Frequently asked questions
Here you will find frequently asked questions that can give you answers to exactly what you are wondering about.
If you cannot find the answer to what you are wondering about, you can send an email to post@vomoghundemat.no/irland
Product
Can all dogs eat VOM?
Yes! The dog is a carnivore adapted to eating a diet consisting mainly of animal raw materials. All dogs can eat VOM, provided they do not have any known allergies or medical conditions that limit their ability to eat a normal diet.
I suspect my dog has a food allergy. How do I go about doing an elimination diet using VOM?.
The purpose of an elimination diet is to systematically test various foods to find out whether the dog's symptoms are due to a food allergy. During the elimination phase itself, the dog must only be given food with ingredients it has not had in its diet previously. This elimination phase typically lasts for several weeks, and a general recommendation is a period of 8-12 weeks.
Following the elimination phase, the provocation stage begins, which involves testing potential causes of the symptoms by introducing one new protein source at a time. The TASTE series will be beneficial here, as the products in this range are made exclusively from a single animal species or type of offal.
If you would like more specific feedback for your dog, send us an email at: post@vomoghundemat.no/irland
Why are the products in the TASTE series not complete feed?
The products in the Taste range are developed as complementary feed, and the most important difference between the Taste products and our complete feed mixtures is the composition of the raw materials. The TASTE products contain only a single animal protein source, whereas the complete feed mixtures consist of several protein sources (such as chicken, pork, beef, salmon and egg). A variety of raw materials ensures a more balanced and nutritious composition, as the different protein sources can contribute nutrients that complement each other. The TASTE products are also highly nutritious, but since they are based on only one animal species or a single raw material, feeding exclusively on a TASTE product alone over time could become too monotonous.
If you need help finding products that can complement each other's nutritional content, send us an email at: post@vomoghundemat.no/irland
Do VOM products without chicken exist?
Yes! ACTIVE Zero Chicken is a complete feed made entirely without chicken. Our TASTE range also includes several supplementary feeds such as TASTE 100% Lamb, TASTE 100% Beef, TASTE 100% Beef Tripe and TASTE 100% Duck, all of which are chicken-free products.
My dog gets constipated / sluggish in the stomach from VOM. What should I do?
It is not unusual for dogs fed on VOM to have smaller, firmer and drier stools. It is a natural process which shows that the dog absorbs large proportions of the nutrients it gets from the food. Stool is a collective term for undigested material, so the more stool the dog has – the greater the proportion of the food has been indigestible and of no use to the dog's metabolism. Therefore, less stool is actually a good sign.
For some dogs, the faeces can become very small and hard. In such cases, it can be beneficial to add extra fiber – either by adding fiber-rich vegetables along with the VOM product, or by using VOM Digestive, which already contains fiber.
Which VOM product should I choose if my dog needs to lose weight?
If your dog is overweight or obese, it is consuming too much energy relative to its needs. We therefore recommend choosing our products with the lowest calorie content. VOM Digestive, ACTIVE Protein Rich and TASTE 100% Lamb have the lowest calorie and fat content. VOM Digestive and ACTIVE Protein Rich are complete feeds that you can use on their own. TASTE 100% Lamb is a supplementary feed that can be beneficial to introduce for variety. Remember that weight loss takes time and should be done at the dog’s own pace. So please be patient throughout the process. Also ensure that your dog gets plenty of physical exercise.
Which VOM product should I choose if my dog needs to gain weight?
If your dog needs to put on weight, you may need to increase the amount of food you give them. The recommended amount of 2 % of the dog’s body weight per day is only a guide and should be adjusted to suit your dog’s individual needs. If your dog has a high metabolism or is very active, it will need more energy to meet these requirements.
We recommend starting with our most energy-rich mixes, such as ACTIVE with Salmon or TASTE 100% Duck. ACTIVE with Salmon is a complete feed that can be used on its own, whilst TASTE 100 % Duck is a supplementary feed that can be beneficial to vary the diet with. In addition, ACTIVE Original and VOM Hunt can be good alternatives. To ensure the best possible nutrient uptake, it may also be a good idea to divide the daily portion into several meals.
Which VOM product do you recommend for pregnant and lactating bitches?
We recommend using either ACTIVE with Salmon, VOM Puppy or VOM Hunt throughout the entire gestation period.
– ACTIVE with Salmon has a high energy content and is rich in omega-3 fatty acids from salmon.
– Puppy is also suitable for pregnant and lactating bitches, and also contains omega-3 fatty acids from salmon.
– Hunt is beneficial as it contains carbohydrates, which are particularly advantageous just before, during and after birth. Alternatively, carbohydrates can be added separately. Hunt also contains omega-3 fatty acids from salmon.
During the first part of the gestation period, the energy requirement will generally be unchanged. This is because foetal development largely takes place in the final trimester. Standard maintenance feeding is therefore often sufficient up to approx. week 6.
