FAQ

Great question! The mix of textures in our PetMix is intentional and designed with canine digestion in mind.

The Science Behind the Blend:

We carefully balance chunks, dices, and powders to optimize both palatability and nutrition:

• Chunks and dices provide texture that creates variety and interest, making meals more appealing
• Powders maximize nutrient absorption and digestibility

Why Powders Matter for Dogs:

Dogs
have a significantly shorter digestive tract than humans—about 1/6th
the length relative to body size. This means food moves through their
system much faster, giving their bodies less time to break down and
absorb nutrients.

Carbohydrates
take longer to digest than proteins, so we process much of the
carbohydrate-rich ingredients (vegetables, fruits, grains) into fine
powders. This increases the surface area available for digestion, giving
your dog's body the best possible chance to extract the valuable
vitamins, minerals, and fiber from these ingredients before they pass
through the digestive system.

The Result:

Maximum
nutritional benefit with optimal digestibility—ensuring your dog gets
the full value of every whole food ingredient we include.

Think of it as pre-digestion work that helps their shorter digestive system work more efficiently!

How much food is in a 2lb and 10lb bag of PetMix?

Our PetMix bags contain the following amounts (measured dry, before rehydration):

• 2lb bag: Approximately 10 cups
• 10lb bag: Approximately 50 cups

What does this mean for feeding?

Since our PetMix contains about 400 kcal per dry cup, here's how long each bag typically lasts:

Example: A 30lb dog needing about 700 calories per day (eating about 1.75 cups of dry PetMix per day)

• 2lb bag: About 5-6 days of meals
• 10lb bag: About 28-29 days of meals

Important Note for Base-Mix Users:

These calculations apply to our protein-included recipes (Ready-to-Feed).

If you're using one of our base-mix recipes,
you'll be adding equal parts of your own raw or gently cooked protein
to the PetMix base. Since the protein you add contributes calories,
you'll use less PetMix per day to meet your dog's caloric needs. This means your bag will last longer—approximately 1/3 longer than with protein-included recipes.

For a 30lb dog using base-mix:

• 2lb bag: About 7-8 days of meals (when combined with your added protein)
• 10lb bag: About 37-40 days of meals (when combined with your added protein)

We prioritize high-quality, whole food ingredients and work closely with our suppliers to source the best available options. However, we cannot make a blanket claim that all of our ingredients are certified non-GMO.

Here's why:

Many of our core ingredients—like wild-caught fish, pasture-raised meats, and organic produce—are inherently non-GMO or sourced from suppliers who avoid GMO inputs. However, some ingredients in the food supply chain are difficult to verify as completely GMO-free without certified non-GMO documentation, which can significantly impact cost and availability.

Our Approach:

We focus on what we believe matters most: sourcing recognizable, minimally processed, whole food ingredients that provide superior nutrition. When certified organic or non-GMO options are available and practical, we choose them. We also prioritize ingredient quality, sourcing practices, and nutritional value over labels alone.

Transparency Matters:

Rather than make claims we can't fully substantiate, we prefer to be honest about our sourcing. We're committed to continuous improvement and always evaluate our ingredient sources as better options become available.

The right amount depends on your dog's size, age, activity level, and
individual metabolism. Here's how to determine the best portion:

General Guideline:
As a starting point, adult dogs typically require between 20-30 calories per pound of body weight per day. A moderately active 50-lb dog, for example, would need approximately 1,000-1,500 calories daily.

Calculate Your Dog's Portion:
Our PetMix recipes contain approximately 400 kcal per cup (measured dry, before rehydration). To calculate your dog's daily serving:

1. Estimate your dog's daily caloric needs (body weight × 20-30 calories)
2. Divide that calorie total by 400 to get the number of cups of dry PetMix needed per day
3. Divide into 1-2 meals based on your feeding schedule

Example:
A 50-lb dog needing 1,200 calories per day: 1,200 ÷ 400 = 3 cups of dry PetMix per day

Every Dog is Different:

Just like with our own metabolism, every individual is different. Caloric needs vary based on:

• Activity level (couch potato vs. hiking companion)
• Age (puppies and seniors have different needs)
• Health status and metabolism
• Whether they're maintaining, losing, or gaining weight

Our Recommendation:

Start with the calculated amount and monitor your dog's body condition over
2-3 weeks. You should be able to feel their ribs easily but not see them
prominently. Know your dog and adjust accordingly—portion sizes may need to go up or down by 10-15% to maintain ideal body condition.

Need Help?
We're happy to help you calculate a starting point for your dog, or you
can consult with your veterinarian for personalized feeding
guidance—especially if your dog has specific health considerations.

Once you've rehydrated PetMix with water (and added protein for base-mix recipes), here are our storage guidelines:

Refrigerator Storage:
Prepared PetMix can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days
in an airtight container. We recommend preparing only what your dog
will eat within this timeframe to ensure maximum freshness and nutrient
quality.

Freezer Storage:
For longer storage, prepared PetMix freezes beautifully for up to 2-3 months.

