Benefits of Darwin's
Natural Pet Food:
Why is it important to put my pet on a
real food diet?
In their natural state, meats and vegetables are loaded with enzymes, amino
acids, vitamins and minerals that are essential to your pet's health. The
high temperatures required to cook and process commercial pet food destroy
some of these vital nutrients (which cannot withstand temperatures above
120 degrees). Some nutrients are later added back to commercial pet foods,
but these additives are not as desirable as the nutrients originally found
in the food. Even though these added nutrients are present in the food,
your pet cannot digest them as readily as in their natural state. With real
food like Darwin's Meals, you are providing your dog with necessary nutrients
in their most easily digestible form.
Another important benefit of a real food diet is freshness. Nutrients
break down and are depleted over time. We make our meals from fresh ingredients
on a weekly basis, then freeze them and deliver them to your door, where
they remain frozen until you are ready to use them. In contrast, commercial
kibble production typically starts with dried ingredients that have been
stored at the plant prior to processing. The finished product is then
further stored, first in a warehouse, then at the retailer, and finally
in your home. With each passing month, it loses more of its nutritional
value.
Real Food Diet:
How important is
real food for my pet?
After a few Darwin's meals, you will understand (and your dog will love
you even more!). The benefits are almost too many to list - your dog will
enjoy the food's taste and consistency more. Also, you will soon see increased
energy and vitality. In most cases you will also notice a healthier and
shinier coat, less itching and skin irritation, cleaner teeth and breath,
and clear eyes and ears. You also will have less stool to clean up, as your
pet's food will be more completely digested.
We are also aware of numerous instances in which a real food diet appears
to have had a positive effect on more serious disorders. Finally, you
will spend less time and money at the veterinarian's office for remedial
health issues-and (most importantly) more years enjoying the companionship
of a healthier, happier pet.
Nutrition:
How can I be sure
that the product is safe and nutritious for my pet?
Whether your dog is a puppy or an older dog, Darwin's meals provide a complete,
balanced, and highly nutritious diet. Our meals have been developed in consultation
with Dr. Jackie Obando, DVM, a local holistic veterinarian whose practice
focuses on pet nutrition, and Ed Kane, Ph.D., an animal nutritionist. Our
meals have been laboratory tested to meet AAFCO nutritional standards for
all life stages. We oversee every aspect of purchasing, preparation, storage
and delivery to assure that our meals are fresh, safe and nutritious.
See Nutrition Facts
Ingredients:
What are the ingredients used to make Darwin's
Natural Selections?
We use only human-quality meats and vegetables, purchased from the same
suppliers that provide local grocery stores and restaurants. Our meats are
all USDA inspected, hormone and antibiotic-free, and our vegetables are
all certified organic. Darwin's meals are 70% free-range meat (including
hearts and livers) and 30% organic vegetables. We do not add anything else
to our meals, such as grains, fillers or preservatives.
See
Ingredients.
Results:
When will I see a change in my pet?
You should notice an increase in your pet's energy level within a few
days of changing the diet to Darwin's Natural Selections meals. Within
30 days you should be able to notice some of the longer-term effects.
Raw Meat:
Is it safe to feed my pet raw meat? What about Salmonella
and E-coli bacteria?
Real (raw) food diets are safe, provided proper storage and handling guidelines
are followed (just as you would for your own food).
Dogs have been eating raw food for millennia, and their bodies are designed
to digest it without any problems. It is only in the past few decades
that dogs' diets were changed to processed food, more as an accommodation
for convenient shipping and long-term storage than for reasons of nutrition.
Dogs' stomachs are more acidic than ours, and provide a hostile environment
for bacteria such as Salmonella that would be dangerous for humans. Their
shorter digestive tracts also process their food more quickly, providing
less time for bacteria to multiply.
Some of the criticisms of real food diets are based on the large bones
that dogs are sometimes encouraged to chew, which have the potential to
puncture their digestive tracts. At Darwin's we grind our bones to less
than ¼ inch (about the size of a pencil eraser). At that size, the bones
are easily chewable (great for their teeth) and digestible without any
danger to your pet.
Food Handling: Guidelines for Safe Use
As with any raw food, the product may contain bacteria that could cause
illness to you or the animals you are feeding if mishandled. For your protection,
follow these instructions for safest use:
1. Keep meals frozen
until ready to use; thaw in refrigerator or warm water.
2. Keep
raw meat and poultry separate from other foods. Wash working utensils, hands,
and any other items that touch or contact raw meat or poultry.
3.
Refrigerate leftovers immediately or discard. Use opened product within
48 hours.