From the third trimester (around week 6), however, the energy requirement gradually increases. The size of the litter is the most decisive factor, and bitches with large litters can have a significantly higher energy requirement. In this phase, the need for omega-3 fatty acids, and especially DHA, is also high due to the puppies' neurological development.
The birth itself is an energy-intensive process that mainly requires glucose. If the bitch has too little available glucose or glycogen, this increases the risk of exhaustion. Blood sugar levels can also drop rapidly. Immediately after birth, carbohydrates will also help to cover the high energy demand at the start of lactation. A source of carbohydrates, either from the feed or separately, can therefore be beneficial.
After birth, the energy requirement increases markedly. Milk production is very energy-demanding, and bitches may need 2–6 times their maintenance requirement, depending on litter size and milk production. The energy supply must be adapted individually based on body condition and the number of puppies.
It is also important to ensure sufficient access to fresh water to maintain milk production, as well as to distribute the feed amount over several meals to optimise intake.
Do I need to add omega-3 oil to VOM?
It can be beneficial to add omega-3 oil to our mixes that do not contain salmon. By adding a marine omega-3 oil, the dog will get what it needs of the important DHA and EPA fatty acids, without having to convert these itself from the essential fatty acid alpha-linolenic acid (ALA). In our mixes that already contain salmon, it is not necessary.
Does the dog need carbohydrates in its feed?
The dog's digestive system is adapted to a diet high in fat and protein, and low to no carbohydrates. The dog has no nutritional need for carbohydrates, as they can convert fat and protein into glucose through gluconeogenesis. Nevertheless, both easily digestible carbohydrates and fibre can have practical benefits. Easily digestible carbohydrates provide quick energy during high activity, and fibre contributes to good digestion and regulation of bowel movements.
Are colour differences normal in the products, even if it is the same batch/product?
Yes, it is not uncommon for there to be colour differences from one batch to another as we use raw materials with natural colour variations. Since no preservatives or additives are added to mask and influence the colour, this is therefore completely normal. It does not necessarily mean that there is anything wrong with the product.
If you are unsure whether there is something wrong with the product, you can send an email to post@vomoghundemat.no/irland
I want to switch to feeding exclusively VOM. How should I go about it?
Read more here: How to start with VOM
Can I mix VOM with other food?
Yes! Even a small amount of raw food in your dog's bowl can provide many great benefits. All our products can be combined with other food.
We have seen that there are bones and cartilage in the VOM products. Can the dog eat that?
In all our complete foods, there will be bone and cartilage from chicken or salmon as a natural and nutritious part of the food. Bone and cartilage are, amongst other things, a natural source of calcium and phosphorus. Both adult dogs and puppies have a digestive system that is equipped to eat animal raw materials such as meat and bone. In addition, our food is minced to be as easily digestible as possible. We do not recommend removing bone or cartilage before serving, as this will affect the balanced content of calcium and phosphorus in the food. The products should also not be heat-treated, as this will make the pieces of bone and cartilage hard. For the very smallest puppies, it can be appropriate to use a food mixer/blender if you are worried about pieces of bone.
Can I heat-treat the VOM products?
We mainly do not recommend frying, boiling or heat-treating our products, as these are products developed for the dog to eat raw. A heat treatment could affect and alter the nutrients and their structure. Bones are soft and hollow in a raw state, and therefore easy for the dog's digestive system to break down and dissolve in the stomach acid. Any heat treatment of VOM can cause these to become hard and brittle, which in turn can lead to digestive problems.
Can my cat eat VOM dog food products?
Cats have a higher protein requirement than dogs do. VOM Cat is therefore made with more protein-rich, and less fat-rich, raw ingredients than dog food is. Cats also have an essential need for the amino acid taurine, which the protein-rich raw ingredients provide to a greater extent. The premix for the cat food is also different from the dog food, as it is made to complement the raw ingredients used and to be adapted to the cat's needs. Cats can naturally be given products from the dog food range every now and then, but if a cat is to be fed exclusively on VOM, products adapted for cats should be used.
What is the difference between TASTE 100% Beef and TASTE 100% Beef Tripe?
Both products are part of the TASTE range. The difference is that TASTE 100% Beef is made from a mixture of offal, meat and fat trimmings from cattle, whilst TASTE 100% Beef Tripe is made exclusively from minced cattle tripe.
Why does TASTE 100% Beef Tripe stand out from the other products?
TASTE 100% Beef Tripe is made exclusively from minced beef tripe. It is therefore natural that this product has a different smell and appearance to our other products. TASTE 100% Beef Tripe is also the product in which we see the greatest variation in terms of colour, smell and texture.
The colour of beef tripe can vary from very light and almost brown, to greyish/pale, and sometimes more greenish. This also affects the colour of the finished product. The consistency can also vary from grainy and mushy to a more smooth and minced-meat-like consistency. The smell can also be perceived as strong and uninviting – but to dogs, on the other hand, it is a huge favourite.
My dog is fussy, a poor eater and gets bored of their food. Do you have any tips on how to boost their appetite?