Freezing tips:

• Portion meals into individual servings before freezing for easy thawing
• Use airtight, freezer-safe containers or bags to prevent freezer burn
• Label with the date prepared
• Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, not at room temperature

Meal Prep Made Easy:
Many pet parents find it convenient to prepare a week's worth of meals
at once—storing 3-5 days' worth in the refrigerator and freezing the
rest. This approach saves time while ensuring your dog always has fresh,
nutritious meals ready to serve.

Important Safety Note:
Once thawed, treat refrigerated meals the same as freshly prepared food—use within 3-5 days and do not refreeze.

Both product lines deliver Kitchen Quality Ingredients and complete nutrition, but they're designed for different needs and budgets:

Homestyle PetMix: Your Gateway to Better Feeding

Homestyle was created as an accessible entry point for pet parents beginning their journey toward whole food nutrition. Here's what makes it different:

• Egg as the primary protein: Whole egg is listed as the first ingredient, with meat protein as the second. Egg is a complete, highly digestible protein that's more economical to source, allowing us to offer a lower price point without compromising nutritional quality.
• Consistent base across varieties: All four Homestyle recipes share the same vegetable and fruit blend—only the meat protein changes. This thoughtful design makes it easy to rotate between chicken, beef, fish, and lamb, giving your dog diverse micronutrients while minimizing digestive upset that can occur when switching foods.
• Budget-friendly without compromise: You get the same small-batch care, whole food ingredients, and complete nutrition at a more accessible price.

PetMix: Premium Variety

Our original PetMix line features meat protein as the primary ingredient and offers more recipe variation utilizing different vegetables and fruits tailored to each protein source.

The Bottom Line:

Homestyle is perfect if you're transitioning from kibble, watching your budget, or want easy protein rotation. PetMix offers premium meat-forward recipes with more variety. Both deliver the whole food nutrition your dog deserves—you simply choose what works best for your family.

Our proteins undergo a gentle pasteurization process that strikes the ideal balance between food safety and nutritional integrity—preserving the benefits of minimally processed protein while eliminating pathogens.

The Process:

All of our freeze-dried proteins are pasteurized at the final stage of production. The ultra-dry meat or organs are heated to 165°F for at least 15 seconds—a carefully controlled step that achieves a 5-6 log reduction of harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, and is sufficient to inactivate viruses including avian influenza H5N1.

Why This Approach?

This gentle heating process differs from traditional cooking. Because the proteins are already freeze-dried (removing moisture), the brief pasteurization step effectively eliminates pathogens without the prolonged high heat that degrades nutrients in conventional cooking methods. You get the safety of pasteurized ingredients with more of the nutritional value intact.

The Result:

Peace of mind for you, optimal nutrition for your dog—without compromise.

Quality control is built into every step of our process, from sourcing to the final sealed package:

Sourcing Standards:

• We work directly with trusted suppliers and require documentation such as Certificates of Analysis (COA) for all raw materials
• We prioritize organic ingredients whenever available
• We personally vet our suppliers' quality processes to ensure they align with our standards

Small-Batch Production:
Our small-batch, hand-packed approach isn't just about craftsmanship—it's a quality control advantage. Every ingredient is visually inspected before it enters production, and every batch is examined before sealing. If something doesn't meet our expectations at any point, it doesn't go into the mix. Period.

Testing & Safety:
Beyond our hands-on inspections, we conduct routine safety testing to ensure every batch meets our rigorous standards for purity and quality.

The Bottom Line:
This combination of careful sourcing, small-batch production, and personal oversight means we catch what automated systems might miss. We make food we're proud to feed our own dogs—and that's the standard every batch has to meet.

We use what we call Kitchen Quality Ingredients—everything we use is something we'd be comfortable serving at our own table. Our recipes include recognizable, whole food ingredients like wild-caught fish, mid-west farm raised meats, thoughtfully sourced fruits and vegetables, along with whole eggs with shell (a natural source of calcium that's completely safe and highly beneficial for dogs).

Why we don't use the "human-grade" label:

We're not permitted to use the term "human-grade" on our packaging because our facility is dedicated exclusively to pet food production, not human food manufacturing. This is a conscious choice. We prefer to keep our kitchen focused entirely on what we do best—creating premium nutrition for dogs—rather than splitting our attention to manufacture human products just to qualify for a regulatory label.

Here's what many people don't realize about "human-grade":

The term "human-grade" is a regulatory designation about where food is manufactured, not necessarily about quality or nutrition. Fast food, processed snacks, artificial flavors, and heavily refined foods are all considered "human-grade"—but that doesn't mean they're optimal nutrition. The label tells you the facility meets human food manufacturing standards, but it doesn't guarantee whole food ingredients, minimal processing, or superior nutritional value.

We'd rather focus on what actually matters: sourcing the best ingredients, using minimal processing to preserve nutrients, and creating recipes we'd genuinely feel good about feeding our own dogs. That's why we call it Kitchen Quality—because it reflects our standards, not just a regulatory checkbox.

