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Healthy Habit 1 - Foundations for Wellness
Along with lifestyle, environment and relationships, a wholesome nutrition is essential to Wellness. It is one of the foundations for Wellness, for humans and animals.
There are many ideas out there about the right and the wrong way to feed our dogs and cats. We need to listen to all sides, modern nutritional science as well as traditional wisdom. But ultimately we must use our own simple, common sense. We need to check what we read or hear against our own deepest knowing, and what works for our own animals.
This article discusses the options available when feeding the average healthy dog or cat. It does not specifically deal with dogs or cats that are unwell. Any steps taken towards a more wholesome diet will undoubtedly have general health benefits. However, certain illnesses require specific dietary modifications as part of their treatment. If in doubt, have a chat to your family vet about the availability of a prescription diet for your furry friend if they have health problems.
What are the options available?
1. All-in-one commercial pet food
a) Low cost
b)
Premium
2. Home-prepared pet food
a) Commercial frozen
b) Home prepared
3. Prescription diets
What are you looking for in a dog or cat food?
There are pro's and con's to all the options available. Have a look at the list below and see which considerations are a priority for you.
• Fresh
• Long shelf-life
• Tastes good
• Variety
• Organic
• Complete, balanced - contains all required nutrients
• Fun, rewarding, enjoyable to feed
• Affordable
• Whole, unprocessed
• Free of artificial additives and preservatives
• Convenient
• As close what Nature intended as possible
• Minimal risk of choking, blockage
• Good for teeth and gums
• Highly digestible
• Nutritious
Like everything in life, we inevitably need to make a compromise. What we compromise on is usually dictated by our own values and priorities. Let's look at some of the pro's and cons of each option in turn. Then later we can look at how we can improve on each option, to make it more wholesome, or health promoting.
1. All-in-one Commercial Pet Food
These foods were created in response to the demand for convenience. By definition they will contain highly processed ingredients. There is generally little or no variety in the diet, with most manufacturers recommending that only the one food is required. They generally have a long shelf-life, although this is mostly due to the inclusion of artificial preservatives. Depending on the brand, most will be nutritionally balanced, or 'complete', at least as far as current science measures this. Many of the foods seem to taste good. However, for some, this is due to the high sugar content, artificial flavourings and/or flavour-enhancers. Unfortunately, few of the brands available formulate the food to try and match the natural diet of dogs or cats. Most base the diet on cereals due to the low cost rather than appropriateness. These brands are cheaper, and so more affordable. The premium or super-premium commercial foods generally include higher quality ingredients, and some aim to match what cats and dogs evolved to eat. These foods will inevitably cost more. You generally get what you pay for. A small number of foods do claim to be organic, but 'organic' doesn't tell us about the type or quality of the ingredients. Commercial pet foods, especially the 'wet' foods in tins or sachets, all tend to lead to tartar build-up and eventually tooth decay and gum disease (gingivitis).
2. Home-Prepared Pet Food
These options are generally popular with customers who value the benefits of fresh food over convenience. The goal is usually to create a diet as close as possible to what we consider 'natural'. This approach requires a high level of commitment, and the onus is on the owner to make sure the diet is nutritionally balanced. To get all the essential nutrients (vitamins and minerals, etc) in the correct balance requires knowledge of what a cat or dog requires, and then a good variety of ingredients in the correct proportions to supply these nutrients. As the food is fed fresh, there is a need to prepare food daily, or at least every two or three days for food that can be refrigerated. There are frozen and vacuum-packed 'fresh' food options available that be more convenient. Fresh food feeding means you can avoid preservatives and additives in the diet, and choose only whole, organic ingredients if you so choose. Depending on the choice of ingredients, feeding fresh food is generally more expensive than feeding the cheaper commercial pet foods, but is comparable to the premium diets. Most fresh food diets are highly palatable, and dogs and most cats enjoy eating the food. If feeding raw meaty bones there is a small but real risk of broken teeth, splinters causing perforations, and intestinal obstructions. However, teeth and gum disease is avoided as chewing on the bones keeps the teeth clean. Fresh food carries a risk, especially when fed raw, of food poisoning.
3. Prescription diets
This category of feeding is for animals that are unwell, and also for those with a recurrent or ongoing health problems. Prescription diets are specially formulated to address a particular disease or prevent a relapse. They do this by altering the basic ingredient proportions, altering the nature of the ingredients or adding in medically active ingredients. The diets are all prescription only, and prescribed by vets as part of the treatment or management of a specific problem, for example diabetes, kidney failure, skin allergy, obesity, arthritis and bladder stones. Many of the pro's and con's that apply to commercial food in general apply here as well. It is possible to create home-prepared equivalents for many of the diets for those that are committed to feeding fresh food. As these diets are prescribed 'medicines' it is important to always consult with your vet if you are thinking of making any changes to the diet.
Strategies for a more Wholesome Nutrition
Buy the best food you can afford
Whatever you are feeding now, see if you can improve on it by paying a little more. The benefits to your pets health and longevity will be well worth it in the long run. If necessary, get advice from you vet on the best premium diet for your companion.
Read the labels
Try and choose foods that don't contain additives like colourings, flavourings and preservatives. Also try and choose foods that have meat as the primary ingredient, rather than a long list of different forms of cereals.
