regularly by the CFIA.

 In Canada, the regulations that pet food companies have to meet are those related to  labelling and consumer protection , and  consumer product safety , on top of all the export requirements.  PFAC worked with the Competition Bureau and other stakeholders in the past to create a set of  pet food labelling guidelines .  This document will be updated as new labelling requirements are developed in North America that will provide more information to consumers in an easier to understand format.

 Pet food that is imported into Canada, also has to meet  strict requirements  that are outlined by the CFIA.  While about 50% of pet food that is sold in Canada is imported, most (97%) comes from the US, who are  regulated by the FDA  and USDA.

 Canadian pet food manufacturers are held to a high standard to ensure that pet food is safe, healthy for your pets, and meeting all regulations in Canada and abroad.

Often the love of our pets (dogs and cats in particular) can lead to an idea for a business.  Why can’t I make my own pet food? one might think.  PFAC often receives questions from pet parents who have this very thought.  Our goal is to encourage a commitment to the production of safe and nutritious products.

Making pet food is complex.  Pet food nutritional standards have been developed over the course of many years of scientific study and nutritional expertise.  Pet food safety is also a specialized field.  Remember, that pet food must satisfy 100% of your dog or cat’s nutritional needs, which is extremely difficult to accomplish at home and could lead to health concerns for your pets if not done properly.

PFAC will not provide start up advice, or regulatory support to non-members.  Entrepreneurs must perform their own due diligence to ensure that they are providing nutritious, safe food while meeting all regulations, standards, and best practices.  One must also meet the expectations and requirements of government, whether federal, provincial, or municipal, and of course consumers.

This guide can help answer most common questions about pet food and what it takes to truly be successful in producing pet food that is safe and meet’s the nutritional requirements of your pets.

There are many different ways that pet food can be made , but the most common methods used by Canadian pet food manufacturers are dry, wet, and fresh pet food processing.  

Dry pet food or kibble is made by combining and blending the ingredients, then extruding that mix through a machine that makes the mix into different shapes, and then those smaller pieces are baked. Dry pet food is often coated with a special flavour at the end as well to make it tasty for your pets.  

  Wet pet food, which can be made in cans, small plastic cups, pouches, or even tetrapaks is a different but equally safe way to make pet food. Similar to dry pet food, the ingredients are mixed and blended together, and then sealed into the container. This is then heated to a certain temperature to kill harmful bacteria and other pathogens to ensure the product is safe, the same as canning human food.  

  Fresh pet food is made in a similar way, by blending the ingredients, and is also sometimes extruded into a cylindrical shape, heated to a certain temperature for a certain time that also kills harmful bacteria and pathogens, and then packaged. The difference with fresh pet food is that it needs to be refrigerated, and has a shorter shelf life than dry or wet pet food, but it is equally safe and nutritious as an option.  

  However your pet food is made, the most important thing is that its safe, and meets the nutritional needs of your pets.  

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My Dog Ate My Homework: How to Correct Unwanted Dog Behavior

Sometime throughout your life you may have heard (or possibly used) the old expression, “the dog ate my homework.” Hopefully, you haven’t had to actually deal with your four-legged friend using your work assignment as a midday snack. If they are exhibiting unwanted behavior like chewing on things that aren’t theirs, we can help.

Dogs, especially puppies, are delicate animals that need to feel loved, safe, and secure within our homes. When our furry friends do something we don’t like, the last thing we want to do is try to correct the behavior in a way that makes them feel confused or scared. Luckily, there are plenty of positive ways to address and correct your dog’s behavior that won’t cause unnecessary stress for you or your pooch.

Identifying Bad Behavior

Before you can correct your dog’s bad habits, you need to be able to identify what is and is not bad behavior. Though some “bad” behaviors are common characteristics of all dogs, the problem arises when the action becomes excessive, damaging, or unwelcome.

Common bad habits that may need to be addressed include:

• Excessive barking
• Biting and/or nipping

It is important to remember that a lot of factors can impact a dog’s behavior. Their breed, age, medical history, and past experiences all shape how they act and how they may respond to training. There are also many different reasons why your dog may act out that range from separation anxiety to sheer boredom .

Is your dog acting out because they are seeking attention? Or maybe they are just unfamiliar with a new situation and that makes them anxious. It is helpful to identify potential causes of behavior problems to help better understand what training they may need.

No matter the reason for the misdeeds, it’s important to stop undesirable behavior before it becomes part of your dog’s normal routine. Luckily, there are a few methods you can use to address and correct bad behavior that when executed properly, can help most dogs curb their harmful habits.

Preventing Bad Behavior

Once you have identified your dog’s bad behavior, you can begin to formulate a plan to address and correct the troublesome trait. The most important factor to remember is that punishment is not the answer. Instead, use positive reward-based correction and training to teach your dog that good things happen when they do what you ask.

Corrections Instead of Punishments

Corrections are used to help your pup learn right from wrong. The purpose of a correction is to demonstrate a fact to your dog, while gaining the ability to understand, and reduce, unwanted behaviors. We all make mistakes, but it’s important to teach our dogs to avoid the behaviors we don’t want, and to encourage them with the behaviors we do want. This makes for a happy home for both pup and pup parent.

Several behavioral corrections can be used to train your pooch the right and safe way. Two of the more popular correction methods are withholding a reward and reprimanding.

Withholding a Reward

During your training sessions, try giving your dog commands and reward them with some delicious Bil-Jac Little Jacs Training Treats  for the right behavior and withhold the treat if they do any unwanted dog behavior.

By repeating this exercise several times with your pooch, they will start to understand that they are only rewarded for doing the thing you want them to do. This form of training will help your dog create a positive association with good behaviors, which is much more effective than punishing a dog for bad behavior.

In contrast, withholding a reward when he or she doesn’t follow direction will teach your furry friend to avoid that behavior in the future. For some pups, withholding a reward is all they need to correct their bad dog behavior.

Reprimanding the Puppy

When withholding a reward isn’t enough, sometimes it makes sense to reprimand your puppy. This may sound intimidating, but reprimanding your puppy is not about scaring them or hurting your four-legged friend. Instead, it is simply creating a learning moment your dog can recognize as out of the norm to help signal something is not right.

Giving a simple but firm ‘NO!’ with a finger point or a brief leash tug is enough to alert your pup that they need to make an adjustment. By doing this, and withholding a reward, your dog should learn to adjust their behavior fairly quickly.

Redirection

Another way to correct unwanted dog behavior is through redirection. A lot of behavior that we as pet parents deem as “bad” is oftentimes just instinctive habits our pup can’t fully turn off. Chewing, barking, and digging are all habits that come naturally to our dogs, so it may be impossible to fully stop these behaviors. What we can do, however, is redirect our dog’s attention to less damaging activities when these “bad” behaviors occur.

If your dog is chewing, digging, jumping, or exhibiting a behavior you don’t like, offer them their favorite chew toy, play a few rounds of tug, or take them for a jog around the block. Sometimes even some basic exercise can help burn off steam and distract them from their initial bad actions.

S ocialization

When it comes to correcting unwanted dog behavior, socialization goes a long way.

Sometimes our furry friends act up because they are anxious, confused, or scared. When you regularly socialize your pup , they become more accustomed to different sounds, smells, and new sensations. These new experiences help your dog learn how to relax in unfamiliar situations, and in turn they are less likely to overreact or exhibit bad behavior like barking, jumping, biting, and chasing when caught off guard.

