Frequently Asked Questions

Can animals really eat raw meat?

Dogs and cats thrive on the naturally-occurring nutrients and enzymes in raw meat. Holistic vets across the country have been using raw meat diets for years, with great success. And after suggesting raw meat for 13 years, we've yet to have an animal get sick from it. We believe this is because a dog and cat's digestive system has defense mechanisms that help protect against bacteria, that humans do not have. However, we still recommend using fresh, healthy-looking cuts of meat just to be safe. If you have younger, older, or sick pets, or you simply don’t feel comfortable feeding raw meat, lightly-browned, human-quality meat is still far better than over-processed, feed-quality meat -- so do what makes you feel most comfortable. Human-quality hydrogen peroxide and grapefruit seed extract can also be used to sterilize raw meat.

What kind of meat do I use?

Most folks have excellent results with beef, turkey, or chicken found at the grocery store or butcher. See which one your critter likes best. Beef is typically the most popular choice. Use 88% percent lean meat for normal dogs and cats, and 80% lean meat for older animals. You may also alter the fat percentage in the meat to control the weight of your animal. We also recommend adding avocados if you're looking to put weight on a skinny dog.

Is this food more expensive and more difficult to make?

No. Preparation can take only a couple of minutes a day. And the results are well worth the small time required. As far as cost goes, Sojourner Farms is made with no fillers, and is thus highly efficient and digestible. Most dry foods have a high amount of fillers "glue" the pellet together that go in one end and out the other. Our food is not pelletized, which makes it last much longer than any other commercial pet food. A typical bag of our food should last 2-3 times as long as a bag of dry pet food.

Is this food too soft to clean my pet’s teeth?

No. Actually teeth are not cleaned by pelletized food. Have you ever brushed your teeth by eating potato chips? Teeth are actually cleaned by a healthy immune system, which produces the stomach acids to produce healthy, plaque-fighting saliva. For extra teeth work, we've had great success with beef knuckle bones that you can find at the grocery store or butcher.

Will animals eat it?

Yes. Sojourner Farms is very palatable and pets love fresh meat. The combination is irresistible. You will notice if pets are switched over gradually to our food, they'll develop a real passion for eating. This is an extremely healthy thing for an animal to have, and gives them something to look forward to each day.

My pets have allergies. Can they eat this food?

Yes. Many of today’s pet “allergies” are the result of enzyme deficiencies caused by insufficient nutrition. The quality and processing of ingredients -- along with artificial preservatives can also have a negative effect. Sojourner Farms is all human-quality, and minimally processed. The result is that pets do not experience the same allergic reactions to our ingredients that they would in other commercial pet foods. Corn and wheat are normally ingredients that dogs especially have a problem with. Again, our corn and wheat are fed raw, and so dogs should not have any negative reaction to our food. We've had thousands of allergy dogs thrive on our food over the years. Keep in mind that we also have a money-back guarantee, so should you decide to give it a try.

Do I need to supplement this food?

Traditional pet food is cooked and processed, thus robbing the food of its nutritional value. For this reason, when feeding a raw diet, supplements are less necessary. However, added vitamins and minerals for special needs, or to boost a pet’s nutrition is always encouraged. For example, there are many people with healthy diets that still take a multivitamin to "round-out" their diet. If you have a sick animal with special needs, be sure to consult a veterinarian for specific dietary needs.