Sojos

Frequently Asked Questions

 
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Feeding

Raw pet food

Simply said, raw food is served as nature intended—rich in naturally-occurring nutrients and enzymes. The ingredients in traditional pet foods, on the other hand, are altered by harsh processing—and the lost nutrients are replaced artificially with additives and sprayed-on synthetic vitamins and minerals. That said, there’s no question that kibble foods are convenient—but shelf-stable, grain-free, freeze-dried raw alternatives offer the same convenience without losing any of the taste, aroma and nutrition naturally found in fresh from the field food.

 

Every day, more and more pet parents discover the pure, simple power of Sojos’ uncompromised, farm-fresh ingredients. Sojos enables pet parents to feed a host of easy, affordable and safe foods, toppers and treats. Some are long-standing favorites. Others are category firsts. All will help you find a better way.

Our complete food recipes include a combination of gently freeze-dried meat—and air-dried fruits & veggies. All ingredients in all of our foods are raw. Meat begins to cook at 115 degrees. But fruits and veggies have a higher cook-temp and can be dehydrated via air-drying, while maintaining the nutritious enzymes only found in raw ingredients. There can be a little confusion about the term ‘dehydrated’ because meat cannot be dehydrated and remain raw. But fruits and veggies can indeed be dehydrated and remain raw.

Our food contains no fillers, so you feed less than what you would with traditional pet food. As a result, the price per day is about the same or less than most premium commercial pet foods. In the long run feeding your pets fresh, wholesome pet food can also save you money on Vet bills.

Many pet parents are curious about the benefits of feeding their dog a raw diet, but don’t know where to start. Our ProteinPlus toppers offer an easy simple and nutritious way to add a raw boost of protein to dogs’ meal.

 

About

Sojos products

All of our products, from baked treats, to freeze-dried meat treats and Sojos Complete food recipes to Sojos Pre-Mix food recipes are made in our Minnesota kitchens.

Sojos Complete dog food recipes are natural with added vitamins and minerals. We’re committed to mixing up all-natural food, however some of the vitamins and minerals included in our Complete recipes are not readily available in natural form. Rest assured, these ingredients must meet the same quality standards, and undergo the same testing as all other ingredients.

Many veterinarians do indeed recommend Sojos. We’re committed to working with and supporting the veterinary community—especially the holistic veterinary community.

Many people believe that garlic is harmful to dogs, and in large, concentrated doses this can be true. However, in the proportions that we use, it is highly beneficial to heart health, acts as a natural flea repellant, an antioxidant and anti-bacterial ingredient. Just like with humans, many things are healthy (and indeed necessary!) in small doses but potentially harmful in large, concentrated doses.

Click here to view our nutrient profiles for all recipes.

Sojos Complete Trial Size food is a great place to start! These 4 oz. resealable bags include 3-4 partial servings for your pet to taste-test. Simply scoop, soak and replace a portion of his current food with rehydrated Sojos.

We reformulated our Complete recipes to better meet the needs of adult dogs. We’ve added more meat, and a blend of heartier, chunkier ingredients.

Because we increased the amount of meat, we’ve updated our products to 1.75 lb and 7 lb bags. Rest assured, a 7 lb bag of Sojos Complete still makes up to 40 lbs of farm-fresh food! How? Because each bag contains a chunkier blend of farm-fresh meat, veggies and fruit. And, great news, the updated bags also include a stronger zipper seal, which makes mealtime prep even easier.

Sojos Complete trial size bags are indeed a great way to sample our products. You should not, however, rehydrate and feed as a full meal if your pet is not currently eating Sojos. Instead, replace ¼ c kibble with an equal amount of dry Sojos. Rehydrate. And add to your pet’s current food. We do offer free 1 oz. samples available through our independent retail partners. Check with your local pet store for more info.

 

How to

Prepare and store Sojos

For Sojos Complete and Wild recipes, simply add water, soak and serve. For Sojos Pre-Mix recipes, simply add water, the protein of your choice, soak and serve. For Sojos Complete Trial size, mix and measure, soak, stir-in and serve.

Sojos ProteinPlus Toppers are incredibly easy to feed! Simply sprinkle the recommended amount over your dog’s daily kibble or canned meal, stir-in and serve.

