Raw Feeding - Raw feeding is the practice of feeding domestic dogs and cats a diet consisting of uncooked meat, raw meaty bones, offal and suitable plant matter.
SAN – Species Appropriate Nutrition - Species appropriate nutrition is a diet that is appropriate for a specific species; an easily digestible diet the species has evolved to eat.
BARF - BARF can be defined as Biologically Appropriate Raw Food. A BARF diet consists of 80% muscle meat and offal, 10% crushed real bone, 5% fresh vegetables and fruit and 5% other healthy ingredients.
PMR - PMR can be defined as Prey Model Raw. Generally, the diet recommends 80% meat, 10% bone and 10% organs - 5% being liver all from the same animal.
Franken Prey – The Franken Prey model follows PMR guidelines but generally consist of multiple protein sources.
Whole Prey - Whole prey diets will include all internal organs, blood, and glands with the fur and feathers still attached – the prey animal is fed fully intact.
Carnivore – Animals that only eat meat.
Omnivore – Animals that eat both meat and plant matter.
Herbivore – Animals that only eat plant matter.
Nose to tail - Nose-to-tail is an approach to consuming animals that says if an animal sacrifices its life for our food chain, we should respect it enough to consume every part, and not allow any to be wasted.
Human grade (Abattoir) - An abattoir slaughters and processes meat that is fit for human consumption.
Pet grade (Knackery) - A knackery slaughters and processes meat that is intended for pet food.
Commercial Frozen Raw – A raw diet that is kept frozen until ready to serve.
Commercial Fresh Raw – A raw diet that is designed to be kept in the fridge.
Commercial Fresh Cooked – A diet made with fresh ingredients but lightly cooked.
Kibble - Kibble is processed dry pet food, commonly known as biscuits, bikkies and nibblets.
MPD – Mixed Protein Diet - Mixed Protein Diets are recipes that have more than one meat source included.
SPD – Single Protein Diet - Single Protein Diets are diets that have only one protein source including offal, egg, and dairy from the same animal.
SPMD - Single Protein Meat Diet - Single Protein Meat Diets are diets that have only one meat source including offal from the same animal.
Novel protein - A novel protein is defined as rare, and something not usually included in your pet’s diet. Examples of a novel protein may be goat, turkey or kangaroo.
Raw meaty bone - Raw meaty bones are edible bone covered in muscle meat and connective tissues, non-weight bearing bones are recommended for dental health.
Offal – The internal organs of an animal, used as food.
Secreting organ - An organ that secretes substances along ducts or into the bloodstream, these organs are the most nutrient dense part of an animal. Some secreting organs are liver, kidney, spleen, brain and pancreas.
Elimination diet - Elimination diets traditionally consist of 1 novel protein and 1 carbohydrate energy source. An elimination phase generally lasts 6-12 weeks and the pet can only consume this bland / limited ingredient diet during this time. After the elimination phase, the suspected food allergen is then fed to “challenge” the system and see how the pet responds. Pending the outcome of this challenge phase, the elimination phase may need to commence again to continue to narrow down what may be at the root of the problem.
Allergy – A true allergy can be defined as an inappropriate or exaggerated reaction of the immune system to a common substance that, in most pets, causes no symptoms.
Intolerance - Intolerance is a broad term that is used to describe a wide range of adverse reactions to foods that cause symptoms after eating some foods. Food intolerances don’t involve the immune system at all.
Co-feeding – Co-feeding is feeding your pet a mixture fresh food and kibble.
Enrichment - Activities designed to challenge and exercise animals’ brains to encourage physical activity and mimic behaviors that animal would do in the wild.
Lick Mat - A textured mat designed for spreading soft foods on, to encourage licking and mental stimulation.
Slow Feeder – A bowl designed to slow animals eating down, for dogs prone to gulping their food.
Jowl Towel – A towel used to clean the slobbery faces of dogs with larger jowls.
Snood – A dog snood keeps dog’s ears from dipping into the water bowl or food.
Golden Paste – Golden paste is a formulation that typically combines coconut oil, water, black pepper, and turmeric into a paste.
Bone Broth - Bone broth is made from animal bones, cartilage, connective tissue, herbs and vegetables which is then boiled in water on a low simmer for a long period of time.
Kefir - Kefir is a fermented product typically made from cow’s, sheep’s, or goat’s milk or nondairy products such as coconut, oat, juice or water.
Natural nutrients - Nutrients from whole food sources.
Synthetic nutrients - Nutrients made artificially, in an industrial process.
Wet Matter Basis – Wet Matter refers to the food as fed/as presented. Wet food will use wet matter basis on the typical analysis.
Dry Matter Basis – Dry Matter is the nutritional results of the food with the moisture removed. Kibble will use a dry matter basis on the typical analysis.
Ca:Ph – Calcium to Phosphorus ratio – Pets need the right balance between the amount of phosphorus and calcium in their diet for optimal growth and development. Muscle meat is high in phosphorus and low in calcium, bone is high in calcium and in phosphorus.
Taurine and Arginine – These are essential amino acids for cats, meaning they need these solely from their diet as cats don’t produce these amino acids naturally.
Complete and balanced - Complete, when referring to pet food, is meant to answer the question “does the food contain all of the nutrition required to sustain the life of the pet?” Balanced, when referring to pet food, is meant to answer the question “does the food contain the accepted amounts of these nutrients to sustain the life of the pet?”
AAFCO – The Association of American Feed Control Officials.
FEDIAF - European Pet Food Industry Federation.
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