Pet Food – Why We Like My Perfect Pet

< Updated 23FEB20 >

< A short link for this page – http://bit.ly/WhyWeLikeMyPerfectPet >

We discovered My Perfect Pet at an industry tradeshow in September of 2019. After doing our due diligence and evaluating My Perfect Pet we test fed it with some of the Green Acres staff pets as well as some clients who volunteered to give it a try. As a result of that process, we knew the My Perfect Pet blends and the company and people behind My Perfect Pet represented the type of product we wanted to offer to you. In a recent press release, Green Acres co-owner, Don Hanson stated:

Common sense, as well as science, tells us that fresh, minimally processed foods offer the best nutrition for us, as well as our pets. The My Perfect Pet blends provide pets with excellent nutrition, whether fed exclusively or as part of a rotation diet and Muppy and Boomer find it delicious! When we add a brand of food to our offerings, we also want to know about the company and the person making the decisions. When My Perfect Pet owner, Karen Neola, told us ‘My Perfect Pet is an independent family-owned business founded with a mission to improve pet health through education and nutrition and to put pet health over profits’ I knew we had found exactly the type of partner Green Acres can count on and can support.

What We Like Best About My Perfect Pet

  • The quality of the ingredients – All of the ingredients used in My Perfect Pet blends come from suppliers who exclusively sell human-grade food, the same companies that supply restaurants and high-end grocers. The protein sources used in My Perfect Pet include eggs and quality cuts of muscle meat and organs; beef (round & liver), turkey (breast, thigh, & heart), chicken (breast & thigh), lamb (shoulder), and wild salmon (filet). A variety of fresh vegetables (broccoli, carrots, celery, collards, green beans, kale, potatoes, spinach, & yams), cranberries, and kelp contribute important micro-nutrients and vitamins and these ingredients are also fit for human consumption. Lastly, My Perfect Pet incorporates freshly baked whole grain brown rice in their blends instead of adding artificial supplements. Whole grain brown rice provides a wealth of natural vitamins and minerals essential in the dog’s diet, along with fiber and a number of antioxidants, and phytochemicals to promote a healthy digestive tract, cardiovascular system, liver function, and immune system. Antioxidants including vitamin E, tocotrienols, selenium, phenolic acids, and phytic acid are available in immediate-release to slow-release forms and thus are available throughout the gastrointestinal tract over a long period after being consumed.

Look below and you will see images that show you exactly what the raw ingredients and finished product look like.

