paw approved - nutrition
Nutrition is the single most important thing you can do for your dog’s or cat’s health and longevity—because food isn’t just fuel, it’s the daily supply chain for every cell in their body. And since our animals don’t get a microphone, I’m happily stepping in as their spokesperson: “Hey Mom… hey Dad… I’d love real food, not mystery crunch, please.”
When we build meals around real, nutrient-dense ingredients (instead of just convenience crunch), we’re supporting the body where it lives: digestion, skin, energy, immunity, and healthy aging. Labels can help, but they can also be a sales pitch — WSAVA points out that marketing terms like “premium” and “holistic” are unregulated and don’t reliably tell you anything meaningful about nutrition quality. (WSAVA)
And while many commercial kibbles claim they meet “complete and balanced” standards, that phrase simply means the food contains required nutrients in the right ratios for a certain life stage (not that it’s the best possible choice for you pet’s age and condition). (AAFCO)
Processing matters too: commercial kibble is made via high-heat extrusion, and research reviews show vitamin retention can be affected by processing conditions like temperature and shear. (ScienceDirect) Add in real-world issues like the FDA’s ongoing investigation into reported cases of diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) linked to certain formulations, and it’s fair to ask (gently): are we feeding for thriving… or for convenience? (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
And here’s my heart-in-it truth: I’ve been studying and researching pet nutrition for over a year, and it’s been both enlightening and overwhelming—because yes, some voices are profit-first, but there are also truly brilliant people who care deeply about our animals. In my own home, I believe Juniper being raw-fed for the last 15 years has been a major contributor to her vitality and longevity — she’s 17 now, still young at heart, and her vet has been genuinely impressed with how balanced her bloodwork has stayed (with the normal age-related changes we’d expect). This page is here for you and your pets — to help you make more informed, more heartfelt nutrition choices, one bowl at a time.
Don’t just fill the bowl — know what’s in it.
HUMAN -GRADE PET FOOD
● Human grade pet foods are “food” - required to abide by all U.S. Federal food safety laws.
● All ingredients and supplements are human edible.
● Manufactured by the same safety standards as human food.
● Formulated for pet consumption, but are held to the exact same food safety laws as human food.
● Labeled with the term “Human Grade” alerting pet owners all food safety requirements have been met.
● Raw pet foods are not allowed to be labeled as Human Grade. Raw pet foods meet the legal requirements of the claim IF they are manufactured under USDA inspection (email the manufacturer for verification)
FEED-GRADE PET FOOD
● Feed grade pet foods are not required to abide by U.S. Federal food safety laws.
In fact, the FDA allows feed grade pet foods to violate U.S. Federal law. In April of 2019, the FDA stated:
“We do not believe that the use of diseased animals or animals that died otherwise than by slaughter to make animal food poses a safety concern and we intend to continue to exercise enforcement discretion.”
● Ingredients and supplements are NOT required to be human edible.
● NOT required to be manufactured by food safety standards.
● Formulated for pet consumption only, not held to U.S. food safety law.
● NOT labeled with any term or disclosure to alert pet owners to feed grade quality and/or potential use of illegal inferior ingredients or inferior manufacturing conditions.
● All styles of pet food can be feed grade; dry, can, raw, dehydrated, etc
If you feed kibble, I’m not here to judge you—I’m here to give you the truth that labels don’t. Kibble is typically low-moisture and highly processed. Many commercial formulas rely on fillers and processing tricks that keep costs down and bags pretty. Your pet deserves better than “meets minimum requirements.”
Small changes—like adding moisture and upgrading ingredients—can shift everything.
COMING JANUARY 2026
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pet food chocies + treat list 2026
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special diets for special needs
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everyday recipes
the pet wellness library
Welcome to the Pet Wellness Library—your cozy little corner of freebies made for real life with dogs and cats. Here you’ll find simple, practical downloads to support healthier routines, calmer moments, and more confident choices as a pet parent. Browse, grab what you need, and come back anytime.