Our Yummy Story
My name is Adrianna and I am a Clinical Canine and Feline Nutritionist. In 2010 my then 5 year old cocker spaniel Tucker was diagnosed with ITP (Immune Mediated Trombocytopenia). This did not seem normal and began my quest to find out why such a young dog was so seriously ill. This took me to New Jersey USA to begin my studies in canine and feline nutrition and what was the most important chapter in Tucker's life, and my life as well. Once my studies were complete and I was awarded the title of Clinical Nutritionist by the Department of Education New Jersey, Natural Hounds was born and Tucker's life forever changed. I'm proud to say that Tucker has lived to the age of 16 years and despite his diagnosis has thrived. I have since helped many animals reverse ailments, dramatically improve their health, live life to their full potential and significantly increase their lifespan.
We are not just a food store. We offer nutritional and wellness counseling that combined with a species appropriate diet will allow your pet to live longer, healthier.
A few happy customers
Tucker
Tucker is my inspiration, teacher and the reason Natural Hounds exists. He has taken steroid medication to control his ITP for over 11 years and has continued to thrive and maintain a physical condition of a young dog.
Noah
Noah has experienced a long history of ailments since birth. He had cherry eye, IVDD, chronic ear and skin issues, slow motility in his stomach as well as a thyroid condition (which he is medicated for). With the correct supplements and appropriate diet Noah is thriving.
Symba
Symba suffered from urinary crystals. His diet was significantly modified and as a result his condition has improved significantly and he has not had a relapse.
Our Products
We go beyond human grade quality.
In EVERY ingredient!
NATURAL INGREDIENTS
100% of our ingredients are human grade. 100% of our supplements are human grade, are from an FDA certified supplier, are of the highest quality and always naturally sourced (never ever synthetic).
100% HOMEMADE
We operate a kitchen, not a plant of factory. Only USDA/FDA approved ingredients are ever allowed to enter our premises.
OUR SOURCES
All of our meats are farm sourced from the same farms that supply grocery stores and restaurants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact us if you cannot find an answer to your question.
What is Natural Hounds?
From what we know, we are one of the world’s first dog and cat food kitchens built from scratch and completely devoted to dog and cat nutrition and wellness. Natural Hounds has been preparing homemade meals for dogs and cats since 2011.
How long can your food sit out at room temperature?
We can apply the same principles to Natural Hound’s meals as we would to our own food. Having one of our meals sit out for an hour or even two is not going to be a problem, but just as with our own food, if the food stays out overnight, it should very likely be thrown away.
Is it okay to heat the food for my dog or cat?
Yes, but please follow these guidelines if you need to heat (warm up) the food. You can heat the food by running warm water over the vacuum sealed bag of thawed food. Some of our customers pour some warm water into the food as well. We advise to never put the food in a microwave or to cook it on a stove. The food has already been cooked at minimal levels in order to preserve nutritional value.
How long does your food last in the fridge once thawed?
Natural Hounds food is just like human food so as a rule of thumb we say 4 to 5 days. This is due to the fact that the only preservative we use is the refrigerator!
How do I store food?
The food can be frozen and thawed in the refrigerator as needed. Some customers prefer to purchase fresh meals every 4 to 5 days and never freeze.
My dog seems hungry for more food. How much more can I feed?
When I first started creating my recipes and transitioning my first dog from kibble to real food, I noticed that the cups or ounces per day seemed higher with the real food than with the bagged kibble and finding what works for individual pets is a big part of this question. Dogs and cats generally love food, and especially love our food. Feeding guidelines are always approximate and subject to a given dog’s age, activity level and metabolism. With that in mind, begging probably has more to do with loving the food rather than needing more nutrients. If your pet begins to gain or lose unexpected weight, adjust volume you feed incrementally until his weight stabilizes. Always consult with a veterinarian to ensure proper weight management.
What is the transition like?
Most dogs transition very easily. Cats however can be very challenging to transition and require much more patience. Some dogs, with more sensitive stomachs, experience slight discomfort and/or loose stool. This is normal and no cause for concern. In such a case, scale back the percentage of new food to old food and transition a bit slower. Nothing replaces the watchful eye of a loving pet a parent, so please give us a call with any questions.
Do I need to add a multi vitamin to the food?
No. All Natural Hounds recipes are completely balanced for long term feeding.
What do I do if my dog gains weight?
The correct serving amount of our food will keep your dog or cat healthy, happy and fit. If you see unwanted weight gain, then simply trim the volume of food you are feeding by small increments (5-10%) until your pet reaches the desired weight. All dogs (like people) have their own metabolism so it’s impossible to know how much each dog should consume just by knowing their weight. It’s a process and no one is in a better position to judge the results than you.
