Lucky you Gemma. I can imagine the conversation with the nutritionist was useful and informative. Will you have a trial of Phoenix Bark? If so, I would be interested to know your opinion.
Over on the AADF Facebook group I sense a growing interest in fresh cooked food. It seemed a bit niche when I started feeding this about four years ago. It’s great to see new fresh cooked dog food companies starting up. I wish them every success.
Yes, Dottie - I’m going to place an order, but not the trial (don’t want venison - bit concerned about the lead shot). Clearly - apart from raw - fresh food is the least processed available, which is the main attraction for me and this seems to be the only 100% natural brand. The nutritionalist told me that tinned food is cooked at 120 degrees for a minimum of 8 hours, which still seems very good compared to kibble. I can’t remember exactly what she said, but it was something about the calcium sources in most cooked foods (as there’s no bone) are not very beneficial. Phoenix say “Fully Bioavailable Calcium (We are the only fresh pet food to provide this for your dog!)” and I’m going to ask them what this means.
Please can you report back when you have found out what they mean by that? Links to calcium:
Calcium Carbonate in dog food
Calcium Phosphate in dog food
Yes, I will Dottie. She mentioned phosphorous - she’s also nutritionalist consultant for Different Dog and I vaguely remember reading somewhere that that’s what you feed?
Hi Dottie - Phoenix say Caroline, the nutritionalist, has devised the calcium they use and, at the moment, she’s asked Phoenix not to reveal it - but it will be published in the future. Egg shell is no longer used by them (website hasn’t been updated so still mentions egg shell). Nutritionalist says egg shell is mostly chalk and is insufficient and affords little protection against bone weakening. There’s a video from Caroline here about the advantages of fresh food https://www.facebook.com/phoenixbark/videos/598815098868958 . I’ve placed an order - works out at £95 for 6 weeks’ supply for 8.4kg dog, which is cheaper than my dog’s current food. They are extremely helpful and answered my numerous enquiries to my satisfaction.
That’s great and I find the information interesting. I really hope that it suits your little pooch. You try so hard to get things right diet-wise.
Yes, my two have been on Different Dog for some years now and are doing great. It does cost more but it’s keeping the older one away from the vet so is cost effective IMO. I add blueberries, Kefir and a small amount of cooked mashed sweet potato for extra fibre. They also have sardines at the weekend and sometimes a scrambled egg.
I have switched to low fat now because the older one has bilious vomiting syndrome. I’ve more or less got it under control now with the low fat, extra fibre and Kefir. Also give the daily allowance in four small meals. She also had a skin problem which has been in remission since going onto fresh food.
Look forward to reading your review. 
Which kefir do you buy, Dottie? Kathy from Phoenix said the thing she recommends most, and gives her dog, is chlorella and it does seem to have amazing health benefits so I might get some, but, as well as blueberries and mushroom powder, mine already has Hedgerow Hounds Green Seeds and Superfoods and I’m trying to grow (without much success) microgreens for her. It’s a question of knowing when to stop that I find difficult.
Gemma, you may be interested in Vince the Vet products.
Vitality, specially formulated blend of organic Spirulina and Chlorella.
https://www.vincethevet.co.uk/cellular-health---multivitamins
https://www.facebook.com/VinceTheVet/
Also available on Amazon UK
Looks very good - I don’t know how you manage to find all these useful things, but I’m glad you do, so thanks.
Currently using Biotiful Kefir but also like Yeo Valley Organic plain Kefir.
I’ve been feeding Phoenix Bark for a fortnight now and am very pleased with it and the customer service is first class. It’s consistency is dry and crumbly, which is fine as I add water because my dog doesn’t drink enough and her PH is a bit high. Poos are good. They say she needs 207g per day (about 1/2 of her previous tinned, but Phoenix is higher in calories). My calculations, however, add up to 322g per day, so I’ll monitor her weight. I’m very glad to have finally found (thanks to Seaweed) a fresh food that meets my criteria as fresh is clearly the healthiest way of preparing cooked dog food by a mile and even though it costs £10.93 per kg, I think it’s worth it. She loves it, but that means nothing as she’s not at all discerning and I’m sure she’d gobble up a bowl of Pedigree or similar rubbish wet food too given the chance. As there are so few fresh foods and this one seems to be not very well known, perhaps it could be added to the list of those reviewed here?
Thank you very much for posting your findings re Phoenix Bark. I am so glad that your dog is doing well on their food. As you say, Phoenix Bark is not currently in the Dog Food Directory so I will make a post on the AADF Facebook group asking David if he can add it to the list.
Gemma, how are you finding Phoenix Bark after some weeks, are the deliveries coming on time and frozen?
I’m very pleased with it, Seaweed. Deliveries are on time and have always arrived frozen - well packed, encased in sheep wool (unlike Poppy’s Picnic!). Brilliant customer service too. Only ingredient I’m not too keen on is the red lentils, but that’s a minor point and they are looking into an alternative version. They under-estimated the amount per day for my 8.5 dog though - started at 220g/day and now it’s about right at 300g, which costs £20 per week.
Gemma, thank you, I did wonder how the deliveries would work out being delivered from NI. Phoenix Bark certainly seem an interesting company.
Yes, it’s next day delivery by DPD. I’m just glad you posted a link to them, as they seem to be the less well known of the fresh foods available and I wouldn’t have heard of them otherwise.