Work With a Trainer

Sometimes it can be hard to figure out what our dog’s need. Luckily, dog trainers are a great resource to lean on when we aren’t sure how to help our furry friends. Professional Animal Trainer and TV Show Host Joel Silverman is a phenomenal source of information when it comes to raising, training , and caring for dogs of all ages. When asked about curbing bad behavior, Silverman offers some helpful advice to keep in mind:

“If you can catch a dog right when he’s starting to dig or chew and say, ‘knock it off,’ now you’re sending a message the dog can understand,” Silverman explains. “A verbal correction combined with preventative training, which is not giving the dog the opportunity to be in that situation, is how you get rid of those problems.”

Ultimately, the most important thing to do when you want to correct unwanted dog behavior is to remember that practice makes perfect. Dogs are smart and social animals and want to please their dog parents, so regularly reinforcing good behavior will help them stay consistent. Plus, training your pup and using corrections is a great way to build your bond and ensure a healthy and happy home for the whole family.

Want to learn more about what you can do to keep your furry friend happy, healthy, and well-behaved? Join our Best Friends Club today to receive our exclusive email newsletter full of informative articles, training tips, and members-only discounts on Bil-Jac dog food, treats, and other products.

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Exam English ✓

• B1 Preliminary (PET)
• B1 Preliminary for Schools
• Cambridge exams

Free Practice Tests for learners of English

B1 preliminary (pet) reading.

Six parts, 32 questions - 45 minutes

• Reading part 1: signs and short texts 1 , test 2
• Reading part 2: match 5 people to 8 texts
• Reading part 3: text multiple choice questions
• Reading part 4: --> choose the correct sentence to put in the gaps
• Reading part 5: read a text and choose missing words
• Reading part 6: --> read and write words in the gaps

More practice? Try reading test 2 .

Scoring The Reading section is worth 25% of the total score for the exam.

• Each of the 32 reading questions scores 1 mark.

How to prepare for B1 Preliminary Reading

• do more reading practice tests at B1 level
• read the instructions carefully before you start each section
• think about the timing - spend about 5 minutes on each part
• study these vocabulary topics
• study grammar at B1 level

Reading tests

• part 1, signs - test 1  
• part 2 - matching  
• part 3 - long text  
• part 4 - sentences 
• part 5 - text with m/c gaps  
• part 6 - text with gaps  
• Reading test 2

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Introduction

How to serve, how to feed, food safety, quality assurance.

Why give pets a fermented raw diet?

All mammals require more than processed food to maintain optimal health. Fermented foods are healthier and safer than just “raw” foods because they’re more nutrient-dense, have more enzymes, and additional nutrients which are created during the fermentation process that actually enhance the nutritional value of food. Nutrients are also pre-digested by good bacteria, which make it easier to assimilate. These bacteria help restore health and balance to the microbiome, which is the body’s first defense against disease and chronic conditions. One should always be striving to improve the health of their pet, and a great diet is the best natural medicine and first line of defense.

What food is the best introduction to Answers?

Presenting billions upon billions of probiotics for the first time, we suggest any of our Additional Formulas: Fermented Raw Goat Milk, Fermented Raw Cow Milk Kefir, Fermented Fish Stock, or Turkey Stock with Fermented Beet Juice. Fermented Raw Goat Milk is ideal for introductions. Start with small portions for the digestive systems to become acclimated and gradually move up.

How do I thaw Answers raw food formulas?

We recommend either thawing our packaged food upright in the refrigerator on a protective plate or bowl which will take approximately 24 hours, or thawing it in a sink at room temperature which will take approximately 6-10 hours depending on the amount. You can thaw, portion, and refreeze our products if desired. We recommend using safe, temperature-resistant glass storage containers to limit plastic exposure.

Do I serve your food cold or wait to serve at room temperature?

Either way is fine, depending on feeder or pet’s preference. Cats usually prefer food at room temperature.

Can I refreeze fermented raw products?

Yes. While we encourage you to thaw and use our products straight away, they can be safely refrozen for portion control and feeding convenience.

Is it okay to cook Answers raw food?

We don’t recommend cooking our food because cooking adulterates the state of the food, diminishing its nutrient benefits. It will destroy the probiotic content if cooked at a high enough temperature, and there will be enzyme and nutrient loss. There are only 2 short term exceptions: as a method of transitioning pets from processed kibble to raw feeding; and in specific case by case situations.

How long can food sit out in room temperature?

Conservatively 12 hours for fermented raw milks and bone broths. 10 hours for meat products. 24 hours for raw cheese and raw feet treats.

How long can food be refrigerated once thawed?

Comfortably, we state 30 days for fermented raw milks and bone broths. 7 days for meat products including raw feet treats. 14 days for raw cheese. More conservative hours are listed on our packaging.

Is it okay to mix kibble with Answers raw meat, or raw milk/bone broths?

Yes. Mix together in a bowl or serve separately. It’s completely up to the feeder or pet’s preference. Although all food digest at different rates, we’ve never had or seen a detriment to mixing. Adding whole raw fermented foods are a fantastic introduction to better nutrition.

Is it necessary to add food to Detailed Formulas?

No. Both our Detailed Formulas for Dogs and Cats are complete and balanced diets.

Is it necessary to add vitamins or supplements to Answers food?

No. Our Detailed Formulas are complete and nutrient-dense, and do not have nutritional deficiencies. Our diets contain live wholefoods that contain naturally occurring digestive enzymes, vitamins, minerals and amino acids. It’s important to get nutrients through wholefoods and not supplementation. Isolating nutrients creates problems and doesn’t allow them to work effectively.

What is the difference between Detailed and Straight Formulas?

Our Detailed Formulas for Dogs and Cats have a complete and balanced formulation, providing everything that pets need for optimal health. Our Straight Formula for Dogs is a limited-ingredient diet ideal for pets with sensitivities such as allergies, or health conditions that require a more controlled, limited diet. It is not complete and balanced, however it can be by adding a daily serving of one of our milks. We also recommend adding one of our bone stocks.

Are Additional Formulas necessary to add to other Answers Formulas?

Additional Formulas are superfoods and nutritional aids with tremendous health benefits. Adding a fermented raw milk to Straight Formula will make it complete. Adding these formulas to any meal boosts nutritional values.

Do you recommend to rotate Additional Formula lines? How often?

Yes. We recommend using one of our fermented raw dairy products and one of our fermented bone broths daily. You can rotate them however you want. Mix and match, every day, or week, or two weeks.

Do you recommend to rotate proteins? How often?

Yes, it offers a diverse nutritional profile for optimal health. Plan around replenishing supplies.

Is bulk available?

Yes. Bulk is offered in Detailed Formula for Dogs and can be ordered only through a retailer that sells our products in-store. Bulk comes in a 30lb box with 12 X 2.5 lb chubs that can be scored and broken to fit various freezer sizes. We also offer 40 X 8oz Bulk Patties that come in a 20lb box.

How does the Feeding Calculator on your website work?

• Choose kitten, cat, puppy or dog
• Choose activity level and enter weight
• Daily recommended calorie amount will be given
• Click submit
• If you’re using Additional Formulas (milks or stocks), start with these first. Look on the side of the carton and put in the number of ounces for your pet’s current weight.
• Detailed section: enter any number of ounces under the protein you are wanting to use.
• Adjust quantities up or down until the total calculated calories are as close to the recommended daily calories as possible.

