Feeding your
dog is more important than you may realize, especially what you feed.
It is unfortunate that the pet food industry at large has led pet owners
to believe ‘their’ foods are ‘complete’, all your dog needs. The days of when that was my personal
practice are a blur, a very distant memory.
I am so glad I have learned better about canine nutrition. My desire is not only to help my dogs, but
everybody’s furry companions. I love
dogs…my goal, daunting as it may be is that every dog is healthy and
happy, naturally.
Naturally…something
that may seem eccentric or come as ‘news’ to the majority of veterinarians
(which is not really their fault), and a concept I’m sure that makes me an antagonist,
a thorn in the side so to speak toward the
big pet food manufacturers. Convenience aside…which is what man-made kibble is…
raw is best. Foods which would be
consumed in the wild by these domesticated carnivores are truly what is needed
in their diet. Raw, not some overcooked
glob with no nutrient value, or even the high-priced prescription diets. These will not make your dog healthy, as some
commercials (falsely) imply. In fact, quite
the contrary, it will most likely bring on unwanted disease and other ill
issues.
That being
said, my plan is to empower you to take at least some charge of
your dog’s diet. What you do or fail to
do can have positive or negative consequences in regard to his or her health
over their lifetime. I know there are
those who cannot for physical and/or financial reasons be able to provide the
best diet, (which is raw) for their dog.
However, I believe most people can do a few things to enhance the
menu. Really, the savings down the road
far outweigh the added expense at present. Most issues dogs encounter are
nutritionally related. Spend the money
now by improving the quality of the food, or spend it later when chances are
greater that your dog will develop a serious issue that will require medical
(aka: veterinarian) intervention.
So,
hopefully at this point you’re now thinking, ‘Ok, what can I do?’ Well,
vegetables, fruits and herbs are a great starting point. Vegetables, best used fresh (and organic) or
frozen (and organic) are fairly easy to add and reasonably priced. Using those that are ‘seasonal’ helps balance
and support organ function, and in season typically cost less. (Buying
watermelon in the winter, especially in the Midwest if you could even find it
would be outrageous in price, where apples would be an easier catch). Most areas across the U.S. have local farmer’s
markets – which have a nice variety of home-grown choices. Just as you would for your own use, wash
veges well. You can lightly steam or
chop in a food processor, as this will aid the doggie digestion process (their
digestion starts in the stomach, not the mouth like us humans).
In the book ‘Holistic Guide For A Healthy Dog’ written by Wendy Volhard
and Kerry Brown, D.V.M., there is a list of vegetables to use each season. There are a few year ‘round ones: lettuces,
radishes and garlic. (Note: 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder per pound of food 3 to 4
times a week, or one clove fresh garlic per 10 to 30 pounds weight per day is
considered safe for your dog). If your
dog is larger or smaller, increase or decrease accordingly. Garlic is great to boost the immune system
and for cancer prevention. Start with
small amounts of these veges to see how your dog’s system will handle
them. If you have any adverse reaction,
immediately stop using.
Canine
instinct tells our dogs what is needed to balance their system. They’re smarter than most humans, I
think! This is why they eat grass from
time to time (another reason not to spray your yard with
chemicals). A list of all season herbs
in the above mentioned book include: alfalfa, garlic, comfrey leaf, watercress,
goldenrod, dandelion and rosemary. You
can certainly grow these in your own yard, which can be fun and rewarding, and
cut down on expense. There are many that
can even flourish in containers for small areas (apartment balconies, for
example). And dandelions are free of charge…compliments
of nature (yet another reason not to spray your yard!). Of course, you can also mail order those that
you cannot grow in your area, and the harder to find ones. One of my favorite places is Mountain Rose
Herbs in California. They have top
quality products, many organic at reasonable prices. I have
ordered from them for many years. You can check out their website at: www.mountainroseherbs.com. It’s best to combine three to four of these
herbs (only use single herbs if using for medicinal purposes)…be creative with
the above selections. (Note: use double the amount when using fresh herbs).
I will be
blogging a whole lot more on what to use in season to best benefit your
pooch. If you are unsure whether an herb
is safe to use for your dog, research it, or email me and ask! (TalkToThePawInIndy@aol.com) I will be posting more exclusive ‘Chaplin
Doggie Diner’ recipes for raw feeding, so stay tuned! I know many of my blogs
are lengthy, but there is so much information, and many times it’s hard to
condense it without losing necessary data.
The health of your dog, destructive or helpful rests in your decisions –
what will you choose?
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