The Benefits of Nature Menu Dog Food: What You Need to Know

Okay, so check this out, I'm gonna spill the beans on my experience with Nature's Menu dog food. My picky eater, a small terrier mix named Sparky, was giving me a real hard time with his meals. He'd sniff, maybe take a nibble, and then walk away like I was offering him dirt.

First, I did some digging online, you know, the usual. Scrolled through tons of reviews and comparisons. Nature's Menu kept popping up, especially their raw and lightly steamed stuff. Seemed legit, with people saying even their fussiest dogs loved it.

So, I decided to give it a shot.

I started with their frozen raw nuggets. They come in these little bite-sized pieces, which is perfect for Sparky. I picked up a bag of the chicken flavor – figured that was a safe bet.

The transition was key. I didn't want to upset Sparky's tummy, so I went slow. For the first couple of days, I mixed a tiny bit of the raw food in with his regular kibble. Like, seriously tiny, maybe a teaspoon. He seemed okay with it, no weird poops or anything.

Then, I gradually increased the amount of raw food and decreased the kibble. By day seven, he was eating a full meal of the raw nuggets. And guess what? He freaking loved it! He was actually excited about mealtime, which was a total game-changer.

But, here's the thing, the raw food needs to be defrosted, right? I'd take out the next day's portion the night before and let it thaw in the fridge. Sometimes I'd forget, and then I'd be scrambling to thaw it in a bowl of water. Not ideal, but hey, we live and learn.

I also tried their lightly steamed pouches, the ones that are kinda like wet food. They were super convenient for when I was in a rush or traveling. Sparky liked those too, though not quite as much as the raw stuff.

The Pros I noticed:

• Sparky's coat got noticeably shinier. Seriously, people were commenting on it.
• His energy levels were way up. He was more playful and seemed happier overall.
• His poops were smaller and less stinky (yeah, I know, gross, but it's a real thing).

The Cons I discovered:

• It's definitely more expensive than kibble. No getting around that.
• You gotta be careful about hygiene with raw food. Wash everything thoroughly after handling it.
• The defrosting thing can be a pain if you're not organized.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I'm really happy with Nature's Menu. Sparky's eating well, he's healthy, and he's actually excited about his food. Yeah, it's a bit pricier, but for me, it's worth it to see him thriving. I'd definitely recommend giving it a try if you're struggling with a picky eater or just want to improve your dog's diet.

Just remember to transition slowly and be mindful of food safety. Good luck!