How much do I feed my puppy?

Puppies need a lot of food. The serving suggestions on the side of the carton are for full grown dogs. We recommend referring to our Feeding Calculator on our website to determine the amount of food your puppy requires. We also recommend referring back to the puppy feeding calculator for every 5 lbs gained, as their daily caloric intake will continue to change accordingly.

How do I measure food?

If you are using our cartons, we find the best and easiest method to measure food is by investing in a digital kitchen scale that measures in ounces (weight).

Why do you feed so much less of Answers than other foods?

Our fermented raw foods are incredibly bioavailable. They are pre-digested by bacteria, and those bacteria create even more nutrients and enzymes. Not only are there more concentrated nutrients in our food, but those nutrients have been pre-metabolized, making it easier for the body to absorb, break down, and utilize. Therefore, less calories are typically needed to perform the same metabolic functions.

Why is my pet drinking so much less on Answers foods?

Our products have a very high moisture content. When feeding fermented raw foods, your pet will be receiving most of their daily water intake through the food itself. They will drink even less when you are giving them significant amounts of our milks and stocks. Depending on how much of our products are being fed, your pets daily water requirement might be completely satisfied by the food alone and will not require additional drinks from the water bowl. Because of this, pets may seldom drink water.

What is the best food for a puppy or kitten?

We recommend feeding our Detailed Formula along with the recommended daily amount of one of our fermented raw milk products and one of our fermented bone broths. Rewards raw cheese treats are a healthy way to deliver nutrients as well.

My pet is losing / not losing / gaining weight. I’m feeding them the correct amount according to the feeding calculator. What should I do?

Every pet is unique. Our Feeding Calculator is a great guideline, but pet’s metabolisms vary. Revisit the calculations and adjust your pet’s activity level on our website Feeding Calculator accordingly. A second option is to gradually increase or decrease the amount of food by ½ ounce at a time, depending on your intent. This will help find the ideal amount of food that will help restore and maintain ideal weight.

Why is my pet not losing weight?

When using our website Feeding Calculator, it’s very important to indicate what your pet is supposed to weigh, not what they currently weigh. For example, if a dog weights 70lbs but needs to lose 10lbs, make sure to enter the calculations based on a 60lb dog, not a 70lb dog. This should bring the weight down over time.

My pet acts as though they are starving. What should I do?

A true sign that a pet is starving is if they’re losing weight. If they are not, they’re not actually starving. A few explanations for this kind of behavior is having food anxiety and wanting more. Or a pet may be experiencing a little bit of hunger due to the transition to a new form of eating. If this is the case, it should subside with time. We recommend to give some of our raw cheese treats throughout the day, or to even pour some milk or stock into a bowl for a between-meal snack. This should provide some satiation without much of a calorie increase, especially if using the stocks. Your pet’s need to feed is most likely natural, but there’s always the possibility it could be related to an undetected medical condition. If there is a change in physical appearance, consult a veterinarian.

My dog won’t consume your food. Do you have any ideas?

Most dogs take to fermented raw foods without any protest. However some require more encouragement than others. In this case, we recommend to introduce a very small amount of our food into their current diet. Mix 1/2 tsp of our raw food into their meal. Once that is tolerated for a few days, increase to 1 tsp, continue to 1 tbsp until you’ve reached 1 ounce. The idea is to very gradually increase the amount of raw and decrease the amount of their previous diet until their meals become 100% fermented raw.

A second method we recommend is to try the “tough love” method found in our transition guide. Only try this method if you are comfortable. We do not recommend going for longer than 2 days. Please note, this method DOES NOT apply to cats. Cats will starve themselves to death or succumb to fatty liver disease.

Do you have any tricks or advice that will help entice my dog?

Yes. Try serving our food at different temperatures. Some dogs do not like to eat raw food cold. We recommend serving it at room temperature by letting it sit out on the counter, or add some warm water to the meal. Also, try adding one of our raw milks or stocks to their meal as an enticement. We do not recommend microwaving or cooking our food as it’s denatures it’s vital nutrients, but using a lightly cooked method in order to quickly transition your pet is a short-term exception.

I’m wary to feed the raw chicken feet. How do I feed them to my pet?

If your pet is new to eating raw chicken feet, we recommend starting off by holding the first foot in your hand and allowing your pet lick and chew it. This will help your pet to grasp the concept that they are meant to be chewed and then swallowed, not just swallowed whole. After the initial feeding, they should be able to eat the chicken feet by themselves. We do recommend supervision during treat times.

Is it safe to leave fermented raw food out?

Yes, for a period of time. Fermentation inoculates food with billions upon billions of good bacteria, also known as lactic acid bacteria, along with the beneficial substances they produce, such as a natural medicine known as bacteriocins which destroy unwanted bacteria. These conditions create a very high count of good bacteria. Their job is to prohibit any potential pathogen cells from multiplying by out-numbering cell growth. If faced with a compromised environment, the good bacteria is able to block any pathogen from becoming a health concern. It’s Mother Nature’s check and balance. With billions of lactic acid bacteria cells that compete against minimal cells of pathogens, that’s a seriously effective and highly efficient food safety method.

What happens when Answers Pet Food is temperature abused or compromised? What if the food gets warmer than refrigerated temperatures?

When fermented raw food is left out for a period of time, the good lactic acid bacteria in our food multiples and creates even MORE lactic acid, and an environment even more lethal to Salmonella, which then causes the Salmonella cells to decrease. In fact, Answers Pet Food is the only raw pet food that gives you protection from production all the way to the bowl and continuing on through your pet’s digestion.

Does Answers use High Pressure Pasteurization or Processing (HPP)?

No, we do not. Unfortunately, High Pressure Processing damages the proteins, fats, and enzymes to the degree in which they are no longer in a raw food state. We’re also highly skeptical of putting that much pressure on food that is contained in plastic, which we believe leaches toxins into foods and liquids by using this process. For these reasons, we will never high pressure pasteurize our products.

What is fermentation?

Fermentation is a centuries-old metabolic process that produces lactic acid—a method to preserve wholefoods by consuming sugar in the absence of oxygen.

How does fermentation work?

Fermentation inoculates food with good bacteria. It allows good bacteria to thrive and fill up the available room in food. This makes food safer because there is no room for pathogens to grow. It also makes food more bioavailable because it’s predigested by bacteria.

Does fermentation continue when frozen?

No. The fermentation process is suspended when our food is frozen. Once thawed and put into the right conditions, it resumes again.

What kind of whey do you use to ferment your products and why?

We use raw whey in its natural liquid form to ferment our products. We harvest it while making cheese when the curds and whey separate during the cheese making process. We use goat milk whey for our Detailed and Straight formulas, and goat milk whey to ferment our stocks.

Do your foods meet AAFCO’s requirements for complete and balanced?

Yes. Our Detailed Dog and Cat formulas are complete and balanced for all life stages.

Is there sugar in Answers food?