    • Ingredients are sourced locally whenever possible, and all are from the USA with the exception of the lamb which comes from New Zealand or Australia and coconut oil from the Philippines.
    • No ingredients are purchased from companies that sell “animal feed-grade” ingredients” or ingredients not fit for human consumption.
    • All ingredients are Gluten Free, Non-GMO, and free of preservatives.
    • All food ingredients and vitamin supplements are natural per AAFCO guidelines. Ingredients are purchased only from qualified human food suppliers in their fresh, whole or raw state. Raw meats, poultry and fish have been skinned and deboned, but not subjected to any rendering, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, fermentation, chemical or synthetic processing. Natural vitamins are derived solely from plant or animal sources. Minerals are chelated or otherwise compounded to improve bioavailability and absorption
    • During our Woof Meow Show interview with My Perfect Pet owner Karen Neola, she told us that when they are making the food, it was not unusual for her and her staff to make themselves lunch from the exact same ingredients used in My Perfect Pet blends. [ FMI Click to listen to our podcast ]
  • The minimal processing – My Perfect Pet blends are cooked per FDA food and safety guidelines to eliminate pathogens, removing the concern some might have about feeding fresh food. My Perfect Pet is cooked at much lower temperatures than either kibble or canned food, making it more nutritious, digestible, and delicious. While we still recommend raw diets and feed them to our own pets, in addition to My Perfect Pet blends, we believe that My Perfect Pets gently-cooked process makes sense, especially for anyone uncomfortable feeding raw.
  • The variety of proteins – We recognize and recommend the importance of dietary rotation for optimal health, and My Perfect Pet makes that practice easy with a wide variety of formulas. [ FMI – The Wisdom of Rotating Your Pets Diet – Part 1 – http://bit.ly/DietRotation1-30JUL19 ]
  • Transparency – If you know me, you know the lack of transparency and intentional deception in the pet food industry really annoys me. For example – there are kibble and canned food products that display prime cuts of meat on their packaging and when you read the ingredient labels you know that is not what is really in the food. When you look at the My Perfect Pet images (below) you know that those cuts of meat really are in the food. But transparency is about more than images. Pet food companies are required, by law, to publish AAFCO Dry Matter Nutrient Profiles; however, that is only half of the story. My Perfect Pet goes one step further than what the law requires and publishes the “As Fed” nutrient profiles, including carbs because they believe that is the right thing to do. Thank you!
  • Formulated By Experts to Meet All Regulatory Requirements – My Perfect Pet works with a wide variety of nutritional experts to formulate their blends and verifies that they meet all AAFCO and NRC requirements and confirms that they meet the nutrient profiles published on the label. They have 13 years of proven results.
  • Realistic – Due to the high quality of the ingredients in the My Perfect Pet blends, it is going to be more expensive than kibble or dry pet food. Like Green Acres, My Perfect Pet recognizes that not everyone will be able to feed My Perfect Pet at every meal; however, even if you can only feed your pet fresh food on an intermittent basis, your pet will still benefit.
  • Karen Neola, Founder & Owner of My Perfect Pet – As Karen explained in our Woof Meow Show interview and as she does on the My Perfect Pet website, Karen started cooking for her own dogs after losing her Labrador Retriever to contaminated commercial dog food.
    • “I vowed never again to buy commercial pet food and started making my own, using only fresh whole, natural and safe ingredients – the same quality I trusted for myself.  I immersed myself in research on dog and cat nutrition and worked with nutritionists, veterinarians, universities and health care experts to create the perfect blend of all-natural high-quality ingredients that provide maximum nutrition for dogs and cats with the least processing and highest safety.  I did not start with any intent to build a business, it just kept growing.”
    • My Perfect Pet is an independent family-owned business founded with a mission to ‘improve pet health through education and nutrition’ and to put pet health over profits.   We didn’t start with a business plan; we started with a mission to teach pet parents how to make healthier choices for their pets and to deliver the same whole food nutrition to their pets that we know is best for the rest of the family.  We don’t answer to equity investors, only to our conscience. As long as my name is associated with My Perfect Pet, we will never compromise on the quality or integrity of our products.”

Nutrient Profiles – Cat Blends –

https://www.myperfectpetfood.com/store/assets/pdf/PROFILES_Cat_Blends.pdf

Nutrient Profiles – Standard Dog Blends – 

https://www.myperfectpetfood.com/store/assets/pdf/PROFILES_Std_Adult_Dog.pdf

Nutrient Profile – Buckaroo Puppy Blend – 

https://www.myperfectpetfood.com/store/assets/pdf/PROFILES_Puppy_Blend.pdf

Nutrient Profiles – Personal Care Dog Blends

https://www.myperfectpetfood.com/store/assets/pdf/PROFILES_Personal_Care_Dog_Blends2019.pdf

Images of My Perfect Pet Blends

Cat Formulas

Dog Formulas

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog
( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Our Philosophy on Pet Nutrition http://bit.ly/GAKS_Nut_Phil

Why Rotating Diets Makes Sense http://bit.ly/DietRotation

The Wisdom of Rotating Your Pets Diet – Part 1 http://bit.ly/DietRotation1-30JUL19

The Wisdom of Rotating Your Pets Diet – Part 2 http://bit.ly/DietRotation2

 

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show
( http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/ )

 

________________________________________________________________________
Don Hanson is the co-owner of the Green Acres Kennel Shop ( greenacreskennel.com ) in Bangor, ME where he has been helping people with their pets since 1995. He is a Bach Foundation Registered Animal Practitioner (BFRAP), Certified Dog Behavior Consultant (CDBC), Associate Certified Cat Behavior Consultant (ACCBC) and a Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA). Don is a member of the Pet Professional Guild (PPG) and is committed to PPG’s Guiding Principles and the Pain-Free, Force-Free, and Fear-Free training, management, and care of all pets. Don produces and co-hosts a weekly radio show and podcast, The Woof Meow Show, that airs on Z62 Retro Radio WZON (AM620) and WKIT 103.3-HD3 and is streamed at http://bit.ly/AM620-WZON every Saturday at 9 AM. Podcasts of the show are available at http://woofmeowshow.libsyn.com/, the Apple Podcast app, and at Don’s blog: www.words-woofs-meows.com.  The opinions in this post are those of Don Hanson.

