Beef used in Faithful Dog is all humanely raised and grass fed! We use the best quality muscle meats with the addition of beef heart. Grass fed beef is up to 4 times higher in Omega 3 fatty acids. It is rich in anti-oxidants including Vitamin E, beta carotene and Vitamin C with higher levels of Vitamin D than grain fed beef. Free range beef is rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). These are helpful in the fight against cancer.

Our custom ground beef, includes beef heart. Heart is healthy for dogs! It contains very concentrated levels of CoQ10, a powerful anti-oxidant. It is also rich in folic acid, selenium, phosphorus and zinc. CoQ10 is protective against cancer and is essential for cell growth and energy production.

On top of all these benefits, the animals are not fed steroids or antibiotics. They are not confined. They are humanely treated and graze on grasses that are free of pesticides.

Most commercial dog foods use rendered meats. They appear on the label as meal. They could be specifically stated like beef meal or poultry meal or fish meal or just as animal meal. These meals are low quality, highly processed and denatured (which means the proteins are destroyed). Rendering plants add preservatives like ethoxyquin. It is permitted in pet foods, but the manufacturer does not have to put it on the label because they did not specifically add this preservative. EQ causes immune deficiency seen as stomach, liver cancers and allergies.

We use turkey in our recipes because it is a good source of protein, low in fat and low in sodium. Turkey meat fiber is easy to digest. It is an excellent source of iron, niacin, zinc and B vitamins. This poultry is richer in calcium than other meats and has more protein than chicken, beef or pork.

Poor quality protein has been linked to poor healing ability, chronic skin and ear infections, flea and worm infestations, behavioral problems of aggression or timidity, epilepsy and cancer.

With industrialized, feedlot pork products, most of the nutrition has been eliminated. But the pork we use is pastured raised. It is 100% free of trichinosis, the result of ending the practice of feeding pigs garbage.

Pasture raised, Berkshire pork has as dark red meat. These pigs are raised without antibiotics, steroids, hormones or animal by-products. They are allowed to run free and forage on vegetation and bugs on the forest floor. Food is always available. They are humanely raised, healthy and happy.

Benefits of pasture raised pork:

• high in omega 3 fatty acids (anti-inflammatory properties)
• rich in anti-oxidants: vitamin E, vitamin D and betacarotene

Wild caught Alaskan pollock has high levels of anti-inflammatory omega 3 fatty acids. This fish is frozen at sea within a few hours of harvest and retains a high level of nutrition without the use of chemicals. It is sustainably managed and responsibly harvested under strict US regulations.

Calcium is another major requirement for dogs. Calcium alone should not be added to the diet. This can create toxicity and imbalance. Natural sources of calcium provide the best digestion and absorption. Calcium in nature is balanced with phosphorus, potassium, chloride, magnesium, manganese, iron, copper, zinc, selenium i.e., the whole mineral team.
Pet food manufacturers use bone meal to supplement calcium. Pet grade bone meal contains high levels of heavy metal poisons like lead. Bone meal fit for human consumption is far better but is more expensive and does not address the issue of imbalance if added alone. Pet food companies do not use human grade bone meal. Bone meal is a very inexpensive form of calcium and again, if taken as a single nutrient, does not allow for balanced absorption.

No single nutrient should ever be taken out of context. They need to exist as a team of nutrients.

Our food contains cheeses. Not only does cheese provide the mineral team needed, it also provides high quality protein, vitamins and essential fatty acids. Cheeses provide the omega 3’s and 6’s that are needed for healthy skin and coat. It also promotes digestive health and has anti-inflammatory properties. Essential fatty acid deficiency creates autoimmune conditions like arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, diabetes and allergies. Cheese is high in absorbable Vit A and B. Omega 3’s are difficult to preserve in packaged foods. The ratio of 3’s to 6’s is very important to prevent inflammation. Often pet food companies add linoleic acid (a form of omega 6) because it is cheap and they then can say their food is fortified. Most commercial pet food is high in omega 6 again leading to imbalance of 3s to 6s.

Cheese and yogurt are high quality ingredients that add to the cost of our food, but they provide excellent nutrition.