Little to no sugar exists in Answers products due to fermentation converting sugar into organic acids, which aid in digestion. Our raw milks sugars are eliminated as a result. Detailed and Straight formulas have ingredients that are pre-fermented. This means that the probiotics in our food have already started or completed digesting any sugar content left in those foods. Detailed Formula for Dogs contains very little already-fermented vegetables. And Detailed Formula for Cats and our Straight Formula contains no ingredients that would still contain their naturally occurring sugars.

Are fermented raw milks a good source of probiotics?

Yes. Raw dairy inherently contains over 200 species of probiotics. We take that even further and ferment both of our dairy products. Our Fermented Raw Goat Milk contains billions of probiotics per ounce and our Fermented Raw Cow Milk Kefir contains 10 billion probiotics per ounce and 1 billion healthy yeast per ounce.

Is fermented raw milk a better source of probiotics than supplements?

Yes. Raw dairy inherently contains over 200 species of probiotics in their natural environment. It also provides prebiotics­— the nutrients required for probiotics to thrive. Probiotics from fermented raw milk populates the digestive system and is 100x better than supplement, pills or powders.

Does fermented raw milk contain enzymes?

Yes. Answers raw milks are abundant in enzymes: there are more than 60 different enzymes in raw milk.

Why do I see curds in my fermented raw milks? Is this normal?

Yes. Curds are a great nutritional benefit. Having curdled milk means the good bacteria is continuing to predigest it. This fermentation process, known as lacto-fermentation, makes our raw milk thick and curdy. The more you see it, the healthier it is.

My fermented raw milk smells sour. Has it gone bad?

No. Fermented raw milks, also known as sour milk, should have a slightly sour smell from the start, with small to medium curds throughout. Since fermentation is a somewhat unique process, there will be variation from batch to batch. Some will have a gentler ferment and will smell somewhat sweet from the start and have almost no curds. Others will be so fermented that the milk is basically starting to turn to cheese, and the curds will be completely separated from the whey and there will be a very sour smell. Most of the batches will fall somewhere in the middle, with a slight sour smell and small to medium curds throughout. All will continue to ferment in the fridge throughout the 30 days, getting more curdled and the sour smell will increase. In fact, the more curds the safer and more nutrient dense the milk is, so continue to feed for the entire 30 days.

My fermented raw milk is a different color. Is it still good?

Yes. Fermented raw milks are natural and are produced in small batches so it will vary from white to cream, from thick to thin consistency.

My fermented raw milk is an orangish color. What happened?

Some states, like Texas and Vermont, require colorization in order to deter people from consuming it. Beta Carotene turns our raw milks yellow/orange/pink.

My fermented raw goat milk has brown specks in it. What is it?

Why is cinnamon in the fermented raw goat milk?

We add cinnamon because it is a great source of antioxidants.

Why is honey listed in the raw goat milk?

Honey is used as a starter for the fermentation process. Two cultures are added to the honey and they immediately begin to eat it. We add a small amount of that honey to our goat milk. Because honey is pre-metabolized by the bacteria during the fermentation process, there is virtually no sugar left after this process. Those same cultures then move on the lactose sugars in the milk, pre-metabolizing them as well. The result is that there are very few lactose sugars left in the milk once it is fermented.

Why do these products vary in texture and color?

Real, authentic, raw food that is curated in small batches doesn’t have the homogenized look and texture of mass-produced foods. We do not have a processed, cosmetically identical look of products. We do not use any kind of chemical or preservatives to make our food more uniform. Because of this, there are a great many differences in our foods­­— from the look, texture and smell, to processing standards. Variation is found everywhere in nature, so it makes sense that it would occur in our natural foods. Fermentation is a unique process that will affect the color, texture, and smell of each product differently batch to batch. The amount of air exposure the specific batch receives drastically effects the color, texture and moisture content. Specific cuts of meat in each batch will also slightly vary.

Why do these products smell? Have they gone bad?

No. The smell is of lactic-acid and can vary in pungency. The longer exposure it has, the more it smells. It’s completely normal and safe.

Why do you put high-vitamin raw butter in Detailed Formulas?

Raw grassfed butter is one of the healthiest foods. It’s a good source of healthy fats (omega and saturated) and a good source of vitamins A, D, and K2.

Why do you put salt in your products?

Our products contain Redmond salt. Depending on the product, it’s used to support fermentation and add back much-needed minerals and trace elements into food due to general soil depletion. Salt is necessary for life.

Why is your food so high in fat?

Our food is considered a moderate fat food, not a high fat food. Fat is very important for your animal. Dogs and cats have a biological need for fats. They do not have a biological need for carbohydrates. Our food is species- appropriate and contains moderate protein, moderate fat, and less than 2% carbohydrates for optimal health.

Why do you use kombucha in your raw feet treats?

We use kombucha to bring a variety of fermentation to the diet, to offer competitive inhibition against bad bacteria, to ensure predigestion, and to inoculate the mouth for better oral health.

What color should Turkey Stock with Fermented Beet Juice be?

We ferment 3 types of organic beets: golden, white, and red. The amount of each beet varies per batch based upon availability which will vary the color of products.

Why are all your proteins the same calories and GAs?

We blend different cuts of meat and fat to achieve the ideal 1:1 ratio in all of our food formulas.

What is the ratio of meat, organ, and bone in your formulations?

In our Detailed and Straight formulations, our meat is 60% muscle, 30% organ and 10% bone which is the ideal ratio for optimal health and support for both cats and dogs.

Raw milk gave my pet diarrhea/gas, why?

Having loose stool, gas or diarrhea doesn’t necessarily mean that your pet cannot digest or is intolerant to raw milks or raw foods. Switching to pure, unadulterated fermented raw foods is one of the best things you can do for your pet. However, our milks have a very high probiotic content. If a dog or cat is not used to having any sources of probiotics in their diet, it can cause a detox response which is why introducing our foods gradually is key. Allow their body to become accustomed to the good bacteria being introduced to their systems.

What is detox and why does it occur?

Most dogs and cats have a relatively seamless transition to our foods and do not experience any detox. With that said, pets that have chronic issues, disease, extreme skin conditions, or bacterial imbalances might experience some detox when switching to our products. This is because our foods are very high in probiotics. The good bacteria kills the bad bacteria in the gut and begins to repopulate it with itself. During this process the bad bacteria has to have some way to exit the body. It does so in the reactive manner of detoxing or “dying off”. Most common signs of detox are: loose stool, intermittent digestive upset, reflux, gas, bloat, watery or goopy eyes, itching skin, a light rash, or the exacerbation of chronic issues a pet has been experiencing. Detox is a normal and natural part of the healing process, and in some cases is necessary to go through to ultimately heal the issue at it’s root. Detox will always subside as the body adjusts, the bad bacteria is shed, and the health of the microbiome is restored from our foods. For most dogs and cats, detox, if experienced at all, does not last longer than a few days. For some dogs with more extreme conditions such as significant illness, or bacterial imbalances due to long term antibiotic use, or chronic skin conditions, the detox period can last longer.

What is the best way to minimize detox when transitioning to your food?

