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Raw Power
Article By: Glenn Redmond
When I was younger, my mom told me that if I made a
face and the wind changed, my face would stay that way
permanently. It was effective marketing for the no-face-making
camp, at least somewhat, as I was careful to make faces
only when inside the house. I also lived in fear of our
dog getting a hold of raw meat, as it conjured up images
of our household harmony being ended by one night of bloodthirsty
savagery, now that our dog had tasted blood.
Now, much older, face intact, and having fed my therapy
dog Dakota a raw food diet for the past ten years, I know
both fears were unfounded.
A raw food diet consists mainly of raw meaty bones, uncooked
ground meat, vegetables and fruits, essential oils, alfalfa
and kelp. I was not always a proponent of natural raw
food feeding of animals. When I started my career, in
British Columbia, I believed all the advertising and marketing
campaigns and recommended to my clients to feed a quality
dry food. One day, a bright-eyed, enthusiastic representative
was sitting in my office trying to sell me the benefits
of this new raw food called "Fargo". He was
met with both skeptism and interest. Skeptism, because
I am naturally suspicious of anybody that tries to sell
me anything. Interest, because what he said made sense.
After some research of my own and a willingness to try,
I made the switch to raw food. Over the coming years,
what I was to witness would make me a believer for life.
I saw dogs and cats with behavioural problems that training
alone was unable to fully grasp, become more adjusted
and less anxious. Animals that were on a variety of medications,
underweight, and losing hair, now appearing healthy for
the first time.
You see, cats and dogs have been domesticated for thousand
of years, but commercial pet food has emerged only in
the past sixty years. Despite this domestication of our
canine and feline companions, their gastrointestinal systems
have not changed from their wild ancestors. They are carnivores
designed to eat meat, bones, and the intestinal contents
of their prey. Almost all commercial pet foods contain
grains that are foreign to a carnivore's stomach. Many
vets now suspect grains to be a causal factor in a variety
of diseases such as pancreatitis, diabetes, and bloat.
According to the animal protection institute - "most
owners do not know that the pet food industry is an extension
of the human food and agriculture industries. Pet food
provides a convenient way for slaughterhouse offal, grains
considered unfit for human consumption and similar waste
products to be turned into profit. This waste includes
intestines, udders, heads, hooves, and possibly diseased
and cancerous animal parts."
In March 2007, their was a massive recall on the most
lethal pet food in history as thousands of cats and dogs
were sickened and many died before Menu Foods recalled
product marketed under the brands of Eucanuba, Hill's
and Purina, just too name a few. Tragic, but really nothing
new under the horizon as there have also been pet food
recalls that have sickened and killed our companion animals
in 1995, 1999, 2000, 2003, two in 2005 and three in 2006.
Many owners have taken control of what their pets are
eating, feeding a raw food diet and have reported incredible
changes in their animals. These include: healthier skin
and shiner coats, clean teeth and healthy gums, fresh
breath, improved digestion, less- and much less smelly-stool,
increased energy and vitality, increased appetite, less
shedding, and fewer behavioural issues. Hyperactive dogs
become calmer and owners have reported boosted immune
systems with less vet visits and seemingly higher disease
resistance.
I am not trying to convince anybody here to switch over
to a raw food diet or to replace advice from a qualified
veterinarian. I am encouraging all to do a little research
and to make your own decisions, and not just believe blindly
what pet food companies are telling us.
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