|
by Kristy Erickson
Natural Nutrition for your Pet
When I was growing up, my 80-pound Samoyed, Fuzzy,
was given a spot on the couch, a plate of her own at
every major family dinner, and presents on her birthday.
Most of us love our pets like we love our family‹and
do everything we can to keep them happy and healthy.
Yet many dogs and cats are plagued with skin conditions,
arthritis, eye problems, cancer, and other illnesses.
Did you ever think that the food you're giving your
dog or cat could be making her sick? Good nutrition
and pure, whole foods are just as important for animals
as they are for people.
Organic Pet Food?
The conventional pet food industry is built on leftovers
rejected from the human food industry. These leftovers
may include animal byproducts made from body parts you'd
never knowingly feed your pet. Although our pets are
carnivores by nature, there's a big difference between
what they would eat in the wild and what's in conventional
pet food. The animal products in conventional pet foods
may be derived from animals that were dead, dying, diseased,
or disabled (called "4-D" meat sources) when they arrived
at the slaughterhouse. In addition to animal byproducts,
conventional pet foods often contain chemical additives
and preservatives plus artificial flavors, dyes, and
colors.
Additives and Nutrition
Our pets are just as sensitive to toxic chemicals as
we are‹maybe even more so. "There are fewer governmental
limitations on the amount of many artificial ingredients
that can be added to pet foods," says Sharon Sherman,
president of PetGuard. "If x amount of additives is
the governmental limit for humans, why would x+2 be
just fine for animals? . . . . Many scientists believe
that, even using the same standards for allowable preservative
or residue levels found in human foods, the pet diet
is less varied when compared to the foods we eat . .
. so pets may be getting a stronger dose of additives
and artificial ingredients and at a faster rate," she
adds.
"The presence of various toxins and pollutants actually
increases the body's need for high-quality nutrients
necessary to combat or eliminate these same contaminants,"
says Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD. Organic foods have
been proven to be higher in some nutrients and antioxidants,
making it important to choose organic pet food even
as national standards are being created.
Raw Nutrition
Another alternative to conventionally processed pet
food is to offer raw food instead. The diet dogs and
cats would eat naturally in the wild offers vitamins,
minerals, protein, fats, and bones (the most natural
source of calcium). If you choose to prepare a raw diet
for your pet, it's important to talk to a veterinarian
about which foods are best and which should be avoided
(remember, what's good for you may not be good for your
pet).
To ensure the best combination of nutrients, a varied
diet is important. A balanced raw diet can include beef,
chicken, eggs, milk, cheese, sprouted grains, and some
vegetables, fruits, and seeds. Choose organic foods
whenever possible.
SELECTED SOURCES
- Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for
Dogs & Cats by Richard H. Pitcairn, DVM, PhD, and Susan
Hubble Pitcairn ($16.95, Rodale, 1995)
- The Encyclopedia of Natural Pet Care by CJ Puotinen
($19.95, Keats, 1998)
- Personal communication: Sharon Sherman, 3/05
.
|
