All commercial pet foods that are canned
or kibbled are processed foods and most of these foods use by-products from
the food processing industry. Is this kind food good for us? Is commercial
pet food made from processed food good for our pets? The answer is a definitive,
“NO.” Are fresh whole foods better for health? The answer is yes,
absolutely! Sadly, few commercially prepared pet foods contain any whole foods
at all. This is a subject worth investigating.
Fresh raw whole foods not only contain proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but
also vitamins and minerals, as well as probiotics, phyto-nutrients and enzymes
as they occur in nature. These precious molecules and elements are easily
recognized and absorbed by the body. In processed dog food, dangerous substances,
such as free radicals, phenobarbitals, mycotoxins, aflotoxins and endotoxins,
to name a few, are present. Furthermore, many deadly substances, such as ethoxyquin,
butylatedhydroxytoluene BHT), butylatedhydroxansole (BHA) and propyl gallate
are added to dog food. Some of these “nasties” are carcinogenic
or compete with the valuable molecules for absorption into cells. Happily,
these contaminants may be avoided by not feeding processed dog foods. In addition,
many nutrients, which are abundant in fresh raw foods, are vulnerable and
lost or denatured by processing (especially B-vitamins, water-soluble minerals
and essential fatty acids). It would seem that the fewer processed foods we
eat or offer to our companion animals, the better.
Fresh raw whole foods are fit for life but we must have a well-designed supplement
program in place. There are at least two good reasons for proposing a vitamin/mineral
supplement. Food today is much less nutritious than it was 50 years ago because
of depleted soils, monoculture and other factors, such a transporting foods
over long distances, etc. Secondly, the environment in which we live, the
air we breathe and the water we drink, is considerably less pure than it was
in the past. Living organisms must deal with these modern or increased toxin
levels and to do this we need an army of antioxidants and excellent nutrition
along with clean water. We cannot have healthy metabolic order in our cells
without these components. We must be proactive in providing these nutrients,
vitamins and minerals for ourselves, as well as our companion animals. In
this way, we will provide all the necessary building blocks for life. It sounds
complex and, at the biochemical level, it is extremely complex. If we have
the knowledge that we must provide what is necessary for life and eliminate
those toxins that interfere with life, then we are well on our way to optimum
health for our pets. That understanding is simple and is in our hands! Modern
science can provide us with a well-balanced supplement program that is designed
specifically for each species. The rest is common sense. Provide whole raw
foods containing complex proteins, such as beef, chicken, turkey, buffalo
and lamb, plus vegetables and fruits, with or without complex carbohydrates,
along with a vitamin/mineral/essential fatty acid supplement. (For cats, the
protein source must contain taurine.) It is simple and easily accomplished.
We have heard the term essential and nonessential when it comes to amino acids.
Nonessential does not mean “unnecessary.” It means the body can
manufacture these amino acids. However, the body needs the “building
blocks” to manufacture these proteins and, of course, these nutrients
must be present in the diet in an available form. Many so-called complete
processed pet food products do not contain these building blocks at all or
they are not in a bio available form. In other words, the building blocks
may be there but so are compounds which prevent them from absorption or assimilation
in the body. These mystery compounds or elements not shown on the label can
cause havoc in the body resulting in metabolic disorders and diseases (diabetes,
thyroid disorders, pancreatitis, immune deficiency and chronic inflammation
of joints and skin). Poor nutrition can be the cause of disease and metabolic
disorders and most definitely aggravates existing diseases. Good nutrition
can aid recovery from disease. It is also very beneficial pre- and post-operatively.
Fresh raw food plus a well-designed supplement program is a good choice for
optimum genetic expression and health.
A commonly asked question is, “Is it safe to feed raw?” Concerns
about salmonella, e-coli and other food born pathogens are on our minds as
well as the over all safety of all our food stuffs today. We must be concerned
and careful that safe food handling practices are followed. We, as human beings,
follow these practices every day and, therefore, it is not difficult to incorporate
additional members of the family, namely our dogs and cats. In addition, raw
pet food manufacturers should follow the same strict food handling practices.
Human grade ingredients must be prepared, packaged, flash frozen and stored
at the correct temperature. In other words, raw food for our pets must be
good enough to eat ourselves. Know your source and how it is manufactured
and transported to your door. Thawing practices should be as they are for
your human family. Any uneaten portion should be removed and leftovers refrigerated
immediately and served at the next meal.
Fresh whole foods, that are not full of preservatives, spoil quickly. Some
of us view this as a problem and certainly we do not want to feed spoiled
food to our family or our family pets. Yet, I view this as a very big plus
and not a negative at all because food that spoils quickly supports life!
Processed food, on the other hand, can stay on the shelf, sometimes, for
years. What is in processed animal foods and what it is not, should be investigated
by consumers. The animal food industry is a multi-billion dollar business,
which is sadly behind the times and is in serious need of an overhaul. Change
has already begun at the grass roots level where there are better products
being made available for our companion animals. Many pet owners are choosing
pet foods that contain whole ingredients such as muscle meat, organ meat,
vegetables and/or fruits. Some consumers and veterinarians are realizing
that the pet food industry is not delivering food products that are fit
for life.
The solution is really very simple. Feed whole raw human grade unprocessed
foods along with a well-designed supplement for your dog or cat and your
animal will be on its way to optimum health and genetic expression.
Kathleen Dawson,
B.Sc. Agriculture Animal Science and Nutrition
" I have three generations
of dogs large and small raised on supplemented raw diet."
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