A fresh dog food diet is a carefully balanced blend of meat, vegetables, fruit, herbs and supplements. Each ingredient is used based on its nutritional merits. These whole-foods are not overly-processed, which means active enzymes and nutrients are fully utilised by your dog’s digestive system.

Underdog Pet Foods is minimally processed in a temperature-controlled facility, to maintain the most nutrients possible and immediately frozen to preserve freshness.
Dogs eating a fresh food diet often need less fresh food than highly processed food since they are getting maximum nutrition and they can be expected to live longer and to suffer less illnesses.

Most of us feed our dogs the same food everyday. Even people who feed a home-prepared diet are prone to fall for the convenience of a recipe that they replicate daily or weekly without variation. Hence, it is important that a diet meet at least minimum nutritional guidelines when dogs are fed in this way.

Amongst other nutrients, many fresh dog food diets are deficient in manganese. In wild prey animals, especially small animals, most of the manganese is found in the hair, feathers, and wool.
Also, in a dogs’ natural diet, 75% of the iodine comes from consuming the thyroid gland of their prey.
As these are parts that are difficult for commercial manufacturers and homemade recipe makers to get and use, supplementation is sometimes required to ensure we do not starve our pets of essential trace minerals and vitamins.

Our pets also require the same things we humans need for bone health; calcium, phosphorus and Vitamin D. To grow well and remain healthy, we use bonemeal powder as a natural and highly digestible source. Vitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin that dogs need to get in their diet-they do not synthesize vitamin D from sun-tanning. Click here to find out more about the cod liver oil we use to achieve an ideal omega 6:3 ratio and vitamin D source.

Balanced fats are also essential to the health of our pets.
The balance of fats that a dog consumes has a profound influence on the dog’s cell membranes. These semi-permeable layers allow cells to receive nutrients and eliminate wastes. Because every cell in the body has a cell membrane made mostly of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids, consuming the proper amounts of omega-6s and -3s has the potential to affect every organ system in the body.
A good dietary omega 6:3 balance makes the cell membranes fluid, permeable, flexible and healthy. On the other hand, too much omega-6 makes the cell membranes, including those in the brain, brittle, sluggish and inefficient, so that the dog thinks and moves a little slower.
Likewise, too much of an omega-3 fatty acid called DHA in the diet can make the cell membranes prone to oxidation, which leads to premature aging.
The consumption of balanced fats is especially important for fetuses, puppies, and helps our beloved pets lead vibrant, healthy lives.

Underdog Pet Foods use a cod liver oil that is low in vitamin A to balance omega 6:3 and provide a natural source of Vitamin D. All the supplements we use are tested for heavy metals such as lead and aluminium to assure lowest levels possible.

Only the highest quality supplements & minerals make it into our top quality dog food.

We work with renowed experts in canine nutrition to achieve optimal nutrient levels and ratios to help your pets thrive.

At Underdog Pet Foods, our recipes contain 80-90% meat with no added fillers. All produce (vegetables & fruits) and oils have been carefully selected for their phytonutrients and other nutritional merits.

We do not use fillers such as grains and carbohydrates or high glycemic index tubers such as sweet potatoes to save costs.

Underdog Pet Foods is currently the first and local fresh pet food company that formulates to meet AAFCO & FEDIAF nutrient profiles for all life stages, and further optimised to help your pets thrive.
These US and EU standards, imperfect as they may be, are better than no guidance at all. While many books and articles make it seem easy to feed a fresh food diet, it is easy to feed (or even overfeed!) your dog while simultaneously starving him of nutrients he needs in order to live a healthy, long life.

Our pets rely on us to put the nutrients they require into their bowl. We believe our recipes should contain optimal level of nutrients – not just minimums and maximums.
Yet, we also consider these nutrient guidelines for pet food to be a good starting point—the bare minimum of what should be provided to our dogs so that we do not deprive them of nutrients essential to lead a vibrant life.

The best way to transition your pet to a new kind of food is to do it gradually. Not only will this give you and your pet a chance to adjust to the change, but it will also help minimize any digestive issues that may arise.