Definitely! Whether you feed kibble, canned, frozen, dehydrated, homemade fresh or any combination of food—you can add ProteinPlus Toppers on top.

Look for an all-natural, USDA-approved raw protein to add to Sojos Pre-Mixes. The type of protein you choose depends on your dog’s individual nutritional needs and preferences. Your local butcher or grocery store is a great resource for meat recommendations.

You don’t need to add anything to your pet’s meal (besides protein if you’re feeding a Pre-Mix recipe). Our Complete diets include a blend of vitamins and minerals that provide all the nutrients your pet needs for a complete and balanced meal.

Our feeding guidelines recommend your dog’s daily portion size. So if you feed twice daily, simply divide the portion in half to determine how much you should feed per meal.

Our feeding chart guidelines include measurements using dry Sojos.

We suggest 1 rounded tablespoon for dogs 20-40 lbs., and 2+ for dogs over 40 lbs.

All of our food recipes and freeze-dried meat treats should be stored in a cool, dry place. Do not store dry Sojos in the refrigerator.

Scoop your dog’s recommended serving of dry Sojos and combine with water. Soak for 15 minutes to fully activate nutrients and enzymes.

Soaking improves digestibility. Cats and dogs have a strong, but short, digestive tract designed to quickly break down and absorb foods. Grains and veggies require more complex digestion than meats, fruit and other foods, so soaking in water a minimum of 15 minutes is critical.

Sojos ProteinPlus Toppers are meant to be fed dry—no rehydration necessary!

Feed in the way that works best for you and your pet. If your pet’s incredibly picky, it may be a good idea to mix well, so he doesn’t pick and choose which ingredients to eat.

Sojos ProteinPlus Toppers are not intended to be fed on their own—this is a complimentary food intended to be fed with a complete and balanced diet.

ProteinPlus Toppers are just that—food toppers. If you’re looking for freeze-dried meat treats, check out our Simply Meat treats, Simply Wild treats, or for the puppies out there, SimplyPuppy treats. Find them here.

Any leftover food should be treated like fresh food, though, we venture to guess your pet will lick the bowl clean every time. Either discard leftovers or cover and refrigerate. Store in a food-safe, air-tight container. Because Sojos food products contain raw meat, handle with care, as you would any meal you’re preparing and storing for yourself. Sojos is best served fresh, within 24 hours of prep.

Room temperature water is ideal. Do not add boiling water, as this will cook out the natural enzymes found in raw food.

It’s best to skip the microwave—even if your pet prefers a warm meal. Because the ingredients in Sojos are raw, a combination of freeze-dried meat and gently air-dried fruits and veggies, microwaving can cook the nutrient-rich enzymes found only in raw ingredients. If your dog turns up his nose at a cold bowl, try adding warm (not boiling!) water to rehydrate his food.

Sojos recipes include bite size, natural ingredient chunks. If your pup prefers a smoother blend, or has dental issues, feel free to blend once rehydrated.

Each meal will rehydrate a little differently depending on the food mix itself, the temperature of water you used, the amount of time you soaked, etc. So, there’s no way to pinpoint the exact volume once rehydrated. This is why our feeding chart calls for measurements in dry Sojos!

The amount you feed your pup depends on several factors, including weight and activity level. But for an average sized dog, with an average activity level, a 7 lb. bag of Sojos Complete will last roughly one month. Find our feeding charts here.

Sojos ProteinPlus Toppers contain roughly 4 - 5 servings per bag.

We cannot guarantee food or recommend you feed it to your pet if it’s past the expiration date.

 

Feeding

Sojos to your pet

Consult your holistic Vet or nutritionist about specific allergies. That said, it’s not uncommon for pets to exhibit allergies to feed-grade ingredients but to process higher quality, human-grade ingredients with significantly less difficulty. Meaning, if your pup’s allergic to a particular ingredient in his kibble, he may not react to that same ingredient in an unprocessed, raw diet.

Eating a raw diet can help with a host of health issues—in addition to overall quality of life. That said, if your pet has a specific health issue, discuss with your holistic Vet.

We recommend at least a 10-day transition (3-4 weeks for older, sick or finicky pets). Soak a pinch of Sojos and water (or Sojos Pre-Mix, meat and water) and add to your pet’s current food. Gradually increase the Sojos portion each day as you decrease the other food. Cats can be especially picky and may take longer to adjust to new smells, textures, and tastes. Patience and persistence is the key!

