Health Benefits:

Fibre

Prebiotic

Gut health

Antioxidant

Immune health

What else is cool about this ingredient:

Australian product.
Raw and minimally processed for maximum health benefits.

Recipes found in:

Dog:

All

Cat:

Apples, like all plants are a source of fibre which contributes to digestive health. Fibre is a source of food for beneficial bacteria, assists in improving stool quality, and decreases symptoms associated with digestive dysfunction such as gas, bloating, and flatulence.

Apples are also a source of potassium, vitamin C, vitamin A, and antioxidants. Vitamin C and antioxidants, make apples great for the immune system as well as the ongoing general health and wellbeing of our pets.

Added to all Big Dog recipes in species-appropriate amounts, our apples are finely minced to unlock their goodness. This is because our pets lack the digestive enzymes to break down plants to access their nutrition. Mincing these ingredients allows our pets to benefit from the nutritional and antioxidant properties of these highly nutritive and beneficial ingredients.

‍

Health Benefits:

Growth and development

Heart health

Energy

Nervous system function

Antioxidant

What else is cool about this ingredient:

Australian product.
Nose-to-tail consumption of a co-product of the human mean consumption chain.
Raw and minimally processed for maximum health benefits.

Recipes found in:

Dog:

Lamb (lamb heart), Tasmanian Salmon (lamb heart), Goat (goat heart), Kanga (Kangaroo heart), Turkey (turkey heart), Sensitive Skin (goat heart), Wellbeing (lamb and goat heart)

Cat:

Kangaroo (kangaroo heart)

When it comes to raw feeding pets, heart is actually classified as “meat” rather than “offal” due to the nutrition it provides our pets. Like meat, heart is a highly digestible source of complete protein.

Heart, along with offal such as liver and kidney, is a rich source of the important amino acid taurine. Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid for dogs. Meaning that it is critically important for health but can be made by the body, providing its amino acid building blocks are plentiful enough in the diet. In the case of taurine, dogs need enough methionine and cystine in their diet to make this important amino acid that is critical for heart health.

A diet rich in high quality amino acids, such as a raw food diet provide all of the amino acids dogs need, including Taurine.

For cats, taurine is an essential requirement from the diet because cats cannot manufacture their own taurine from other amino acids, like dogs can. For this reason, Big Dog for Cats recipes contain large enough amounts of taurine-containing ingredients so that cats have enough naturally occurring taurine in their diet.

Taurine is important for eye health and also enables the digestion of fat from the diet, for the production of energy. Taurine also has an important role in regulating calcium through the body which contributes to its critical importance to healthy heart function.

Co Enzyme Q10 is also found in high amounts concentrated in heart tissue. A powerful antioxidant, CoEnzyme Q 10 is produced by the body but this production declines with age so obtaining this nutrient from the diet, contributes to overall health and wellbeing, cardiovascular health, and healthy ageing.

Heart is a low-fat protein and its inclusion in Big Dog raw food recipes increases the amount of high-quality protein in every meal, while helping to maintain overall healthy fat levels.

Like many other meats, heart is a good source of B vitamins as well as the minerals zinc, iron, and selenium.

‍

Health Benefits:

Healthy ageing

Anti-inflammatory

Antioxidant

Skin and coat health

Healthy joints

What else is cool about this ingredient:

High-levels of active ingredients in each herb for potent results.

Recipes found in:

Dog:

Wellbeing

Cat:

This potent herbal blend provides healthy ageing support to many important body systems including the cardiovascular system, the liver, kidneys, and skin. In addition, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of these herbs provide general healthy-ageing support at a cellular level for the entire body.

Turmeric, thanks to its active ingredient, curcumin is a powerful natural anti-inflammatory. The root of the Turmeric plant has been used in traditional Indian medicine as well as widely studied by modern science for its role as an anti-inflammatory. The use of turmeric in our Wellbeing recipe provides anti-inflammatory support for conditions often associated with ageing including arthritis.

Jiaogulan, is a herb used for many purposes in traditional Chinese medicine. Primary uses are as a general health tonic, anti-inflammatory, and as a supportive herb in weight loss and diabetes. Jiaogulan has been used in a protective manner for healthy heart and cardiovascular function, liver function, and to support the brain and nervous system, all important to healthy ageing.

Animal studies have supported its anti-inflammatory effect and support of weight loss. An important herb in our Wellbeing recipe, Jiaogulan helps healthy ageing and weight loss.

