Samson: Our Gentle Giant Is Finally Healthy

For 16 months we struggled to find out why our beautiful Samson was so sick. He suffered from chronic ear infections, constant diarrhea and skin infections which would not clear up even with antibiotics and 3 baths weekly. Every type of dog food available in Canada was purchased with no relief for Samson. We even cooked 150 pounds of turkey and rice monthly for a number of months and still he was tortured. As a last resort we decided to try raw feed and within two weeks ALL of Samson's health issues disappeared. Karen and Doug have been more than helpful and their knowledge of nutrition for dogs is second to none.

We are convinced that without the help of Karen, Doug and Totally Raw Dog Food Samson's life would have been very unhappy, unhealthy and considerably shorter.

We cannot thank them enough.

The Morgans
Hammonds Plains

Emma

Emma is a 14 year old lab mix. We've had her since she was a whiny sweet puppy. Last spring she began panting constantly and drinking water non-stop. Along with that was shivering and pacing up and down the stairs all night looking for water and had lost weight. After some blood work and urine tests our vet suspected cushings. He felt the "cure" for it might be very hard on my old dog. I opted not to get the tests done for cushings since there didn't seem to be much of a cure regardless of the outcome. We then limited her water in the evening and gave her a small sedative at night - mostly so we could sleep! I did a little looking on the internet and a few forums I found suggested raw dog food. I thought...gross - really? I also figured I didn't have much to lose since my dog seemed to be without much hope. After 2 weeks on the new diet we were able to stop medicating her and limiting the water. She's back to her old self - she's still a bit thinner than she was (which isn't a bad thing) and she gets around pretty good for an old dog. Thanks Karen & Doug for providing this service - it would be so hard to figure this out on our own without your company!

Lucy

Lucy is basically Emma's dog. Lucy is an 8 year old lab cross. She's a lover of children and tennis balls. Last year she developed a limp in her hind leg or hip that would come and go. It seemed to bother her mostly when she got up from a long snooze. She of course had no limp in the vets office! We began to joke that she was faking it for attention. Last spring when we switched our old dog Emma to the raw dog food, Lucy came along for the ride. She still has to be convinced that the mackerel is a good idea but is basically cheerful about the whole process - especially the bones! My family has commented on how great her teeth are now too and wondered if I took her to the doggy dentist for some teeth whitening! Her weight is now at a good level and she hasn't had a limp in months. Thanks Karen & Doug!

Jackie B.
Hilden, Nova Scotia

Suki

We would like to say a tremendous THANK YOU to Karen and Doug for providing their wonderful products/service and advice at Totally Raw Dog Food!!
Our bullmastiff puppy, Suki, is thriving on the raw food! She is 17 months old and we consider her "our baby"! We only want what is best for her and thought we were doing that by feeding her high priced, premium kibble. She had chronic infections and colitis so our vet told us to switch her to another premium kibble. A month later she was getting sick again. It seemed like she was going to the vet every 2 weeks with another infection or issue and on antibiotics most of the time. I got frustrated and on the recommendation from my breeder, contacted Totally Raw Dog Food.
That was a little over 6 months ago and we are so grateful! Suki is full of energy, happy, healthy and loves meal time! Karen has been so helpful and is a wealth of information on raw feeding for this worried "bullie mom". We now get compliments all the time on Suki's superb muscle tone, sparkly teeth and shiny/soft coat. The vet techs have even ask me how she's doing because they haven't seen her in so long:-)
I recommend Totally Raw to all my friends who ask for advice and we are so thankful for this business. We believe in it so much that we are willing to travel 6 hours, return, to get Suki's grub and would never think of going back to kibble!

Bonnie, Darrell and Suki
Yarmouth, NS

Pal

Pal has been eating Totally Raw since he was 8 weeks old. He is now 8 months old and has never needed a bath (his coat is shiny and smells great), his teeth are movie star white (no stinky dog breath), and he is full of energy. Every time we take Pal out, everyone comments on how muscular he is and how wonderful he looks. It's all because of his diet, Totally Raw. I have had other dogs in the past and, like everyone else fed him kibble, paid the expensive vet & grooming bills and put up with the bad breath & "dog smell". Now I have a gorgeous, happy, energetic dog who is healthy and excited about meal time. Thank you so much Totally Raw. We will be lifetime customers singing your praises every chance we get!

Erin B
Winsor, Nova Scotia

Jack

First let me tell you how thrilled Jack and I are with our first order from Totally Raw. The cost is about 1/4 of what I'd been paying through the supermarket/farmer's market, and the quality has at times, tempted ME to eat what Jack's having for supper! He's been really into whatever he's tried that he hasn't had before (chicken feet, for example) and soI'm content that he's getting the variety he needs.I can't thank you enough for providing this service for raw feeders.

Liz F. Bedford
www.foodcritic.ca

Sadie

Just wanted to let you guys know how happy we are with this raw food diet. I think it's been a couple of months now since Sadie has been on it and the change in her is unbelievable. She no longer requires any supplements whatsoever. Her limping is completely gone, she's lost weight, and is now able to chase the ball, run, and go for long walks. All the tartar is gone from her teeth (they were very dirty before the diet started) and her anal gland problem is much, much better.

