Is this concept of feeding raw meat to dogs and cats a new philosophy?

The concept of feeding dogs and cats on raw meat goes back into history. Unfortunately, when the domestic pet trade grew so rapidly the past few decades, most pet food manufacturers opted to go with the convenient methods of manufacturing, transportation and storage, rather than on the nutritional needs of the animals. AFS takes the opposite approach and commits to nutritional excellence, and accepts the challenge to manufacture, distribute, and store a raw meat diet.

Why can’t I make my own meat diet?

You can! However, if it’s not done with the proper balance of nutrition, you could do more harm than good. AFS has over forty years of combined experience feeding meat diets to the world’s most expensive, exotic and endangered species (white tigers, snow leopards, timber wolves, etc.) under the most stringent scrutiny of zoo veterinarians and nutritionists. We’ve done our homework!  Besides, by the time you accumulate all the proper ingredients and allow for your time and effort to grind, mix, package and freeze, you’ll learn that AFS and its distribution network have done all the work for you at a very reasonable cost.

Does AFS cost more to feed than traditional foods?

Most AFS customers did experience the health promoting diet as being slightly more costly—initially. Animals will often consume up to twice the recommended amount of raw food during transitional periods, until nutritional deficiencies are satisfied. Once nutritionally saturated, usually in the first 30 days, most pets will automatically cut their food intake to normal levels, resulting in costs per day just slightly higher than premium dry or canned foods. Most customers’ analysis of this cost report health promoting raw food as the least expensive way to raise animals, especially when considering money saved on health care costs and supplementation.

Nutrition

Why a raw meat diet?

The answer is very simple—undamaged enzymes and amino acids A raw meat diet contains natural digestive enzymes and the most complete amino acid profile (the protein building blocks) totally undamaged in this natural state.  Many of the important amino acids and all digestive enzymes are destroyed by temperatures in excess of 120 degrees F. Most processed and canned pet foods are cooked at temperatures in excess of 212 degrees F. Animals consuming these highly processed foods often become nutritionally compromised and manifest dry and itchy skin, dull coats, weight problems, lethargy, and many more not so obvious symptoms. Enzymes are essential biological catalysts that enhance the quality and quantity of nutrient assimilation. This allows your favorite pet to conserve its own enzyme energy for other important life enriching health benefits such as longevity.

Why is the diet all meat and why doesn’t it contain grains or vegetables?

AFS Meat Eater Diet, though predominately a meat diet, and targeted primarily for dogs, has a small percentage of cereal food fines included. Because some dogs are very active, they consume increased quantities of food and extract and burn more calories from their food. AFS has included this carbohydrate source to satisfy this demand. Also, the extreme digestibility factor of this food supplies extra fiber for stool formation.

AFS Carnivore Diet, targeted for cats, does not need the added carbohydrate due to the sedentary life-styles of most cats. Cats and dogs that consume cooked grains as their primary food too often manifest very apparent nutritional deficiencies, i.e. weight, skin, and odor problems. Vegetables, though not most carnivores preferred choice of food, can be successfully added to meat diets, but should be emulsified and fed raw to protect their natural digestive enzymes for better assimilation. AFS Rin Tin Tin products have added fruits and vegetables.

Is it harmful for me to cook the diet before feeding it to my dog or cat?

Meat that is cooked above 120 degrees F loses its natural digestive enzymes as well as some of the important fragile amino acids such as Taurine. The preventative health benefits of an uncooked, balanced, raw meat diet can be seen in the testimonials of AFS customers. Meat eaters—from small pet ferrets, through all sizes of domestic dogs and cats, to the magnificent lions and tigers—build strong immune defense mechanisms on AFS diets, protecting them from infection and affording them the healthiest diet possible.

Aren’t all complete and balanced diets equally nutritious?

The words “complete and balanced” on packages of dog or cat food do not speak to their nutritional adequacy. To legally use this phrase, the foods need only meet minimum requirements to keep an average pet alive. Most of us have more than average pets and wish more than to just keep them alive!

Health & Handling

Can dogs and cats get worms or diseases from eating raw meat diets?

