Regardless of what you feed your dog s/he won’t live forever. But, surely, you want your furpal to live as long as their span potentially could be?
In which case, because you love your dog you give them a good quality kibble, maybe one of the grain free varieties – right? After all, Vets recommend kibble, it’s easy to feed, your dog likes it - everyone’s happy.
Except…… there is a sinister side to feeding kibble – one of which I knew nothing until I recently saw this video presentation by Dr Becker. Dr Becker is a highly qualified Vet, she teaches and lectures worldwide to pet parents, progressive veterinarians, industry professionals and students. She is committed to improving corporate transparency and food quality within the Pet Food Industry, as well as the nutritional standards currently utilised for commercial pet food.
During her presentation Dr Becker’s highlights that at a time when we humans are being encouraged to eat better – to eat fresh, whole and unprocessed foods, fruits and vegetables, we are feeding our dogs the opposite – a diet for their whole lives of highly processed meal, Kibble - the fast food of the canine world.
She explains by introducing fresh foods your dog will reap the benefits by being on the way to better health, with less skin allergies, and maybe even avoid cancers and other chronic diseases.
THE STUDY Finnish vets did study on effects of different foods fed to dogs.
Dogs that had only ever eaten kibble in their lifetime were moved to raw food - in just 3 months there was an 81% reduction in disease markers in their blood stream.
Dogs that in their whole lifetime had only ever been fed raw food were moved to a totally processed food diet – kibble. After 3 months they had an ASTONISHING 353% increase in disease markers in their blood stream.
The results of these scientific studies prove irrefutably that dogs fed only on kibble are far less healthy than they might be. Basically, pet parents are unknowingly killing their dogs with the convenience of kibble.
FYI the presentation is 16 minutes duration, but the facts about diet (which I found most interesting) are to be heard around 8 minutes in. It was then Dr Becker gives the truly astounding facts about what fast/processed foods - in other words kibble - does to your dog’s health.
I believe every caring dog owner should listen to Dr Becker, click here for the full video to decide for yourself.
Dr Becker gives good news which is that when even as little as 20% processed kibble is removed, and in its place 20% of fresh raw food added to your dogs bowl, health improvements can be made.
MAKING THE CHANGE TO IMPROVE YOUR DOGS WELFARE
Even if kibble was not doing such harm - you wouldn’t want the same food, day in day out – and there are alternatives.
A home made raw and fresh diet is a great option. The downside is that it’s time consuming to buy and prepare – a factor which could put some people off giving it a go.
The ideal – which is now available - is a top quality raw & fresh diet delivered ready prepared direct to your home. It will work out more costly than kibble, but this way provides nutritious food to give your pet the best chance to achieve optimum health – and it is really convenient and easy too.
Below are three options. Two are commercial raw fresh food companies I highly recommend. (Note - I have no commercial interest in either company nor do I benefit financially from recommending them).
The third option is an outstanding ‘home made’ raw food recipe which has been kindly provided by on of my clients who owns Bella a black Lab. Bella has the best coat you’ve ever seen which of itself highly suggestive that this diet is a great one.
GOING FRESH & RAW
OPTION 1 - BARF
"BARF" is an acronym for “Biologically Appropriate Raw Food”.
The BARF company were one of the first to start making and selling raw food and their product is great. However, I don’t think they deliver and as the BARF brand is not widely stocked in pet shops it can be tricky to find.
OPTION 2 - RAW & FRESH
Right here on the Central Coast we are fortunate to have an excellent local raw food company - Raw & Fresh. This young company was started up by a dog owing family and they have a growing customer base for their great products. The best thing is they deliver to your door weekly - freshly prepared, portion size packs, with recipes you select for your dog. Variety as well as goodness.
This is Shadow’s daily pack. Staying with me for a month the company delivered her supply to me so she stayed on her healthy food.
OPTION 3 - HOME MADE
Here’s Sandy’s recipe for her beautiful black Lab, Bella:
carrots
zucchini
apples
beans
broccoli
whiz in kitchen blender -
add cooked rice
add chopped meat of choice
add optional 2-3 chicken necks
You’d need a food processor and make enough for a few days only so the ingredients remain fresh.
PS Dogs can take a while to get used to the veges and you can experiment with amounts and also how finely you whiz it.
HERE ARE SOME OF DR BECKER’S POINTS TAKEN FROM HER VIDEO PRESENTATION.
Over the last 100 years in modern society there has been a dramatic increase in processed food which we and our children eat. Difference between kids and dogs - kids still get some access to fresh food on a daily basis, dogs do not.
There is a $75 billion a year pet industry in America
It’s all about fast food - and Its really fast - open larder door, dump food in bowl - done
Yet humans are told we are told eat less junk food, avoid processed, instead eat 5 fruits a day and eat more vegetables and real unprocessed whole foods.
Yet when it comes to our dogs Vets recommend just the opposite. Dr Becker said vets are taught in vet school to only recommend highly processed foods (kibble) for animals’ entire lives
Vets taught to never recommend fresh or whole foods
Yet animals have never eaten that way in the history - ever - until now
96% people do exactly what they are told and feed an entirely processed/kibble diet to their dogs from the time they are weaned to the time that they die
But what above other 4%?
That tiny 4% represent fasted growing segment of pet food industry - people buying commercially available frozen fresh food
This small group recognises their animals need more than highly processed food as they are well aware of the disease epidemic of Diabetes, Obesity and Cancer in dogs - which is mirrored in humans
THE FINNISH VETS STUDY - a reminder
Dogs that had only eaten kibble in their lifetime were moved to raw food - in just 3 months there was an 81% reduction in disease markers in their blood stream
Dogs that in their whole life had only been fed raw food were given processed food – kibble. After 3 months they had an ASTONISHING 353% increase in disease markers
One result was that skin immune resistance better in those fed on raw food
People are now looking to use food as medicine to address myriad of chronic diseases plaguing our dogs
They are choosing to add a little bit of fresh food to restore health or prevent illness occurring in their pets.
DOG TREATS: If buying ready made treats avoid those that have a long ingredients panel, or contain foods you don’t understand or cannot pronounce. Ideally replace commercial treats with your own fresh food versions.
The best foods are found in the pantry or fridge. Here are good snacks:
Blueberries
Sunflower seeds
almonds
carrots
pecan nuts
apples
courgettes
Dogs are reflections of our life style and it’s our responsibility to choose wisely for them.
Dr Becker’s own website:
http://drkarenbecker.com/Educator/
FINALLY, if you are still reading this far (!) for what it’s worth for my own dogs my personal feeding regime would be 80% raw food with just 20% grain free kibble (such as Black Hawk) but only because the kibble will have the vitamins, minerals, and trace elements that a dog needs added into it - plus it’s useful for the teeth to have crunch.
MY TREATS
I give dogs in my care various treats: –
Cooked chicken, cooked liver/offal and often dehydrate my treats after I’ve first cooked them (recipe is on my website). However, there is one dog food that I use as dog treats - Trade name Ziwi Peak. This is very high quality meat/fish which has been air dried. I would not feed it as full time diet as it is super expensive and high protein, but I think it is outstanding for treats and easy to carry with you.
Let me know if you have any questions!
Until next time, wishing happy health to your hound – and you!
Maralyn
Bella, Leo, Lady, Hugo,Amber and little Misty - all being rewarded with treats at the end of a fun adventure walk (usually only have 4 dogs but this was a changeover day)