The best way to avoid detox is to transition to our foods slowly. We suggest following our 1-2 week transition in our transitioning guide. For pets with IBD or very sensitive systems, you could always go even slower. If you switched to our foods “cold turkey” and your pet is experiencing loose stool, reflux, or various other issues, this is almost always solved by just going back and doing a slow transition. Start off with 1 tsp of the food mixed in with the previously used diet. Then once that is tolerated move up to 1 tbsp. Then 1 ounce. Gradually increasing the amount of our food and decreasing the previous diet until it’s 100% Answers. This also applies to our milks or stocks if you are just using those. Just introduce 1 tsp of the milk or stock on top of the food being fed at first. Once that is well tolerated increase to 1 tbsp. Gradually increase until you get to the suggested daily serving. It’s all about knowing your pet and how likely they are to have a hard time adjusting, and then transitioning them in such a way that it gives them the time needed to adjust to our products. Every pet is different. Most have no issues transitioning, but some need to go slow and steady.

Should I be concerned about the histamines in your food?

Histamines, which are a type of biogenic amine called a monoamine, are produced during the fermentation process as food starts to breakdown. The body’s Monoamine Oxidase System is very efficient at removing them from the body. The only portion of the population that may become sensitive to daily ingestion of fermented foods are those taking medications that are MAOI.

With grass allergies, will it affect my dog when feeding grassfed animals?

No, it won’t. All proteins have a different structure and, therefore, the body treats them differently. Similarly, if a pet has a chicken allergy, it doesn’t make them any more likely to be allergic to eggs.

My pet is unable to tolerate a specific protein or food. Will they be able tolerate it in your food?

We have a lot of dogs and cats that are allergic to a specific protein or ingredient, that can tolerate the same food in our products just fine. This is because the protein structure of the food is altered during the fermentation process, which can cause some pets to no longer have a reaction to that same food once it has been fermented. This is not the case in all pets, but it’s quite common. If you are wanting to test for an allergic reaction, we recommend adding a small amount of our food in question to the current food being fed for 3-5 days. Typically an allergic reaction would present itself by then.

My pet is lactose-intolerant. Can I feed them your milks?

Most likely, yes. While it’s possible for your dog or cat to be intolerant to fermented raw milk, it’s very unlikely. In most cases, these concerns pertain to pasteurized dairy. Pasteurization damages the enzyme lactase – this enzyme is required to digest the milk sugar lactose. Having no lactase in pasteurized milk makes for digestive distress and lactose intolerance. Pasteurized dairy is very hard to digest wherein raw dairy and especially fermented raw dairy are very easy to digest. This is because none of the vitamins, minerals, proteins, fats, and enzymes have been denatured. It’s also because the fermentation process predigests those very lactose sugars.

When should I be concerned regarding a pet having diarrhea?

Typically pets can have a single episode or more of loose stool or diarrhea as their microbiomes are changing because of the introduction of good bacteria into their systems. Diarrhea symptoms can be quite varied. Of course, frequency, urgency and loose watery stools are the classic signs, but if your pet has recurring episodes of diarrhea that doesn’t seem to be resolving after 3 days, and to avoid the high risk of becoming dehydrated and you notice any lethargy, or a fever or change in behavior, you should call your veterinarian.

My pet is constipated. What should I do?

With any change to a diet, a digestive system has to adjust. We suggest feeding or adding more of our fermented raw milks to the diet as our milks have high-counts of probiotics.

My pet is pooping considerably less. Is this normal?

Yes. Pets on our fermented raw food will typically have much smaller and firmer stool than they would on other foods. They also might poop less often, perhaps only once a day or every other day. This is due to the fact that there is virtually no waste in our food. Every ingredient that goes into our formula has a specific purpose and is in its most bioavailable form, meaning it’s able to be completely absorbed and utilized by your pet. Less waste going in means less waste coming out.

Why do Nibbles and Patties have white crystals on them? Why do they have a tougher exterior?

We developed Detailed Nibbles and Patties forms to be a convenient serving option for pet parents. Our company mission is to use the least amount of plastic as possible. Our nibbles and patties are flash-frozen in a nitrogen tunnel in order to preserve more nutrients in the most healthy, effective way. As a result, meat may develop opaque white ice crystals on its surface. Without containing them in plastic, patties and nibbles are enclosed in a box. They will have slightly more air exposure than our food packaged in cartons. Because of this, they can form a tougher exterior on some of the nibbles and patties themselves and can cause browning on the outside surface area of the meat. This is totally fine as the lactic acid bacteria from fermentation protect the fats from oxidizing. It’s expected and safe to feed. If you’re interested in avoiding this cosmetic concern all together, we recommend using our 1lb or 4lb cartons.

My carton leaked. Why does this happen?

In our effort to use as little plastic as possible, we use recyclable cartons. These cartons are not 100% leakproof. We always recommend to thaw product standing upright either in a sink, or on a protective plate or bowl either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. This will ensure that condensation or leakage will not contaminate other surfaces. Once the product is thawed, pour or scoop the contents out of the carton into an airtight glass container for storage. This will prevent any future leakage.

Why do these products smell? My raw milk smells sour. Have they gone bad?

No. Our fermented raw milks are also known as sour milks. The smell is of lactic-acid and can vary in pungency.

Follow our storage guidelines, it’s normal and safe from them to have this distinct smell, especially over time.

What is that dark spot on the raw chicken foot? Is it Bumblefoot?

No. Organic chickens, especially pastured chickens, can develop calluses on their feet, due to walking in rocky pastures. Although many processors of chicken feet remove these calluses, we chose not to remove them in order for pets to receive the most natural and complete nutrients, just as they would in the wild. It’s not only safe to eat, but it’s good for their overall immune systems.

The raw cheese is hard. Is this normal?

Yes. There is a variation in moisture as this is a live, raw food with no preservatives. It can have the consistency of Parmesan cheese. The pairing of organic superfoods with raw cheese vary in moisture as well. For example, ginger tends to be more dry and more firm than other flavors. To keep soft or retain moisture, after thawing, store raw cheese foods in a glass container.

Last Update: June 2020

Answers Pet Food

356 Maidencreek Rd. Fleetwood, PA 19522

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A Dog Ate My Homework

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"I am telling you! A big, mean, homework eating dog attacked me and ate my report!" — Numbuh 5 , Codename: Kids Next Door

Basically, this is any child character explaining to their teacher why they haven't done his homework. This will be either a lie, which may or may not be believed, or a Cassandra Truth . If it is the latter, expect them to also bring in the evidence proving their case (such as moist bits from homework, or even the animal itself). The most common variant involves a dog, but other animals can be used as well.

