A Note from our President Christie Shaver

In a time where pet food companies take no pride in the quality of their products, where profit comes before product, and where the Center for Veterinary Medicine (CVM) acknowledges the presence of euthanized dogs and cats in pet food but refuses to do anything about it, pet owners have been left with few options to protect the health of their pets.

Ten years ago I began investigating pet nutrition because I was suspicious of pet foods. What I found was so disturbing that I have now opened The Healthy Pet Gourmet to offer pet owners what they would cook for their pets, at a reasonable cost.

Our recipes are those I have been cooking in my home, for my cats and dogs. Our ingredients are the same as those I use to feed my family.

As you choose the foods your pet eats, I hope you will spend some time looking around our website and learning not just about our products, but about other pet foods as well. Take out a can, or a bag of what your pet is currently eating and look at our education center's ingredients list to see what is REALLY in your pet's food. Knowledge is power. I believe that given the knowledge, all pet owners will choose health for their pets.

I also hope you will think about the kind of company you want to support. One that works to improve the lives of all pets, or one that works for its bottom line, forgetting the pets it serves by doing unnecessary, harmful, animal testing, and by using the cheapest, lowest quality ingredients it can get away with.

I want you to know that as the President of The Healthy Pet Gourmet, I feel that your pets are my pets. I dream of ways to provide your animal family members with the healthiest, happiest lives possible. I stay awake nights when any of my dogs and cats are unhealthy, and I work tirelessly to think of ways to help restore their health. My personal promise to each of my customers is to always work in this manner, and to always be a devoted ally in your quest for pet health.

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WHAT SETS US APART

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BENEFITS

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H.E.A.L. PLAN FOR OPTIMAL HEALTH

H.E.A.L. - Helping Every Animal Live Longer

Here at The Healthy Pet Gourmet, we believe that proper nutrition is the key to a long, healthy life with our pets.

Each pet is unique and there is no ONE food that could possibly meet all pets' nutritional needs. For this reason, we provide you with all-natural, preservative-free whole foods as the basis for a healthy diet. All pets, like all people, should take vitamins and herbal supplements to complement a healthy diet.

Because each pet has different needs, we do not add additional supplements to our foods. Eating too many vitamins can be just as damaging as eating too few. We want YOU to have the power to choose the best supplements and vitamins for your pet. An 'itchy' pet should take different supplements than an arthritic or allergic one.

The healthiest transition your pet can make from what he is currently eating to a Healthy Pet Gourmet diet is a slow and smooth one. To facilitate this process, we have created the H.E.A.L. Plan for optimal Heath in 5 easy steps.

Step 1: 6 weeks of basic THPG diet. No vitamins or minerals are added
Step 2: 2 weeks of basic THPG diet, + 25% of optimal vitamins and herbs.
Step 3: 2 weeks of basic THPG diet, + 50% of optimal vitamins and herbs.
Step 4: 2 weeks of basic THPG diet, + 75% of optimal vitamins and herbs
Step 5: 2 weeks of basic THPG diet, + 100% of optimal vitamins and herbs

The vitamins and minerals are added slowly because just like people, pets that are not accustomed to taking vitamins and herbs can have tummy problems if they eat too many too quickly.

Talk to your vet to get advice on supplements that will best support your pet's health. Additionally, we are happy to offer our recommendations on good basic vitamins, as well as supplements for more specific needs. To ask questions related to supplements click here. We hope to offer you the supplements we love very soon - so check back often!

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HOW TO SERVE & STORE

1. Keep meals frozen until 24-48 hours before serving your pet.

2. Thaw food by moving individual meal from freezer to refrigerator one to two days before serving.

If you forget to defrost your pet's food, you can defrost by placing the meal, still in bag, in a pot of warm (not hot!) water on your stove. If you do so, make sure the water does not boil. All you want to do is raise the food to a lukewarm temperature. You can also defrost with the defrost setting of your microwave. Follow your microwave's instructions for how to use this feature.

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FOOD INTRODUCTION

Before you can enjoy the benefits of improved health that The Healthy Pet Gourmet foods offer, you first have to decide how to switch your pet from what he is currently eating, to his new THPG food. You need to learn how to feed THPG foods, and what signs of health change to look for in your pet. Although most pets will have no difficulties during the transition, it is important to take a little time to think about which of three methods will work best for your individual needs. This guide will help you start out right, and give you some basic start up information. Keep the following in mind as you make your choice. We're here to help you.  If you have any questions or concerns, email us at maketheswitch@thpg.com.