Can I mix your food with dry kibble or canned dog food?
The simple answer is yes. However, the more real food your pet eats and the less processed food the better. If you are trying to meet a specific budget and have to mix the two, it is still better than feeding processed dog food exclusively.
I have heard that dogs do not need vegetables in their diet. Why does your food have vegetables?
We include fresh vegetables and fruit in our meals because these ingredients provide excellent sources of antioxidants, omega – 3 fatty acids, glucosinolates, thiocyanates and a variety of vitamins and minerals.
A good variety of colorful fruits and vegetables provides a great defense against the number one disease killer of dogs, cancer. If you take a look at the last ingredients on the label of most dry dog foods you will see that the micronutrients in the kibble come from synthesized vitamins and minerals. While synthesized vitamins and minerals prevent diseases that result from short term deficiency, they do not provide optimum nutrition and lack many of the cancer fighting compounds found in fruits and vegetables.
I have heard that grains are not good for dogs and are unnecessary in a dog diet. Why do you have grains in your food?
This is a common misconception. Raw grains are not good for dogs because they cannot be broken down and digested within a dog’s system. Similarly, most grain by-products (as opposed to whole grains) cannot be digested by a dog’s system. We use only whole grain, USDA or FDA approved ingredients in our food. These ingredients are intended for the human food chain and are of the highest quality. We fully cook these grains which makes them highly digestible and they deliver essential nutrients such as fiber, iron, B vitamins, zinc, etc.
What are by-products and why should I avoid feeding them to my dog?
Generally speaking, these are the left over parts and pieces from the production of food for humans. For example: parts of a chicken or cow that cannot be eaten by people including hair, hide, bone, etc. The same is also true for vegetables, fruit, grains and other items. Leftovers such as empty peanut shells, parts of a wheat plant or corn stalk, etc. are also by-products and cannot be digested by humans (or dogs for that matter).
How do your special or custom recipes work?
As we do not have a veterinarian on staff, we typically work from information provided by the primary care or specialist veterinarian of each pet. We make custom diets that help support the diagnosis made by your veterinarian for ailments such as liver disease, kidney disease, cancer, diabetes, allergies, IBD, etc. and continue to work with your veterinarian.
Are any preservatives used in your meals?
No added preservatives at all. The only preservative we use is the refrigerator and the freezer.
What does the term “balanced” food mean?
It can be difficult for dogs to get all of the nutrients they require from food alone so any dog food must have added supplements if it is to be intended for long term feeding. What makes us different from any other pet food company is that our food is balanced with the standards of the National Research Counsil (NRC) in mind in addition to the ancestral requirements of each species. Unlike the typical dog food, we add supplementation that is intended for humans, so the bioavailability is much greater. We then go beyond what any other company offers in that we ensure the supplements are naturally sourced and never synthetic. We have yet to find another company that takes these extra steps in their food production.
What does the term “whole” food mean?
Real, un-processed, bioavailable, and nutrient-rich ingredients in their natural state.
I’ve heard of businesses in my area making similar whole food diets for dogs, what makes your food unique?
You must ask any person or business making and selling pet food, who is in control of their nutrition department and ensure that their food is balanced for long term feeding. We have a clinical canine and feline nutritionist overseeing our meal formulation as well as meal preparation. Also, our food is balanced with the standards of the National Research Counsil (NRC) in mind in addition to the ancestral requirements of each species. We also go beyond what any other company offers in that we ensure that any supplements we use are naturally sourced and never synthetic. We have yet to find another company that takes all these extra steps in their food production.
What is the AAFCO?
AAFCO (Association of American Feed Control Officials) is not a government agency but rather an organization more or less governed by the large, commercial animal and pet food manufacturers, and their appointees. When non-government organizations such as this are allowed to preside over themselves the focus is generally related to profits rather than quality. The AAFCO and its involvement in the pet food industry may be one of the best examples of “self regulation” in the entire country.
Does your food meet AAFCO standards?
We choose to balance our food to the National Research Counsil (NRC) standards in addition to the ancestral requirements of each species. The NRC answers directly to the FDA and has much more recent nutritional guidelines. AAFCO is a private company with standards that are, in our opinion, far too loose with what they allow in dog food. Take a bag of sand, add a multi vitamin and mineral mix in (in amounts specific to dogs and cats needs), submit the batch to AFFCO and boom you now have dog or cat food certified by AAFCO! Is this good enough for our furry family members?! Just let that sink in.
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We love caring for pets! Schedule right here on our site for a meet and greet, or to make any pet services appointment. If you have a special request, send us a message, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Natural Hounds
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