Frequently Asked Questions
Is your homemade food more
expensive than regular pet food?
Our food has no fillers, so you feed a lot less than traditional
pet food. As a result the price per feeding is actually quite affordable.
Check out this
article for more info. Also keep in mind that all of our prices
include free shipping.
Can
I move my pet straight to a Sojos diet
or do I have to mix it with my other pet food for a while?
You need to make sure the transition is gradual. When you
introduce the Sojos diet, feed your pet a meal with mostly
the old food
and a little bit of the new mixture (Sojos mix, meat, and
water – preferably soaked overnight). Then each day, gradually
increase the amount of this mixture as you decrease the amount
of old food. In about 2-3 weeks your pet should be eating only
the Sojos diet. Remember that all animals are individuals
and some may make the switch more quickly and easily than others.
Older pets, finicky eaters, and sick animals may take 4-6 weeks
to fully transition. Cats are especially picky and may take longer
to adjust to new smells, textures, and tastes. Take your time,
but be persistent. Switching gradually requires patience, but you’ll
find it’s worth it.
How much do I need to feed?
Use the Feeding Guidelines on the back of the bag for correct
amounts of pet food mix, meat and water to use. Measurements are
based
on one meal per day. If you have a puppy or a kitten, or just prefer
to feed twice per day, then cut the guideline amounts in half to
create two meals instead of one. And remember, the amounts and
instructions are guidelines only. Every animal is different so
you may need to adjust for individual needs.
What do I need to add to my pet food
mix?
First you'll need to add water and meat. We recommend USDA beef,
chicken or turkey (ground or whole from the grocery store or
butcher, or frozen meat patties sold in your local pet store).
Always use
safe handling methods when dealing with raw meat. In addition,
we encourage people to get creative and feed their pet a variety
of healthy foods like shredded carrots, beets, blueberries, apples,
broccoli, zucchini, peas, green beans, sprouts, bananas, melon,
pears, brown rice, yogurt, and cottage cheese. Veggies should
be raw or steamed. Avoid junk food, fried foods, citrus fruits,
grapes/raisins,
onions and spicy foods. Contact a holistic veterinarian in your
area for specific information regarding supplementation for pets
with special needs. To find a holistic veterinarian in your area
call the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association at
(410) 569-0795.
Can dogs really eat raw meat?
Your dog’s digestive system was designed to handle raw meat.
After all, wild or zoo animals don’t eat cooked meat. We’ve
been using raw meat for close to 20 years with fantastic
results. Buy healthy selections of meat, always refrigerate
or freeze, and
follow recommended safe handling instructions on meat packaging.
If you are still concerned, you can rinse meat in a solution
of grapefruit seed extract or human-grade hydrogen peroxide
mixed
with water. If
you prefer to brown or cook the meat, add a general nutritional
supplement or veggies to compensate for the nutrients lost
to cooking. The important
thing is to do what makes you feel comfortable.
Is it okay to feed my pet “people food”?
Some people think that feeding "people food" to pets
will give them diarrhea and turn them into beggars at dinnertime.
Depending on what you feed them and where, loose stools and begging
can be avoided. Here are some simple guidelines to follow. First,
when we say it’s o.k. to feed “people food”, we
are not talking about potato chips, chocolate cake, and onion rings – these
thing are sure to give your pet a tummy ache. We are talking about
fresh grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs and meat. Second, if
your pet has lived on processed pellets his entire life, and suddenly
a fresh raw diet is introduced, he may have loose stools for a short
period of time while his digestive system “wakes up” and
detoxifies all of the built-up chemicals in his body.
Once your critter is properly transitioned to a fresh
diet,
adding other
wholesome
foods should not cause problems. Oh, and begging at the
dinner table should not occur anymore than usual, unless
you are feeding
your
pet directly from your own plate while you're in the
middle of dinner. If you always put your healthy leftovers
in
their dish
and place
it in their regular feeding spot, begging will subside.
My pets are used to having
food in their bowl all day long. I can’t continue to do that with a Sojos® diet.
Will they starve?
Just like people, your pet’s digestive system needs time
to rest between meals and therefore it is very important to establish
1 or 2 meal times per day. Imagine what would happen to your body
if you snacked on a 24-hour buffet, all day long, every day. Free-feeding
dogs and cats produces similar results like obesity, digestive
issues, bloating, and a general loss of appreciation and excitement
that
tasty food otherwise produces. To get your pet used to a schedule,
simply place his dish out at mealtime (trust us, your pet will
know it’s dinner time after
you've made the transition to fresh, whole foods). If your critter
is accustomed to “free feeding” or grazing, he may
walk around the dish, pick at it a little, and then leave the room.
Remove
the dish after 15 – 20 minutes even if he did
not finish eating. He will quickly realize there is
a new
schedule to learn
and you
BOTH will appreciate his new motivation and drive for
healthy food.
Why is it so important
to soak the Sojos® mixture?
Soaking improves digestibility. Cats and dogs have a strong
but short digestive tract designed to quickly break down and absorb
foods.
Grains and vegetables require more complex digestion than meats,
fresh fruits, and other foods so having them soak in water at least
15-30 minutes for the European Style Mix or Monzie's, and at least
1 hour for the Europa is critical to the success of the Sojos diet.
Soaking overnight in the fridge or for at least a half day is ideal.
Sojos® mixes are all-natural and do not contain preservatives – so
how should I store them?
You should store your bag in its original package without any
problems as long as you keep the product in a cool dry place. Avoid
extreme heat or humidity. During warm and humid months, you may
want to store it in the freezer or in an airtight container. It
should
keep for about 6-8 months. Keep in mind that our food and treats
are made weekly because we want your pets to fully enjoy the benefits
of a fresh diet.
I barely have time to cook for myself, how can I make dinner
for my pets every day?
Our tag line is “Homemade Pet Food Made Easy.” Our
goal is to make it simple and convenient for you to feed your pets
natural, real, fresh food. If you don’t have time to prepare
the Sojos mixture prior to each meal, you can make larger
batches ahead of time and store them in the freezer. Raw meat (especially
ground beef) does well for about 4 days in the fridge. Many customers
fill freezer containers with 4 days worth of the meat, mix, and
water,
and store several of these containers in the freezer while keeping
one in the fridge, ready to serve. As you dish out the last meal
from your container, simply transfer another one from freezer to
fridge and it will be ready to serve at the next meal. Not only
is this method convenient, but it also allows your mixture to soak – the
part of the process we can’t emphasize
enough. You can also add other healthy leftovers
(before
or after you
freeze it) to
the presoaked portion. For best results, remove
food from fridge and
wait 15 minutes or add a little warm water to
bring food to room temperature before feeding.
How long can I expect my bag of pet food mix to last?
It depends on the size of your pet, but generally speaking,
an average sized cat will go through one 4 lb bag of Sojos European-Style
in 2 months. As for dogs, typically a 10 lb. bag of Sojos European-Style
will last about 5 weeks for a 50 lb. adult dog and an 8 lb. bag
of Europa or an 8 lb. bag of Monzie's will last about a month.
As a
rule of thumb, Sojos European-Style Dog and Cat Food Mixes
and Monzie's contain approximately 3.8 cups per pound and Europa
contains
about 4 cups per pound.
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Farms. All rights reserved.
