Something of a revolution has hit in the US pet food industry. More than 60% of dog and cat food on supermarket shelves in America is now grain-free. This means they do not contain unhealthy filler products such as corn, wheat and sorghum.

Robert Belobrajdic, dog breeder for 20 years, believes grain-free pet foods are popular in the US because American pet owners are better educated about the significant health benefits of food without grains than their Australian counterparts.

As a result, US pet food companies have been forced to change their products in line with consumer expectations. 

Australia, however, is being left behind, with very few grain-free options, especially products which are locally produced by an Australian company.

Norm Oldenburg, owner of Bubbles and Bows Pet Grooming and Supplies in South Beloit Illinoi US, says grain-free food has become the new normal for dog owners.

“It doesn’t have corn, soy or wheat fillers,” Oldenburg said. “It’s better for their dog’s coat and health. There are fewer vet bills, fewer allergies, and the dogs are in better overall health.” 

While there are some grain-free options being imported from America to Australia, there are some health concerns rising from how those imported products are treated before they hit Australian shelves. 

Mr Belobrajdic says, “many imported products still get irradiated with gamma rays. 30 cats died in 2008 because of irradiated food, so it’s a big concern for pet owners.”

There are only a few grain-free options in Australia with VIP pet foods covering the supermarket shelves and a new emerging Australian-based online company called Stay Loyal.

Stay Loyal supplies a holistic all life stage grain-free dry dog food with free delivery to any door in Australia.

There are also a few “BARF” diet companies evolving which pet lovers can investigate.

For more information on the benefits of grain-free pet food, visit www.stayloyal.com.au

stressful hours trying to find a solution to their dog Rome’s skin allergy.

Rome’s condition was so bad his body was covered in red sores.

He was constantly losing fur, bleeding between his paws and parts of his body had to be

smothered in sunscreen because he had no fur for protection.

Over the past five years, Karen Hooley tried all she could to solve Rome’s worsening skin

problem.

The Staffordshire-cross visited vets every few weeks, took medication and steroids, was

fed expensive hypoallergenic dog food and was even treated at Sydney University’s

teaching hospital.

Nothing worked to improve Rome’s condition.

“He just kept losing fur,” said Karen Hooley, from Sydney’s outer suburbs.

“He had no fur whatsoever on the end of his tail and he had big red sores everywhere

between his feet.”

“He was like a porcupine – the fur he did have was so spiky.”

Karen confesses Rome is the most spoilt member of the Hooley family and after she felt

she had tried everything with vets she began to trawl the Internet in search of answers.

That’s how Karen stumbled upon Stay Loyal dog food.

“I came across their website and I was reading through it – no grains, antioxidants – it

made sense,” said Karen, who decided to order a sample bag online.

Within a couple of months, Rome had transformed into a healthy, happier dog – with

thick fur.

It’s been five months since Rome started on Stay Loyal dog food and there has been no

sign of skin allergies since.

“He has fur all over his body and it’s three times the thickness it was,” Karen said.

“He is off the steroids and no rash on his body or feet.

“We’re saving a fortune on dog food, vet bills and medication. He’s a much happier dog

and he’s lost weight, gained muscle. His body condition is much better.”

The Hooley family are now spreading the word through their vet, family and friends

about the benefits of Stay Loyal.

Stay Loyal is the brainchild of renowned dog breeder Robert Belobrajdic who, like the

Hooley family, was frustrated with the lack of results he was getting in treating dogs

with itchy skin or dermatitis.

After years of research, Robert found answers as to what causes itchy skin in dogs and

in most instances it was related to diet.

Commercial dog foods, the type sold in supermarkets and many pet stores, are made

with ingredients that decrease a dog’s immune system and many cause the allergic

reactions.

They lack key nutrients needed to maintain a healthy body.

“These dog foods are often the cause of a dog’s allergic dermatitis and if they are not the

cause they definitely do not have the right ingredients to heal,” Robert said.

Belobrajdic joined with his cousin David Korac to start their own dog food company -

Stay Loyal.

They make dry dog food with unique ingredients including green tea, rosemary, omega-3

from fish oil only, and antioxidants along with only using animal proteins and fats that

make dogs healthier and helps heal dogs with itchy skin.

Just like people, pets suffer from allergies – and, while there can be any number of causes, the body’s first line of defence is the immune system.

Diet is often the most significant factor in an animal’s poor immune system because many commercial pet foods are not ‘species-appropriate’.

Cats cannot tolerate carbohydrates and should only eat meat. Cats on a low or no meat diet will grow progressively weaker until they die.

