Why Healthy Weight & Whole Food Nutrition Matter: Cooper’s Story
Written by Kristin Matthews, Co-Founder & Dr. Hannah Godfrey, PhD, Animal Nutrition
At Tom&Sawyer, we believe that dogs and cats deserve to live their Happier, Healthier, Longer Lives™, and we know that real food, real care, and real love make that possible. Cooper's story is a beautiful example of how the right food — finally, real food — made all the difference in one very special pup’s vitality, comfort, and longevity.
Cooper, a joyful soul who celebrated nearly 18 amazing years, touched all of our hearts. His journey, shared by his devoted pet parents Brian & Cynthia, is a powerful reminder that healthy weight and whole food nutrition aren’t just wellness trends — they’re life-changing for pets who need it most.
"We know a big reason he was able to celebrate almost 18 years on this earth… was your food."
– Cooper’s parents, Brian & Cynthia
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A Journey of Frustration, Breakthrough, and More Time Together
Cooper’s family did everything right to help him lose weight when he was struggling. Despite trying portion control, weight management kibble, and even undergoing testing for thyroid disease and Cushing’s, Cooper just couldn’t lose the extra pounds.
“At his heaviest, he was 11.3 pounds,” shared Brian and Cynthia. “We tried everything — dieting, measuring, vet visits, but he didn’t respond to kibble. We were so confused. Missy, his sister, ate the same food and never had an issue.”
After a full dental procedure and a switch to Tom&Sawyer’s gently cooked meals, everything changed.
“That’s when it finally started to come off. Tom&Sawyer was the only thing that worked for Cooper.”
Eventually, he returned to his healthy weight of 6.8 pounds, and his energy — and his sparkle — returned with it.
Why Did Gently Cooked Food Work When Kibble Didn’t?
What made the difference wasn’t just calories — it was digestibility and real nutrition. Unlike kibble, which is often made with high-glycemic fillers like corn and processed under extreme heat and pressure, Tom&Sawyer meals are:
- Formulated by expert animal nutritionists (PhD level - years of education and training for this specific role)
- Recipes designed not to be low cost, but to be high quality and very digestible
- Made with real, human-grade ingredients
- Made in an inspected human food facility with the highest in food safety standards available in the pet food industry
- Cooked gently to preserve nutrients in whole foods, not destroy them
- Always free from meat meals, mystery ingredients and synthetic binders (you know, "feed ingredients" that humans don't eat)
“We truly believe it was the processed food holding him back. He just
couldn’t break it down,” said Cynthia. “Corn as the first ingredient shouldn’t be a thing in dog food.”
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From Debilitating Coughs to Dapper Bowties
In addition to his weight loss, Cooper also found relief from a chronic cough caused by a collapsing trachea and lower airway disease — a condition worsened by inflammation and extra weight.
“He used to suffer from a debilitating cough, but after the diet change, he rarely coughed,” his parents shared.
The Cooper who once struggled with every breath was now the same Cooper who posed proudly in a bowtie at a photo shoot just weeks before his passing — full of dignity, energy, and presence.
Tom&Sawyer’s Top 5 Tips For Healthy Weight Loss
(Just like Cooper’s — and backed by science!)
Starting a weight loss journey can feel overwhelming, but with the right support and real food options, it's achievable — and transformative.
Here’s how to start safely:
1. Start with a veterinary check-up
Before changing your pet’s diet, always rule out metabolic conditions like hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease. Your vet can help identify a healthy goal weight and daily calorie needs to guide your plan.
2. Choose a low-fat, gently cooked, whole food diet
Just like us, dogs’ bodies recognize and thrive on real food. Gently-cooked meals are highly digestible and bioavailable 1,2 — meaning nutrients are better absorbed and used by the body. This becomes especially important during calorie restriction, when every bite counts.
Studies show that lightly cooked diets result in better protein utilization, more efficient fat metabolism, and improved gut health compared to ultra-processed foods like kibble 2,3,4.
Ultimately, this means that Tom&Sawyer meals naturally support fat burning and satiety without compromising on real nutrients.
