Diet and nutrition affect just about every aspect of your pet's life.
The most natural and best way to achieve the level of nutrition we all want for our companion animals is through a whole or minimally processed diet. Most notably, a raw diet will provide the maximum vitamins and minerals a domesticated dog or cat can get from its food. Almost all of what they eat (90-95%) from a raw diet is used by the body. This means there is less for the body to eliminate (and for you to scoop up) and what is eliminated doesn’t smell nearly as bad as what is produced from processed foods and biodegrades at a much faster rate.
And finally, fresh protein diets, with low starch and sugar are the healthiest choice for your beloved pet’s dental health. Providing raw bones for chewing is highly preferred to dry, crunchy so-called teeth-cleaning treats such as Milk-Bone, Nylabones and Greenies, all of which are predominantly wheat gluton and glycerin to make them taste appealing.
For those pet guardians with large and giant breed dogs genetically prone to bloat (GSV), a raw diet can also decrease your dog’s chances of this deadly illness. The latest Purdue Study on GSV found that there is a 170% increase of GDV found in dogs that consumed dry foods containing fat among the first four ingredients. The risk of GSV was increased 320% in dogs that consumed dry foods containing citric acid that were also moistened prior to feeding by owners. Occurrences in GSV were also found when kibble was moistened prior to being fed.
While dogs are carnivores, cats are obligate carnivores, which means that while dogs do eat meat, they also graze on fruit, vegetable matter, and scavenge, but cats must have most of their diet comprised of meat for good health and nutrition. Compared to dogs, they need more protein and fat, and the amino acid Taurine, which is essential to a cat’s diet, is found only in raw meat.
Dry food is the worst thing you can feed your cat. Cats, unlike dogs, are not omnivores. They are carnivores. Their teeth are built to rend and tear meat, giving them little support for chewing hard, dry pebbles of kibble. Below are several good links to help convert your cat from a dry diet to moist and then from moist to raw.
Total Raw Natural Dog Food FAQ
Bones and Raw Food (BARF)
How a Raw Diet Can Stop Your Dog from Eating Feces
Commercial Dog Food Reviews
BARF for Beginners
Video: Getting Your Cat to Eat Healther Food
Video: How to Transition Your Cat to Raw Food
Nutrition 101 for Dogs & Cats
Raw Fed Cats
Myths About Raw Feeding Your Cat
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