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• Noggin's promo for Sponk! where Bob tries to tell his teacher Mrs. Kralley this.
• In Futakoi , Nozomu is always wary whenever the goat is around when he's doing his homework. No one believes Nozomu because the little bastard is nice to everyone except him.
• Inverted in Kokuhaku Game , where the dog attempts to do the homework.
• In Pleasant Goat and Big Big Wolf : Joys of Seasons episode 36, Sparky and Weslie both have their homework stolen by Wolffy, and Paddi, who was too lazy to actually do the work, comes up with the excuse that Wolffy also stole his homework. Mr. Slowy notices they're all using the same excuse and doesn't believe them , instead threatening to punish them all if they don't hand in their homework.
• Cards Against Humanity features a question with this phrase and an empty spot in which to substitute something else for "dog". Naturally, given the nature of the game, this is very likely to enter the realm of Refuge in Audacity .
• Archie Comics : One Jughead comic's cover gag involves Jughead not submitting any homework because he ate it. Miss Grundy is in complete disbelief over his excuse. Grundy : Let me get this straight: You ate your own homework ? Jughead : I can't help it! All those word problems were about food!
• The Shea Fontana DC Super Hero Girls tie-in graphic novel Summer Olympus ends with Beast Boy using this excuse after seeing he can't top Wonder Woman's essay on what was done during summer vacation, with the twist that his dog is actually himself in dog form and he eats his own homework.
• Goof Troop : A Disney Adventures comic has PJ offering this excuse for his homework — although he has the sense to bring Chainsaw, still attached to said homework, with him.
• Viz has Playtime Fontayne use this excuse to explain his failure to deliver a bunch of monthly reports to head office.
• One strip has Nate eat bacon while at the bus stop because he missed breakfast. The bacon grease gets on his homework, local dog Spitsy smells it, and you can guess what happened from there. Nate: Wacky thing happened at the bus stop this morning... Mrs. Godfrey: I smell bacon.
• In a strip after that, Nate puts his homework in his backpack to keep it from happening again. When Spitsy gets near, he throws the bag away from the dog and shoos him away...only for the bag to land in a garbage can, then tossed into a garbage truck and crushed.
• A third strip in the arc has Nate make Francis film his homework, since Nate is aware at this point something will happen to it. Sure enough, it accidentally falls into the sewer, but Francis still has the tape... which is then snatched and destroyed by a rogue chimpanzee .
• Citizen Dog : Fergus the dig actually does eat Maggie’s homework. He has to accompany her to school to back up the story and prove she isn’t lying.
• One Close to Home strip has a student claiming his dog ate his term paper. The dog is attached to his arm.
• The Far Side : One cartoon has a class full of dogs with the teacher asking, "Well, here we go again... did anyone here not eat his or her homework on the way to school?"
• Subverted when Elizabeth tries to get Farley to eat her homework. He refuses to touch it.
• Later, Michael successfully gets Farley to eat his homework, but he has to pour bacon grease on it first.
• FoxTrot : Jason's iguana Quincy has eaten his and his siblings' homework, causing them to either force Jason to fix up their homework or tell Jason off for feeding the iguana the wrong homework assignment. In one strip, Peter collects the bits of homework left by Quincy to take to his teacher to prove it actually happened.
• Grand Avenue : In the October 6, 2014 strip, Michael has to tell his teacher that "My grandma ate my homework." For once, it's a logical explanation: his homework was an experiment involving rock candy.
• A dog sits in a classroom full of human kids saying: "I couldn't eat the homework because the kid who usually sits here did not do it."
• A dog teacher asks her dog students: "Did anyone's dad not eat their homework?"
• A kid brought an X-Ray machine to class to show the homework inside the dog.
• Luann : In one series of strips, Luann is babysitting while writing a report that is due the next day. Unfortunately, the baby gets a hold of the report, rips it up, and feeds it to Luann's dog. When Luann tries to explain what happened to her teacher the next day, he just laughs his head off at Luann thinking she's trying the "a dog ate my homework" excuse.
• Madam & Eve : This is Thandi's go-to excuse for not doing her homework.
• This happened a couple of times in Nancy (at least in the Guy Gilchrist-run). It usually involved Nancy bringing her dog, Poochie, to school with her to present it to her teacher as "proof" of what happened.
• One arc has Snoopy playing World War I Flying Ace and pretend that Sally's book report is sensitive papers. She chases him and he swallows the report to keep it from falling in "enemy hands". So she takes him to school the next day and takes him up in front of the class. Sally: I might have a little trouble reading it. *shakes Snoopy* I SAID...I might have a little trouble reading it!
• A 1995 strip has Rerun planning on using this excuse the first time he's assigned homework in grade school. Lucy points out that they don't have a dog, so he says he'll borrow one. Snoopy concedes that he might do it if he writes on something actually edible. Rerun: We don't have homework in kindergarten. Lucy: I know. You're lucky. Rerun: When we do, I'll tell the teacher my dog ate my homework. Lucy: You don't have a dog. Rerun: I'll borrow a dog. Snoopy: Write your homework on a doughnut, and I'll eat it.
• Inverted in another comic where, instead of eating Charlie Brown's homework, Snoopy actually writes it.
• Private Eye : One cartoon shows a boy with a tangle of shredded paper, explaining to the teacher that his mum spiralised his homework.
• Inverted in a cartoon published in a book of puzzles: a dog is ripping through a pile of papers, and a woman is screaming: "You stupid mutt! How am I supposed to tell my students that my dog ate their homework?"
• Red and Rover : Sometimes Red will coax Rover into eating his homework when he's afraid he'll do badly. One case ended with Red cleaning up the mess after Rover couldn't keep down all the edible bribes.
• ITS MY LIFE! : "Hey Scot yuo must do are homework an yurs but well eat yurs so you get a bad grad LOL!" My [mad dog] bros sayd an started to pump at me.
• Kill la Kill AU : The 17th comic mentions that the two-year old Mako ate Nui's homework because the latter spilled food on it.
• The MLP Loops : Loop 201.14 has an unAwake Apple Bloom tearfully and truthfully inform her teacher that (an also unAwake) "Discord ate my homework, Miss Cheerilee." Cheerilee (with Fluttershy supervising) makes him redo the homework for her, and then some, as punishment.
• Oh God, Not Again! : Someone from Harry's year had to turn in their homework in tattered ruins, after the book Hagrid assigned for his class tried to eat it.
• Things I Am Not Allowed to Do at the PPC : Rule 304 prohibits teaching pets to eat assignments, under threat of death or being sent on a mission to a truly nasty badfic.

