Changing foods for most healthy dogs isn't really a big deal. In fact, some owners switch their pets from one food to on a daily basis. Most dogs tolerate these changes.

However, vomiting, diarrhoea, burping, farting or a combination of signs may occur with sudden, rapid switching of foods, probably because of ingredient differences.

To be on the safe side, it's a good idea to change your dog's food over the course of at least three days. A seven-day period is even better. We suggest increasing the proportion of new food and decreasing the proportion of old food as outlined in the table below.

While nearly all dogs readily tolerate a seven-day transition period, a much longer transitional period is recommended if the food change is significant, the dog has demonstrated a poor tolerance to such changes in the past or food refusal is expected. 

(From Hand, Michael S., Craig D. Thatcher, Rebecca L. Remillard, Philip Roudebush, Bruce J. Novtony, and Lon D. Lewis. 2010. Small animal clinical nutrition. http://www.markmorrisinstitute.org/sacn5_chapters.html.)

Our products typically last at least 12 months. They're shelf-stable so there's no need to put into the fridge. Even the probiotics are a special strain that has a spore forming nature that survives manufacturing, shipping and storage with no loss of viable count.

As you've seen, the bestie ALLROUNDER includes cod liver oil, from wild caught Norwegian cod. You may also have read about some oils, often in kibble, becoming rancid.

Rancidity typically occurs because of oxidation. However, the oil we use already has protective anti-oxidants (d-alpha tocopherols and mixed tocopherols) in it. We also have other anti-oxidants in our bestie product. As a result, rancidity would be extremely unlikely.  

Well, you can, but it's a bit over-kill.... I mean, bestie is designed to go with either raw or lightly cooked protein, and together, they make a complete and balanced meal. Our nutritionist has looked at the nutritional profiles of lean beef, regular beef, chicken mince, kangaroo, turkey mince and fish, and worked out how much of each goes with bestie. 

Kibble is generally designed as a complete and balanced meal in itself. (So adding kibble to your fresh protein doesn't make that balanced either, because the proportions are all out of whack.)

Our balancing supplements are similar, but not the same. That's because dogs and cats have different nutritional requirements, and cats in particular need some things that dogs don't.

No you don't. Even though offal (or organ meat) is often suggested in raw or homemade food diets, it's because they're such a potent source of ket nutrients. However, the combination of bestie and fresh meat, provides everything the dog needs, and more. The bestie balancing supplement provides all the missing nutrients, from other sources. (It's the nutrient that's essential, not the ingredient.You can read more in our blogs about this.)

All that said, if you want to include offal, you can up to about 10% of the meal, every now and again.