Herb Robert has a history of being traditionally used for liver, gallbladder, kidney, and bladder support. As our pets age, keeping these important body systems as healthy as possible helps our pets to age well. This herb is included in our Wellbeing, healthy ageing recipe for this reason.

Nettle has been researched as an anti-inflammatory agent as well as supporting the kidneys, important organs of elimination and detoxification. Providing anti-inflammatory support from a variety of herbs helps our pets keep mobile and pain-free for as long as possible. Nettle has been studied to provide anti-inflammatory support in arthritic conditions. Arthritis and join pain become more likely as our pets age and providing dietary anti-inflammatory support helps support our ageing pets.

Gotu Kola is traditionally known as the herb of longevity, pointing to its role in healthy ageing. Gotu Kola supports the liver and kidneys and has been studied for its support of brain health and healthy skin. Studies have looked at the effect of Gotu Kola on brain health and even its role in helping to protect against behaviour-related issues associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

The anti-inflammatory properties of Gotu Kola may be useful in supporting arthritis. One study looking at rats with arthritis found that oral administration of Gotu Kola reduced joint inflammation, and cartilage degeneration. Its antioxidant effect also had a positive effect on the immune system in this study.

Dandelion has a strong traditional use in supporting the kidneys in their role of elimination of toxins and by-products of normal metabolism. It’s detoxification support helps the body to eliminate toxins and assists in healthy metabolism and healthy ageing. In addition to its support for the liver and kidneys, Dandelion is highly nutritious and contains antioxidants. Antioxidants perform a protective function in the body and are important in the diet for healthy ageing. These antioxidants also support the immune system and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties in animal studies.

Dandelion also has research to support healthy blood sugar levels and healthy cholesterol levels in animals. The inclusion of this herb in the Wellbeing recipe is particularly beneficial for senior dogs who are transitioning to this food, after a lifetime on processed foods which can negatively impact blood sugar levels.

Research also indicates antiviral and antibacterial properties held by Dandelion, pointing at its usefulness in supporting the immune system.

When exploring the traditional use for Dandelion, and the available research, this herb is really a super herb for supporting many areas of healthy ageing in animals.

Together, this herbal combination provides multi-system support for healthy ageing in our pets; providing them with dietary herbal support for healthy ageing and enjoyable senior years.

‍

Health Benefits:

Growth and development

Heart health

Energy

Antioxidant

Eye health

What else is cool about this ingredient:

Australian product.
Nose-to-tail consumption of a co-product of the human mean consumption chain.
Raw and minimally processed for maximum health benefits.

Recipes found in:

Dog:

Combo and Small Dog Combo (beef and pork liver), Beef (beef liver), Chicken (beef liver), Lamb (lamb liver), Tasmanian Salmon (lamb liver), Goat (goat liver), Kanga (Kangaroo liver), Turkey (turkey liver), Sensitive Skin (goat liver), Wellbeing (lamb and goat liver)

Cat:

Liver is a rich source of protein for our pets and similarly to kidney and heart, is a rich dietary source of the important amino acid taurine. Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid for dogs. Meaning that it is critically important for health but can be made by the body, providing its amino acid building blocks are plentiful enough in the diet. In the case of taurine, dogs need enough methionine and cystine in their diet to make this important amino acid that is critical for heart health.

A diet rich in high quality amino acids, such as a raw food diet provide all of the amino acid’s dogs need, including Taurine.

For cats, taurine is an essential requirement from the diet because cats cannot manufacture their own taurine from other amino acids, like dogs can. For this reason, Big Dog for Cats recipes contain large enough amounts of taurine-containing ingredients so that cats have enough naturally occurring taurine in their diet.

Taurine is important for eye health and also enables the digestion of fat from the diet, for the production of energy. Taurine also has an important role in regulating calcium through the body which contributes to its critical importance to healthy heart function.

Liver is also the richest natural source of fat-soluble vitamins for our pets. Fat soluble vitamins are the vitamins A, E, D and K. Fat soluble vitamins are an essential component of our pets’ dietary needs.

Vitamin A is essential for vision and skin health, vitamin A assists in the ability of our pets’ vision to adapt to darkness which is an important evolutionary trait for animals.

