William Pollak D.V.M. "Recent studies
have shown processed foods to be a factor in increasing the numbers of
pets suffering from cancer, arthritis, obesity,
dental disease, and heart disease. Dull or unhealthy
coats are a common problem with cats and dogs, and poor diet is usually
the cause, according to many veterinarians and breeders. "Dogs,
cats, and other animals live for years on foods that come out of bags,
cans and boxes. But do these foods promote health? If they did, our companion
animals would enjoy long, happy lives free of arthritis, hip dysplasia,
eye problems, ear problems, fleas and other parasites, gum disease, lick
granulomas, thyroid imbalances, skin and coat problems, personality disorders,
birth defects, breeding problems, diabetes, cancer and other major and
minor illnesses. Before World War II, most North Americans fed their pets
raw bones and table scraps. Today, everyone uses convenience foods, and
pet food companies are industry giants. Diet isn't the only thing that
has changed. So has life expectancy, with the life span of many breeds
now less than half what it was two or three decades ago. Skin and coat
problems are so common that we accept them as unavoidable, and today's
vets routinely treat conditions that used to be unusual or even rare."
Learn more: The Poisons in Pet Food
Dr. Kollath, of the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, headed a study
done on animals. When young animals were fed cooked and processed foods
they initially appeared to be healthy. However, as the animals reached
adulthood, they began to age more quickly than normal and also developed
chronic degenerative disease symptoms. A control group of animals raised
on raw foods aged less quickly and were free of degenerative disease. In
nature, we see another example of wild animals eating entirely enzyme-rich
raw foods being free of the degenerative diseases that afflict humans.
A Fresh Look at the Optimum Diet for Animals
"The
food your animal eats should provide all of the nutritional components
which are necessary for all organs and systems of a healthy body to perform
in harmonious unison. A properly functioning body does an amazing job at
preventing disease and healing itself, and to do this it requires the energies
and nutrients of a well-balanced diet.
"Finding the proper diet for our companions means learning to look beyond
our own needs, opinions, and agendas to address the natural needs of the
animals that we caretake. The business of selling pet food at times seems
to be focused more on what appeals to animal guardians than on the dietary
needs of pets. The market success of most commercial foods is judged by
how convenient it they are, and how good they looks, smell, feel, or even
taste to pet owners. The natural reality is this: what is good for our
animals may be appalling to us, but if we really wish to provide them with
the nutrition they truly need, we must learn to look beyond standards of
human acceptance to consider what our pets might eat if we weren't around.
"Dogs, for instance, wouldn't be eating sirloin-like chunks of meat
with a rich gravy , or seafood buffet from a can--- they would be eating
berries, grasses, rodents, and the rotting flesh of dead animals. This
of course, doesn't appeal to us, so most dogs and cats eat dried kibbles
or sterilized canned foods which lack live enzymes and
dozens of other important nutrients that were destroyed by cooking."
Mary
L. Wulff-Tilford author of All
You Ever Wanted To Know About Herbs For Pets. More
William Pollak D.V.M. - "In the wild, no one cooks for the coyote
or wolf; no one brushes their teeth. Their foods are raw and unprocessed."
"Processed foods and drugs have seriously depleted the natural vitality
and immune systems of many pets. Whereas large amounts of red meat can
cause cancer in humans, a lack of RAW red meat in an animal's diet can
lead to serious health problems. Animals require the enzymes,
amino acids and other nutrients in the raw meat in order to stay healthy.
"Many skin and coat problems are a direct result of a lack of raw animal
fat in the diet - fat which humans often believe is bad for their pet.
Animals need at least 30% raw fat, and their systems are not designed to
handle cooked meat or cooked fat. Restaurant grease has become a major
component of feed-grade animal fat over the last 15 years. Often held in
50-gallon drums for weeks or months in extreme temperatures, this grease
is usually kelp outside with no regard for its safety or further use. The
rancid grease is then picked up by fat blenders who mix the animal and
vegetable fats together, stabilize them with powerful antioxidants to prevent
further spoilage, and then sell the blended products to pet food companies.
"Rancid, heavily preserved fats are extremely difficult to digest and
can lead to a host of animal health problems, including digestive upsets,
diarrhea, gas, and bad breath. In the wild, a panther or jackal does not
barbecue, grill or smoke its prey. It definitely does not walk to the local
supermarket to buy dry food either. Yet most pet owners recoil at the thought
of feeding raw meat to their dog or cat, concerned about bacteria or parasites.