©23FEB19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Products We Recommend – Earth Animal Tick & Flea Control

The days of not needing to worry about ticks are long gone as the reports of ticks, and tick-borne diseases are mounting.  Green Acres has declined to carry many of the products available on the market promoted for flea and tick control due to the nature of the chemicals in these products and the potential toxicity for your pets. We continue to believe that it is in your pet’s best interest to purchase products containing insecticides directly from your veterinarian as they are equipped to discuss the benefits of those products as well as the risks. However, we are pleased to now offer several products from Earth Animal for protection from ticks and fleas that are both effective and safe.

Who Is Earth Animal?

Earth Animal is an American company owned by veterinarian Dr. Bob Goldstein and Susan Goldstein. Since 1979 they have been dedicated to helping thousands of dog and cat parents achieve their pets’ health and healing objectives with natural products. If your dog is a fan of No-Hide® dog chews, the safe alternative to rawhide, then you are already familiar with Earth Animal and have an understanding of their commitment to quality.

Earth Animal’s Approach to Tick & Flea Control

Earth Animal flea and tick products are NOT toxic pesticides designed to kill fleas and ticks. Instead Earth Animal uses a two-step protocol using herbs, essential oils, flower essences, nutrients, vitamins and minerals to repel ticks and fleas from both the inside and outside of your pet. All of these products are 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

Green Acres Experience with Earth Animal

We started evaluating the Earth Animal flea and tick products with our own pets (and ourselves) late last summer. We liked the results we saw, along with the company’s satisfaction guarantee and commitment to quality and safety. We know that many of you, just like us, are looking for a non-toxic, yet effective product for keeping your precious pet free of fleas and ticks.

Earth Animal Flea & Tick Products In-Stock

Internal Products

Daily Herbal Internal Powder (Yeast Free) – This product is made with a blend of organic herbs to change your pet’s odor so that fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes do not like the scent of the blood. This odor change is undetectable to humans.

Daily Internal Powder – Made with a blend of vitamins, nutrients, and brewer’s yeast that changes your pet’s odor so that fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes do not like the scent of the blood, thus taking your pet off the menu. This odor change is undetectable to humans.

Organic Daily Herbal Drops – Made with a blend of organic herbs to help guard your pet against fleas and ticks. These drops also help to quiet reactions from flea bites.

 

 

External Products

Flea & Tick Collar – This natural alternative to synthetic chemical collars is infused with herbs and essential oils and has a fresh, minty fragrance. The key ingredients are Cedarwood Oil and Peppermint Oil, which is non-offensive to our pets but repulsive to fleas, ticks, and other biting insects.

Flea & Tick Spot-On – This is the alternative to topical repellents made with chemicals and insecticides.  It is a natural blend of Peppermint oil, Cedarwood oil and Almond oil which are non-offensive to our pets but repel fleas, ticks, and other biting insects.

Herbal Bug Spray – Made with a blend of essential oils, this spray helps to guard against fleas, ticks, and other biting insects, while remaining free of DEET and other pesticides and insecticides,

It is important to remember that Earth Animal products are designed to repel fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes as opposed to many other products that contain insecticides which are intended to kill these pests.

Click to view and print a PDF – FAQ’s About Earth Animal Tick & Flea products

©15MAY19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Products We Recommend – ProDen PlaqueOff®

ProDen PlaqueOff® is an all-natural pet dental product that helps reduce tartar and makes your pet’s teeth whiter and cleaner; keeping your pets mouth and teeth healthy. It is effective against bad breath, plaque, and tartar. Unlike some dental products for pets, it is extremely easy to use; you simply sprinkle it on their food or give it to your pet as a treat.

Your pet’s dental health is a very serious issue. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed health concern in dogs and cats. Periodontal disease is a chronic infection, and it has been linked to; Diabetes, Heart attacks, Strokes, Kidney disease, Tooth loss, and other life-threatening disorders.

