less; even their behavior improves.” Dog owners also note cleaner teeth, with no tartar buildup, cutting down on trips to the vet.
Not Everyone Agrees Feeding a raw food diet is not without controversy. The American Veterinary Medical Association voted last summer to advise veterinarians to recommend clients against feeding raw meats and bones to pets. Pet Partners, formerly known as the Delta Society, which registers pets as therapy animals, has instituted a policy that states, “Animals
may not be fed a raw protein diet. Ani- mals previously fed [such] a diet must be off it for at least four weeks before registering them.” (See
PetPartners.org/ rawdiet.)
Deciding which foods to feed our pets requires extra research and meal preparation time, as well as money, but motivated owners like the results they see in their pet’s health.
Missourian Sandra Murphy may be reached at StLouisFreelanceWriter@
mindspring.com.
Proper Diet for Pets: The Foundation for Good Health
by Susan Swanson, DVM C
ats and dogs, unfortunately, do not come with an owner’s manual or guidelines on how to properly feed or care for them. Many veterinarians believe that an important part of their job is to teach clients how to best care for their beloved pets. In the opinion of many vets, nutrition is the foundation of health. Without a good founda- tion—namely, the diet—it is difficult for an animal to heal or maintain good health.
Many pets benefit from eating a
raw-food diet. As with any diet, there are risks associated with feeding raw. It’s helpful for pet owners to try one of
the many brands of pre-made raw foods. Pre-made raw diets eliminate the labor- intensive preparation of creating a raw diet and the risk of nutritional imbalance. For a raw diet to meet a pet’s nutritional needs, it should contain muscle meat, organ meat, ground bone, vegetables and nutritional supplements to fill in any nutrients that are deficient in the main ingredients. Raw diets may not be appropriate
for all pets, however, as they can be difficult for some individuals to digest. Geriatric pets or pets with “sensitive” stomachs may not tolerate a raw diet. Cooking the food sometimes makes it easier for these animals to digest. Cooking also changes the texture of the food, making it more palatable for those finicky, texture-sensitive feline patients. One other dietary recommendation is important, whether a pet is eating raw, canned or kibble food: eliminate grain from the diet. Grain in pet food is used
as filler or a cheap source of protein. Grain-based proteins are difficult for many animals to digest and they do not contain the correct ratios of amino acids required by animals, which can lead to nutritional deficiencies. Grain also enhances inflammation in the body. Pre-existing conditions such as arthritis, dermatitis or inflammatory bowel disease may be aggravated by grain-based diets. Currently there is a large selection of high-quality, grain- free diets available for cats and dogs. Pets that eat a grain-fee diet will stay healthier and happier, which also means fewer trips to the veterinarian.
Susan Swanson, DVM, practices holis- tic veterinary medicine at the Cat Care Clinic, located at 1524 Mahtomedi Ave., Mahtomedi. For more informa- tion, call 651-429-4153 or visit Holistic-
CatClinic.com. See ad on this page.
Offering a Blend of Western & Eastern Medicine
• Acupuncture • Herbs
• Nutritional Therapy • Behavior Counseling • House Calls Available
651-429-4153
1524 Mahtomedi Avenue, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 Susan M. Swanson, D.V.M.
www.HolisticCatClinic.com natural awakenings February 2013 23
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32