Yogurt has the added benefit of pre and probiotics. These stimulate growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and inhibit growth of pathogenic (bad guy) microorganisms. They are also anticarinogenic. Probiotics and prebiotics are antimicrobial and help decrease the amount of fats circulating in the blood. They also help maintain normal blood glucose levels (less stress on pancreas and liver) and help improve mineral absorption.

Brown rice contains B vitamins, calcium, phosphorus and iron as well as the other components of the ‘mineral team’. It also provides fiber. 

NO ARSENIC In Faithful Dog Rice Recipes.

Recently the news has been full of stories about Arsenic in rice, not just in dog food but in the food we eat as well.
Here at Faithful Dog we engaged an independent third party lab to test our rice recipes to make sure they were not only fit for our best friends but fit for human consumption as well.

The results are in and there is no trace of arsenic in any of our rice recipes. Great news for Murphy, Molly and your dogs too!.

Barley is a good source of fiber and vitamins and minerals. It helps maintain healthy colon and provides food for friendly bacteria. It helps lower cholesterol and regulates blood sugar. It is a good source of niacin, which helps prevent cardiovascular disease and prevents free radical damage. It is a good source of vit E, selenium and magnesium. Selenium is very important to provide the fuel the body needs to manufacture its own powerful antioxidant, glutathione, which protects DNA and prevents cell damage. Barley also has phenols and phytonutrients which act as cofactors in cell metabolism.

Whole grains lower the glycemic index and improve the body’s ability to balance insulin. This leads to less obesity and diabetes.

We are seeing more obesity and diabetes in the pet population due to the high fat and sugar content of most dry commercial dog foods.

Whole grains provide natural forms of B vitamins that are more easily used in the body than artificial supplements. Our whole wheat spaghetti is rich in minerals like manganese, zinc, potassium, selenium, copper and iron.

Fiber is digested slowly without causing blood sugar spikes and protects against colorectal cancer, diabetes and obesity. Dogs feel fuller, longer.

Quinoa is actually a seed but dietary guidelines have considered it a whole grain. It is related to the spinach and kale family.

The difference between this and other gluten-free grains is that quinoa is rich in essential amino acids. ‘Essential’ means that the body does not produce them. They are needed to be supplied in the diet. Amino acids are the building blocks of protein needed for cell growth, maintenance and repair as well as for immune system functions and many others.

Other Nutritional benefits:

• high in antioxidants
• helps fight inflammation
• low glycemic index – helps regulate blood sugar levels
• good source of B vitamins, Vit E
• rich in omega 3 fatty acids
• contains healthy levels of calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium and potassium
• low in calories
• contains prebiotics to support the digestive and immune sytems

Potatoes are a healthy and nutritious vegetable that is loaded with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and prebiotics. Ongoing research shows impressive benefits. Potatoes reduce heart disease, improve blood sugar, increase immunity, improve digestive health and combat signs of aging. Great for dogs with inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis. The antioxidants may suppress the growth of liver and colon cancer.

Apples are low in calories and high in pectin, a fiber that protects the mucous membranes of the bowel from toxic exposure by binding with these toxins and eliminating them!

Apples are high in phyotonutritients like flavinoids and polyphenols. The tartaric acid that gives apples that tart flavor helps to protect against free radical damage.

This simple fruit is loaded with B complex vitamins and has good quantities of vitamin C and beta carotene.

Blueberries are amongst the highest antioxidant value fruits. They are packed with polyphenols and flavinoids. These phytochemical compounds help fight free radicals and protect your dog from cancer, aging, degenerative diseases and infections.

They are rich in vitamin c, potassium, fiber, and manganese. All of which help bone development.

Blueberries contain important minerals too like copper, iron and zinc as well as vitamin B vitamins.

Dogs love the taste of canned pumpkin! And it’s good for them too!

Pumpkin is low in calories but packed full of vital nutrition. It is a rich source of fiber, iron, copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorus as well as an excellent source of polyphenolic flavonoid compounds such as carotenes and lutein. It is one of the best sources of anti oxidants like Vit A, C and E. – all contributing to the health of the skin and mucous membranes and protecting vision. Vitamin A protects against lung and oral cavity cancers.

