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.

(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: