What do you know about pet nutrition?

Humans are typically responsible when it comes to what they eat. People are curious about the quality of their foods and quantities they should not over-consume. They look into diets and foods that lower cholesterol, reduce pain, make them look and feel good. Many shop at "Whole Paycheck" store (sorry, Whole Foods, great store, but not everyone can afford the prices).

In times of convenience, fast foods on every corner, and processed foods people have choices in all forms and sizes. Foods sold in stores are regulated by FDA and supposed to be safe and healthy.

Still, almost everyone wants to know what they eat. People pay attention to labels checking the nutrition analysis data, and read the ingredient lists on foods before they buy a product they think is right for them. People educate themselves all the time on what is good and what is not good to eat. They understand the foods a man eats make a man, and foods are also their medicine - if used correctly, many diseases can be prevented or reversed.

When it comes to food, humans have choices, pets do not. They eat what we feed them. But do we feed them right foods?

Best news about human nutrition - we all are omnivores. Meaning our digestive system is set up to digest and work on both plant and animal material. We have both sharp and flat teeth, we can chop and grind. Good for us.

Dogs and cats can't grind. They do not have flat teeth. They do not chew their food even. Why? They are carnivores. Animals that stock, chase and catch their pray, kill it with their sharp teeth, rip pieces of flesh off, swallow chinks of it. And then digest it for hours, felling full and happy.

You may say "No! My baby Yorkie is not a carnivore. She is not a bloody killer. She does not even like raw meat!" She is a carnivore, but why she does not eat raw chicken?

Thanks to commercial diets and claims their foods are "Best for Your Pet", about 40 years ago kibble foods emerged. Full of material that carnivore animal can not digest or absorb, kibble makers created a mix of flavored-popcorn-type feed plus more fillers and some chemicals on top. The result confuses any carnivore's taste bud till today.

Foods that were far from the original meat-based diet became so attractive to dogs and cats due to flavor and taste enchantments, and so convenient for their human to feed, that there is barely a household out there that has not fed their pets this stuff. And when you offer your Yorkie a piece of raw chicken, she turns her nose because her natural instincts are tranquilized by chemicals and her taste buds are spoiled by flavors. Raw chicken does not smell or taste anything like her favorite Iams.

Pets do not have a choice when it comes to their diet. They do not have a fridge full of goodies waiting for them. They eat what YOU put in their bowl.

People who own a pet have to make a wise choice in regards of a proper, species-appropriate diet for theor pet. If they trust a TV commercial for next generation of "improved diet", their pets are very likely to have, or will have some sort of disease. Wild animals do not have arthritis, diabetes, food allergies, diarrhea, sensitive stomach, anxiety, and many other issues that are so common nowadays in house pets. The main difference is the food they eat.

To be a responsible pet owner you need to have some knowledge of pet nutrition. Simplest thing to do is to see what your pet's wild relatives eat in the wild. Your dog is build the same as a wolf, a coyote, or a Tasmanian devil.  Your cat is the same miniature tiger. Inside. Tamed, but still a tiger.

Outside they can look different in size and shape due to artificial selection (breeding that retains a certain feature over generations), but not a single dog or cat yet has evolved to eat a plant based diet. The artificial selection did not effect carnivores' digestion.

Do not rely on veterinarians that generally are not educated in pet nutrition. Many sell prescription diets at their offices and learn about pet nutrition at few day seminars held by Hill's Prescription Diet makers. Veterinarians are financially interested to sell their product, and many unfortunately do not want to look into natural needs of dogs and cats to eat unprocessed raw and grain free foods.

Seek information from all sources and look at basics - what type of food your pet's digestive system is made to work on?

If you are a horse owner, you do not feed it raw fish. If you had a seal, you would not feed it hay, would you? Why so many people think it is OK to feed corn, wheat, soy, beet pulp and rice hulls to a dog???

Look for my next post titled.... "Step 1. READ THE LABEL."

Till soon!

Natalia Foster
Owner of Pet Health Store
www.healthyproductscolorado.com


No part of this text can be copied or used in any other way without permission from the author.