Why Raw and why Trapper’s Way?

First, let’s talk RAW – yes, as in uncooked, unprocessed, in nature’s natural state, raw meats.  Dogs’ ancestors were wolves.  Wolves hunted for their food.  Once the prey was caught, it was immediately eaten – no fires, no cooking.  Raw, in its most natural form.  Whatever vegetation the wolf ate was what might have been in their prey’s stomach contents.  Therefore, the dog’s ancestor’s diet was primarily raw meat and bones and limited amounts of vegetation.

Grains [wheat, rice, corn, oats, flour, etc.] are not a natural food for dogs.  It is not something they would eat in the wild.  A carnivore has no need for them and grains do not digest well.  The grains that they might have access to would be in small quantities eaten from the stomachs of their prey.  And those grains would certainly not be like our modern grains.  They would certainly not be cooked grains and would be more like grasses than the grains found in commercial food.

Grains are also full of carbohydrates which can be easily converted to sugars.  Cancer cells thrive on sugars…… if you remove the sugars, it is believed that you would be removing a food source for cancer.  And, think about all the cancers that are affecting our dogs lately.    Also, grains are one of the major sources of allergies in dogs.   Allergies usually take time [could be a couple of years] to develop and are a reaction to something that the body sees as foreign substances.  Because our furry family members cannot digest grains well, and dry kibble is made up of up to 60% grain, kibble remains in the digestive tract for about 12 hours.  Plenty of time to start developing irritations in the form of allergy symptoms, such as [recurring] ear infections, dry/itching skin, constant licking of the paws, digestive problems.

The wolf’s intestines are considerably shorter and smoother than a human’s; very similar to a garden hose.   Because it is shorter, digestible contents move through and digest much quicker.   And, also because of this, there is little chance that bacteria, such as Salmonella, can get caught or hung up, and cause issues.

Keep in mind, however, because you will be handling raw foods, and salmonella is not just in raw meats, you must definitely employ basic hygiene practices.  Wash your hands and keep surfaces clean that may come in contact with raw foods – just as you would when handling your own food.  Always wash your pet’s bowls after eating and keep their water bowl clean as well.

So, by feeding a diet of raw foods, you are in fact, feeding your dog what their body was intended to eat – a “biologically appropriate” food.  You are feeding what they are meant to eat, and therefore, their body will digest it appropriately, absorb and utilize the nutrients properly, expel the unused waste more naturally (and it will be less waste, because more of the food and nutrients are being absorbed).  And, a healthy body, has a healthy immune system, to help fight off allergies and infections.

So, now that we agree raw is better for our dog, why is Trapper’s Way a better alternative?

Trapper’s Way consists of all natural, human-grade products.  Hormone, steroid, preservative and chemical free.  It is prepared personally by those who have a passion for this product.  This is the very same recipe we feed our Trapper, who is our inspiration.

We currently have a Chicken and a Beef Recipe, in both 1 and 4-pound containers.  Additional recipes will be forthcoming.  Our ingredients consist of raw [USDA inspected] meats, whole chickens including the bones, vegetables (such as carrots, yellow squash and broccoli), fruit (apples or pears), eggs (including the shell for added calcium), parsley or celery, and apple cider vinegar.

If you are currently feeding commercial dog food, you will want to gradually introduce the new raw food.  I also highly recommend adding digestive enzymes and probiotics to your pet's diet to help boost the digestive system [by adding back the good bacteria] and aid in a smooth transition. (See our How to Transition page for more information)