Make a Great Sales Pitch

Get off on the right foot by making THPG foods as enticing as possible to your pet:

Remember to be careful! DO NOT BOIL the food on the stove or in the microwave in its bag. For best health, always remove food from plastic (for you and your pet) before heating to a boil.

Don't get it too hot! Although you can blow on your food if it is too hot, your pet can't. Only warm the food to 'lukewarm' as you would do for a baby. The goal here is not to get the food piping hot, but to warm the food so that it becomes more aromatic and flavorful.

Your pet may feel safe eating in a particular place in your home - some pets like to be out of the hustle and bustle and left alone, away from the action when they eat. Other pets may want to see you (the rest of their pack) at all times while eating.

These suggestions are just that - suggestions. Do what works for you.

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THREE METHODS OF FOOD INTRODUCTION

1. A Gradual Change

Very simply, you gradually introduce THPG foods to your pet. Keep it separate from their old food. You might start by offering the new food as 'treats,' and reducing the amount of the old food your pet gets at mealtime. This allows your pet the time to adjust to both the taste of the food, and the way the food will digest. This is by far the most gentle method. We suggest switching slowly, over approximately 2 weeks, to lessen any digestive upset that could occur.

If your pet seems disinterested, or appears to have digestive adjustment problems, slow down the food introduction. Remember - this isn't a race. Although you are excited to offer your pet better nutrition, remember that all pets, like all people, are individuals and need to be allowed to let their bodies adjust at their own pace.

The benefit of the gradual method is:
It eases the transition for your pet, greatly reducing problems with food acceptance, and with food digestion

The drawback of the gradual method is:
Because your pet is still eating less nutritious food, it may take longer for your pet to begin to show positive health changes

If the gradual or mixing method doesn't work for you, you are probably dealing with a food addict, and will need to take a more extreme course of action.

2. Food Introduction by Mixing

Very simply, mix the new food into the old. If your pet won't cooperate with the gradual method, and if fasting won't work for you, you may want to use this method. Whether it is the actual look and taste of the old food your pet is attached to, or the ritual of the old food (the sound of opening the can, or scooping the dry food from the bag), this can also work to get your pet 'over the hump.' Once your pet is accepting the new food, you can continue to decrease the amount of old food until it vanishes.

The benefits of the mixing method are:
It eases the transition for your pet, greatly reducing problems with food acceptance, and with food digestion

The drawback of the mixing method is:
Because your pet is still eating less nutritious food, it may take longer for your pet to begin to show positive health changes.

3. Food Introduction by Fasting

Unfortunately, just like today's junk food culture for people, many pets are also addicted to junk food. Many pet food companies put large amounts of sugars in their food to get your pet to like their food. And they love it - they have to! They are addicted! In the wild, dogs and cats have an instinct about what is 'good to eat' and what is not. Because we determine our pets' meal choices for them, they have lost the ability to choose food for health. Many pets become very attached to the particular sugars in their foods and refuse all other foods.

When a gradual food introduction fails in this circumstance, it may be time for a food fast.

The benefits of the fasting method are:
It stimulates appetite, gives the body's system a chance to rest and to cleanse, and deprograms old eating addictions and habits at the same time

The drawbacks of the fasting method are:
It can be difficult to see your pet go hungry. If your pet is not currently in good health, this method should not be used.

Common Concerns About Fasting:

Response:
Many people have convinced themselves that if their pet misses a meal, he will surely perish. It is not so dissimilar from mothers worrying that their children don't eat enough. Guess what? For both children, and pets: When they are hungry, they will eat. The will to live and the instinct to survive are very strong! Don't underestimate them.

Obese dogs have fasted on water and vitamins alone for as long as 6-8 weeks with no ill effects. Remember, in the wild, mealtime doesn't happen precisely at 6:30 p.m. It happens when an animal finds or kills a meal. Dogs and cats are perfectly capable of skipping a meal or two with no ill effects.

