CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Last November the Citrus Town Center welcomed a new locally owned and operated health food store for dogs and cats. Ben’s Barketplace, located at 7935 Greenback Lane in Citrus Heights, strives to improve the health and well-being of dogs and cats by improving their nutrition through species-appropriate diet.

Steve Burk, one of the owners of the Citrus Heights location, explained that dogs and cats are carnivores, so in the wild their diet consists entirely of raw meat. But domesticated dogs and cats are frequently given a diet of dry food. Burk described the typical dry foods as “high in carbohydrates, low on protein. That’s what makes them cheap.”

“Dry food is a convenience for people,” said Burk. “It’s for us … it’s not for dogs and cats. Raw is their species-appropriate diet.” Typical dry food is inexpensive because it has very little protein and high amounts of fillers such as corn, wheat, soy, oatmeal, and rice. The dry foods sold at Ben’s Barketplace are very different. “We carry a higher quality of dry food … with higher protein levels and lower carbohydrates,” said Burk.

To meet pets’ nutritional needs, Ben’s Barketplace also uses better carbohydrates in their dry foods — such as legumes, which are a plant-based protein low in starches and glycemic levels. “It’s a better carbohydrate to use, but they can be more expensive to use,” said Burk. Although higher levels of protein and better quality carbohydrates increase the price, “it’s better for the overall health of your dog, and that’s why it’s health food,” Burk explained.

The excess carbohydrates in typical dry foods turn into sugar, which younger animals are able to burn off. But as animals age, their metabolism slows and they aren’t able to burn off the extra calories. Burk said that older dogs can start gaining weight and developing allergies to excess carbohydrates. Burk described symptoms such as “itchy skin, hot yeasty paws, [and] waxy hot ears” in additional to overall dehydration. At that point, Burk suggests people switch their pets onto a species-appropriate raw diet. “We try to explain that a raw diet is exactly what they need; they get the hydration and nutrition that they need from a raw diet,” said Burk.

“Some people are put off by the idea of raw food, expecting something from a butcher shop,” said Burk. Instead of bloody chunks of meat, the raw foods available at Ben’s Barketplace are kept frozen and then thawed and served.

Burk said that a raw diet can be even more important for cats because they don’t typically drink water as well as dogs. “Dry foods dehydrate them. … Cats can get to a point of dehydration where their organs start to break down,” said Burk. Cats thrive on the moisture and protein content of raw foods.

Ben’s Barketplace also has a self-service dog wash. Burk explained that dogs often get nervous being taken to a groomer, so the dog wash allows the owners to bath their pets themselves. Bringing a dog in for a bath also gives staff members the opportunity to observe the dog to see if there are any issues they can address through a change in diet. “When you change the diet, you’ll change the dog,” said Burk.

Burk said that many pet owners address issues in their pets by taking them to a veterinarian, where the animals are typically prescribed pharmaceuticals. Although the medications might help alleviate some of the symptoms, Burk said they don’t always address the underlying issue. Burk advocates for treating the issues with a holistic approach by adjusting the diet to increase the nutrition appropriate for the animal.

Detailing numerous testimonials from customers, Burk described amazing transformations. Dogs that had lost their hair and were too weak to stand were now full of energy with soft, healthy coats after a few months on a raw diet. Burk said, “People are becoming more knowledgeable about pet nutrition” and are open-minded about raw food.  “Dogs and cats are family members. Most people care about their dogs and cats a lot, so they want to try to give them the best nutrition they can,” said Burk.

In addition to the Citrus Heights location, Ben’s Barketplace also has two other locations in Roseville and Lincoln. The owners of all the Ben’s Barketplace locations are certified nutritionists in dog and cat food. “We’re educated about our products. We can speak in depth about everything that’s in our store,” said Burk. “If someone’s pet has an issue, we can find a product to match that issue and address it through nutrition.”