Dogs can tolerate a modest percentage of carbohydrates, ideally in the form of vegetables. However, a dog’s diet should primarily consist of quality meat, not meat by-products or grains like wheat, corn or rice.

Despite intolerances, many pet foods even boast about these ingredients. Rice is often touted as hypoallergenic – despite it contributing to an animal’s poor health.

Statistics presented by pet insurance companies show that the top three reasons dogs are taken to the vet are: ear infections, skin allergies and moist dermatitis.

For many pet owners, eliminating high-risk ingredients in their pet’s food, namely corn, wheat, soy and rice will clear up these problems.

Veteran Australian dog breeder, Robert Belobrajdic, says that, ‘the most widely marketed commercial dog foods, particularly kibble, are made with ingredients which impair a dog’s immune system and can cause allergic reactions’.

After years of extensive research he discovered many factors that can cause itchy skin. Surprisingly, most were related to diet. Robert explains, “You see, commercial dog foods are made with many ingredients that actually decrease your dog’s Immune System and many even cause slight allergic reactions. Plus many dog foods DO NOT have the key nutrients needed to maintain a healthy body. These dog foods are often the cause of a dog’s allergic dermatitis. Nevertheless, even if they are not the cause, they definitely do not have the right ingredients to heal.”

Belobrajdic joined cousin David Korac to start their own dog food company, Stay Loyal, which manufactures dry dog food with unique ingredients that not only make dogs much healthier but also heal dogs with itchy skin.

Here’s some of their AMAZING results…

My little Schnauzer suffered from a belly rash due to allergies so I thought I would give Stay Loyal Grain Free a try, his skin improved within a week and I was able to stop all medication (tablets and sprays). I would certainly recommend it to other owners of dogs with itchy skin.

Gail Pringle
Orange, NSW

"Thank you "Stay Loyal". Your food has probably saved me thousands of dollars in vet bills. Our little Koolie was driving us nuts, constantly coming up in hot spots, rashes and even swelling. She has been on your food for about 2 months now, and is improving more and more every day. I must admit I was a little dubious about your claims at first but now am totally converted. Thank you so much. Cheers, Dave. "

David Higgins
Diggers Rest, Vic

Our dog is 5yrs old and he has a bad skin allergy, he has been to the uni and to the vet at least every 6-8wks of his life and was on the most expensive Hypoallergenic dog food. Well it’s been approximately 3 months and Rome looks fantastic he has fur all over his body that is 3 times the thickness. He is off the steroids and no rash on his body or feet. I have spread the work of this fantastic product to my Vet and they are impressed. A huge thank you to Stay Loyal for the comfort of our dog he even gets all excited when its dinner time. Thanks Heaps

Karen Hooley
Narelan, NSW

Stay Loyal offers their amazing dry dog food in 3 kg and 15 kg bags, which can be purchased online at www.stayloyal.au throughout Australia and offers automatic re-delivery upon request. For a limited time, new customers will receive free sample packages shipped right to their doors.

Stay Loyal’s primary ingredient is meat, combined with essential fats, vegetables and fruits, natural vitamins, minerals, and powerful antioxidants.

For more information, visit Stay Loyal at www.stayloyal.com.au.

“Species-appropriate dog food is meat-based,” Robert Belobrajdic explains, “with vegetables as carbohydrates, and little, if any, grains. Wolves raid the farmers’ coops, not the farmers’ crops,” he adds. “If I wanted the best for my dogs, I realized I would have to provide it myself.”

If meat is what dogs are supposed to eat, how have grain-based foods become the staple of the pet food industry? Profit, plain and simple. Grains are much, much cheaper than meat. Cheaper costs translate to higher profits.

Virtually every commercial pet food on the market today is grain-based, even the ones that bill themselves as “all natural,” and many well known brands contain meat “by-products” that simply do not provide pets the quality nutrition they need. “Shoe leather is pure protein,” Robert Belobrajdic wryly points out. “But you can’t live on it. And, trust me, neither can your dog.”

“We’re called Stay Loyal,” David Korac explains, “because dogs are renowned for their loyalty. This is our way of being loyal to them, by feeding our dogs a product that’s actually good for them. That’s what most pet owners want to do, but they lack a readily available quality food. Stay Loyal fills that void. And we ship throughout all of Australia.”

For more information on this story or to arrange an interview, please contact Robert Belobrajdic on 0490002863.

About Stay Loyal

Stay Loyal is based in Erskine Park, Western Sydney. For more information on products and services, and to learn more about the company and its mission to care for animals, visit www.stayloyal.com.au