If fresh table meat (using common in-home processing procedures) is fed without cooking, processing, or freezing, diseases such as toxoplasmosis and intermediate stages of parasites such as tapeworms could be transmitted. However, AFS' quality control methods include the instant freezing of products to –40 degrees F which deactivates such agents; both freezing and freeze-drying procedures used in product manufacturing eliminate bacterial growth, as well. Product ingredients are procured from a USDA certified meat processing plant in Northeastern Wisconsin and manufactured using human grade environmental controls for the purpose of maintaining superior pet food product quality and freshness. AFS Real Meat Diets Do NOT contain cow brain matter, spinal cord, hair, horns, teeth, intestines, hooves, beaks, bowel, etc.; nor does it contain other animal meats such as horse, pig, kangaroo, etc.

Are raw meat diets dangerous to feed because of the possible contaminants of Salmonella and E-coli?

Bacteria such as Salmonella and E-coli are becoming more difficult to control in today’s meat because of the concentration of animals living in close proximity. AFS diets are not made from feedlot cattle, but from more free-ranging cattle. This factor, along with 40 years experience in handling, chilling, and flash freezing raw meat diets, greatly reduces the chances for bacterial contamination. In addition, dogs and cats have a natural deterrent to ingested bacteria due to their highly acidic stomach environment. However, it is important to introduce any raw meat diet slowly to their present food and gradually increase daily for 7-10 days to recommended levels. This gradual increase allows your companion pets the opportunity to adjust to, and take full advantage of their ancestor’s food of choice—nutritionally rich raw meat with minimum risk!

How long can the product sit out after the pet finishes eating?

Meat that is uneaten, even if mixed with other foods, should be returned to the refrigerator as soon as possible. Any time meat temperature rises in excess of 40 degrees F the bacteria multiply. This can lead to a sick animal if left out too long. We recommend thawed or re-hydrated freeze-dried meat be returned to the refrigerator within 20 minutes.

You claim that the diet reduces tartar on teeth—why?

Raw meat diets do not produce tartar on teeth for one reason—enzymes. Raw meat left between teeth or along the gum line will self-digest because of the undestroyed natural digestive enzymes. On the other hand, cooked food particles can remain on the gum line, setting up the perfect host for bacteria to proliferate, causing tartar and bad breath. Excessive tartar can cause periodontal disease.

You claim that the diet reduces bloat—why?

There are various probable causes of bloat, but AFS has never known of a dog bloating on meat. Just the opposite seems true. Our raw meat diets have a high digestion and rapid absorption rate, which reduces the chance for gases to form. Many of our customers have reported bloat and flatulence disappearing after their dogs were fed on raw meat diets.

How can I travel with my pet and a raw meat diet?

Traveling with frozen raw food can be a challenge. That’s why AFS developed the freeze-dried version. Freeze-drying is the only way to preserve the nutritional integrity of the health promoting raw food while offering the convenience of a shelf stable product needing no refrigeration. Simply rehydrate the food with warm water and bingo—fresh raw meat with all its benefits. Freeze-dried food can also be broken into small pieces and fed dry.

Quality

Do you use any chemicals or preservatives in the diet?

AFS adds no artificial colors or preservatives to our meat diets. We preserve our products through freezing (at –40 degrees F) or freeze-drying which are the only methods of protecting the natural nutrition in Mother Nature’s most complete and balanced food—a raw meat diet.

Is organic beef used in the diet?

There are so few truly organic beef processors that it is impossible to build a market from such small quantities. AFS does the next best thing. Instead of using feedlot beef in our diets (which have been raised in large numbers and in close proximity, loaded with growth hormones and antibiotics), we procure our meat source from packing plants that process retired dairy cows or free ranging beef cows.

What is the freeze-drying process and the advantages of processing the diet this way?

Freeze-drying is a process that removes the moisture from the meat in a vacuum chamber, while still frozen. By bringing the temperature to the triple point 32 degrees F (where moisture can exist as an ice crystal, water or gas), the moisture is evacuated from an ice crystal to a gas without entering the liquid stage. The minimum amount of added heat to accomplish this is insufficient to destroy the amino acids or digestive enzymes. Freeze-drying, though considerably higher in cost, is the only way to preserve meat without chemicals, irradiation, or heat damage to nutrition.