Dog and cat digestive systems have evolved over millions of years to consume
a raw diet, and they can tolerate foods containing a wide range of naturally
occurring bacteria. You've probably seen your dog enjoy eating something
you consider disgusting and wondered why he doesn't get sick." Jesse
Dallas
Concerned about salmonella and other bugs?
The
digestive systems of dogs and cats are short, acidic, and handle bacteria
well. This is why they are not susceptible to salmonella, parasites, or
e-coli from tainted meat as humans are. Humans have very long digestive
tracks which allow food to 'linger' for 24 hours or more, thus allowing
more time for parasites to get into their bloodstreams. Zoonosis
I
add Fulvic acids to Shasta's raw food diet. According
to research, Fulvic neutralizes toxins and can eliminate food
poisoning within minutes. When it encounters free radicals with unpaired
positive or negative electrons, and it supplies an equal and opposite charge
to neutralize the free radical. fulvic acid acts as a refiner and transporter
of organic materials and cell nutrients. According to A. Szalay, fulvic
acid has the ability to dramatically detoxify herbicides, pesticides, and
other poisons that it interacts with – this includes many radioactive elements.
This detoxification process may extend to animals and humans. Dr. Cohen
also uses Calcium Montmorillonite Clay as a potent
detoxifier. Shirley
William Pollak D.V.M. - "The results of a clinical trial
suggest that 74.7% of common diseases in dogs and 63% of common diseases
in cats can be eliminated without medical intervention over a period of
one year with proper diet modifications and an understanding of the healing
process as exhibited through healing episodes. Approaching disease from
the perspective of health is the most powerful means of eliminating disease."
(clinical trial)
Read what animal nutrition expert Pat McKay says about cooked/processed/commercial
pet food:
Reigning
Cats and Dogs : Good Nutrition Healthy Happy Animals
"Cooked food is dead. Everything in a can or a bag is
cooked. All processed foods for people or animals have been cooked, sterilized,
or pasteurized, which means all the enzymes that are
needed to digest and utilize the food are destroyed. The saying "We
are what we eat" is not exactly correct. We are what we utilize.
"Live food is essential for health. It is the ultimate
source of life. There is no other way to be disease free. No matter who
tells you that a certain brand of commercial food or home-cooked food is
healthy, it is not. It is dead – no enzymes, no friendly bacteria. Veterinarians,
animal nutritionists, pet store owners, store clerks, authors of nutrition
books, or anyone else suggesting cooked foods are not familiar with which
foods and supplements are necessary for health. If they were, they would
not be prescribing, suggesting, and selling cooked foods for carnivores.
ALL canines and felines were designed to eat RAW food.
"The key to health is keeping live foods in the body.
Live foods have enzymes; little
protein molecules, which are essential for digesting food, for stimulating
the brain, for providing cellular energy, for repairing all tissues, organs,
and cells, and functions so diverse that it is impossible to name them
all.
"Animals and people cannot exist without enzymes.
It is a myth that you can take supplements and make up for enzymes. Supplemental
enzymes,
vitamins,
and minerals can be very helpful, but they do not make up for RAW food."
"Pat tells us why our pets need wholesome, raw foods. The book is
large type, simple to read and includes a simple raw food diet that can
be easily prepared. As a 'health food store for pets' owner, I highly recommend
this book to all interested in a more natural, healthier way of life for
their companion animals." -- An Amazon.com reviewer on
Reigning
Cats and Dogs : Good Nutrition Healthy Happy Animals by Pat McKay
"The best diet is a raw food diet" --
Dr. Charles E Loops D.V.M
Natural
Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Pet Diet by Kymythy R. Schultze
This book will help pet-lovers enable their dogs and cats to enjoy
an ideal quality of life though a species-appropriate diet of raw, natural
foods. "My Golden Retriever has suffered from allergies most
of her life. She has been on the diet in this book for six months.
After a detox period (explained in this book) which lasted 6-8 weeks, her
overall health has improved tremendously. My dog is off all of her previous
medication (antibiotics and Prednisone), her
skin is clear, her coat is soft and thick, and her attitude is great. I
would definitely recommend this book. I would also recommend seeking help
from a homeopathic vet when switching to the diet."
Pauli Reading from Charlotte, NC, United States
- Amazon.com book reviewer.
Raw
Food Recipes Booklet - For those of you who would like to make your
own raw food diet, this booklet will give you some answers and ideas. It
provides very specific weekly raw diets for dogs based on their weight.
It will provide some insight on how much variety to offer, how much to
feed and even discusses supplements!
* How much variety should I offer?
* How do I know what my dog needs?