We had been getting them expressed every two weeks and this time it was five weeks between trips to get it done. Quite a dramatic improvement - I'm hoping in time the problem will completely disappear. Her coat is nice and shiny, she doesn't stink anymore and her breath is no longer foul. It's like I have a new dog!
I'm really glad I found out about you guys - Sadie just loves the raw foodand you can tell she is much happier now that she's not hurting all of the time.


*UPDATE* Laurie never has to take Sadie to the vet to have her anal glands expressed any more!

Laurie V
Halifax, NS

Buddy

Buddy came to us from the SPCA in Yarmouth, NS on February 11, 2003. He was underweight and his health suffered as a consequence. We did our homework in terms of the best food to feed Buddy. Karen told me about the Raw Diet and gave me some references to read. One book was “Give Your Dog a Bone” by Dr. Ian Billinghurst. As I read, the diet made a lot of sense. When we got Buddy home, we started him on the Raw Diet right away and he had no problem making the transition from kibble, previously fed at the shelter.

The benefits of Raw Food are obvious. Buddy gained and has been able to maintain the perfect weight for his size. Because Buddy eats bones as party of his diet, his teeth remain healthy and white. His coat is also very shiny. He is a happy dog with lots of energy but like any lab, he loves to just lay around. Another big plus is the cost – it’s cheaper! I highly recommend Raw Diet. Read about it, Research it, Try it. Don’t look for support at your vet as it is in their interests to promote the dog food they are selling. Our vet does not encourage the Raw Diet; however, he always comments on Buddy’s teeth and coat. When I asked him about Raw Diet, he just smiled and said, “Keep doing what you’re doing”

Ginger C
Halifax, NS

Goro

Goro, our two and a half year old, male yellow lab, has been on a raw diet for the past four months. Although he was a healthy dog before, he became even healthier with the raw diet. For the past four months we have pleasantly observed in Goro all the typically expected benefits of a raw diet: a shinier and thicker coat with less shedding, a muscular body, pearl like teeth, clean breath, smaller and almost odor-free poop, and the elimination of his anal sack problem. In addition, we noticed a change in his energy level. A typical young Lab, he has always been playful, but he is even more so on the raw diet as well as calmer when relaxing. Perhaps because of this, his attention, both in terms of duration and intensity, has also improved. No more four paws up in protest in the middle of a dog training class!


We would like to thank Karen and Doug for the wonderful service of Totally Raw Natural Dog Food. Quality food with easy logistics is not the only service they provide. By ordering from Karen and Doug, customers gain access to expert advice with sincere interests in individual dogs. We have felt supported and welcomed in every exchange we have had with them. They are Goro’s heroes!

Yukiko & Brook
Halifax

Article in HRM Publication

Once upon a time, there was a Basset Hound named George.His ears were infected, his coat was dull, and his breath was so bad it could peel the paint off a wall. That is, until we discovered the benefits of the Bones and Raw Food diet. I am not a veterinarian, nor am I an expert in animal health, but I can tell you from my own personal experience: fresh raw food is the way to go.
I brought my Basset home just over a year ago. He was vastly underweight, incredibly lazy, and stunk so bad that friends and family no longer came to visit. I did my best as a responsible dog owner and researched ways to provide my pet with the best care possible. Diet, of course, is a very important factor
in overall health. I tried so many dry pet food brands, from popular store brands to so-called high end scientifically balanced
pet food. Unfortunately, no matter what kind of kibble I put in his dish, George inevitably snubbed his nose at his meal and wandered outside preferring to eat grass and poop. At only a year old, George had several health problems, along with a very serious tartar build up on his teeth and mild infection of
the gums. This, I later learned, was due predominantly to the preservatives in his dry food. That’s when started doing some
research into the BARF diet.
This is a fresh, unprocessed, uncooked diet consisting of a variety of foods such as chicken necks, beef organ, mackerel, meaty
lamb bone, and vegetable puree. From day one, the raw food experience was fantastic. George has been eating raw for about 4 months now. He is more active and playful than ever, his ears are clean and healthy, his coat is shiny and new, and the hound stink is gone. His teeth are sparkling white and are completely
free of build-up -- no veterinarian dental care required! Furthermore, he actually looks forward to his meals.
Okay, let’s talk practicalities now. Sounds like an expensive and time consuming meal plan, right? Actually, not at all. During
my research, I discovered the good folks at Totally Raw NaturalDog Food. After reviewing the website, I decided to contact them with my questions and concerns. The owners were more than happy to talk to me about my dog’s diets and to help me come up with a meal plan. As it
turns out, in addition to the many health benefits, the cost is actually quite comparable to what I was previously feeding my
dog (in my case, around $50 per month). What about convenience? I buy a few months supply of individually bagged meals, I put it all
in the freezer and thaw out one bag a day for George’s meals. It couldn’t be easier!
There appears to be an awful lot of debate surrounding this raw food movement, from pet owners and pet care providers alike. I
myself have nothing to gain and am not trying to convince you either way, but I cannot say enough good things about the experience
me and my pup have had with this diet. I just wanted to share my positive experience and leave it up to you to decide what’s best for your pet.

