Question 1

Is a raw diet safe for my dog?

Accepted Answer

Yes — when formulated correctly. A properly balanced raw diet meets or exceeds NRC/AAFCO nutrient profiles and poses no greater risk than commercial food. The key is balance: an improperly balanced raw diet (too much muscle meat, no organ, no bone) can cause serious deficiencies over time. That's exactly why individualized formulation matters.

Question 2

Can dogs eat raw bones?

Accepted Answer

Raw edible bones are safe and beneficial — they provide calcium, phosphorus, and dental benefits. Appropriate options include chicken wings, backs, and necks, and turkey necks. The critical rule: never feed cooked bones of any kind. Cooking makes bone brittle and prone to dangerous splintering. Always supervise, size appropriately for your dog, and introduce gradually.

Question 3

Can I feed raw meat from the grocery store?

Accepted Answer

Yes, with important caveats. Avoid seasoned, marinated, or 'enhanced' meats. More critically — grocery store muscle meat alone is not a complete diet. A proper raw diet requires approximately 80% muscle meat, 10% raw edible bone, and 10% organ meat, plus micronutrient consideration. Whole-food sourcing is fine; random muscle meat from the store is not.

Question 4

Are cooked fresh food diets nutritionally complete?

Accepted Answer

Yes — when properly formulated. Heat does affect some nutrients, which is why a cooked diet requires careful formulation to account for those losses. When done correctly, cooked fresh food provides significantly better bioavailability than commercial kibble and is an excellent choice for households that prefer to avoid raw handling, have young children, or include immunocompromised family members.

Question 5

How is a fresh food diet different from commercial kibble?

Accepted Answer

Commercially processed kibble is cooked at extremely high temperatures, which degrades many nutrients — particularly heat-sensitive vitamins, enzymes, and proteins. Fresh food retains higher bioavailability of nutrients, contains no artificial preservatives, and can be precisely tailored to your individual dog. The research on fresh food diets in dogs consistently shows benefits in digestion, coat quality, energy, and inflammation markers.

Question 6

Which service is right for my dog?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your dog's health status and goals. For healthy dogs looking to transition to fresh food or optimize their diet, a meal plan or phone consultation is the right fit. For dogs with a confirmed medical diagnosis — kidney disease, IBD, cancer, pancreatitis, liver disease — Clinical Canine Nutrition is the appropriate service. Our 3-question quiz at theholisticcanine.us/start-here can help you decide quickly.

Question 7

Do I need a phone consultation before getting a meal plan?

Accepted Answer

Not always. For healthy adult dogs, a detailed intake form is often sufficient. For dogs with medical conditions, a phone consultation is strongly recommended before formulation so we can review diagnostics, medications, and current health status. For complex or chronic pathologies, Clinical Canine Nutrition is required — a standard consultation is not sufficient for those cases.

Question 8

How long does it take to receive my meal plan?

Accepted Answer

Meal plans and clinical formulations are typically delivered within 7 business days of receiving your completed intake form. That window begins when your completed intake arrives — not at the time of purchase — so returning your form promptly is the fastest way to get your plan.

Question 9

What happens after I purchase a service?

Accepted Answer

After purchase, you'll receive a detailed intake form via email. Complete it as thoroughly as possible — the quality of your plan depends on the quality of the information you provide. For consultations, you'll also receive scheduling instructions. For clinical cases, you'll be prompted to submit veterinary records and recent diagnostics.

Question 10

Can you help with cats too?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We offer feline raw food meal planning specifically formulated for cats as obligate carnivores. Feline nutrition differs fundamentally from canine — cats require taurine, arachidonic acid, and vitamin A from animal sources, and cannot synthesize these adequately from plant matter. Our feline plans are built to those distinct standards.

Question 11

My dog has a serious medical condition. Can you still help?

Accepted Answer

Yes — this is where clinical nutrition is most critical. Dogs managing kidney disease, liver disease, IBD, pancreatitis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and other diagnosed conditions often benefit enormously from a therapeutic diet tailored to their specific diagnosis and bloodwork. We work alongside your veterinary team and can provide written clinical summaries your vet can use in ongoing care.

Question 12

Does clinical nutrition replace veterinary care?

Accepted Answer

No, and it's designed not to. Clinical nutrition is a complement to veterinary medicine — it provides the nutritional support your dog's treatment plan needs to be most effective. We do not diagnose, prescribe medications, or replace your veterinarian. We collaborate with your vet team as a nutrition specialist.

Question 13

Do I need a veterinary referral for the clinical nutrition service?

Accepted Answer

A referral is not required, but recent veterinary diagnostics — bloodwork, urinalysis, and any relevant imaging or pathology reports — are strongly recommended. For conditions like kidney disease, precise formulation depends on specific biomarkers. A plan built without that data will be less precise and potentially less safe.

Question 14

How is clinical nutrition different from a regular meal plan?

Accepted Answer

Clinical nutrition applies therapeutic intervention — condition-specific nutrient modulation, organ-function optimization, and medical-grade precision. It includes a review of veterinary diagnostics, NRC mathematical calculations calibrated to disease state, and a written clinical report. A standard meal plan is appropriate for healthy dogs; clinical nutrition is for dogs where nutritional error carries medical risk.

Question 15

What qualifications does Kimberly hold?

Accepted Answer

Kimberly holds a PhD in Holistic Nutrition and Naturopathy, is a Board-Certified Holistic Health Practitioner (BCHHP #70643412), a Certified Canine & Feline Clinical Nutritionist, a Certified Canine Raw Food Nutritionist, and holds an active National Provider Identifier (NPI). Her education is recognized by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB).

Question 16

What nutritional standards do your plans meet?

Accepted Answer

All plans are formulated to meet or exceed NRC 2006 minimum nutrient requirements and AAFCO nutritional profiles. Clinical and specialty plans also reference FEDIAF standards. These are the same standards used by veterinary nutrition researchers and regulatory bodies — not general wellness guidelines.

Question 17

How is this different from generic online advice?

Accepted Answer

Generic online advice uses population-level guidelines and one-size-fits-all ratios that don't account for your specific dog. Clinical nutrition uses individualized assessment, medical context, lab values, and evidence-based nutrient targets. The difference between a general recommendation and a clinical formulation is the difference between a diet and a prescription.

Frequently Asked Questions

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