Occasionally, after one to two days on the liquid portion of the fast, a pet will still be unwilling to eat THPG foods. This occurs more frequently with cats than with dogs. If this is the case, try the liquid diet for an extra one to two days. For dogs, one to two days of the liquid fast is usually more than enough to stimulate their appetites. For cats, however, it may take as long as five days before the appetite picks up.

Any pet that does not develop a normal hunger after a few days of fasting is likely to be suffering from chronic illness. This isn't to say they are 'sick,' rather they are in a reduced, sub-optimal level of health. If this occurs, The Healthy Pet Gourmet suggests you consult a homeopathic, or homeopathic friendly vet in your area for guidance. If you don't currently use a vet with knowledge of homeopathic methods, please check our website for links to the Homeopathic Vet Association of America. We would be happy to connect you with information that can help you improve your pet's life in additional ways.

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HOW TO CHECK YOUR PET'S HEALTH

All of these are signs of compromised health in your pet. The Healthy Pet Gourmet's foods are aimed at eliminating these common problems that are symptoms of lowered health, common from eating a poor, or even dangerous diet.

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WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN SWITCHING YOUR PET

Over 6 weeks of eating THPG foods, wonderful things can begin to happen for your pet. Increased energy;, improved skin and coat; and softer, healthier stools, just to name a few. During this period, some really wonderful things will begin to happen for your pet that might be concerning if you didn't know what you were observing. Keep in mind: If your pet is in good health, he will most likely NOT experience any of the things described below. If however, your pet is in a state of compromised health, his body will begin to heal itself.

Every pet is different, and it would be impossible to describe all the things your pet could experience on his way to health. What is certain is that your pet's excretory system - his skin, kidneys, and colon - will begin to get rid of all the toxic substances that have been building up in his body. This process should last no more than 2 weeks, with only on average, 3-5 days of serious cleansing. Depending on your pet, and where he happens to be storing all of the garbage that is in his system, you could witness a wide range of symptoms as the body heals itself. These symptoms could include, but are not limited to diarrhea, vomiting, excessive dander, pimples, shedding, and excessive peeing.

Let us put this process in terms we can relate to.

A Lobster Tragedy

Imagine for a moment that you are a person with extremely fair skin. Dying to have a beautiful tan like your melanin-inclined friends, you slathered yourself with baby oil and set yourself in the sun to bake.... And now you're completely cooked. You look like a lobster. As your body begins to heal itself from this burn, strange things begin to happen to your body - things that might look frightening to someone with no sunburn experience. You get very itchy. It's all you can do to sit still. And then you start to peel! All of your skin is peeling off! Will there be any left? What will happen? Where is it going? Have you damaged your skin so badly, you won't have any left? No, of course not. Your body has healed itself enough from the burn that it can now replenish itself.

A Twinkie Diet

Imagine that you ate the same thing every day. Exactly the same. Whether you were eating twinkies or brussels sprouts, if you stopped eating what was normal for you and began eating carrots, your stomach would be upset too! Most pets in America eat the same thing every day. No matter how healthful this food is, your pet's digestive tract may need time to adjust to the change. Most digestive problems should last no longer than 3-5 days, certainly no more than one week. If your pet is experiencing troubles for a longer period of time, consult your vet and please send us an email to help you troubleshoot! Click Here.

Your pet's body may begin to behave in a similar way. Systems of your pet's body that have been under siege may begin to slough off the old, damaged cells they are holding onto because they are now strong enough to produce new, healthier ones. If you have ever undergone a cleanse for your own body, you are probably familiar with all the ways the body rids itself of pollution. The skin, the kidneys and the colon all work to rid the body of waste and it may now begin to work overtime because of the boost to health it is experiencing. Pimples, a fast sudden shedding or production of dandruff can happen to the skin (like a tree dropping old leaves in preparation to grow new ones). Strange, dark, even mucousy poops, and dark, strong smelling pees can happen. Although I have never experienced it, I have even read about dogs passing whole masses of worms, now that they are experiencing improved health, that were existing undetected in the animal's intestines. All of these 'symptoms' are perfectly normal. The body is ridding itself of pollution so that it can reemerge stronger and healthier.

Homeopathic and allopathic medicines work in two very different ways. Homeopathic medicine works to boost the body's own ability to heal itself. Allopathic medicine, or conventional medicine, works by muting symptoms without treating the underlying cause.

