For Immediate Release
Contact: Sharon Rahe
Phone: 808-349-1484
RAW ON REQUEST PROMOTES NEW DIET FOR MAN’S BEST FRIENDHonolulu – Raw on Request, a locally owned dog food distribution company started by two local former flight attendants, is promoting a new raw dog food diet to improve the health of man’s best friend.
Sharon Rahe and Sandra Sue, the co-owners of Raw on Request, began importing the healthier dog food for their own pets from Primal Pet Foods in San Francisco, after both of their dogs suffered from severe health problems. One was the victim of old age and the other had severe food allergies.
“Because our dogs were struggling with different ailments, we began researching options and learned a lot about the health benefits of a raw food diet,” said Sue. “We both noticed a significant change in the health and well-being of our dogs after a few weeks and we were sold.”
The theory behind feeding raw dog food is to provide nutrition that is biologically appropriate or species-specific; essentially what a dog would eat in the wild. Because dogs are designated the same species as wolves (canis lupus), their natural diet would likely include small prey animals caught and eaten raw.
By eating small prey in the wild, dogs receive essential nutrients in the form of bone, muscle meat and a small amount of predigested (stomach contents) vegetable matter. Because a dog’s gastrointestinal system, similar to wolves', is highly acidic (pH 1), it is capable of dissolving meat and bone and is highly resistant to food-borne bacteria such as salmonella and e.coli.
Currently, one of the primary ingredients in many commercially produced dry dog foods is grain such as rice, corn, etc. These ingredients, although healthy for people and other species, are not readily assimilated in a dog’s digestive system and therefore can take up to 15 hours for proper digestion.
On the other hand, raw food is easily digested within 4-6 hours, thereby avoiding putrefaction, which may cause bloating (gastric torsion) or other gastrointestinal problems.
Raw on Request is the exclusive distributor for Primal Pet Foods, Inc. in Hawaii and imports its raw, fresh-frozen, complete dog food meals from a company that procures its protein sources and vegetables from small farms that promote sustainable agriculture and humane methods.
"The emphasis is on quality control and using suppliers that can maintain that high standard,” Rahe said. “For instance, Primal uses meats supplied from farms that use only vegetarian feed and insists on not treating livestock with growth hormones or medications/antibiotics. Their commitment is to start with top quality ingredients to promote optimal health and wellness for your pets."
The food contains no preservatives, colors, fillers, grains, flavorings or chemicals and lasts up to one year in the freezer or three to four days in the refrigerator. It is available from local pet stores in two sizes, 4lb. bag or 8lb bag, which flavors include: chicken, duck, beef, lamb, pheasant and venison. Also available is chicken necks 5lb., buffalo and beef 2" marrow bones. The stores also carry cat food in the 4lb size in flavor combos of chicken / salmon, beef /salmon, or venison.
“We wanted to give Hawaii pet owners the opportunity to experience the benefits of high-quality raw dog food – a trend that has steadily been moving across the US,” said Rahe. “We have seen remarkable changes in our own dogs and hope others will get to see the difference too when they try the raw food diet for their own pets.”
The most commonly cited benefits of feeding biologically appropriate raw foods (or bones and raw food) are:
• Cleaner teeth and naturally fresher breath
• Increased vitality and energy levels
• Shiny, soft coats with less "doggy smell"
• Clean ears--no more yeasty build-up
• Reduced stool volume and odor (the food is more bioavailable, therefore waste is less)
• Reduced arthritic symptoms
• Improved digestion (live enzymes in raw food)
• Improvements in conditions like hot spots, ear infections, and flaky skin
• Less attractive to fleas and other parasites
• Boosted immune system
• Reduction in allergic reactions to food -- dogs who show sensitivities to certain types of meat based kibbles often do not have the same reaction to the same meat in it's natural, raw state.
Current retailers of Primal Pet Foods, Inc. include: Naturally Pet, Crazy Canine, Kapalama Pet Hospital, Bark Avenue and Jamie Cahill, distributor/retailer in Maui. For more information email sharon.rawonrequest@gmail.com or visit www.rawonrequest.com.