Our low-fat, real food options for dogs include:
- Fisherman’s Best Friend: our lowest fat meal, at only 19g fat/1000kcal, this is a senior care, moderate protein, low fat recipe that is rich in omega-3s, with butternut squash and brown rice
- Kangaroo*: only 20g fat/1000kcal, this novel protein is rich with antioxidant-rich sweet potato
- Beef & Broccoli*: a moderate fat at 25g fat/1000kcal, packed with quinoa, spinach and carrots, it is great for weight loss with high flavour
- Coconut Chicken: only 25g fat/1000kcal this thai-food inspired meal is low in fat and gentle on digestion, with turmeric and fiber from leafy greens and a coconut milk taste that’s irresistible
And for our feline friends, we have two reduced calorie options that help create and maintain a healthy weight:
- Wild West Kangaroo* low calorie and limited ingredient, a "purrr-éd" recipe great for kitties with gut health issues
- Chicken Cacciatore* low-fat "purrr-éd"recipe to support weight management and particularly designed support the health and vitality of senior felines and their special needs.
3. Feed by calories and use a scale, not a scoop!
Put away those scoops! Every Tom&Sawyer recipe includes exact kcal/kg information. A scoop or cup can vary by 20–30% — leading to accidental overfeeding 5. Instead, weigh your dog’s portions based on their daily calorie goal and portion the package amount using a scale during the weight loss journey to be sure to get it right. This small shift can make a huge difference in success.
Plus, we have an interactive feeding calculator tool as a resource to start their weight loss journey safely. Start by entering your pet's current weight and choosing “overweight”. Download the detailed feeding guide. You can print this PDF to have ready in the kitchen!
If in doubt, check with your veterinarian to ensure your pet is on the right path!
4. Incorporate gentle, daily exercise
Even short daily walks help boost metabolism and support weight loss (those kitties too who like the outdoor leash walks or safe outside time). When paired with high-quality, gently cooked food, this encourages fat loss while preserving lean muscle.
Add physical activity slowly so as not to strain their and to avoid injury. For dogs, start with simple, 15-20 minute low intensity exercises (such as walking) and build up to regular, daily exercise sessions of 30 minutes or more that can include walking, playing, or swimming! For kitties, get that wand out and interactive toys and have a play sesh!
5. Track, reassess, and celebrate small wins
Aim for 1–2% weight loss per week, which is safe and sustainable. Re-check weight every 2–3 weeks and adjust food portions accordingly. Most importantly, celebrate every milestone — like better energy, easier movement, or fewer coughs (just like Cooper).
As they begin to safely lose weight, keep coming back to this interactive feeding calculator tool to update their weight until they are where they should be and then switch the “overweight” slider to “ideal weight” (how exciting, a healthy weight can lead to unexpected puppy sprints in the park and cat attacks when you walk around the corner!)
Whole Food, Whole Heart ❤️
At Tom&Sawyer, we’re honoured to have been part of Cooper’s life. His excitement for every mealtime reminds us why we do what we do: to make sure every pet gets to live fully, joyfully, and for as long as possible — all through food that heals and nourishes.
To Cooper, mealtime was magic.
To us, Cooper will always be a hero of the heart.
Ready to start your dog’s healthier weight journey? Explore Our Low-Fat Meals Now →
Don’t forget to take a “Before” Photo and “After” Photo so that we can feature your pet in our Success Spotlight Stories!
References
1. Do et al., 2021, Nutrient digestibility and fecal characteristics, microbiota, and metabolites in dogs fed human-grade foods. Journal of Animal Science 99:1-13.
2. Greary et al., 2023. Standardized amino acid digestibility and nitrogen-corrected true metabolizable energy of frozen raw, freeze-dried raw, fresh, and extruded dog foods using precision-fed cecectomized and conventional rooster assays. Journal of Animal Science 101:skad377.
3. van Rooijen et al., 2013. The Maillard reaction and pet food processing: effects on nutritive value and pet health. Nutrition Research Reviews 26:130-148.
4. Yamka et al., 2025. Serum metabolomics of senior dogs fed a fresh, human-grade food or an extruded kibble diet. Metabolites 15:676.
5. Coe et al., 2019. Dog owner’s accuracy measuring different volumes of dry dog food using three different measuring devices. Veterinary Record 19:599.
*currently available in Canada only.