    Game Shows  --> -->

• Spider's Web: A Pig's Tale : In an inverted example, to keep his mother from finding out he didn't do his homework, Walt makes up a lie that his homework was busy eating a dog.
• 102 Dalmatians has an example not related to school. Probation Officer Chloe Simon wants one of her charges, Ewan, to show a pay stub and he says he can't because a dog ate it. Chloe, of course, doesn't believe him and asks if he couldn't come with a better story. He tells one about being abducted by aliens at Picadilly Circus. Ewan eventually shows a photograph of him and his boss at the dog shelter he works at and a drool-covered IOU note he received instead of the pay stub because the shelter is low on funds.
• What did the student say to his math teacher after his dog ate part of his homework? "I got 99 problems, but a bitch ate one."
• "Bob, where's your homework?" the teacher asked. "My dog ate it," Bob replied. "Do you really expect me to believe that?" the teacher said. "It's true," Bob responded. "I did have to cut it up and mix it into the dog food. But it was eaten."
• What did the dog say to his classmate? "Can you help me with my homework? I ate mine."
• The Cat Ate My Gymsuit : Marcy uses the title statement as one of her excuses for not participating in PE class.
• Thief of Time mentions that no dog dares to eat homework given to Susan's students. Instead, they sniff it out and carefully bring it to her class if the kid forgot. She's like that.
• It's mentioned that at Unseen University, your homework can eat your dog.
• Family Skeleton Mysteries : Discussed and subverted in the third book, Georgia needs an excuse to get in touch with a former co-worker (in order to get information on the murder victim), and decides to open the conversation by asking him for copies of the lesson plans they'd worked out together. She says that "I couldn't claim that Byron note  Her daughter Madison's dog. had eaten my homework, but nobody argued with a hard disk crash."
• Rod Allbright Alien Adventures : Book 1 is titled Aliens Ate My Homework (and they really did, too - one of them got hungry, and didn't realize the piece of paper he was snacking on was a math assignment due that day). It doesn't end well, but the aliens appreciate how the apparent Refuge in Audacity helped cover for the other weird things that were happening.
• Roys Bedoys : In “Stop Blaming People, Roys Bedoys!”, when Roys starts blaming others for why he didn’t do his homework, Truly jokingly asks if his dog (Charlie) ate it. Roys says, “Maybe he did”.
• Schooled in Magic : At Wizarding School , it's more common for the excuse to be "my homework ate my dog." It's still a cliche.
• The Trouble With Demons : A student tells his teacher that a Krog (a lesser demon that eats paper and ink) ate his homework. After a thorough quizzing from the teacher (who is the head of the demonology department) on the alleged Krog, the excuse is accepted.
• Batwoman (2019) : Lampshaded. Kate Kane in her Batwoman disguise finds herself making out with her ex-girlfriend Crow Security officer Sophie Moore, which is a bad idea for a whole lot of reasons . She goes to break up with her only for them to end up smooching again before events are interrupted by Sophie's homophobic mother paying a visit . The next day Kate gives an unconvincing explanation as to why things didn't go according to plan. Luke Fox says sarcastically, "So, dog ate my breakup?"
• Even Stevens : Ren Stevens, when having to be paired up with a Pig, ended up having her homework eaten by the pig. She tries to explain this to her teacher, with predictable results.
• Full House : In one episode, the Tanners' newly-acquired puppy Comet eats DJ's book report, but DJ is smart enough to know it won't fly even if it is the truth so she decides to tell her teacher Michelle ate it.
• One installment of It's Me or the Dog focuses on a family with kids and a Pomeranian-chihuahua mix with severe resource-guarding issues and a particular fondness for making off with paper. The narrator quips that these may be the only kids in the world who can literally say that the dog ate their homework.
• Married... with Children invoked this trope in an episode where Peggy goes Back to School because she didn't pass home economics ( no surprises there ). At a scene, a teacher asks the class to wake Kelly, who quickly responds that her dog ate her homework. Later on, when Peggy is introduced to class, both she and Kelly fall asleep and the teacher asks the class to wake them both, who respond that the dog ate their homework. Later, Al literally eats Peg's homework (a roast rack of lamb).
• M*A*S*H : A variant in a season 10 episode— Hawkeye gets in serious trouble because a goat ate the entire payroll (and, naturally, no one believes him; he is charged with stealing it). Later, Hawkeye is finally proved innocent when the goat subsequently eats a general's report on the issue.
• Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide : One episode has Ned giving tips on good excuses. He comments that saying a dog ate your homework is a bad excuse... right before a dog eats his homework. The rest of the episode has him trying to find the dog and convince his teacher Mr. Sweeney that he wasn't lying.
• Person of Interest : Inverted in a fourth-season episode where Bear eats Finch's students' papers before Finch can grade them.
• So Random! : The debut sketch of the apparent Bad Liar Rufus has him insist his dog ate his homework, then clarifies that a monkey took his homework and fed it to his dog. This turns out to be true, weirdly.
• Star Trek: Deep Space Nine : In " The Nagus ", Nog tries to explain why he hasn't done his homework. The only excuse he comes up with is that "Vulcans stole his homework".
• Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad : In "A Virus Ate My Homework", unlike what the title might suggest, Sam's homework isn't eaten. His little sister paints it over. Fortunately, the emergency caused by the virus makes the students go home earlier, allowing Sam another day to redo the homework.
• Tattooed Teenage Alien Fighters from Beverly Hills : In one episode, one of the heroes was doing her homework when they've been called into battle. She then took the homework with her, eventually leading to the homework being eaten by the monster. The teacher later sarcastically asked if a dog ate her homework. She answered it was a monster and the teacher took it for sarcasm.
• Wizards of Waverly Place : Briefly mentioned in an episode when the Russos adopt a dragon that's been transformed into a beagle. At one point, the dragon dog sets Alex's homework on fire, to which she comments: "The dog burned my homework, that's a new one."
• The Wonder Years : In one episode, Kevin has to do a school assignment involving a potato. His new dog eats it, and the teacher reacts in disbelief that his dog ate his homework.

    Music  --> Mötley Crüe : This happens to the kid at the beginning of the video for "Smokin' in the Boys' Room".--> -->