What matters most:

The quality of our ingredients speaks for itself. Every batch is made with the same care, standards, and ingredients you'd expect in your own kitchen. We believe transparency matters more than labels, which is why we're always happy to discuss exactly what goes into every recipe.

Great question! The answer depends on which type of PetMix you choose:

Protein-Included Recipes (Ready-to-Feed):
Yes! Our protein-included PetMix recipes are formulated to meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition for adult dogs of all breeds and sizes. Simply add water, and you're providing a nutritionally complete meal.

Base-Mix Recipes:
Our base-mix recipes cannot carry the "complete and balanced" claim because you're adding your own protein source. While we provide recommended protein amounts as a guide, you ultimately choose the protein type, fat content, and portions—which means the final nutritional profile is in your hands. This customization is actually one of the benefits many pet parents love, as it allows you to tailor meals to your dog's specific needs and preferences.

Our Philosophy:
Many pet parents successfully rotate between our protein-included recipes and base-mix options, or work with their veterinarian to ensure their dog's overall diet meets their nutritional needs over time. Just like with human nutrition, variety and quality ingredients play a key role in long-term wellness.

If you have specific nutritional concerns or questions about which option is best for your dog, we're happy to help guide you—or you can consult with your veterinarian for personalized advice.

YES!! Rotate Your Proteins!!

Rotating protein sources, whether its varying the meat you use in our base mixes, or rotating flavors in our protein included recipes, prevents food sensitivities, strengthens the immune system, and keeps meals interesting.
Different proteins provide varied amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and beneficial gut bacteria—creating a more complete diet than single-protein feeding.

Key Rotation Benefits:
Prevents Allergies & Sensitivities: Rotation reduces the risk of sensitivities from constant exposure to one protein, preventing itchy skin or upset stomachs
Boosts Gut Health & Immunity: Different proteins feed diverse beneficial gut bacteria, strengthening digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune response
Wider Nutrient Spectrum: Each protein offers unique amino acids, vitamins, and minerals for more complete nutrition
Reduces Picky Eating: Variety keeps meals exciting and encourages better appetite, especially for picky dogs
Balances Fats: Rotating between ruminant and poultry proteins balances saturated vs. polyunsaturated fats for healthier skin, coat, and energy

Don't Be Afraid to Add Water! Our mixing instructions call for a lot of water—and that's intentional. Equal parts water to PetMix gives your dog an enticing way to stay hydrated, which is essential for temperature regulation, digestion, organ function, and joint health.

Key Hydration Benefits:
* Regulates Body Temperature: Helps dogs cool down through panting

* Aids Digestion & Nutrient Absorption: Breaks down food, enables absorption of essential nutrients, and keeps the digestive tract lubricated

* Supports Organ Function: Flushes toxins, supports kidneys and liver, and ensures proper blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients throughout the body

* Lubricates Joints & Tissues: Cushions joints and sensitive areas like the brain and spinal cord, while maintaining electrolyte balance for muscle and nerve function

Thank you for choosing Healthy Dogma. If this type of diet is new to your pet, a slow transition is essential to avoid GI upset.

To ensure a smooth transition, gradually introduce PetMix over 21 days by mixing increasing amounts with your dog's current food. Monitor your dog's digestion throughout the process—if you notice gas, loose stools, or other signs of upset, slow down or return to the previous ratio for a few more days.

Gradual Mixing Schedule (21 Days)
Days 1-7: 25% new PetMix + 75% old food
Days 8-14: 50% new PetMix + 50% old food
Days 15-21: 75% new PetMix + 25% old food
Day 22+: 100% new PetMix

Tips for Success
Rehydrate properly: Always mix with warm water or low-sodium broth in equal parts
Monitor stools: Firm, consistent stools indicate your dog is adjusting well
Watch for digestive upset: Slow down or step back if you notice excessive gas or loose stool
Maintain routine: Keep feeding times consistent to reduce stress
Be patient: Every dog adjusts at their own pace—don't rush the process
Try alternating (optional): If mixing is challenging, alternate meals (PetMix for breakfast, old food for dinner) for a week or two before fully switching

PetMix offers a whole food approach to nutrition that works differently than traditional kibble.

Kibble-based diets are formulated so every piece contains all required nutrients in one bite—a "complete and balanced" approach to each meal. PetMix takes a different path, mirroring how we nourish ourselves: achieving optimal nutrition over time through variety and the superior nutrient absorption that whole foods provide.

The Whole Food Advantage: Whole foods offer significantly better bioavailability—meaning your pet's body can actually absorb and use more of the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in their food. When you rotate proteins and incorporate variety into your pet's diet, just as you would in your own healthy eating habits, you ensure they receive everything they need for long-term health and vitality.

We process all orders within 1–2 business days. Standard shipping typically takes 3–5 days, while express options are available at checkout.

Need more info? Read our full shipping policy.

We offer free same-day pickup for local orders placed before 12PM, with an after hours pickup box option as well on request.

You have 30 days to return your items if you're not satisfied. Products must be unused and in original packaging.

Check our returns policy for more information.