OUR STORY WITH BRUNO

As a professional dog mom, dietitian, and yoga instructor, I am İsra Tan. I have always believed that my purpose in life is to help living beings. With this belief, I combined my passion for nutrition and teaching with my academic education.

I started my academic journey as a young vegetarian chemistry student at Yıldız Technical University. During this time, I developed an interest in fitness and often encountered pressure from others to "eat meat" or "take protein powders," which never made sense to me. As I delved deeper into research, I realized that much of what people believed about nutrition was incorrect. Fueled by a desire to share what I learned, I transitioned to Yeditepe University’s Nutrition and Dietetics program.

Since graduating, I have been providing nutritional counseling through my private office and online platforms. I am a plant-based dietitian with a strong focus on exercise. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to positively impact my own life, the lives of thousands of clients, and now, the lives of countless dogs through my scientific passion for nutrition.

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YOUR FAMILY’S DIETITIAN

Our family dog, Oscar, a Maltese Terrier, began suffering from dermatitis that even corticosteroids couldn't heal. This marked the start of our journey into homemade cooked meals. Today, at 13 years old, he has the energy of a 5-year-old. His regular check-ups reveal remarkably thin heart walls for his age (heart walls typically thicken over time) and high-performance eye health. Even his teeth leave his veterinarians in awe.

For years, I have fostered and rehomed pit bulls and AmStaffs, which I deeply admire but find difficult to thrive in our country. Once, I also cared for a Doberman. Through these foster experiences, I learned that every dog, like every human, has unique characteristics and digestive systems.

One day, I saw a photo of a severely malnourished dog brought from Ordu to Istanbul by volunteers. That dog became my beloved Bruno. As I did with every foster, I took Bruno to my trusted clinic for a thorough examination and blood tests.

He was severely underweight, so I started him on a high-quality commercial dry food. However, he continued to suffer from persistent mucus-filled diarrhea that I couldn’t resolve despite trying different brands and treatments at three reputable clinics. After three months, he had only gained 4 kg, going from 13 kg to 17 kg.

In my final attempt, I sent his stool sample for laboratory analysis. The results showed excessive bacterial activity, but otherwise, everything appeared normal. As a dietitian, I was certain the issue lay with the dry food. Regardless of the brand or composition, it wasn’t digesting properly and was passing directly through his system. My dietetic instincts ultimately saved Bruno’s life.

That day, I started feeding Bruno the same homemade cooked meals I prepared for Oscar. While his stools improved, they still weren’t perfect. Oscar’s diet primarily consisted of turkey breast and peas due to his histamine intolerance (initially misdiagnosed as a protein allergy). Peas, being an excellent source of plant-based protein and fiber, worked well for Oscar’s less active lifestyle.

However, it was time to adjust Bruno’s formula. This led me to explore the world of B.A.R.F. (Biologically Appropriate Raw Food). As a dietitian, I was initially hesitant due to concerns about contamination in raw meat. Additionally, having been vegetarian for 13 years, the idea of bringing large quantities of meat into my kitchen didn’t sit well with me.

After extensive research, I formulated Bruno’s first B.A.R.F. diet and finally achieved the ideal stool consistency. I then pursued further education, ensuring I adhered to ethical and professional standards, and obtained the most comprehensive training available.

Bruno has now reached a healthy 27 kg. His shiny coat, boundless energy, and impressive dental health often catch the attention of strangers on the street. Now, I am ready to help improve the nutrition of your beloved companions!