Let's think about this for a minute: God did not design our animals to eat pre-packaged, kibble or pellet-like food. In the wild, dogs don't tell each other, "Hey, I'm hungry, let's go to the pet food store and grab us some lunch." As if!
No, together, they go out and hunt down their food, then dig right in while it's still warm. Sorry about the graphic image, but well, that's nature for you! They also do not stoke up a campfire and sit around singing Kum Bi Ya while the meat gets cooked. Nope they just have at it in the natural raw form.
Now you might be thinking, "Yeah but that's wild animals, not our sweet kitties and dogs." Think again. They are and will always be carnivores. They need raw meat and bones to be healthy with a fully supported immune system. Also the raw, non-weight bearing bones such as the shoulders and backs give dogs and cats strong, clean white teeth eliminating the need for dentals done under anesthesia at a veterinarian's office, something that is not only much riskier but much more expensive than feeding your dogs and cats what they were designed to eat: meat.
Your other pets such as horses, guinea pigs, birds and rabbits also need natural raw food in order to thrive. They do not forage for pellets, let me tell you. Many birds are omnivorous so they'll eat fruits, veggies and meat. While our other furry and feathered friends need to eat fresh fruits and vegetables.
Kim Christopher states, "Proper diet is among the more important considerations in the health maintenance of your pet and essential in the management of many diseases. To feed correctly, a knowledge of dietary nutrients and their availability is important."
And Dr. Russell Swift,"Carbohydrates are not needed by dogs(or cats). Carnivores cannot maintain long term production of the quantity of amylase enzyme necessary to properly digest and utilize the carbohydrates. In addition, the proteins in grains are less digestive than animal proteins. As a result, the immune system becomes irritated and weakened by the invasion of foreign, non-nutritive protein and carbohydrate particles."
So just what do you think most packaged pet foods commonly know as premium kibble contain? Grains. Byproducts. Toxic preservatives.
The question would then arise, if pet food manufacturers know this (they must because they're in business to know) why are these things added to our pet food and why are we told that these packaged foods are so good? Even our mainstream veterinarians are selling these foods to us.
Good questions. Part of the reason is because it's cheaper to use grains and byproducts. Byproducts can be anything we'd normally throw out such as beaks, feathers, feet/hooves, euthanized animals, road kill, you name it. It all gets rendered and added into our packaged pet foods.
Oh but it gets better. These foods are then baked. Here is what Dr. Betty Lewis stated on her website, "What's wrong with commercial foods? The number one item which makes commercial foods inappropriate for pets is that these foods are cooked. No one has ever reported seeing wild animals routinely barbecuing their meals! Raising the temperature of food above 118?F destroys all the enzymes and many of the nutrients."
To top it all off, in order to be able to say that these commercial foods have all the needed nutrients in them, they SPRAY on the nutrients. To get more details on this pick up the book by Ann Martin, Foods Pets Die For.
One of the best things you can do if you're confused about how to get started feeding your pets a natural diet is to first find a holistic veterinarian in your area and then find out what is appropriate for your pet. Homeopathic and holistic vets really adhere and promote the complete natural lifestyle for your pets and can help you put together a diet that will give your pet what he/she needs for full nutritional support.
All the problems we're seeing in our pets: allergies, skin disorders, cancer, diabetes, feather plucking, pulling out furr, etc., can almost alway be attributed to poor nutrition AND to food allergies. Their immune systems are compromised because they are not getting enough nutrition to support themselves which then weakens their immune system. Then we see disease. If the immune system is not supported properly, disease gets a front door welcome into your pets bodies.
So if you want to start seeing your pets live healthier, longer lives and also greatly reduce your vet bills, then switch to a natural, raw food diet. Your pets will love you for it!
References:
http://home.earthlink.net/~pawsreflect/nutrition.html
http://www.raot.org/information/nutrition.htm
About the Author:
Kim Bloomer is a natural pet care educator helping pet owners learn to care for their pets through natural, holistic means. Disease prevention is her goal to help pet owners lower their pet care costs and extend the lives of their pets. Visit her website aspenbloom pet care and her dog's blog barkin' about natural pet care from a canine perspective aspenbloom pet care
Look for Kim's new book on natural dog health with Dr. Jill Elliot, DVM due for release spring 2006.
family-safe home cleaners Northbrook ..As I listen on my long drive to my grandpa's... Read More
Every year, many cat owners decide to get their cat... Read More
As overwhelming as picking out a pet bird can be,... Read More
"On Trust" & "Paid For" for are one of the... Read More
Puppies can be so exasperating! They know what we want,... Read More
Now that my services have expanded into the "matchmaking" business,... Read More
There is a lot of talk going on about what... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
If you are thinking of adding a dog to your... Read More
So you just loved that sweet little puppy that you... Read More
Is your home safe for your Furr Kids? It might... Read More
Dog fashions are all the rage and have become quite... Read More
Pomeranians have tiny mouths and itty bitty teeth, but not... Read More
You need a strategy for using or disposing of your... Read More
What kind of materials should you use when constructing a... Read More
For heat dissipation and body cooling, a horse trotting at... Read More
Some Dogs like Boxers unfortunately, are prone to several potential... Read More
Whether you're a new dog owner or have had dogs... Read More
Understanding where horses come from has been a long road... Read More
Yesterday we talked a little about the 6 Keys for... Read More
Traditionally, a doggie treat was just that, a treat that... Read More
I have had Goldens and Black Labs for many years,... Read More
Almost every dog owner will have to use some sort... Read More
While a bird is an easy pet to care for,... Read More
Why is it that cats get no respect? Are they... Read More
residential cleaning services Deerfield ..This mysterious cat is originally from the country of Siam,... Read More
People love big, protective and loving dogs and that's why... Read More
The holidays are a wonderful time of year, full of... Read More
Puppies are a bundle of newfound joy. You've prepared the... Read More
Horse owners who are history buffs may recognize the name... Read More
Is your dog due for a makeover? Has she been... Read More
Buying a pet bird can be quite an investment. After... Read More
As all cat owners know, a feline can be a... Read More
Mention the word "video" and different people would come up... Read More
The most important things in dog training are consistency, keeping... Read More
A pet can be as important a member of the... Read More
Because it is imperative that discus fish have optimal water... Read More
Some people say they are exclusively "cat people," meaning they... Read More
What's the best food for your Goldfish?Goldfish need food that... Read More
Let me introduce my dogs. I have 3, Nikki and... Read More
Parrots are becoming more popular as pets with each passing... Read More
"Hamsters?!" I hear you say. "Who cares about some fury... Read More
As much as you may love your cute, new puppy,... Read More
You do clean your house don't you? Well you have... Read More
After years of practicing both conventional and holistic medicine for... Read More
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil... Read More
Keeping fish as pets takes more than just feeding them... Read More
Selecting a Kitten It is best to choose your... Read More
Congratulations. You've decided to buy a bird, and you even... Read More
If you are beginning to feel like an endangered species... Read More
Pet |