by larry

http://spoiled-mutts.com Raw Meat Diet – Good For Your Dog?

I frequently receive emails asking my opinion on raw meat diets for dogs.

I will present my biased opinion momentarily but first a little background why I am qualified to answer this question.

I've been raising dogs for more than 30 years now. I've tested and retested various diets and have come to a final conclusion based on the longevity and health of not only pedigree dogs, but mutts as well.

Almost invariably I'm asked to compare dog food diets, raw meat diet vs home made dog food, and occasionally to compare these two dog food diets to commercial dog food.

I consider myself to be very well versed on all three dog food diets and have spent much time investigating every aspect of the three. Many of which I've written about on this blog.

My suggestion to you is to do your own thorough investigation before changing your dog’s diet. Not to listen to me or any other "dog food experts". After all, you are responsible for the health and well being of "mans very best friend" and must care for him as you would yourself.

Only you can make the decision on the outcome of your dog?s full and happy life.

The following is a response to an emailed question;

Hello Kathryn,

To me there is no debate regarding feeding a dog raw meat.

Domestic dogs must be conditioned to eat raw meat
by slowly adding it to their "normal" food and most
do not adjust, ever.

Domestic dogs in the US, Canada and many european
countries stopped eating raw meat over the past four
decades when we began feeding exclusively table
scraps and commercial dog foods.

These dogs are no longer conditioned to eat a raw
meat diet. They cannot safely and efficiently digest
and use the necessary vitamins, proteins and other
necessary complex minerals to remain healthy over a
long period of time on a raw meat diet.

Another danger of the raw meat diet is that many
proponents suggest and promote only raw meat, without
the addition of vegetables or other ingredients.

They automatically are shortening the dogs life by
many years and promoting this method to others wrongly
thinking they are improving the dogs overall health.

I say Phooey! to that idea.

The argument is that because they once were wild, this
is a natural diet. This simply is not true and this
is the basic argument for a raw meat diet. We were
once wild also, but alas, we no longer eat raw meat.
We could be conditioned to do so, but our health
would certainly suffer greatly, as does a dogs.

Raw meat, especially chicken, can cause numerous
medical issues with dogs, particularly when their owners
feed raw meat to them exclusively. Chicken, as you know,
contains salmonella and other bacteria that can create
numerous problems, not to mention the sharp, hard to
digest bones therein.

I believe anyone who proposes a raw meat diet for dogs
has not really investigated the issue. The so called
"raw meat diet experts" are pushing only one thing in my
opinion, "their supposed expertise. Certainly there
is enough proof that raw meat contains enough
toxoplasmosis, salmonellosis and E. coli to cause
various and serious infections and there is significant
proof that the blood work of dogs fed a raw meat diet
differs significantly from that of a "normal" dog, in
the negative sense.

As strongly as I disagree with feeding a dog commercial
dog foods, I would feed this before ever feeding a
raw meat diet.

Hope that answers your question on my position and
thanks for asking.

Congratulations on your decision to prepare home
made dog foods and good luck on your endeavor.

There is a good market for what you are doing,

Regards,
Lare

Raw Meat Diet – Good For Your Dog? NO!

—————————————-
By; Lare Parsons
Author/writer with more than 30 years
raising & caring for multiple dog breeds.

http://spoiled-mutts.com

by larry

http://spoiled-mutts.com/DogHealthInformation.html The Very Best Dog Food available…

No, it's not the most expensive on the grocery shelf or at your favorite pet store.

Here's why.

Take the following natural dog food recipe recipe for instance (multiple servings);

Mix and bake a two ounce boneless pork loin chop (shredded),(chicken, beef or lamb can be used as well), four ounces of Tofu, eight ounces of cooked long grain brown rice, two teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil, a quarter cup of molasses, two steamed carrots, one cup cooked spinach, half a steamed green pepper, a few steamed broccoli spears, one teaspoon ground ginger, two garlic cloves (crushed), half a teaspoon of dry mustard and one teaspoon of bone meal in the oven at 325 degrees for about 15 minutes.

One serving of this recipe is equal to a large can of dog food and is much healthier and digested much easier PLUS it replicates what your dog would eat in the wild, say like a wolf for instance.

This dog food recipe has everything your dog needs, meets the 30/30/30 dog food requirements and is extremely healthy for your dog.

If cooking is not up your alley you can always supplement your dog’s diet with readily available natural substances.

To begin, garlic is an excellent ?extra? to add to your dog?s food. Raw garlic is an antibacterial and anti-fungal agent. In addition, it is also an anti-inflammatory and works wonders for dog?s that suffer from arthritis and other joint ailments.

Ground ginger is also an anti-inflammatory and when combined with garlic, it can replace the need for expensive drugs if your dog suffers from an ongoing condition. Fresh ginger is great for calming a dog’s stomach while dry mustard improves digestion and bowel functions. And all of these items are available at any grocery store for mere pennies!

Next, make a trip to the pharmacy. Why? Because most commercial dog foods do not contain enough vitamins to maintain a balanced diet. Again, this will probably not affect a healthy young dog but older dogs can really suffer from a lack of key nutrients.

You can even add the following to your natural dog food recipes if you like.

Ready? Here is your shopping list.

? B complex: vital for certain biological processes, a complex of B vitamins twice a day will benefit your dog greatly. Small dogs should be giving a regular B complex, medium dogs a high potency B complex and large dogs a high potency stress B complex formula. And don?t worry ? B vitamins are water-soluble so any excess passes through the body via the bladder.

? Vitamin E: an important vitamin for physiologic effects and a potent anti-inflammatory, dogs under the age of two should be given 400 IU daily while those dogs over two can have the dose increased to 800 IU daily.

? Vitamin C: an antioxidant that works with Vitamin E, dogs under the age of two should be given 250 mg daily while those dogs over two should be given 500 mg daily.

? Beta-carotene: an important antioxidant found in carrots, beta-carotene has been linked to protecting against certain cancers in both humans and dogs. The easiest way to dispense this nutrient to your dog is by giving him a raw carrot as a snack. If your dog doesn?t like carrots, slip 10,000 IU into his food each day.

? Omega-3 fatty acids: these acids found in fish oils can help dogs with autoimmune disorder or arthritis. Again, these acids can be found in supplements but it is easier to feed your dog some cooked salmon or sardines occasionally. If these don?t suit your dog?s palette you can add one teaspoon of ground flax seeds, flax oil or kelp oil to his food.

? Gammalinolenic acid: if you can?t pronounce it, that?s o.k. because it is found in evening primrose, black currant or borage oils. A fatty acid that promotes hair, nail and skin health, it has been found to aid skin conditions, arthritis and auto-immune disorder when a couple of tablespoons are added to your dog?s food.

? Gingko biloba: a great supplement for dogs with nervous system disorders, Gingko biloba increases blood flow to the brain. Give your nervous Nellie a capsule a day to keep anxiety at bay.

? Green tea: an energy booster, green tea can be given to older dogs that have lost their pep. In addition, it is very good for the digestion. Green tea can be dispensed either in tea form mixed in to your dog?s drinking water or via one capsule per day.

? Siberian ginseng: a supplement that helps to reduce stress while increasing endurance and improving your dog?s immune system, this is a key nutrient to give to working dogs. For best results, give your dog one capsule per day.

Any or all of these ingredients will help to extend your pooch's life, make him happy and significantly reduce the toxins found in commercial dog foods.

So go ahead, make the best dog food in the world – prepare it yourself!

—————————————-
By; Lare Parsons
Author/writer with more than 30 years
raising & caring for multiple dog breeds.

http://spoiled-mutts.com/DogHealthInformation.html

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