TALES FROM THE TEST KITCHEN: REAL MEAT PET FOOD SEASONING

If any of you have ever shopped in a store, you’ll recognize this scenario.

You’ve arrived at the store and have procured the item that brought you there in the first place. Instead of promptly paying and leaving, you enjoy your moment of zen and peruse the shelves for new products that will make your, or your pet’s life, better.

You happen upon a product that looks interesting. It looks fun, it looks comfy, it looks durable, it might even look tasty.

You pick it up and examine it. It looks good…”I’ve been wanting something like this”…but is it too good to be true? Will it work? Should I shell out more money than I intended for a “maybe” product?

So today I’M going to try something new. Periodically, I’m going to try to fill you in on my experiences with some of the more “head scratching” products here in the store.

Remember, this is just my, or my coworkers, personal experience, and just like every pet is different, every experience is different. I’d only like to offer some insight into a product that you may be on the fence about.

So in today’s “Tales From the Test Kitchen” I’d like to discuss…

Real Meat Pet Food Seasoning

What exactly is it?

It’s a raw, air-dried, meat topper (lamb, venison, beef, chicken, fish) that you sprinkle on top of your pet’s food to not only give it a nutritional boost, but to make their food more appetizing. (It is appropriate for both dogs and cats)

There’s the basic kind which is meat (USA processed and sourced), food grade Diatomaceous Earth, natural preservative, and sea salt.

Then there are two other Pet Food Seasonings, one with a Probiotic boost, one with an Omega-3 boost.

I was initially drawn to this topper because I was looking to add some variety to my cat’s diet. Due to a few medical conditions, plus the fact that she is extremely picky and has me tied around her little paw, her diet was very limited. She basically ate, and still eats, Primal raw chicken mix with the occasional venison or lamb. But CHICKEN. She loves CHICKEN.

Also, being a finicky old lady, she was getting bored with her food. I needed to change things up.

Now, let’s be clear, this is a supplement. The meat content is not going to radically alter your pet’s diet (unless they are allergic to one of the meats in the topper, then yes, it could cause a reaction). But if you’re looking for something that could entice your pet to enjoy their food again, get a dash of different meats into a picky pet’s diet, and potentially offer a Probiotic or omega boost, this might be a good choice for you.

And a real bonus for me was the inclusion of food grade Diatomaceous Earth in the toppers. Diatomaceous Earth:

Diatomaceous Earth (often referred to as “DE”) is an off white talc-like powder that is the fossilized remains of marine phytoplankton. When sprinkled on a bug that has an exoskeleton (such as bed bugs, ants or fleas) it compromises their waxy coating [and shreds their innards]… But it doesn’t hurt mammals. We can eat it. We do eat it! It’s in lots of grain based foods because lots of grains are stored with diatomaceous earth to keep the bugs from eating the grain!

A natural parasite remedy that’s safe? Yes please! Plus, in some studies I’ve read, Diatomaceous Earth has shown to improve joint function in people and animals. I’m not entirely sure of all the science behind this, but it can’t hurt right?

So I was all set to try a Real Meat topper. I selected the “BioticBoost Mixed Meat Food Seasoning” — the one with Probiotics, since my cat has been having some slight digestion issues lately.

The directions were simple enough “1 tsp per 3lbs body weight”. The topper comes in a easy to open shaker bottle — the kind you might get parmesan cheese in — so it’s easy to shake out the desired amount or pour and measure with a spoon.

I measured out about 1 tsp and sprinkled over my cat’s food (my old girl actually weighs 8lbs, but I always think it’s better to start slow with new foods or supplements, better to work your way up to a full dose to avoid stomach upset). I have to say, and I don’t even eat meat, it smelled delicious. Sort of like beef jerky.

My kitty thought so too. I gave her a sniff of the topper before I put it on her food, and as I prepared her meal she was spinning and yowling at my feet. When I put her bowl down, she pounced upon it. The room was silent, except for the contented munching of a hungry kitty.

We all know this is music to pet owners’ ears.

So far so good. I give my kitty a sprinkling of the “BioticBoost” topper once a day and she’s so enthused about her food again. As soon as she hears the pop of the plastic top she’s meowing for it!

And! Within a few days her tummy troubles seemed to improve! Hooray! (I’m not saying this will happen with everyone’s pets, but I do think the boost of Probiotics helped)

Will I continue to feed the Real Meat Pet Food Seasoning to my cat? Yes. Do I recommend it? Yes. Is it for everyone? Nothing is.

But if your pet does not have allergies to any of the ingredients, and might like a little something extra to spice up dinner, I think it’s definitely worth a try.

And, dog parents, I know this story was about a cat, but I do think the topper could work quite well for picky dogs. What a great way to sneak in more healthy stuff!

So that was my experience. I hope it was helpful to you. If you have any further questions you can always ask us for help at the store or message us on Facebook.

Happy shopping!

~Your Loyal Calvin & Susie Blogger

As always, check with your vet before making any changes to your pet’s diet or body care. The Calvin & Susie Blogger always researches to the best of her ability, but she is not a vet. This blog is not in any way meant to replace veterinary advice or care. When in doubt always ask a vet.