* How much should I feed?
More
books on Feeding Raw Food to Pets
How I Saved
My Dog's Life with Raw Foods (and with homeopathy)
A testimonial by Shirley,
author of this website.
In 1990, the veterinarian suggested to euthanize my 2 year old German
Shepherd dog because "nothing could be done to stop her suffering and to
cure her". Years later she remains the perfect picture of health and vitality.
Learn how I used nutrition and holistic methods of healing to save her
life. more
Additional
Testimonials: Feeding Raw Pet Food
Don E. Lundholm, D.V.M.
-
"We
are seeing disease conditions in animals that we did not see years ago.
Many of these may be traced to
nutrition
as the source."
William Pollak D.V.M -
"Eating
supermarket pet foods is like eating cardboard. Our pets just get by on
them and the foods lack any real vitality for the flourishing of health.
Life is designed to be lived in vitality; surviving is living a slow death
even before departure from the body"
Dr. Pitcairn D.V.M.-
"...When I began to suggest the feeding of raw meat, I found animals becoming
more healthy even without other treatment. Indeed, I have frequently had
the report that people find their animals become healthy when they make
this change and diseases for which they were hoping to have treatment (on
a waiting list) have disappeared. Since that time, other veterinarians
have told me similar things about the use of raw meat. I do not have numbers
but I think the veterinarians recommending raw meat in the U.S. are in
the hundreds. My experience, albeit clinical and not based on studies,
is that my patients have improved health on a raw diet. Furthermore, I
have not seen significant parasite problems. Dogs and cats, being carnivores
by nature, are meant to eat raw meat and do not have a problem doing so."
Learn
veterinary homeopathy (for lay people and vets) at home or on the road
with audio tapes from classes and seminars taught by Dr. Richard Pitcairn.
Improving
Your Animal's Immune System and Overall Health with Nutritional Support
A groundswell of nutrition-conscious veterinarians are beginning to
recommend to their clients that they supplement their animals' diets with
a daily dose of flaxseed oil and other important nutrients. When the diets
of animals were fortified with flax, within three weeks their coats developed
a beautiful sheen, and dandruff was greatly diminished. There are amazing
testimonials about animals recovering from cancer, diabetes, and other
severe degenerative illnesses with a nutritional product called Transfer
Factor.
Dr. Will Falconer, D.V.M.
"Most
of the chronic diseases we commonly see in animals (and humans) have an
immune basis, e.g. diabetes, allergies, asthma, thyroid disease, inflammatory
bowel diseases, repeated ear infections, cancer, etc. While they can be
cured through the careful use of homeopathy, the road to cure can be a
long one -- often years if the animal has had years of disease. Transfer
factors can significantly shorten the course, by giving a much-needed balancing
effect to the immune system. If the immune system is overactive as in allergies,
ear infections, asthma, diabetes, or hypothyroidism, Transfer Factor can
balance this overactivity so the system is not attacking its own organs
or overreacting to things that shouldn't be perceived as a threat. If,
conversely, the immune system is under-active and the pet suffers from
mange, parasites, viral infections, or cancer, Transfer
Factor Plus can clearly stimulate it to better meet the challenges
it needs to be alert to." About Dr. Falconer
Charles W. Brown D.V.M.
"My
colleagues and I have found this product (Transfer
Factor) to be very effective in modulating the immune system. Transfer
Factor is a "soup" of immune-modulating factors, and contains a leukocyte-type
molecule that can passively transfer immunity from one mammal to another
by stimulating cell-mediated immunity and is antigen specific. Richard
Bennett, Ph.D., an Infectious Disease Microbiologist and Immunologist from
the University of California, Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, believes
this could be the most significant development in animal healthcare in
decades. We have a great number of veterinarians and clients who are experiencing
very positive results in a broad area of disorders, including periodontal."
More
Dr. Pat Bradley, DVM,
Conway, USA - "The most common problems I see that are directly related
to vaccines on a day to day basis are ear
or skin conditions, such as chronic discharges
and itching. I also see behaviour problems
such as fearfulness or aggression.
Often guardians will report that these begin shortly after vaccination,
and are exacerbated with every vaccine. In a more general and frightening
context, I see the overall health and longevity of animals deteriorating.
The bodies of most animals have a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons,
but they do have a limit. I think we often exceed that limit and over-whelm
the body's immune system function with toxins from vaccines, poor
quality foods, insecticides, environmental
toxins, etc. This is why we've seen such a dramatic increase in allergies,
organ failures, and behaviour problems." (NOTE:
a growing number of holistic veterinarians use
Transfer Factor before and after vaccination to minimize the side effects
and help the animal recover)
Dr.