Just like us humans, dogs can also get tired of their food. Dogs love variety in their diet, and even though all our products are very palatable, they can get bored of having the exact same product every single day. Our tip is therefore to vary between our different blends, or include the products in the TASTE series for variety. You can also vary how you offer VOM: sometimes you can give the food thawed, and other times half-frozen. By finding different places in the house or garden to serve the food, it can also become more exciting for the dog. You can hide the food bowl and get the dog to search for its meal. Our freeze-dried product VOM Freeze Dried can also be sprinkled over the dog's food as an extra flavour enhancer.
How should I store and handle the VOM products before serving?
Transport the food home as quickly as possible after purchase and store it in a freezer until thawing. The product must not be thawed at room temperature, but in a sealed and leak-proof container in the refrigerator. The products will have a shelf life of approx. 2 days in the refrigerator. Serve the food in a clean bowl, and wash hands and utensils with soap and water after handling. VOM should be served raw to the dog.
When I thaw VOM, blood/liquid sometimes comes out of the product. What is this liquid?
Meat and offal consist of approximately 60 % natural fluid, most of which is stored within the body’s cells. When the raw materials are minced during production, the cells burst. Because our production method is so quick and efficient, the liquid does not have time to seep out before the product is packaged and frozen. When you defrost the products, you may therefore notice some liquid running off. However, this liquid is an important part of the product, as it contains many of the nutrients from the cells.
Can I freeze VOM again after thawing?
We generally do not recommend refreezing the product if it has completely thawed. When the temperature rises, the structure of the meat changes and bacterial activity increases, which affects the quality. Therefore, the product should also be thawed in the refrigerator and not at room temperature. If, for example, you wish to stuff a KONG toy with VOM, the product should be thawed in the refrigerator and stuffed into the KONG as soon as it is manageable. When the KONG is served, the contents should be eaten in one sitting.
Puppy
Can the puppy eat food made for adult dogs?
We recommend that the puppy is fed VOM PUPPY mainly until it is fully grown and old enough to begin a transition to adult food. Our puppy food is specially developed for growing puppies, and pays particular attention to the puppy's development and nutritional needs. However, it is possible to use our other blends occasionally to create variety in taste.
Can the puppy eat products from the TASTE range?
A puppy can eat products from the TASTE range as a variation, but should mainly eat VOM Puppy as its primary food.
Can the puppy eat VOM Freeze Dried?
VOM Freeze Dried is designed for situations where you don't have access to a freezer or fridge. For example, when camping, hiking in the mountains, walking in the woods, hunting, at competition weekends, etc. In these cases, the puppy can definitely also eat VOM Freeze Dried. You can also use VOM Freeze Dried as a nutritious treat/reward during training.
Remember that if you are going to use VOM Freeze Dried on a trip, it is important that you have tried out the product in advance. Get to know the product and how the puppy reacts to it! VOM Freeze Dried is very dry compared to our other raw products – and it is therefore important to have ample amounts of water, and that the product is given time to swell before offering the food to the puppy. Also remember to offer the puppy water after training if you have used VOM Freeze Dried as a treat/reward
Other questions
Do you have a farm shop in Trøgstad?
We have a farm shop with a limited product range. The products are sold at recommended retail prices. For more information on our range and prices, please contact our order office on telephone 69 88 47 99 Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 16:00.
See also our dealer list.
Does Vom og Hundemat have a breeder agreement?
No, we do not have a breeding agreement. We do, however, have a high-volume agreement for those who purchase more than 100 kg per month. The agreement runs per calendar year and is intended solely for personal consumption. Resale is not permitted under this agreement.
For further information or questions regarding whether you meet our criteria, please contact us by email. post@vomoghundemat.no/irland or call 69884799.
How do I go about becoming a VOM retailer?
If you are to be considered as a VOM retailer, you must meet several of our established criteria.
– You must be a dog- or cat-related business (for example, a pet shop, dog groomer, veterinary clinic)
– You must have premises somewhere that are suitable for retail trade
– You must have a company registration number and opening hours within standard business hours for the retail industry
– We need information about business address/postal address, opening hours and telephone number
Would you like to become a stockist? Send us a message to post@vomoghundemat.no/irland
Where can I buy VOM?
All approved VOM stockists have access to our entire range, for both dogs and cats. You can find our stockist list and relevant contact information here: Find a stockist.
Spons
Can Vom og Hundemat sponsor my dog or cat event?
Yes, that's possible! Send us an email at post@vomoghundemat.no/irland and request the form «One-off sponsorship Vom og Hundemat».
How can I become a part of Team VOM?
Everyone can apply to become part of Team VOM. We review all applications for sponsorship and collaboration once a year. The deadline is the same every year, 31 May, and applications are made for one year at a time for the period 01.07 – 30.06.
You can request a separate application form «Application for sponsorship/cooperation agreement with VOM» by sending an email to post@vomoghundemat.no/irland
