How should I start with FreshFrozen for Pets? Isn't this too complex? Will my dog still like his kibble when travelling? What about the cost? These are questions often asked by pet owners who see the benefits of FreshFrozen food but are unsure how to get started with FreshFrozen food for their pets.

To mix or not to mix?

However, it is quite simple. It all starts with the realisation that you do not need to switch completely from your current diet to FreshFrozen food for your dog or cat, despite the messages you sometimes read online that kibble should not be mixed with FreshFrozen food.

Feel free to compare it to our situation. We too alternate between cold food and hot food, easily digestible food and less digestible food, healthy food and less healthy food. Why would this not be possible for your pet? Indeed, nonsense.

Even if you only feed FreshFrozen one day a week, your pet will be better off than if he did not get our FreshFrozen food at all.

Three steps

To determine how much FreshFrozen food to give your dog, just use our simple 3-step plan.

Step 1 - how much does your dog weigh?

Probably the easiest step. However, it is important to look at your dog's target weight and not his current weight.

The target weight is the weight your dog should have when he is neither too skinny nor too fat. In this case, the ribs are slightly visible and easy to feel. Your dog has a thin layer of fat and a well-balanced waist. The muscles at the back are clearly visible and the bones at the start of the tail are slightly visible.

For more information: www.jolipet.com

Step 2 – what share of FreshFrozen do you wish to give per day?

This is a personal choice. Some people go straight for 100% FreshFrozen food, others prefer to do 50/50 on a daily basis, and still others choose to add FreshFrozen food as a sort of healthy 'dressing' to the kibble and give 25% FreshFrozen a day. And if you run out of FreshFrozen food, it will be a day without meat.

In the 5 columns of our table you can choose how much you want to give on a particular day: FreshFrozen only, 75%, 50%, 25% or a day without FreshFrozen.

Once you have determined your dog's target weight and the percentage you wish to give your dog every day, you can see from the table how many grams of FreshFrozen and how many grams of kibble you should give your dog. If your dog's target weight is 15kg and you wish to feed 50% FreshFrozen, you should feed 200g of FreshFrozen and 90g of pellets.

Step 3 - Divide the recommended daily amount equally between 2 food occasions on 1 day

There are 3 ways of feeding frozen food to your dog

• Mix both daily, based on the feeding table indicated in steps 1 and 2
• Kibble in the morning and FreshFrozen in the evening when you come home
• Kibble on regular days and from time to time (e.g. on Sundays, public holidays, during holidays) FreshFrozen

Whatever you do, remember that every day FreshFrozen is a healthy dat for your dog.

And how is it for puppies or for cats? The principle is exactly the same but a little more complex. That is why we are happy to help. Feel free to send us a message via our contact page and we will be happy to get you started.

Some more useful tips

• The stool of dogs that eat FreshFrozen food for the first time can become sluggish at first. This is normal if your dog has only eaten (sterile) kibble up to now.
• Some dogs start to gulp when eating FreshFrozen food because it's so tasty. We therefore recommend using an anti-gulp bowl or a lickyimat or a KONG to provide your dog with long-term eating pleasure. Alternatively, you can use empty marrow bones (http://www.wolfsmenu.be/snacks_marrowbone_eng.html) and put the hamburgers in them. They love it!
• Food from FreshFrozen is freshfrozen and there is life in it. Please take the necessary measures and handle the food with the same care as human food. Some guidelines:
• Always keep the cold chain after purchase and, when you get home, put the food in the freezer as soon as possible;
• Always thaw the food in the refrigerator (approx. 12 hours) or in the hot air oven (20 min. at 70 °C), never on the kitchen table;
• Wash your hands before and after feeding;
• Always clean the feeder afterwards with disinfectant.
• Dispose of any leftovers in the dustbin;
• Never let your dog lick your face after eating;
• Always pick up faeces with the poop bag or with a glove;
• Keep small children away from raw food.

Bon appetit!