Even with a gradual approach, however, some digestive issues are completely normal and even to be expected. Changes in your pet’s stool, such as diarrhoea, are among the most common effects of any change in diet and is nothing to worry about.

You may also notice a film around your pet’s stool, which is due to the detoxification process that occurs as your pet begins eating healthier, less processed food. Other common symptoms include temporary flare-ups in skin conditions or excess shedding.

The key is to be aware of potential side effects as you transition your pet to a more wholesome, natural diet. As long as your pet remains happy and energetic, these minor digestive and skin issues are no cause for concern, and you can rest assured that you are doing what’s best for their development, health, and long-term welfare.

Click here to find out more.

In short, the answer is yes.

Underdog Pet Foods is an easy and convenient way too add nutritious fresh food into any meal.
It contains plenty of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, probiotics and healthy essential fatty acids such as omega 3s.

Dogs, cats, and humans have a similar digestion process. There isn’t a selector switch in the stomach that detects kibble / fresh foods and alters the strength of the acid or amount of enzymes released.
There is no scientific evidence that combining kibble and raw food causes the raw food to be digested at a slower rate. In terms of moisture content and rates of digestion; people routinely combine raw and kibble diets with no digestive upset.

Afterall, adding a little fresh food to a dog’s regular dry meals is better than none at all.

Thaw Underdog frozen patty in their sealed container by placing them in the refrigerator overnight.
To quickly thaw Underdog frozen patties, place the sealed container in a bath of cold water.

Warm foods release aromatic vapours, which stimulate a dog’s desire to eat. You can heat it up by mixing some warm water.

We do not recommend cooking our raw dog food recipes because some nutrients will be lost during cooking.
Our cooked and raw recipes contains different ingredients, each used for their nutritional merits, ensuring that all our recipes are Complete and Balanced.

Probiotics helps support our pet’s digestive and immune health, amongst other benefits.

Underdog Cooked and Raw frozen recipes include the use of a natural and patented probiotic, Ganeden BC30.
It is an extremely stable probiotic due to the cell’s ability to form a protective spore that activates only when temperature and intestinal conditions are right. This protective shell also gives our probiotic the ability to survive harsh manufacturing processes (eg freezing) and allows it to journey through the digestive system – most other probiotics just can’t survive these stresses.

We send our finished product to the laboratory to test for probiotic cell counts and verify viability. We guarantee minimum 765million CFU per 150g serving.
Ganeden BC 30 has been shown to support immune health at 500million CFU per day, and digestive health at 1 billion CFU per day.

Probiotics used in Underdog Recipes is natural, vegan, NON GMO project verified, organic compliant, allergen-free, stable, safe and efficient.
Only the highest quality supplements make it into our quality dog food.

While low-sodium diets are popular among humans with health concerns, healthy dogs need varying levels of sodium. The sodium content in Underdog Fresh Dog/Puppy Food is balanced in proper proportions with other minerals, vitamins, fats and proteins.

Sea salt is a good and natural source of essential minerals sodium and chloride.
It helps regulate proper blood pH levels and water balance.
Found in the blood and fluid that surrounds cells, sodium maintains the cell environment and prevents cells from swelling or dehydrating. Sodium is important for muscle, nerve and kidney functions.

Underdog dog food recipe is 100% Complete and Balanced, containing the optimal level of minerals for a dog’s nutritional wellness.

Click here to find out more about ingredient benefits.

There are guidelines and regulations for what goes into adult dog food (adult maintainence) and puppy food (growth and reproduction).
Underdog Pet Foods is suitable for puppies, who have higher nutrient requirements for their growing needs.

Specifically, puppies need more protein, amino acids (arginine, histidine, isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine+cysteine, phenylalanine+tyrosine, threonine, tryptophan, valine) fat, calcium, phosphorus, sodium and chloride. AAFCO requires almost twice the amount of some amino acids in puppy foods than it does in adult dog foods because these amino acids are intrinsic to the growth process.

Puppies are at risk for nutritional deficiencies if they eat a diet designed for adults. Some adults (particularly athletic individuals or females who are pregnant or lactating) can thrive on the higher concentrations of protein, fat, and other nutrients found in puppy food.