Getting Started:
How do I introduce my pet to Darwin's Natural
Selections?
As for any change of diet, we suggest that you introduce your pet to our
meals gradually in order to give its body time to adjust. Start by mixing
about 25% of Darwin's Natural Selections with 75% of your current food,
and increase the percentage over the course of a week or so.
Finicky Pet:
What if my dog doesn't like it?
Most pets are attracted immediately to real food, and are eager to switch.
Dogs enjoy eating, and they love the taste and smell of real food. One of
the most frequent comments we hear from new customers is how much their
dogs enjoy eating our meals. We have seen cases in which older or infirm
dogs that have lost their appetites have regained them when offered Darwin's
meals.
In a number of cases, however, pets need a bit of time to make the transition
to real food. This may be due to a variety of reasons (including a fondness
for the “flavor enhancers” that are often added to commercial
pet foods to make them more palatable). In most cases, a little patience
is all that’s needed - and we can help you with some techniques to
help your pet through the transition.
If, however, for any reason,
your dog does not like our meals, just call us and we will give you a
complete refund for any unused meals.
Cooking Meals:
Is it okay
to cook Darwin's meals?
Darwin’s meals can be served either raw or cooked, and many of our
customers cook our meals for their pets. If you do so, however, take into
account the following:
A. A. You will need to replace the nutrients
that will be lost as a result of cooking (see above). We suggest that you
add a good multi-vitamin plus enzymes (available at many pet shops) to your
pet's meals if you cook them.
B. Cooked bones are more brittle
than raw bones. We grind our bones to less than ¼ inch (about the size of
a pencil eraser), so even cooked they should pose no risk to your pet. However,
we suggest that you cook the food "rare" so that the meat is cooked, but
that the bones are not. This will also minimize the vitamin and enzyme loss.
Supplementing:
Do I need to add anything else to the meals?
Darwin's Natural Selections provide complete and balanced nutrition for
all life stages of your pet, from puppy to senior. While it is not necessary
to add any supplements to the meals, you may choose to do so, particularly
if your pet has special dietary issues.
Dry Food:
Can I mix the meals with dry food?
Some pet owners, particularly those with larger dogs, use Darwin’s
instead of canned food to mix with dry food. This approach enables these
pet owners to realize some of the benefits of a real food diet while still
controlling their overall feeding costs.
Service Area:
What is Darwin's delivery
area? We currently offer free home delivery weekly throughout the Seattle
Metro area See our
Delivery Areas
Outside Service Area:
Can I get Darwin's Natural Selections
delivered if I live outside your delivery area?
Yes, for an additional fee to cover shipping and handling. Call us at 206-324-PETS
for details.
Home Delivery:
What if I'm not home when you deliver the meals?
There is no need for you to be at home when we deliver your meals. Darwin's
meals are delivered in heavy-duty Styrofoam containers, the same kind used
to ship fish across the country. These containers will keep the meals frozen
at your doorstep for more than 24 hours, providing you ample time to get
home and put them in your freezer or refrigerator.
Meal Quality:
What if
the meals defrost before I get home? In the unlikely event that the
meals defrost before you return home, they are still usable, provided that
they have not reached room temperature for any appreciable length of time.
However, if for any reason you are concerned that the meals may not be safe
for your dog, just call us and we'll replace them free of charge.
Shelf Life:
How long
can I keep Darwin's meals?
Because the product is vacuum-sealed the meals will be fine for at least
six months if kept frozen. Once defrosted, we recommend that you keep the
product refrigerated, and use the product within 48 hours after opening.
Order Changes:
How do I make a change in my order?
Simply call or email us. We request that you give us at least 24 hours notice
before your delivery day to change or postpone your order.
Service Cancellation:
How
long am I obligated to buy from you?
You may cancel your service at any time, simply by calling us. We
request that you notify us of your cancellation at least 24 hours before
your delivery day.
Guarantee:
What if want to return
a product?
No problem. Everything we provide comes with a 100% money back guarantee.
We offer you a full refund or replacement for any unused product, for any
reason.
Email Communication:
Why do you need my email address?
In order to be able to serve you better (we remind you when your delivery
day is coming, or to alert you to any problems with your order), we need
to be able to communicate quickly and effectively with our customers. Email
is the most cost-effective and convenient way to do this.
Personal Information:
How
will you protect my personal information?
Unless we first obtain your permission, we will not use your personal information
for any reason other than to process your order and communicate with you
regarding our products and services. We will not make your name or any other
information available to any third party, except to the extent necessary
to enable us to process your orders.
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