Vitamin D has critical involvement in bone growth and structure, ensuring that other minerals such as calcium are deposited in the right place and in the right amount to ensure healthy growth and strong healthy bones throughout life.

Vitamin E is an important antioxidant which protects all cells in the body from damage by free radicals. Free radicals are compounds produced in the body as a part of normal functioning, but if not countered by antioxidants, they can cause damage. Vitamin E binds to these potentially harmful free radicals and neutralises them which stops their ability to cause harm and can be safely metabolised and removed from the body.

Vitamin K is essential for blood clotting as well as working closely with vitamin D to incorporate calcium into bone. Clotting is a critical survival factor as one of the body’s first defence systems in the event of injury. Blood clots at the site of an injury function to prevent potentially life-threatening blood loss.

Liver is a source of vitamin B2, one of the B vitamins not found in meat in quantities other B vitamins are. Vitamin B2 is essential for energy production and the health of the coat and skin of our pets.

Liver is also a source of iron, folate, copper, vitamin B7 and vitamin B12.

A true superfood for our pets, the inclusion of liver in Big Dog recipes is one of the most important ingredients that allows our food to be complete and balanced using only fresh, natural whole foods without the need for chemical / synthetic vitamin and mineral supplementation.

‍

Health Benefits:

Growth and development

Heart health

Nervous system function

Brain health

Eye health

What else is cool about this ingredient:

Australian ocean-farmed Tasmanian salmon.
Sustainably and ethically farmed.
Raw and minimally processed for maximum health benefits.

Recipes found in:

Dog:

Tasmanian Salmon, Combo, Small Dog Combo, Chicken, Beef, Lamb, Sensitive Skin, Wellbeing

Cat:

Tasmanian Salmon is a rich source of complete protein for our pets. In particular, the amino acids methionine and cysteine. These important essential amino acids are found in high amounts in fish. For dogs, these amino acids are needed in adequate amounts as the building blocks for the amino acid taurine which is not essential but “conditionally essential”. A conditionally essential amino acid is one that is critically important for health but can be made by the body, providing its amino acid building blocks are plentiful enough in the diet. In the case of taurine, dogs need enough methionine and cystine in their diet to make this important amino acid that is critical for heart health. This makes these amino acids extremely important for dogs to obtain consistently and in good amounts from their diet. In addition to their importance in the manufacture of taurine, methionine and cysteine are also important for maintaining a healthy skin and coat. In cats, methionine, cysteine, and taurine are all essential and must be provided in adequate levels from the diet.

Tryptophan is another essential amino acid that our pets must obtain through diet and fish is an excellent source of this important nutrient. Tryptophan is a precursor for niacin synthesis, serotonin, and melatonin making this amino acid important for mood, sleep, and energy production. These combine to make tryptophan one of the most important amino acids for mood and behaviour for our pets.

Fish is the richest known source of the essential fatty acid, omega-3. As a fatty fish, salmon is one of the best dietary sources of this important good fat. Omega-3 is important for healthy growth and development, brain health, eye health, and the health of the nervous system. Omega-3 fats have an anti-inflammatory effect in the body and are an important addition to the diet not only for general health and wellbeing, but healthy ageing, healthy joints, and a healthy cardiovascular system.

Fish is not high in iron like other meats but does contain vitamins B1, B3,B5, B6, and B12 as well as the minerals selenium and phosphorus.

The signature red colour of salmon comes from the antioxidant astaxanthin which provides several health benefits including benefiting heart health and brain health.

‍

Our ingredients

Apples

Apples

Beef meat

Beef meat

Blueberries

Blueberries

Broccoli

Broccoli

Carrots

Carrots

Celery

Celery

Chicken meat

Chicken meat

Cold Pressed Flaxseed Oil

Cold Pressed Flaxseed Oil

Cold Pressed Ground Flaxseed

Cold Pressed Ground Flaxseed

Crushed bone

Crushed bone

Dolomite

Dolomite

Goat meat

Goat meat

Goats whey

Goats whey

Green bananas

Green bananas

Green beans

Green beans

Heart

Heart

Herbal blend

(turmeric, jiaogulan, herb Robert, nettle, gotu kola, dandelion)

Herbal blend

Kangaroo meat

Kangaroo meat

Kelp

Kelp

Kidney

Kidney

Lamb meat

Lamb meat

Liver

Liver

Lung

Lung

Nettle and dandelion tea

Nettle and dandelion tea

Oranges