A THPG diet supports the body's attempts to heal itself, and in these healing efforts, your pet may experience some of the strange symptoms described above.

If your pet experiences any of these symptoms and they cause you concern, don't hesitate to consult your vet for guidance as your pet goes through this transition.

As a general rule, if your pet has a high energy level and a good appetite, temporary symptoms such as those described above are probably just passing through as the body continues to clean house. If, however, your pet's energy levels decrease for more than a few days, or if your pet's moods seem greatly altered in a negative way, you should immediately consult your vet to rule out any problems your pet has of which you may be unaware.

Please keep us informed of your progress.  We LOVE to hear about pets with easy transitions, but LIVE to help the struggling pups, or kitties find their way to health.  Drop us a line at maketheswitch@thpg.com.

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SPECIFIC CONCERNS

The Healing Crisis

Mucousy Stool, Loss of Appetite, and Other Symptoms

One of the most frequent concerns pet owners have when switching their pet's diet from processed, low quality foods to fresh, healthy, human quality foods is the change in their stool. Specifically, pet owners are bothered by mucousy, loose stools. Dr. Martin Goldstein is one of my favorite sources of holistic health information on pets. Here is what he says to owners that I would like to reiterate:

"Don't be afraid! Fear is such a terribly destructive force in medical care. So often, it inhibits us from letting the patient help himself. But also: Recognize the whole picture. How was the patient in the days preceding this apparent decline? A pet on the eve of a healing crisis will have seemed energetic, even frisky."

According to Dr. John Sherman:
"This feeling of strength is probably the most distinguishing feature that characterizes a healing crisis from a disease crisis when the vital force intrinsic to the body has finally worked up to this acutely reactive event, taking any suppressive medication, even an aspirin, could damage the immunity and vitality of an individual."

But how does this relate to mucousy stool you may ask? Mucus is just one of many forms in which toxins can be stored in the body, and when the body gains the strength and vigor to expel this material, it can be a seemingly traumatic event. Anyone who witnesses their beloved pet go from what they feel are 'normal stools' to loose, mucousy ones would be alarmed if they didn't have knowledge of what is happening in the body.

When this healing crisis occurs, your pet may try to do what he would in the wild - lose his appetite, and curl up by himself - isolating himself to gather strength to get well. Dr. Goldstein points out that this is actually very similar to what we do as people when we are sick as well: refuse food, and let our bodies focus on expelling toxins by sweating, expectoration, and emptying our bowels.

If you find yourself witnessing a healing crisis in your pet - pay close attention - it should take no more than about five days to move through before you start to see improvements. Other symptoms you may witness are vomiting, skin rash or pimples, and excessive thirst and urination.

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About Finicky Eaters

When I was a child, I absolutely loved the cranberry sauce that came in the can. I loved everything about it- even it's odd ridges that formed as it molded itself to the can it had been in. Knowing how much I loved cranberry sauce, my mother attempted to make a cranberry sauce from scratch one year for Thanksgiving. I'm sure she thought it was a wonderful idea, and that I would love it because being fresh, surely it would be that much better than the store bought version! She couldn't have been more wrong! Not only did I HATE her cranberry sauce, but I was also mad she had taken away my favorite holiday treat! How could she!

Your pet may be just like I was at 10 years old. Pets, just like people, LOVE their junk food. They also love the familiar. Julia Child could have made that cranberry sauce herself and I wouldn't have touched it. It was DIFFERENT. If your pet responds in this way, don't fret, and don't lose heart. Know your spoiled child is pitching a tantrum and that he will adjust, and he will soon begin to show signs of better health - which you will both be very happy about.

Remember, YOU are your pack's leader. It is up to you to take care of your pet and to make decisions about what they should eat. Many pets that throw 'food tantrums' have other behavioral problems as well. Often, these result from a wishy-washy pack leader. Dogs especially will lead if they are not led. Acting out about food is one more way a dog can attempt to establish dominance where it senses leadership isn't secure. If your pet has behavior problems concerning food, or other issues, The Healthy Pet Gourmet would be happy to introduce you to an animal behaviorist who can make life easier for you and your pet. Contact us at info@THPG.com and ask about receiving a referral, or how you can witness a quick demonstration of a communication tool that can greatly impact you and your pet, and your ability to live happily without behavior issues.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

All of the ingredients The Healthy Pet Gourmet uses are certified fit for human consumption. How can you be sure? Just watch our founder, Christie Shaver, eat her words!