Blanco, D.V.M - "You take healthy animals and often very quickly after
you vaccinate, you can see simple things like itching
of the skin or
excessive
licking of the paws, sometimes even with no
eruptions. We see a lot of epilepsy,
often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive
for several days. Frequently, you'll see urinary
tract infections in cats, often within three months after their
[annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind and heart, you'll
start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination." more
about vaccinosis
Rob
Robertson, M.D. -
"Presque tout ce qui va mal pour nous et nos animaux,
à l'exception des traumatismes (fractures , etc..) peuvent être
reliés directement à une panne du système
immunitaire. La pollution, un excès de médicaments et
une alimentation pauvre en éléments nutritifs, sont tous
des facteurs qui compromettent notre système immunitaire . La clef
pour se maintenir en bonne santé est un système de défense
très fort qui protége les chiens et les chats de tout , depuis
le germe de la grippe jusqu’au cellules cancéreuses . Les vétérinaires
holistiques au contraire de leurs confrères traditionnels croient
qu’un système immunitaire faible y est pour beaucoup si une maladie
se déclare . Les médicaments ne sont pas la réponse
pour améliorer le système immunitaire . Il ne répond
pas aux drogues pour guérir . Les antibiotiques combattent l’infection
, mais ils n’affectent pas ce qui a affaibli le système immunitaire
au tout début . C’est pourquoi les vétérinaires holistiques
se concentrent moins sur ce qui a causé la maladie mais plus sur
ce qui affecte les défenses du corps." Apprenez
plus
Raw
Meaty Bones - Tom Lonsdale, a graduate of the Royal Veterinary College
in London, admits he was slow to recognize problems associated with feeding
canned and dry pet foods. 'The truth is rarely pure, and never simple'
said Oscar Wilde, but this book lets the truth speak for itself as it lifts
the lid on the pet food industry/veterinary profession alliance. You owe
it to your pet to read this book to find out what happens to dogs and cats
if their diet is inadequate. Some topics covered:
* Mouth rot and dog breath.
* Raw vs. cooked food.
* What's in the can?
* The right diet.
* The bite on veterinary dentistry.
Note: Not all pets tolerate 100% raw food
- read Let Food be Thy Medicine" by
Catherine O’Driscoll
More books listed at Shirley's Wellness
Cafe Animal Health Library
All
Natural Healthy Pet Food
The Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking
Recent
research shows that microwave oven-cooked food suffers severe molecular
damage. When eaten, it causes abnormal changes in human blood and immune
systems. Not surprisingly, the public has been denied details on these
significant health dangers.
Do Dogs or Cats Require Grains in Their
Diet?
To Feed or Not to Feed...Grains
T.J. Dunn D.V.M. "Modern man has modified a number of characteristics
of the canine. But there's one thing man has not altered... the basic
nutrient requirements of the dog. Dogs need today essentially the
same nutrients that their predecessors required eons ago. That is
precisely why there has been so much notice given to the practice of feeding
dogs (and cats, too!) raw meat and other unprocessed foods. There is
ample proof that today's pet dogs and cats DO NOT thrive on cheap, packaged,
corn-based pet foods.
"Dogs and cats are primarily meat eaters; to fill them up with grain-based
processed dry foods that barely meets minimum daily nutrient requirements
has proven to be a mistake. And the fact that some pet foods have
artificial colors and flavors added simply reveals the trickery needed
to coax dogs and cats into consuming such material."
Russell
Swift, D.V.M. "Grains are NOT part of the natural
diet of wild dogs and cats. Carnivores cannot maintain long term production
of the quantity of amylase enzyme necessary to properly digest and utilize
the carbohydrates." read
on
Raw Bones versus Cooked Bones
Wild carnivores have always consumed the raw bones of their prey.
Their teeth are adapted for this function, and their short, acidic digestive
tract quickly dissolves and digests these bones, which are packed with
essential nutrients. Our domesticated companions have teeth and digestive
systems that are nearly identical to those of their wild counterparts.
While it is possible for dogs or humans, to choke on whatever they are
eating or drinking, consuming a fresh, raw diet greatly reduces the
risk of choking in dogs or cats. Cooking bones makes them brittle and prone
to splintering, as well as more difficult to digest.
Dr. Billinghurst, an Australian vet, recommends raw bones as
the foundation of a balanced diet. His book "Give Your Dog a Bone" describes
the rapidly deteriorating health of Australian dogs and cats after the
nation adopted commercial pet foods in mid-1960s. The canine mouth has
sharp pointed teeth and strong jaws designed to tear flesh and crush bones.
