When raising puppies—especially large and giant breeds—the most critical nutritional factor for healthy skeletal growth is the calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. Why Calcium and Phosphorus Are So Important Calcium builds bone structure and density. Phosphorus regulates bone formation and energy metabolism. The Ratio Matters: Puppies need both minerals in balance. Too much calcium without enough phosphorus leads to brittle, weak bones. Too much phosphorus without calcium pulls calcium from bones, causing skeletal deformities. The sweet spot is around 1:1 to 1.2:1 calcium-to-phosphorus ratio. This range supports steady bone mineralization without overloading the growth plates. Why Large Breed Puppies Are at Higher Risk Large breeds grow faster and put more stress on their developing skeletons. If their diet is out of balance, they’re...

Dysbiosis in Dogs: The Hidden Root of Leaky Gut (and How to Stop It) In one of our recent blogs, we uncovered how leaky gut in dogs develops when the intestinal lining breaks down—allowing harmful substances to leak into the bloodstream and trigger full-body inflammation. But before the gut can become “leaky,” something else usually happens first: dysbiosis. What Is Dysbiosis? Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the gut microbiome—the community of bacteria, yeast, and microbes that live inside your dog’s digestive tract. In a healthy gut, beneficial microbes outnumber the harmful ones and help with digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune defense. But when that balance tips the wrong way?Harmful microbes overgrow, crowding out the good ones. The result is chronic...

Let's address one of the biggest misconceptions in modern pet nutrition: that raw or grain-free diets cause heart problems like dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) or cardiomegaly. The reality is more complex — and more concerning. What the FDA Really Found on DCM and Grain-Free Diets: In 2018, the FDA began investigating reports of DCM in dogs fed grain-free diets. But grain-free wasn’t the problem. What raised concern was that many of these diets: Replaced animal-based protein (meat, heart, organs) With plant-based protein (peas, lentils, legumes) While still being heavily processed kibble - This isn’t “grain-free.” It’s meat-free in disguise. According to FDA’s 2022 update and the peer-reviewed research they cite: 90% of the reported diets were dry kibble 93% contained peas...

Leaky Gut in Dogs: What It Is, What Causes It, and How to Heal It Naturally If your dog struggles with chronic itching, recurring ear infections, food sensitivities, soft stools, or even sudden behavior changes—you might be looking at more than just isolated symptoms. You might be looking at leaky gut. What Is Leaky Gut in Dogs? Leaky gut, or increased intestinal permeability, happens when the lining of the digestive tract becomes damaged. Normally, this gut lining acts like a security system—only letting through the good stuff (nutrients) and keeping harmful substances (toxins, pathogens, undigested food particles) out of the bloodstream. But when that lining gets compromised, the gut becomes “leaky.”Tight junctions between cells loosen.And the body’s immune system starts...

Why a Raw Diet for Dogs Is the Key to Lifelong Health When it comes to our dogs, we all want the same thing: a long, vibrant life supported by the best possible nutrition. At RawFedK9, we believe the way to achieve that is through a species-appropriate raw diet—one that respects canine biology, nourishes from the inside out, and fuels dogs with the food they were built to eat. But what does that actually look like? And why are more dog owners choosing this path every day? Let’s break it down. What Is a Raw Diet for Dogs? A raw diet focuses on whole, unprocessed, biologically appropriate food. That means muscle meat, raw edible bones, and organ meats—the same building...