Additionally, Underdog Pet Foods provide higher amounts of nutrients that are not regulated by AAFCO/FEDIAF in their puppy foods, such as high omega-3 EPA/DHA that have been shown to promote healthy brain and eye development in young animals.
Talk to your holistic veterinarian if you have any questions about which food is right for your dog.

All puppies should begin eating complete & balanced meals because they cannot regulate vitamins and nutrients like an adult dog can. They also have higher amino acid requirements during their crucial growth period.

2-4 months old: 10-8% of current body weight.
4-6 months old: 8-6% of current body weight.
6-8 months old: 6-4% of current body weight.
8-12 months old: 4-3% of current body weight.

Each puppy is different – these guidelines are just starting points. Monitor your puppy’s body condition and growth closely and adjust percentages and feeding schedules as needed.

Most of us know that dogs need high quality protein, fat, and a complete complement of vitamins and minerals in their diet to remain healthy. We know that the foods our canine companions eat should come from clean, wholesome sources, and that a good diet must be combined with ample exercise and a healthy living environment.

But when planning a diet for a companion animal, many of us overlook some very important aspects of what constitutes complete nutrition for an animal.
Selecting the proper type and quality of food for our dogs is just a start. We also must ensure the foods we select contain nutrition that is easily absorbed and properly metabolized by our pets.

There are many factors that interfere with nutritional quality and bacterial levels of foods. Some pet foods are comprised of ingredients that are of a much lower quality than humans demand, and lower quality foods are more difficult for an animal to digest and assimilate. Many pet foods are comprised of ingredients that are not intended for human consumption. These meats and offals are slaughtered in a facility less stringent demands, and hence pose a higher risk of baterial levels to pets.

While many factors can cause our pets to have mucus in their stool, a common culprit is usually a diet with higher fat content. Many of our companion dogs don’t digest fatty meats well.

At Underdog Pet Foods, we start off with selection of lean meats with lowest fats possible, and send them to a lab to ensure they contain high protein and low fat.
High-quality animal protein provides an abundance of essential amino acids dogs need to thrive. When the fat content in a given amount of meat increases, the protein level decreases. Lean meats are also easier on their waistline and reduces the risk of triggering pancreatitis.

The red liquid is not blood. Most of the blood is removed during processing and any that remains is usually contained within the muscle tissue.

The red liquid is a protein called myoglobin, whose purpose is to help bring oxygen to muscle cells, and oxygen is required to give muscles energy. Myoglobin is deeply pigmented, which is why the more myoglobin a meat contains, the darker (or redder) the meat will be. It is perfectly safe to feed.

We only use human-grade meat that is traceable. Therefore the risk is the same as with the meat you buy from the supermarket for your own consumption. Raw food is always going to contain the potential for bacteria, and that is why we encourage safe food handling practices.

Keep frozen foods frozen until they are ready to be served.
Thaw frozen foods in their sealed packages by placing them in your refrigerator.
To quickly thaw frozen patties, thaw them in a bath of cold water until soft.
Once opened, leave thawed products out for no longer than 20 minutes before discarding them or placing them back in the refrigerator.
Use stainless steel bowls when feeding any raw product. Other materials, such as plastic or porcelain, are porous and can trap germs over time.
Discard any food left over in the bowl after feeding.
To save unused portions of thawed food that have not yet been served, immediately place them back in the refrigerator, away from other foods.
Remember to use hot, soapy water to wash counter surfaces, serving dishes, utensils, and any other items that come into contact with raw meat.

It is possible that your dog may have less stool volume on Underdog fresh food diet as it’s fat, protein, fibre and nutrient profiles are carefully balanced. Hence, it is easily digestible and your dog’s body will be able to absorb and utilize more of the nutrients in the food, leaving less undigested material to be eliminated as waste.
Overtime, some pet parents might also notice less foul smelling poop, increased muscle mass, better skin and fur and less doggy odour.

Some foods that are high in fibre may increase stool volume, while some foods that are not properly balanced can lead to increased stool volume, digestive upset or diarrhoea.

That said, it is important to discuss with your dog’s attending veterinarian to find a food that is appropriate for your dog’s specific nutritional needs and monitor their stool volume and overall health.