Pumpkin can help with weight loss too. Because it is high in fiber, this healthy fruit makes your dog feel full.

Nature has given us yet another powerful defender. So for your dog’s healthy eyes, skin, mucous membranes, digestive system and a shield against cancer, we add pumpkin to Faithful Dog!

Dogs love these! The are high in B vitamins, vitamin A vitamin C, iron and carotenoids. These are vital for the prevention of cancer, anti-aging and in the maintenance of good eyesight.

Sweet potatoes are easy to digest and aid in GI function. They also help with immunity and are a strong anti-inflammatory.

Dark, leafy vegetables like spinach are important to maintain the skin, hair and bone. They also provide high levels of vit K, A, B6, E, calcium, potassium, zinc, choline and protein.

Spinach contains 13 different flavonoids for fighting canine cancer as well as omega 3’s to reduce inflammation. Eating spinach will slow age-related decline in brain function and protects the eyes.

We all should be eating lots of spinach!

This is an under-appreciated vegetable! Did you know that zucchini is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin? These are carotenoids that are vital for eye health. They also provide digestible levels of potassium, folate, vit A, copper and B vitamins.

Zucchini will help fight inflammation (important if your dog has arthritis) as well as protects against infection and disease.

Yes, tomatoes are good for dogs, especially when cooked. Cooking releases more of the anti-oxidants lycopene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Lycopene removes 10 times more cell damaging free radicals than vitamin E. Zeaxanthin and lutein are vital for eye health. All together, these are powerful to prevent cancer, promote heart and skin health.

On top of this, tomatoes are a good source of vitamin C, folate, potassium and vitamin K.

Never feed your dog green tomatoes or the green leaves or stems.

Oregano

Anti-oxidant

Herbs

This herb has been used since ancient times for its medicinal properties. It has antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungal properties. Rosemary is rich in B vitamins and vit A, minerals including potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, copper and magnesium. We love to add it because it improves gut health, decreases inflammation, stimulates circulation and detoxifies the body. This little herb does amazing things for eye health, oral health and muscle pain as well as helps heal the skin. It is even being studied for its effects on mental function and cognition.

Faithful Dog have researched the oils that are used in our food. We wanted oils that provide the best nutrition and are the least processed. Our oils are extra virgin, cold pressed oils. This means the oil is extracted without the use of heat (cold processed) or chemicals. These oils are the most expensive oils on the market.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil provide many benefits:

High in antioxidants, it protects against heart disease: controls LDL (bad) and raises HDL (good). It is the only vegetable oil that can be consumed as it is – freshly pressed from the fruit.

It has protective functions in gastritis and activates the secretion of bile and pancreatic hormones to lower formation of gallstones. It contains Vit E and phenols, chlorophylls, carotinoids. Helps control blood sugar levels and helps the body produce natural anti-inflammatory agents that reduce the severity of arthritis, etc.

We do not use just any chelated minerals! Our minerals use a superior chelation process that promotes stability and keeps the organic mineral in its original form during digestion. Our minerals are unique in that they are bonded to multiple oligo-peptides and amino acids. This improves absorption.

Trace mineral absorption and metabolism are interrelated. An excess of one mineral can cause deficiency in another. These negative interactions are more likely to occur with the use of inorganic sources (non-chelated) than with our chelated sources.

Our minerals are produced by a natural process with food-grade standards.

Benefits:

• Helps improve shine and the health of hair and skin.
• Cooperates with your dog’s natural system . The body only uses what it needs.

We use organic kelp in Faithful Dog! It maintains the proper balance of normal intestinal micro flora which supports a healthy GI tract. Kelp has a strong antioxidant effect which protects your dog from oxidative stress by reducing free radicals.

The kelp used in Faithful Dog contains natural phlorontannins and polyphenolic compounds with carotenoids to protect the immune system. They have strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic properties. Backed by 20 years of research.

This is helpful for puppies, mature and geriatric dogs as well as dogs suffering from or prone to chronic conditions or who are under stress.

• Vitamin A

• Vitamin E

• Vitamin D3

• Folic Acid

• Biotin

• Vitamin B12

• B6

• Niacin

• Riboflavin

• Thiamine