Pam S.
HRM

Back in 2002 our beloved Golden Retriever, Irie, passed away. She had been diagnosed in January with lymphnoma, a type of cancer, and she suffered with breathing problems before we had to have her put to sleep in March, one week after her 10th birthday. She was the mother of Sippi and Jules, our other Golden Retrievers.

Being a family that eats only organic food, my first thought was that it was the food she was eating that killed Irie prematurely (she ate kibble). One day I was reading the local magazine, The Source, and I saw an ad for Totally Raw dog food. I went on the website and read about their German shepherd Daisy, who had been diagnosed with cancer. I was very interested to learn that upon switching to raw dog food, she was still going strong, many years later. It certainly made sense to me to feed dogs totally raw since that was what they were intended to eat.

I immediately contacted Karen and Doug at Totally Raw and started feeding Jules, then seven, and Pearl, our German Sheppard puppy, totally raw dog food. Karen and Doug have always been available to answer any questions or concerns I might have. They deliver a month’s worth of packaged food to our home and we put it in our freezer and take out one bag to thaw every day. (We get chicken, beef, lamb, organ meat, tripe and vegetables). We only need to cut the bag open, throw it on the lawn and they each get a share. The bags are tailored to suit their dietary needs according to age and ideal weight.

The benefits of feeding our dog’s totally raw dog food for the past four years have been enormous. First and foremost, Jules (12 yrs) and Pearl (4 yrs) are the perfect weight and don’t suffer the numerous problems that so many dogs have. We don’t give our dogs any kibble or human food (with the exception of some organic vegetable left-overs). The bones keep their teeth shiny and white which makes dental care unnecessary. Their coats are shiny and they never need a bath. A previous problem our dogs suffered from was very bad breath; we don’t have that problem anymore! Pearl and Jules are extremely well behaved, smart and spry. Another problem any dog owner knows only too well is the amount of dog feces that can accumulate in your yard. Well...let me tell you, if your dog eliminates on your lawn and you don’t get to it for a week, it turns white, crumbles and disappears! No joke! The natural diet is to thank for that. On that note, I will sign off and say we are most grateful to have found Karen and Doug and we wouldn’t think of going back to kibble ever again.

Christina M
Wellington N.S.

Rosco

First I must give a big thank you to Karen and Doug for running such a great company so that I can provide the best possible diet for my pup. Before starting a raw diet I had many questions, concerns, and fears. Karen and Doug answered all of my questions and provided reading material to curb my worries. I took the plunge and haven't looked back. My Bullmastiff puppy Rosco took to the diet like a fish to water. Then again, it is how nature intended dogs to eat! Watching him grow on the raw diet, his muscle tone is excellent, his teeth, sparkling white. His coat is excellent. He just looks so good! I encourage anyone who wants what's best for their pets, to read up on this diet. Talk to Karen and Doug. The service they offer is excellent. The products are top quality. I highly recommend you call them. Your pet will thank you!

Scott B
Baker's Point, NS

Beanie & Fester

Well Beanie (Yorkie/Maltese) and Gerber (Lhasa/Maltese) now have a new little brother! Fester (Cairn Terrier, we think) came to us just after Christmas from a rescue shelter in Missouri where he was left at 8 weeks old covered in pus and open sores (hence the name, Fester!). He's all healed up now and growing into a beautiful little guy with a lovely thick coat of fur and no sign of skin trouble. He LOVES the raw food diet! No silly adjustment period like you need when you change kibble, Fester just dove right in with no problems and is thriving.

Beanie is now two years old and has been on the raw food diet since she was 6 weeks old. To our vet's continued amazement her teeth are as pearly white today as they were the day they grew in. I guess Yorkies are especially known for having very bad teeth, not Beanie! Gerber is now 10 years old and still looks and acts like a puppy. The raw food diet makes it very easy for her to maintain a healthy and youthful figure. The girls are still getting used to Fester but, as you can see from the picture, he definitely fits right in to our family.

Linda,
Halifax, NS

Quincy

Thank you Karen, we are so very pleased with what your product has done for our little companion. We are on the cusp of our 1 year anniversary in December of having introduced Qiuncy to the raw diet. His veterinarian was totally blown away during Quincy's last annual check-up in Sept. She was amazed by his clean teeth as she had advised that a full cleaning was required during his previous visit. She had many questions and was visibly impressed by the raw diet results. First with his white fangs and second with his overall healthy physique.
We love you guys!

Cheers,
Pauline B.
Bedford

Penny & Zoe

My two min pins have been on raw almost since day one. Their coats are shiny, their teeth are clean and white and they just LOVE mealtimes!!

They've full of energy and healthy as you could ever want.

I wish I'd heard of this years ago but I'm sure glad I found it now and I'll NEVER go back to kibble again!!! NEVER!!

Thanks so much, Karen :)

Brenda D
Dartmouth, NS