UNLESS WE CHANGE THE DIRECTION, WE ARE LIKELY TO END UP WHERE WE ARE HEADED  -OLD CHINESE PROVERB

Pet Nutrition is something that is overlooked in many of our homes. Pet food companies lead us to believe that what we are feeding our pets is the best food possible. Have you seen the Beneful commercial? All those green veggies & chunks of meat? Don't let them fool you! Pet food is a 26 Billion dollar industry - it is second to oil! Pet food companies have a lot of money to protect, but are not willing to improve the quality of their food.

Here are some facts every pet owner needs to know about kibble:

• Kibble has been around since 1947. Leon Whitney wanted his dogs to grow faster and he wanted to feed them as cheaply as possible. So, the slaughterhouses and grain mills contributed their WASTE for dog food. 
• Most dog food is 60-70% grain - the reason for this is because it helps with shelf life
• All kibble is made the same - it is rendered in a vat, cooked at high temperatures and once it's finished they spray fat on it. Why? Because dogs wouldn't eat it if it wasn't.
• Clay & Kitty litter is used in dog food because clay is good for digestion & the kitty litter helps with the reduction of stools
• Beet pulp is added to make the stools "look brown"
• Bioavailability in dog food is only 5-6%
• Corn & Wheat in dog foods make dogs fat & unhealthy

Our Four Legged Carnivores:

Dogs belong to the order Carnivora. They are scientifically classified as Carnivores not Omnivores. Dogs are also opportunists and will eat what they can which confuses some with what they are classified as. Part of the confusion is that animals are classified by their make-up rather than their diet. The reason why a dog is classified as a carnivore is because:

• They have sharp pointy teeth for ripping and tearing at flesh. Not flat ones like people which are meant for chewing our food.
• Dogs have a very short digestive track. Bacteria cannot survive because of the hydrochloric acid in the stomach. People have very long digestive tracks.
• Dogs do not produce amylase for breaking down grains, people do.

Alternate diets:

Best educated vets recommend an all natural diet! We feed raw meaty bones to our dogs. PLEASE NEVER feed cooked bones to your dogs. They cause severe internal damage. If you are considering an alternative diet other than kibble, please do some reading. If you have questions, please ask!
Suggested Reading:

"Raw Meaty Bones" by Dr. Tom Lonsdale  and "Work Wonders".

"Work Wonders" is available for FREE download on Dr. Lonsdale's website: www.rawmeatybones.com

These books can be purchased at:

Why Raw?

Periodontal issues are affecting generations of dogs. Immune systems are greatly effected by bad teeth and gums. Mars Corporation (Pedigree, Pal, Whiskas) identified that 85% of pets over the age of 3 years had periodontal disease to which they need medical attention. What is convenient is that Mars has recognized this fact and has instead made "bones" that help to get tarter off teeth.  They do not remove tarter from the gum line which is where the problem lies. Dr. Lonsdale states "Since little research is conducted into the effects of artificial pet foods on the livers of domestic pets, information is virtually nonexistent. Nonetheless a range of liver diseases, which seem to be artificial diet related, affect cats and dogs. In particular we should note that the liver is sensitive to the flow of toxins emanating from the bowl and periodontal disease affected mouth" (Raw and Meaty Bones). Human dentists don't sell pre-packaged junk food - they preach to us about PREVENTION.

Benefits of a Raw Diet:

• Clean teeth - SAVE $$$ on taking your pet to the vet and having yearly teeth cleanings. A raw diet takes care of that!
• No Stinky Breath - Without preservatives and a twice a day natural teeth brushing, your pets breath won't be considered "doggy" anymore. 
• No Wallpaper Peeling Farts - again, your pet is not taking in unnatural preservatives, thus causing horrible flatulence.
• No Stinky Dog - Dogs fed on a natural raw diet do not smell like "dogs". Your house won't smell like dog either!
• General Better Health -  Dogs fed an all natural diet are less prone to cancer, foul mouth AIDS (periodontal disease), allergies, etc. A raw diet is not a cure all, but it will put your pet on the right track to better health.

Websites:

http://www.njboxers.com/faqs.htm

http://www.rawlearning.com/rawfaq.html

http://www.rawfed.com/myths

http://www.blakkatz.com/dryfood.html

http://www.catnutrition.org

*DISCLAIMER: While it is very important to us that you feed your dog/cat the best possible food, please consult a holistic veterinarian about a raw diet or any diet change. To find a holistic veterinarian in your area please go to this website: http://www.ahvma.org