We were lucky to catch up with Casey Whalen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Casey, thanks for joining us today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.

The industry standard for pet food focuses on feeding dogs ultra-processed foods filled with sugars, 4D meats (dead, dying, diseased, disabled animals), synthetic nutrients, chemicals, preservatives, artificial coloring, flavorings, and additives. A standard bowl of kibble can contain up to 70% sugars, with added salts to make the food palatable—and therefore addictive.

To cut costs, manufacturers rely on high carbohydrate content, producing large quantities of food cheaply. However, because the food is processed at least four times under high heat, most of the natural nutrients are destroyed. To compensate, synthetic nutrients must be sprayed onto the food, followed by preservatives like BHA, BHT, and ethoxyquin—ingredients linked to cancer, kidney disease, and pancreatitis—to extend shelf life. Although the standard bowl of commercial pet food is filled with carbohydrates, dogs have 0 requirement for carbs and thrive on a high protein and fat diet.

Kibble is also high in genetically modified (GMO) grains, which are ridden with pesticides (also linked to cancer) and can cause spikes in insulin and cortisol levels. These hormonal imbalances lead to chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity, diseases that are increasingly common in dogs today.

Kibble is the canine equivalent of fast food and a major contributor to the growing health problems in dogs, including cancer, diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, kidney disease, allergies, and gut issues. If left to their own instincts in the wild, dogs wouldn’t seek out a bowl of kibble—they would hunt prey or scavenge for roadkill.

At Pack Canine Holistics, we are dedicated to feeding dogs real food. Our philosophy is rooted in the belief that a dog’s nutritional needs are best met by replicating their natural diet as a domesticated (wolf) carnivore. By providing a diet rich in muscle meats, organs, and bones, we aim to mirror the nourishment dogs would receive from prey in the wild—feeding them the way nature intended.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am a certified canine nutritionist, and my journey toward bettering my dog’s bowl began about four years ago. At the time, I was feeding my dog kibble, and he constantly struggled with chronic GI issues that I believed was “normal.” Then, I met someone who introduced me to raw feeding. Intrigued, I started researching more about the diet and decided to give it a try.

Within just 36 hours of switching to a raw diet and completely removing kibble, my dog’s GI issues cleared up. A week into raw feeding, I ran out of food and temporarily returned him to kibble. Within 24 hours, his GI issues returned. That moment made me a true believer in raw feeding.

As I continued feeding him raw, I became increasingly aware of the harmful ingredients in commercial pet food which started to make me question the ingredients in mine and my family’s food. What I had come to realize through my academic studies and independent research was that ultra processed foods are plaguing dogs and humans with tons of health issues and diseases and a lot of us are being misled about standard nutrition. I became frustrated by a lot of things I learned about the pet food industry, and it really lit a fire under me to change the narrative.

Learning that humans and canines share 84% of the same DNA and the way we metabolize nutrients is very similar, our pack set out to change our diets together and joyfully observed the benefits we felt and saw. We then took it a step further and started to become more curious about where our food was coming from, and that was when I started to learn a lot about natural and regenerative farming practices and how that plays a large role in the quality of our food, and ultimately the quality of our health.

Pack Canine Holistics offers personalized diet & wellness consultations, homemade supplements, food and treats. All ingredients are sourced from local farmers that use regenerative and sustainable farming practices. We believe that all dogs deserve a biologically appropriate diet, and our purpose is rooted in educating & empowering you to take control of your dog’s health.

My pack consists of Arthur (Chief Tasting Officer) and Storm (Chief Creative Officer), who have both been an inspiration and played a large role in starting Pack Canine Holistics!

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

Yes! Besides selling at markets, we are an e-commerce focused business operating on the Shopify platform, where all our products are available for purchase through our website. We offer convenient doorstep delivery within Greenville city limits, and for customers outside the city, we provide meet-up delivery locations.

The cost of operating a brick-and-mortar store is often unattainable for many small businesses just starting out, which is why e-commerce is such a great tool—it allows us to sell products with lower overhead costs. However, as an e-commerce-only shop, one of the biggest challenges is driving traffic to our site and getting our name out there.

To help raise brand awareness and build our customer base, we attend small markets on weekends across Greenville, Simpsonville, and Spartanburg. This helps us connect with our local community, educate them about species appropriate diets, and introduce more people to Pack Canine Holistics.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe that both my knowledge and passion for raw feeding help build trust with my customers. I didn’t start this business with the sole intention of making money—it’s truly a passion project. I care deeply about the health of our pets, and I’m determined to help change the health crisis they are facing.

Once I become interested in something, I can’t help but dive deeper into the topic, and it excites me to share what I’ve learned with others. I genuinely believe that by sharing knowledge, we have the power to change the narrative and make a positive impact.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.nourishyourpack.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/packcanineholistics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100093914393207

Image Credits

Amy Adams Photography