One of the common misconceptions about kibble is that a crunchy food cleans pets’ teeth as they chew. But would you ever substitute chewing on a crunchy snack like pretzels or chips for brushing your teeth? Of course not. Your mouth would be full of gunk and residue that would turn to plaque – and guess what? That’s exactly what happens with pet kibble, which leaves a disease-causing buildup of plaque on pets’ teeth and gum lines. It’s not how soft or crunchy the meal is, it’s how healthy the ingredients are that make a difference in canine and feline dental hygiene.

It’s not uncommon for dogs to exhibit higher energy levels after they’ve transitioned to a raw diet. This is generally a great thing, but may take some adjustment on your part! Not to mention Sojos tastes delicious and is fun to eat, so your pup may just be pulling your leg, and trying to get his paws on some more food. Imagine going from eating artificially flavored pellets every meal (kibble), to eating fresh, raw ingredients (including real meat chunks)—it’s no surprise your pup can’t get enough! Of course, it’s possible your pet does need an increased portion. Our feeding guidelines are just that—guidelines. Every dog is different and you know your pet best. Check with your holistic vet or nutritionist for guidance.

For many pets, this is because they’re consuming plenty of water through the moisture-rich Sojos meal—particularly if they were eating a processed, dry food like kibble previously. As always, consult your holistic Vet or nutritionist if you have additional concerns.

Sojos is moisture-rich and filled with raw ingredients, so naturally your pup’s output will look different than when he was consuming a processed diet like kibble. Rest assured, it’s perfectly normal to see pieces of carrot, sweet potato or other ingredients in your dog’s stool. Some of the insoluble fiber may not always break down completely—but this does not mean your pet hasn’t gained nutritional benefit from those ingredients. Dogs have short intestinal tracts that are highly acidic, so they extract nutrition and pass waste quickly compared to humans.

Because we make Sojos from scratch, in small batches, all the ingredients are natural, and it’s made with real ingredient chunks, it’s normal for you to see some variation from one meal to the next. It is a good idea to ‘rotate’, ‘shake’ or ‘stir’ the bag in between feedings to keep the ingredients as evenly mixed as possible, but each meal will look a little different. Think of our food the way you approach making salad. Even when you use the exact same toppings and the exact same portions to make two salads, they won’t ever look exactly the same—simply because you’re using fresh, real ingredients. Both salads provide the same nutrient content, but look a little bit different. The same goes for your dog’s bowlful of Sojos!

Raw food is a great option for pets in all life stages. All of our Complete recipes are formulated with the specific nutritional needs of a pets’ life stage in mind.

You know your pet best and we’d recommend you discuss lifestage with your Vet to determine at what age you pet is considered a puppy, adult and senior.

Absolutely! We’ve seen many pets with dental deficiencies do well eating Sojos. The moisture-rich texture is great when chewing is a challenge.

The feeding guidelines were created with senior dogs in mind—so there’s no need to decrease the recommended portion size for your not-so-active pet. Keep in mind, though, that the feeding guidelines are just that—guidelines—and you can adjust as necessary.

There’s no need to worry about complicated math at mealtime—you do not need to decrease your pet’s food portion. Sojos ProteinPlus Toppers “plus up” your dog’s daily meal and add a superfood, protein-boost.

One cup of a powdery food is denser than one cup of meaty, chunky food. Meaning, your pup will need a larger portion of a chunkier food. As for the calorie content, we’ve improved our product testing and have more accurate results than ever. The calories/cup listed also account for some variation in consistency from one cup of Sojos to the next.

 

Customer

Service

 

All of our retailers should honor our 100% satisfaction, money-back guarantee and can arrange a replacement or refund for you. If you have any trouble working with your retailer to return or exchange your product, simply get in touch with us. Reach our Customer Service Team at: 1-888-867-6567 or by email at mail@sojos.com, Monday through Friday between 8 am and 5 pm ET.

For pet parents who purchase Sojos products from a local pet store, we offer a Frequent Buyer Program. Purchase 12 bags of Sojos, and receive the 13th bag free! Check with your retailer for more info. And if your local shop doesn't participate, get in touch with our Customer Service Team and we'll contact the shop. The Frequent Buyer Program is not applicable to purchases made via an online retailer.