Feeding your pet the way nature intended

Last year’s pet food fiasco brought attention to pet caregivers about what really is in commercial foods.

Pet caregivers are wondering what’s safe and healthy to feed their pets, and how to go about making a change from dry and canned pet foods.

First thing to keep in mind is dogs and cats are carnivores. A carnivore eats raw flesh. Dogs’ and cats’ digestive systems have developed over many years to consume a raw diet. From the teeth in their mouths through their digestive tracts, they are made to digest raw foods, and do not have problems with salmonella or E.coli as humans do.

However, in the last century we have begun feeding them processed foods from bags and cans. Do we think we are smarter than Mother Nature? While it certainly is convenient to open a can or bag, is it really in your pet’s best interest?

It is estimated that 60 percent to 70 percent of health problems in our dogs and cats today are due to poor nutrition. Skin, ear, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal and behavioral issues are just some areas diet can help. Medications for problems suppress symptoms of diseases, but when medication is stopped, symptoms return. This is a revolving door approach to keeping pets healthy. Additionally, it is now estimated that cancer will affect one of every two to three dogs. Thirty years ago, cancer was seen mostly in older dogs; today, we increasingly see it in the middle-aged group and even in younger dogs. Nutrition can play a key role in keeping your pet healthy through all stages of the lifecycle.

Where to begin? While a diet of raw foods might be the best approach for most animals, not everyone is willing or able to provide this for their pets. Also, some animals may not be switched easily to a diet of completely raw foods, due to illness or compromised immune systems. These animals would need to make the transition gradually, adding digestive enzymes, probiotics and colostrum until the pet’s health is restored.

However, there are things any pet caretaker could do to improve the quality of the pet’s diet.

First, stop using commercial dog and cat foods with soy, wheat or corn. These products are not really digested by our pets, and can cause allergies and digestive problems. In fact, most grains are not a natural part of a carnivore’s diet. Also, look on pet food labels for BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin, gluten, by-products, artificial colors and flavors, nitrates, nitrites and propylene glycol – and avoid them.

Secondly, while a caregiver may be unable to provide a completely natural, raw-foods diet, raw foods can be added with minimal expense and effort. Fresh vegetables, (summer squashes, parsley, sweet potatoes, leafy greens, to name a few) can be pureed and added to the pet’s food, along with raw or lightly cooked meat or eggs. Dogs use up to 30 percent fat in their diets, so lower-cost meats are sometimes exactly what is best.

Thirdly, experiment to discover your pet’s “snacking’ preferences. Frozen carrots, yogurt, bananas, watermelon – lots of foods people eat are often well-tolerated by pets, and can provide them with needed enzymes and friendly bacteria.

A decision to feed your pet this way should only be acted upon after careful research. A common-sense approach can be useful. What would my pet be eating naturally? How best can I provide that?
Thomas Edison said, “The doctor of the future will give no medicine, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the cause and prevention of disease.”

Good advice for four-legged companions as well as humans!

For more information

-- www. mypetnaturally.com, click on Ebooks
-- www .dogtorJ.net
-- www.patmckay.com
-- www. naturesvariety.com — frozen food raw diet supplier