A few years ago whilst going down the fascinating rabbit hole that is a ‘holistic’ approach to canine care I came across a question that has really stuck with me, constantly in the back of my mind and I cannot seem to shake it. ‘We live in a world where now we know that variety is the spice of life and fresh is best, fresh food for ourselves and for our foods food. Free range or organic chicken and eggs over barn production, pasture raised cattle over grain fed, wild salmon over farmed salmon, even natural fertiliser for our plants over synthetic. So why are our dogs (and cats) different?’
Why is feeding dogs (and cats) an ultra processed diet, and the same thing every day, good enough when we understand it's not for any other living organism?

To paraphrase Dr Karen Becker and Rodney Habib authors of The Forever Dog. ‘We need to think of life as a health span rather than a life span. A life span is something we do not consider as being able to change, it is roughly how long things live. However a health span is something we have full control over’. We can dramatically increase a dogs health span and therefore we can also increase their life span.

We can avoid diseases like obesity and diabetes, we can reduce the risk of cancer, liver heart pancreas and kidney diseases, we can improve dogs immunity, and we can combat against allergies. Through nutrition we can reduce the risk of/eliminate hereditary conditions like hip and elbow displaysia or cruciate disease. We can also prolong your dogs time until arthritis sets in and subsequently heavily reduce your vet bills... all by focusing on our health span. 

The foundation of life is food. Without good nutrition nothing would survive. However nutrition is more than just the food itself. It is what we feed but it's also why we feed it, how we feed it, when we feed it, what we feed it in, where we source it from, and knowing what is constitutes a healthy body. Understanding all of these aspects is what makes good nutrition. But, there is also more to being healthy than solely nutrition which is why I educate on both nutrition and wellbeing. A long healthy life can be achieved with good nutrition, adequate exercise, minimal toxins, human and other dog engagement, appropriately stress reduced environment and species specific enrichment. 

So let's take a few steps back as I introduce my story, my reason why I have fallen down this rabbit hole and never looked back. My initial curiosity was peaked while working in Canada with dogs regularly living into their late teens. Dogs who had supposedly had hard lives as sled dogs. In fact what I saw was dogs that absolutely thrived. They were bred well to eliminate health concerns and enhance their abilities. They were exercised well and appropriately, they lived outside in nature without a world full of chemicals. They got to do what they loved everyday and they were fed a healthy nutritious diet.


As with everything else I do it really started with Zip. She was classed as a fussy eater (along with others of her family) this was a big prevention for her becoming a great sled dog. She would often refuse food for days at a time, particularly over winter. Over our time her and I have had many discussions about food, things she likes and didn't like and I learnt to listen. It wasn't until she was 5 and changing to a fully raw diet that I could tell exactly what she was saying. She didn't do well on chicken, it didn’t present in 'allergies', no bad poops or vomiting. It resulted in her being desperate to eat A LOT of grass at 3am and not wanting to eat her next meal or 2. In her previous working days her diet was very high in chicken and in the snow there was no access to grass for her to self medicate.

Then came Buzz, we got Buzz when he was 5 and he is the reason I have gone so so far down the rabbit hole I can see the light coming out the other end. He is riddled with little issues. He was a highly anxious and extremely shy dog, we would refer to him as an autistic dog so people would respect his space. He came to us medicated for hypothyroidism, which our wonderful vet later found was a misdiagnosis. (After 6 years on medication). Then the skin issues started, he had developed 'allergies'. Licking, scratching, losing the hair and skin on his legs. We found a medication that worked to surppress his symptoms and that was great, until we started to notice some of the side effects. So now that I was already on a path understanding nutrition as a food cure I focused into 'allergies'. Learning how to heal the gut to improve the immune system. Through this approach I have not only been able to heavily reduce his medication, but also heal his mind. He is no longer the stressed puddle of a dog we once knew, and subsequently his ability to cope with life had dramatically improved. 

Studies have shown the links between the gut-skin axis and the gut-brain axis. They prove that a healthy microbiome can be so important for a healthy body. About 70-80% of the immune system resides in the gut and about 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut. This is why feeding a healthy species an appropriate diet can have such a big effect on overall health and life. 


I have a special love for old dogs, this is a passion and I want to see all dogs live their forever. A 10 yr old dog is just achieving their silver wings, I want to see them fly well into their teens. A 10 year old dog is not old, 16, 17 is an old dog.

As a previous chef I carry my passion for real food into my personal and business life, and that means I tend to have a food as fuel mindset, what we eat determines how well our bodies function. For me, it then makes sense to feed those we love (our people and pets) with the best we can buy in regards to nutrients and bio-availability. Dogs (and cats) bodies need a range of vitamins, minerals, animal proteins for cellular repair, and fats .. yes healthy fats are not only vital for brain health, fat is our dogs (and cats) energy source. And fresh is best, it’s what we are designed to eat. You will see carbs are missing on this list, that is because dogs and cats have no survival requirement for carbohydrates, in fact they thrive without them. 

For the last several years I’ve looked into canine nutrition and wellbeing so I’ve put together my consults to focus on sharing this information. I come into your world and share my knowledge and together we can shape your dogs (or cats) diet to support optimal mobility, longevity and happiness. Despite being an avid raw feeder myself I understand there can be value for many to a processed diet, it is my desire to help you gain the knowledge to be able to do the best you can do for your pets. My consults are focused on what works best for you.


* I also help you read and understand
pet food labels  
* Introducing supplements
* Guidance transition into nutrient
rich foods for your dog
* Supporting you with knowledge
is the best way I can help you to
choose the best food for your dog

I can also help in supporting dogs with specific needs. If your dog is under weight or overweight, a fussy eater, or presents with allergies (symptoms of an imbalance). We can work together to provide the best approach for your dog. 
 


Things I can help with:

* general understanding of nutrition 
* nutrition for sporting and working dogs
* nutrition for aging dogs
* nutrition for puppies
* help with combating reoccurring skin
ear and gut conditions 'allergies’
* working with your vet and medical professionals to combat
diseases and conditions 
* working with your trainer/behaviourist
where diet can help with behaviour 

* general understanding of well-being and guidance creating a healthy home
* guidance before getting your first
puppy and setting you up
for a life of success
 

 Want to know more, feel free to reach out and book a consult, via email. Consults can be done in person if you are local but also over the phone or internet.


Prices:

For a General Wellbeing consult I charge $120.00. This consult takes approx 45 minutes and is tailored for your specific needs. This price also includes 2 shorter follow up sessions to answer any questions you
have. Follow ups are within 2 months of initial consult. 

For a Condition Specific consult I charge $120.00, with follow up any consults charged at $30 (approx 30 minutes). Some conditions will resove easily, others may take
multiplesession.

Kind words ..

I recently had a canine nutrition consult with Stef as my dog has always been a fussy eater. Stef helped me to understand the nutritional composition of different dog foods and how they can contribute to a dog’s longevity and well-being, which made me completely rethink how I was feeding my dog.

The principles she shared of feeding whole foods first, of variety, and balanced meals really resonated, and I immediately felt more equipped to tweaky dog’s diet in a way that will hopefully avoid or prevent lifestyle issues as she gets older - meaning that she will have the happiest, most healthful life possible.

I would highly recommend Stef’s nutrition consults for any dog owner, even if your dog does not have any nutrition-related problems, as there is so much you can learn from Stef.

Hannah