• The Unbelievable Truth : Invoked in Holly Walsh's lecture on dogs, where she claims George R.R. Martin's dog ate the manuscript for The Winds of Winter , possibly as a preemptive measure after having seen season 7 of Game of Thrones .
• Another Case Solved : The "Comic Calamities" case involves retrieving a rare comic book which, when the player character finds it, is missing a few pages. When you confront the artist about this, he babbles "My hamster ate them! Really!"
• Math Rescue : A couple of word problems feature this. One plays this straight with the logical consequence of the student having to redo their homework. The other turns it on its head by having the teacher's dog eat homework that said teacher was grading.
• Medieval Cop : This is the talking dog Phil's favorite excuse for missing notes or evidence.
• Persona 4 : The main character can eat his little cousin's science project.
• Rivals of Aether : In Lovers of Aether , Absa has a problem with her homework actually being eaten. By her .
• Forestdale : In a gambit to be excused from gym class, Izabell claims that her Dalmatian friend Dallas ate her gym clothes with a fake letter from her mom as proof. Needless to say, it doesn't work and Dallas calls her out on such blatant stereotyping.
• Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal , "Homework": "The dog ate my homework" gets a different meaning when the homework was to make a chocolate sculpture.
• A semi-reoccurring gag in early Monster High webisodes was Clawdeen, a werewolf, blaming her brother for eating her homework.
• Mentioned in episode 15 of RWBY Chibi when Ruby goes to get Zwei, she tells him "C'mon, let's go eat Weiss' homework!"
• Connected to the above, Jane notes that one of the obscure dates covered by the Calendar Man in Batman: Arkham City is Saint Roch's Day.
• The Amazing World of Gumball : Darwin and Gumball said their dad ate their homework. Naturally, no one believes them, and naturally they were right ("I thought it would make me smart! ")
• American Dragon: Jake Long : In "Fu and Tell", when Haley brings Fu Dog in to her class's show and tell, one boy asks Fu to eat his homework. Fu obliges, commenting, "Tastes like a D minus."
• Angela Anaconda : One episode has Angela's dog actually eat her homework (her mom accidentally spilled bacon grease on it while her dad was looking it over), but of course no one believes her.
• Animaniacs : This is a joke waiting to happen when the Warners attend school. Even when it was their first day. Turned out the dog was Wakko . Teacher: Bad dog! Gimme that! Wakko: Grrrr...
• Arthur : In one episode, the Brain deliberately flouts several superstitions to show there is nothing in them, then has a terrible streak of bad luck, including having a dog eat his homework, which causes him extra distress because he knows how the report will be received.
• Bad Dog : In "Bad Dog Ate My Homework", Penelope spent most of the episode trying to keep Berkeley from eating a hybrid plant that she grew for school.
• Beverly Hills Teens : In "The Dog Ate My Homework", the dog belongs to Bianca , and is sent by her deliberately in order to make Larke stay at home instead of competing against her. Also subverted, since for awhile, Larke's own cat is blamed, the homework was on a floppy, and there was no attempt to use the excuse.
• Catdog : One episode titled directly after the trope is devoted to the citizens of Nearburg making Dog eat their homework, which Cat exploits for their money. However, when the big one comes where Dog must eat the President's written speech before he has to give it, he becomes sick from his growing crisis of conscious, and Cat is forced to eat it himself. This turns out to be a bad decision as the entire crowd finds the idea of a cat eating homework ludicrous and boo the President off the stage (and back into the clowning business).
• ChalkZone : The villain Skrawl forces Penny into siding with him by threatening to have her homework eaten by a dog in "Chalk Queen".
• Codename: Kids Next Door : Numbuh Five has a genuine problem of her homework getting eaten every day by a dog she passes by on the way to school. She has enough and decides to take the problem head on. Turns out that it's a rival classmate who can morph into a weredog and eats Five's homework out of spite, and the teacher is in on it, too . And, even then, it's only because Numbuh Five has been helping Numbuh Four with his homework (since he usually does poorly in school.) This turns out to be useful for the KND because it turns out that poorly-done homework actually makes weredogs sick.
• Danger Mouse : In DangerMouse on the Orient Express , Penfold loses a valuable document to a hungry fish in a Venice canal. When he's captured by Greenback's agents he readily tells them that a fish ate the document. Nobody believes him.
• Dennis the Menace (UK) : In "The Show Mustn't Go On", Dennis claims that he had to feed his homework to a giant paper-eating alien bug to prevent it from destroying Beanotown.
• Doug : When the kids are performing in the school talent show, Skeeter plans to play an ocarina he made out of one of the school cafeteria's dinner rolls. He's forced to withdraw from talent show when Roger's cat, Stinky, accidentally eats it. Mr. Dink doesn't believe him. Mr. Dink : Not the old "cat ate my ocarina" excuse. At least be original.
• The Emperor's New School has a variant where Yzma plans on forcing Kuzco to give this excuse, and even lampshades on and exploits its Dead Horse status: Kronk : Come on, "A llama ate my homework"? It's the oldest excuse in the book. Yzma : Exactly! It's so old, no one will believe him.
• Referenced and narrowly subverted in the George Shrinks episode "Journey to the Centre of the Garden." George and Becky are recording the growth cycle of mung beans, but find their work impeded by birds pecking around. George manages to shoo one off, following it up with a quip: George : Who's gonna believe a bird ate our homework?
• Histeria! had a sketch detailing John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men manuscript getting torn up (see Real Life folder), with kids everywhere congratulating him on inventing such a brilliant excuse.
• Jorel's Brother : In "Zazazila", the Extreme Omnivore dog Zazá eats Jorel's brother's essay about how he would change the world; his dad Edson even points out how the "lamest excuse ever" actually came true. Jorel's brother decides to make another identical essay... and puts a size-increasing pill inside it so he can enter the dog and get the essay back. While he does get it back eventually, Zazá had been a giant for long enough that she messed up the entire structure of the continents, a change that is kept permanent in the series.
• KaBlam! anthologized the Jetcat episode "Project: Evil" where Tod may have tell his teacher that the hyenas that threaten eat him ate his notebook.
• Kick Buttowski tells his teacher that a dog ate his homework, and it's the truth. A vicious little dog did (and is shown in Flashback ) eat his homework.
• Martha Speaks : In a between-episode segment, T.D. brings Martha the dog to school and asks her to say that she ate his homework. There's also a song sung by Helen saying that Martha ate her music homework, which she actually does in the episode "Martha Sings".
• ¡Mucha Lucha! : Before Rikochet can present his Day of the Dead diorama to class, his pet Masked Dog ate it. The fact that there was Pan de Muerto on it may have caused it.
• Pet Alien : "When TV Ruled the World" has Tommy get an F after Gumpers ate his homework. Apparently, the teacher didn't take "aliens ate my homework" as a valid excuse.
• Puff the Magic Dragon : In Puff in the Land of Living Lies , Sandy lies to her teacher that a dragon stole her homework and ate it with ketchup and mustard. At the beginning of the special, Puff acts out this lie, before explaining that it was a lie.
• Recess : TJ tries to have his teacher believe this showing his homework shredded and drooled (which was done by him and never started the assignment). She didn't believe it since he still had a scrap of paper on his lip. In the same episode, Spinelli uses the typical "dog ate it" response, and Vince claims his brother ate it . Vince: My brother ate it! Miss Grotke: Eaten by a family member? That's a new one .
• The Secret Files of The Spy Dogs had Sheela's dog eating her homework... on purpose. Because she has accidentally created a formula that seizes the king-side doggie food packs, Von Rubie tries to rewrite the homework from scratch, but when his mistress arrives... Needless to say, the trope happens, as well as Rubie escaping through the window.
• In " Bart the Murderer ", the dog really did eat Bart's homework just before he left for school. "You ate my homework? ... I didn't know dogs really did that."
• When the family dog, Santa's Little Helper, starts working for the police, Bart has no choice but to eat his own homework.
• In an episode where Bart's teacher starts dating Ned Flanders and saw Santa's Little Helper, she asked Bart if that's the dog that eats his homework. Trying to convince her by giving the dog a homework for him to eat. The dog refuses. Bart then covers the homework with dog food. The dog ate the food, cleaned the paper, and signaled the answer of a math question.
• When Bart is nominated for class president and asked to give a speech, he says the dog ate his speech.
• SpongeBob SquarePants : Some children's homework fell victim to the Alaskan Bullworm on the corresponding episode .
• Tales from the Cryptkeeper : There's a boy who, instead of using a dog, uses a monster as an excuse. He tells a homework-eating monster another monster showed up before. After a trip to monster land, the boy confesses and the monster takes him home and makes him do two homeworks: one to be eaten and another one to be taken to school.
• Uncle Grandpa : "Uncle Grandpa Ate My Homework" begins with the title character eating a boy's diorama of Ancient Egypt, which he needed to pass the class. Naturally, Uncle Grandpa tries to help, and naturally things go horribly wrong.
• What A Cartoon! Show : One short has a cowboy telling his teacher his dog ate his homework. Obviously, she doesn't believe him, but he tries to prove it by pulling out a dog chewing on a piece of loose-leaf paper. The teacher responds by lecturing him on bringing pets to class.
• Many dogs like to chew on things and some find that textbooks and other homework actually are worth eating.
• This trope has been slowly replaced with "My printer broke" or "My email stopped working" in high schools. For adults, it's something like, "my social media was hacked", when they post something controversial.
• A T-shirt available on Threadless features an X-ray of a dog. Inside the dog is a math book, a protractor, a pencil, and so on.
• If you take a culinary class, this is a very real possibility. And it might not just be the dog. You might have to say, "My roommate ate my homework."
• While filming Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom , Steven Spielberg literally had to fill out an insurance claim for one of the costumes with the words " dress eaten by elephant ". It can almost be seen in the movie, during the campfire at night scene - the elephant's head is just out of frame as it's eating the dress in front of the entire crew, who are somehow not bursting into laughter.
• "My dog ate my homework" is gradually giving way to "My bird ate my homework." Nobody is quite sure why birds such as cockatiels are so compelled to nibble on loose papers.
• John Steinbeck had to rewrite half of Of Mice and Men after his dog Toby partially destroyed the first manuscript.

Alternative Title(s): The Dog Ate My Homework

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