The Fundamentals of Natural Pet Care
Diet
Diet is the foundation of health – nothing can replace a healthy diet of the freshest food you can provide for your cat or dog when it comes to promoting health and warding off both acute and chronic disease.
Freshness & Rotation
The fresher the food, the greater the nutrition.
The freshness scale:
- Home prepared raw food diet
Frozen raw food diets- Freeze dried foods
- Dehydrated foods
- Canned foods For Cats / For Dogs
- Dry kibble For Cats / For Dogs
Consuming the same food repeatedly over long periods of time can contribute to the development of food sensitivities and allergies, inflammatory bowel disease and other health issues. Feed a variety of main protein sources and, for dogs, vegetables as well.
Digestive Enzymes
Every dog or cat that is eating a processed food (anything other than raw or lightly cooked) diet should receive digestive enzymes with every meal. This will not only improve digestion and the assimilation of nutrients, but it may also help protect against the development of allergies and immune disorders.
Improving digestion and utilization of nutrients can help to prevent and eliminate a host of diet related problems such as eating stools, body odor, excessive shedding, flatulance and itchy skin. Digestive Enzymes are a crucial part of improving digestion and gastrointestinal health. Click to view digestive enzymes for dogs or digestive enzymes for cats.
Essential Fatty Acids
Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs) are required in the diet; they cannot be produced by the body (hence the “essential” in the name). These essential fatty acids are necessary for proper formation of cell membranes, are precursors for prostaglandins (hormones involved in pain regulation among other things), aid in proper cardiovascular function and nourish the skin and coat as well as the lining of the digestive tract. In addition, omega 3 fatty acids such as EPA and DHA act to reduce inflammatory processes in the body.
The best source of omega 3 fatty acids for most animals is cold water fish oils like salmon oil or cold water fish blends. Animals do not necessarily convert the fatty acids in plant oils very efficiently, such as those in found in flax, to the form most readily utilized by the animal’s system. Click to view essential fatty acids for dogs or essential fatty acids for cats.
Multi-Vitamins
Even the best diet for our dogs and cats of fresh raw foods can be lacking in some essential vitamins and minerals. Many whole food sources no longer contain the high vitamin content they have in the past due to depleted soils and modern farming practices. This is why a basic vitamin and mineral supplement is a good investment for most of our companions. Think of it as health insurance – making sure the body has everything it needs for proper cell function and health maintenance will keep your companion healthier, possibly reducing your veterinarian visits and costs in the long run.
If you are unsure or overwhelmed by the process of choosing the proper diet and supplements for your companion, a consultation with a holistic veterinarian can set you and your companion on course with a healthy program that meets your lifestyle and your companion’s health needs. Click to view multi-vitamins for dogs or multi-vitamins for cats