A call for rational, fact-based thinking about how we feed our companions
Dogs thrive on good nutrition, movement, affection, and connection. My only goal here is to spark thoughtful, evidence-grounded choices about feeding. With slightly more effort and often no extra cost, many families can offer diets closer to what dogs are built for: fresh meats, cooked plants, moisture-rich foods, and occasional fasting.
This is not about judging anyone. People who love their dogs usually do the best they can with the information they have. In a noisy, confusing world, choosing better—when we can—is enough.
Kibble: Key Facts and Common Myths
How kibble is made
- Cooked at 320–600°F, destroying many nutrients.
- Vitamins, amino acids, and fats are sprayed on afterward.
- “Complete and balanced” claims rely on this post-processing, not whole nutrition.
Regulation limits
- AAFCO does not require disclosure of precise ingredient sources.
- Claims on bags are largely honor-system based.
- “Meals” and “digests” can legally include a wide range of animals.
Practical reality
- A food that is dehydrated, uniform in color, never spoils, and doesn’t attract flies is not what any carnivore evolved to eat.
- Dogs can survive on kibble, but whole diets consistently support better longevity, fewer chronic issues, and more resilience.
What We Know from History
Since kibble’s rise after WWII:
- Longevity has declined in many breeds.
- Organ disease, immune dysfunction, and autoimmune issues have risen sharply.
- Simple additions—such as table leftovers (given in the dog’s bowl at the dog’s mealtime)—increase nutrient diversity and support immune function.
Fasting and Hydration: Two Overlooked Foundations
Fasting
- Wild canids never ate every day.
- Periodic fasting lets the kidneys, GI tract, and immune system recover.
- Skipping one meal day per week provides major long-term benefits.
- If fasting feels impossible, use a low-protein/plant-based day instead.
Moisture
- Carnivores evolved to eat prey that is 75–95% water.
- Dry diets often lead to chronic low-grade dehydration.
- Add moisture daily: broth, yogurt, eggs, milk, or water-rich foods.
Protein rotation
- Rotate proteins to avoid allergies.
- Limit corn, wheat, soy, and frequent daily chicken.
Understanding Canine Biology
- Dogs share digestive anatomy with wolves: short GI tract, strong stomach acid, and enzymes designed for meat.
- Raw poultry bones are safe; cooked bones are not.
- Carnivores clear bacteria like salmonella much faster than humans.
Fresh Foods: What to Feed and What to Avoid
Core meat components
- Raw meaty bones: chicken backs and necks provide bone, tendon, ligaments, fat, and connective tissues.
- Muscle meat alone is not enough.
- Avoid large cow bones as a primary calcium source.
Non-meat foods
- Many foods labeled “toxic” have cultural histories of safe use.
- True hazards include:
- Macadamia nuts
- Large amounts of chocolate
- Spoiled avocado, pits, and peels
- Allium (onion/garlic) only becomes harmful at mega doses; normal leftovers are generally safe when balanced with extra red meat.
Plants for diversity
- Modern diets—human and canine—are based on very few plant families.
- Add variety with herbs, spices, and nutrient-dense plants:
- seaweeds (dulse, kelp)
- pumpkin
- slippery elm
- diverse leftovers
- Diversity strengthens immunity and digestive resilience.
Using the Honest Kitchen Base Mix
- Provides the plant portion of the diet.
- Add your own protein: raw or cooked eggs, yogurt, muscle meat, organs.
- Rehydrate with warm water.
- Add tinctures or herbal powders if appetite is strong; otherwise hide herbs in treats like sardines or yogurt.
Organ-support tip:
Feed the organ that corresponds to the issue (e.g., liver for liver support). Cook liver and choose organic.
Weekly Sample Plan (40-lb Dog)
Mon–Wed
- 1–2 chicken backs
- ¼–½ cup muscle meat
- ¾ cup HK Veggie Nut & Seed Base Mix
- Optional leftovers
Thu–Fri
- ½–1 lb non-poultry meat (beef, pork, fish)
- ¾ cup HK Base Mix
- Optional leftovers
Sat
- Organ meats (cooked liver, raw heart, kidney, brain)
- ¾ cup HK Base Mix
- Optional leftovers
Sun
- Fast day
Closing Thought
Small shifts make a big difference. Whether you adjust once a week or overhaul everything at once, your dog will feel the benefits in energy, digestion, coat health, and longevity.
From our family to yours, wishing you many healthy years together.