Diet and nutrition is a very important part of your animals over all wellness. Most behavioral problems are related to diet. If you think about it, most Dog/cat diets consist of processed dried kibble type foods. This type of diet is lacking in many nutrients that are required to maintain a healthy balance throughout your pets life. Would you eat hot dogs every day? Probably not. And if you did you would have some serious health issues. Have you ever wondered why our dogs and cats are dying from "human" type illnesses? Cancer, diabetes, kidney disease? Some of these illness are related to over vaccination but also are mainly diet related.
• As a general guideline to determine if your pet is showing signs of proper nutrition;
Healthy dog/cat
A dog that is fed a well-balanced diet rich in beneficial nutrients shows many recognizable signs of good health. These include:
- Healthy coat that is soft and shiny and doesn't mat easily
- Little or no Doggie odor
- Abundant energy
- Strong immune system, which keeps him/her healthy
- Brightness, a sparkle in his/her eyes and a sense that s/he is enjoying life
- Well-muscled body
- Well-formed stool that is not voluminous and is easily produced, with no straining
Problems Associated with Low-Quality Diets
Common problems associated with low-quality diets include:
- Skin odor
- Dull, greasy coat, usually accompanied by dandruff
- Susceptibility to generalized infections, such as ear infections that become chronic or skin infections caused by greasy, seborrheic skin
- Thin, undernourished appearance
- Low energy level
- Voluminous stool
Variety Is the Spice of Life
Not only is a varied diet essential to provide optimum nutrition, it also increases the enjoyment your dog gets from his/her food.
• As a general guideline to determine if your pet is showing signs of proper nutrition;
Healthy dog/cat
A dog that is fed a well-balanced diet rich in beneficial nutrients shows many recognizable signs of good health. These include:
- Healthy coat that is soft and shiny and doesn't mat easily
- Little or no Doggie odor
- Abundant energy
- Strong immune system, which keeps him/her healthy
- Brightness, a sparkle in his/her eyes and a sense that s/he is enjoying life
- Well-muscled body
- Well-formed stool that is not voluminous and is easily produced, with no straining
Problems Associated with Low-Quality Diets
Common problems associated with low-quality diets include:
- Skin odor
- Dull, greasy coat, usually accompanied by dandruff
- Susceptibility to generalized infections, such as ear infections that become chronic or skin infections caused by greasy, seborrheic skin
- Thin, undernourished appearance
- Low energy level
- Voluminous stool
Variety Is the Spice of Life
Not only is a varied diet essential to provide optimum nutrition, it also increases the enjoyment your dog gets from his/her food.
Interesting facts about pet food
The Poisons in Pet Food (kibble and canned food)
"Dogs, cats and other animals live for years on foods that come out of bags, cans and boxes. But do these foods promote health? If they did, our companion animals would enjoy long, happy lives free of arthritis, hip dysplasia, eye problems, ear problems, fleas and other parasites, gum disease, lick granulomas, thyroid imbalances, skin and coat problems, personality disorders, birth defects, breeding problems, diabetes, cancer and other major and minor illnesses.
Before World War II, most North Americans fed their pets raw bones and table scraps. Today, everyone uses convenience foods, and pet food companies are industry giants. Diet isn't the only thing that has changed. So has life expectancy, with the life span of many breeds now less than half what it was two or three decades ago. Skin and coat problems are so common that we accept them as unavoidable, and today's vets routinely treat
conditions that used to be unusual or even rare."
Recent studies have shown processed foods to be a factor in increasing numbers of pets suffering from cancer, arthritis, obesity, dental disease and heart disease, comments Dr. Wysong. Dull or unhealthy coats are a common problem with cats and dogs and poor diet is usually the cause, according to many veterinarians and breeders.. William Pollak D.V.M.
What are you getting in your commercial pet food?
POOR PROTEIN SOURCES
Soybean Meal, Wheat, Corn Glutens, Corn Meal, Whole Corn, Crushed Corn and Ground Corn are commonly used for their protein content in many pet foods. These ingredients are generally poor sources of protein vs. meat.
CHEMICAL PRESERVATIVES
BHA, BHT and ethoxyquin are found in many pet foods. Scientific studies have proven that these chemicals can be harmful. In fact, they have been shown to promote liver disease and other medical problems.
FOOD COLORING
Food colorings are still commonly used in pet foods today despite the fact that they are not necessary and some have been linked to medical problems.
BY-PRODUCTS
By-products can vary ... they can consist of the internal parts of animals such as necks, heads, undeveloped eggs, feet, intestines, lungs, spleen and liver.
WHAT LABELS DON'T REVEAL
Condemned parts and animals rejected for human consumption can be rerouted into commercial pet foods. These condemned parts are referred to as the 4 D's: dead, dying, diseased or decayed. We believe this is one of the most despicable practices in the pet food manufacturing industry.
Some manufacturers have a lower standard regarding the quality of ingredients they use to make pet food. A recent example of this practice is the discovery of Pentobarbital in major pet foods, including supermarket brands. Pentobarbital is a chemical used to euthanize animals. Many holistic veterinarians feel that daily ingestion of pentobarbital can be harmful.
Many manufacturers cut costs by using the cheapest ingredients available at the time a food is made. Since costs rise and fall, some manufacturers will vary ingredients from batch to batch .. resulting in changed nutrient values for each batch and possible digestive illness.
Some manufacturers have lower standards regarding the freshness of ingredients they use to make pet food. You can not determine the freshness of ingredients by reading a label; you must trust the pet food manufacturer.
"In the wild, no one cooks for the coyote or wolf; no one brushes their teeth. Their foods are raw and unprocessed." William Pollak D.V.M.