FMI – < click to read – Health & Wellness – Pet Dental Care > < click to listen to Podcast – Dental Care for Pets 2019 with Dr. Katie Carter – 26JAN19 >

The active ingredient in ProDen PlaqueOff® is a specially selected algae harvested in the North Atlantic, Norwegian Seaweed (D1070). ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder has been found to have specific beneficial effects for oral care, reducing bad breath by up to 63% after 12 weeks and reduces plaque by up to 35% after the first eight weeks. It may be used with both dogs and cats. PlaqueOff® Powder comes in a granulated form which is easily added to your pet’s food every day. It is rich in natural iodine and contains important vitamins and minerals. Unlike many other dental products for pets, PlaqueOff® is free from artificial colors, preservatives, gluten, and sugar. ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder Cat contains all the benefits of ProDen PlaqueOff® Powder, but with added brewer’s yeast.

Don and Paula started using PlaqueOff® Powder with their cat Boomer in October of 2017. In three months they saw enough improvement with his teeth that they decided to add PlaqueOff to the products we sell at Green Acres.

ProDen PlaqueOff® Dental Bites deliver all the benefits of PlaqueOff® Powder, inconvenient and tasty little bites your pets will love! Dental Bites are grain and gluten free as well as vegetarian! They are free from additives, sugar, and artificial preservatives. They prevent dental plaque from sticking to the teeth and soften already existing tartar deposits.

Don and Paula’s dog Muppy gets two PlaqueOff® Dental Bites at bedtime every night to help her keep keep her beautiful smile.

PlaqueOff® Dental Bites and PlaqueOff® Dental Powder have been accepted by the Veterinary Oral Health Council (VOHC). VOHC exists to recognize products that meet pre-set standards of plaque and calculus (tartar) retardation in dogs and cats. Products are awarded the VOHC Seal of Acceptance following review of data from trials conducted according to VOHC protocols. The VOHC does not test products itself. Regular use of products carrying the VOHC Seal will reduce the severity of periodontal disease in pets.

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog
( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

Health & Wellness – Pet Dental Care – < Click to Read >

Podcasts from The Woof Meow Show
( http://www.woofmeowshow.com )

Podcast – Pet Dental Care with Dr. Katie Carter from River Road Veterinary Hospital – 2019< Click >

Web Sites

ProDen PlaqueOff® websitehttps://www.swedencareusa.com/

Veterinary Oral Health Council websitehttp://www.vohc.org/

©4-Feb-19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
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Products We Recommend – Chasing Our Tails Smoked Marrow Bones

Chasing Our Tails is a New Hampshire based company producing premium, natural products for your pets. Green Acres Kennel Shop has carried a variety of smoked bones over the years, and this is the best product we have found. The smoked bones from Chasing Our Tails are hardwood smoked at 145 degrees with their proven process that kills bacteria but does not compromise the integrity of the bone. Bones are a natural product, and everyone has the potential to splinter or crack; however, we have found the Chasing Our Tails bones to be very durable. Because Chasing Our Tails uses the ancient French technique of charcuterie to prepare these bones, the marrow does not melt out, making them more desirable to our dogs and less messy than some other products. Chasing Our Tails smoked bones are sourced and prepared in the USA without the use of formaldehyde, mold inhibitors or preservatives. They are available in a wide variety of sizes.

These smoked marrow bones can be great for keeping your dog busy. The photo above is of Kate’s dog Cinder on Christmas day when all three dogs were given Chasing Our Tails bones to occupy them while the family ate Christmas dinner. Bones can also be helpful in keeping your dog’s teeth clean and in preventing periodontal disease.

Your pet’s dental health is a very serious issue. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), periodontal disease is the most commonly diagnosed health concern in dogs and cats. Periodontal disease is a chronic infection, and it has been linked to; Diabetes, Heart attacks, Strokes, Kidney disease, Tooth loss, and other life-threatening disorders. Bones can be helpful in keeping your dog’s teeth clean.

 

 

Recommended Resources

Articles on Don’s Blog
( http://www.words-woofs-meows.com )

 Chewing – < Click to Read >

Health & Wellness – Pet Dental Care – < Click to Read >

 

©4-Feb-19, Donald J. Hanson, All Rights Reserved
< Click for Copyright and Use Policy >