The ingredients in each of our foods are listed below in order from greatest to least. All supplements are added slowly in accordance with our H.E.A.L. Plan for Optimal Health.

Look for our nutritional labels - the same as those that appear on the foods you choose for yourself, to appear on our website soon, as another sign of our quality.

Don't you deserve to know what your pet is eating?

Healthy Adult Diets

Compare Our Guaranteed Analysis

You'll notice that our foods have the most protein and fiber, and the least amount of moisture. This is because our foods have no fillers, preservatives, byproducts, meals, sugars, or water or broth added.

Only real foods, for your your real pet.

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DELIVERY

Schedule and Zones Place your cursor on the area you live in to see when we
deliver to you, or to tell us we should start!

Zone 1: Upper Manhattan
10025, 10026, 10027, 10029, 10035 (below 125th Street)
Delivery dates: 6/20, 7/4, 7/18, 8/1, 8/15, 8/29, 9/12 (and every other Tuesday thereafter)
Zone 2: Upper West Side
10019, 10023, 10024
Delivery dates: 6/15, 6/29, 7/13, 7/27, 8/10, 8/24, 9/7 (and every other Thursday thereafter)
Zone 3: Upper East Side
10021, 10028, 10128
Delivery dates: 6/23, 7/7, 7/21, 8/4, 8/18, 9/1, 9/15 (and every other Friday thereafter)
Zone 4: Midtown West
10001, 10018, 10036
Delivery dates: 6/16, 6/30, 7/14, 7/28, 8/11, 8/25, 9/8 (and every other Friday thereafter)
Zone 5: Midtown East
10016, 10017, 10022
Delivery dates: 6/22, 7/6, 7/20, 8/3, 8/17, 8/31, 9/14 (and every other Thursday thereafter)
Zone 6: Chelsea/West Village/Soho/Tribeca
10011, 10012, 10014
Delivery dates: 6/19, 7/3, 7/17, 7/31, 8/14, 8/28, 9/11 (and every other Monday thereafter)
Zone 7: Grammercy Park/East Village
10003, 10009, 10010
Delivery dates: 6/21, 7/5, 7/19, 8/7, 8/16, 8/30, 9/13 (and every other Wednesday thereafter)
Zone 8: Lower East Side
10002, 10013
Delivery dates: 6/27, 7/11, 7/25, 8/8, 8/22, 9/5 (and every other Tuesday thereafter)		Brooklyn, The Bronx, Queens, Staten Island and New Jersey: Click here to send us an email, with your zip code in the subject line. We will notify you when we begin delivery to your neighborhood.
Zone 9: Wall Street Area
10004, 10005, 10006, 10007, 10038
Delivery dates: 6/28, 7/12, 7/26, 8/9, 8/23, 9/6 (and every other Wednesday thereafter)
Zone 10: North Manhattan (above 125th Street)
Delivery dates: 6/26, 7/10, 7/24, 8/7, 8/21, 9/4 (and every other Friday thereafter)

Delivery Guidelines

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COMPARE OUR PRICES

Can I afford these products?

We believe the real question is can you afford NOT to use our products. Our prices are very competitive with lesser, so-called 'natural' products that are on the market. Check out the competitive price chart to see for yourself. Think about this: Did you know that pets eating home-cooked foods have been shown in studies to experience less illness, and to need fewer vet visits over the course of their lives? Think of the thousands you will save, as well as the heartbreak, by PREVENTING health problems by feeding a healthy diet, instead of trying to reverse health problems, once they appear. And think about this: If you're like most people we know, you enjoy your caramel macchiato caffeine fix as much as the next guy. If your 'fix' is worth $5 a day to you, what value do you place on the health of your pet?

If you're still looking for ways to save money we understand that too! We offer many different ways for our customers to receive discounts after you have finished the 6 week trial. Click here to send us an email requesting our full list of prices and discount opportunities.

Daily Food Prices Compared By Dog Weight*

*Prices were determined by purchasing all of the following foods at the same pet store, calculating the cost per calorie of each of the foods, and multiplying this per calorie cost by the number of calories needed for each pet weight.