Supplement with fresh food
If feeding an all-in-one diet, add in a wide variety of fresh, wholesome scraps to supplement the diet whenever they are available. Fresh vegetables, fruits, and meat are all appropriate. The fresh foods can be fed raw, or lightly steamed, to retain as many of the nutrients as possible. Avoid fast-foods and ready meals entirely.
Cut out unhealthy treats
Most treats are sugar (carbohydrate) based, and contain all sorts of colourings, flavourings and preservatives. Replace these with fresh-food treats like pieces of apple, or a bit of fresh chicken. You can even bake your own wholesome treats like liver biscuits.
Pay attention to teeth and gums
If not feeding raw bones as part of the diet, make sure you pay attention to the health of your pet's teeth and gums. The raw hide chews are most effective, but check out the various rubber chews too. Toothpastes and brushes can be purchased from your vet.
Never feed cooked bones
If you are feeding raw, meaty bones, only ever feed raw bones to dogs and cats. Cooked bones are hard and brittle. It's easier to break teeth, and for splinters of bones to lodge in the mouth or oesophagus when using cooked bones. Cooked bones are also harder to digest and are more likely to cause constipation or obstruction.
Educate yourself
Especially if you are wanting to take over responsibility for you animal's nutrition and feed home-prepared meals.
Basic Recipes
A basic starting point, for a healthy adult dog, I recommend a basic recipe as below, and we vary it from there depending on age, diseases, breed, etc. I will also typically advise on herbs to include to promote health and address any underlying problems.
Basic recipe for average 25kg dog daily feed:
Meat (cooked with the fat) - 300g
Whole grain (brown rice) - 300g
Mixed vegetables - 300g
Good quality fish/veg oil mix - 1 tablespoon
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Calcium carbonate - 1800mg
Multivitamin/mineral tablet - 1 human tablet
Calcium tablet is important for dogs not getting natural access to bones. The multivit/min can be human, use a broad-based one and dose at human adult dose for 25kg dog. Meat can be varied, and 10% of meat portion can be offal (liver, kidney, heart, etc. NB liver especially can cause diarrhoea so limit it if a problem)The meat section can be fed raw, but there are dangers that I won't get into now. So in general I recommend cook the meat to be safe. Veggies should be fresh, seasonal, all colours, and varied. Vegetables should be fed raw or lightly steamed, and grated fine / finely chopped. Grains must be very, very well cooked, brown rice is best for most dogs as the staple carbohydrate source. Meat and rice can be cooked together. Root veggies are high in carbohydrates/sugars and must be counted in the grain portion if fed. Dogs that are overweight need the grain portion reduced or left off. [This needs to be assessed on an individual basis.] I believe simple, fresh, local, seasonal, variety, whole (and organic if possible) is a solid, time-tested approach to optimal nutrition.
Your dogs will LOVE this! And you will have the joy of seeing them enjoy!
Resources
Pet Food Industry Association - a non-profit South
African organisation that is
representative of 80% of the pet food market in South Africa. www.petwise.co.za .
Commercial Foods
Eukanuba - www.eukanuba-south-africa.com
Iams - www.iams-south-africa.com
Purina - www.purina.com
Hills - www.hillspet.com
Propac - www.propacpetfood.com
Royal Canin - wwww.pedigree.co.za
Lucky Pet - www.luckypet.co.za
Bobtail - www.nola.co.za
Frozen Whole Foods
Dogmatters - www.dogmatters.co.za
Ecopet - http://ecopet.co.za
K9 - http://home.intekom.com/ian/K-9/
Vita-pet - www.vita-pet.co.za
Vondi's - www.vondis.co.za
Information on Fresh Food and Home-prepared Diets
Raw Meaty Bones (Tom Lonsdale) - www.rawmeatybones.com
The Barf Diet (Ian Billinghurst) - www.drianbillinghurst.com
BARF world - www.barfworld.com
UK BARF Club - www.ukbarfclub.co.uk
Cat Info - www.catinfo.org
Feline Future - www.felinefuture.com
Priority Pet Food Delivery - www.prioritypetfood.co.za
Foods to be careful of!
Some common human foods are potentially toxic to cats and dogs, and should be avoided or fed only in very small amounts.
1.
Onions, Garlic, Chives - Plants in the onion family can cause a disease of the red blood cells called Heinz-body anaemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs, so avoid these altogether in cats, and avoid feeding large quantities to dogs.
2.
Chocolate - Cacao, the raw ingredient in chocolate, contains a substance called Theobromine that is toxic to dogs and cats. Signs of poisoning range from vomiting and diarrhoea, to tremours, seizures and even death. Dark chocolate is the most dangerous, while white chocolate is the least risky.
3.
Avocado - Avocados contain Persin, a substance that can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. Avocados are best avoided.
4.
Grapes and Raisins - There have been many cases of kidney damage in dogs and cats fed grapes or raisins. We don't yet know what the toxic component is but in susceptible individuals even a few grapes or raisins have caused problems. Grapes and raisins are best avoided.
5.
Milk - After weaning, cats and dogs loose the ability to digest milk and milk products effectively. Drinking milk can then lead to diarrhoea.
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