The stomach acid of the canine has strong acids to digest bones and flesh.
Raw bones have been a part of canines' diets for as long as they have been
tracking, attacking, and killing their prey.
Many holistic veterinarians say that raw bones are NOT harmful
to carnivores. Only cooked bones can splinter and pose a threat.
I have seen documentaries of tiny white foxes catching doves and swallowing
the birds whole, with feathers, claws, beak, and all. Their stomach juices
are very acidic and and loaded with natural enzymes that dissolve and digest
bone material. Chewing on raw bones helps to strengthen the jaw bones,
massage the gums while stimulating the salivary and digestive glands, help
reduce plaques and calculus accumulation on the tooth surfaces, clean teeth,
and reduce occurrence of gingivitis. Bones are a good source of calcium
and other important minerals.
"The common practice of feeding meat without bones (or bone meal)
is nutritionally disastrous for dogs and cats. There are far too many people
giving eggs and meat to their pets without providing a balance to all the
phosphorus they contain. Meat contains no calcium, and lots of phosphorus;
bones contain lots of calcium. Eggs contain lots of phosphorus; the shells
contain calcium. That is nature's balance. If we feed meat without bones
or eggs without shells, or aren't sure of the correct ratios of those things
to feed, we must use something to replace them. It is a common and tragic
mistake to give a diet far too high in phosphorus to cats and dogs." Christie
Keith from Natural
Diet.... What is it?
Give
your Dog a Bone and See Your Vet bills Fall!
by Ian Billinghurst B.V.Sc(Hons), B.Sc.Agr.,Dip.Ed.
Give
Your Dog a Bone is about feeding dogs using the Bones and Raw
Food (BARF) diet. Dr. Ian Billinghurst has spent 18 years as a practicing
veterinarian in Australia. "Most of the disease problems we vets see are
caused by only one thing - poor nutrition. Most modern dog owners are taught
to believe that feeding dogs is such a difficult task. Nothing could be
further from the truth. If you can get hold of a regular supply of raw
meaty bones, you will have no problems whatsoever."
Click
here to read an excerpt
from Dr. Ian Billinghurst's book
BARF FAQ (BARF
= Bones and Raw Food) Ready-To-Eat
Healthy Raw Pet Food
If you don't have the time or the inclination to prepare homemade RAW
meals for your animal, you can purchase ready-to-eat frozen or freeze dried
RAW
meals.
Hilarious
two-minute video of a dog protecting his bone. It will make your day! 
Raw Bones and Canine Dental
Hygiene
Can RAW bones help reduce plaques, calculus accumulation on the tooth
surfaces, clean teeth, and reduce the occurrence of gingivitis?
If you choose not to feed
your dog raw bones, here's an alternative: All
Natural and Healthy Edible Dog Bones They look just like real
bones and are made from a wholesome blend of rice, flour, vegetable fiber,
and chicken liver. Plus, their rounded ends and crunchy texture work
together to help promote healthy teeth and gums. They are a healthy and
safe way to satisfy a canine's desire to chew.
Sample
recipe of what I feed my dog
by Shirley, author of this
website
At 11 years of age, Shasta is remains in good health. She did suffer
from illnesses (including a stroke), which I treated with homeopathy and
herbal extracts. I also help boost her immune system with Transfer
Factor. She eats raw eggs, raw organically grown veggies, kelp,
flaxseeds, raw whole fish, raw bones, all sorts of raw meats including
organ meats, and I make sure that all meats I purchase for her at the market
are NON-IRRADIATED. I fast her on water every other day for optimum
health. Learn
more...
Our pets are prone to suffer from mineral and trace-mineral deficiency.
For optimum health, I supplement my animal's diet (and my diet too) with
the following: fulvic minerals and/or marine
phytoplankton (consisting of an immense arsenal and array of naturally
occurring powerful phytochemicals, biochemicals, supercharged antioxidants,
free-radical scavengers, super oxide dismutases, nutrients, enzymes, hormones,
amino acids, antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals), bee
pollen (rich in naturally occurring vitamins), kelp
(marine plants),
the right kind of salt (notcommon
table salt), and clay
(to promote healing and to
detoxify), and with flaxoil (also knows
as linseed oil -- a rich source of omega 3 fatty acids). Shasta does not
drink
tap water. I give her only filtered
water which is free from toxic chlorine and fluoride. I never cook
or warm up food in a microwave oven. Please
read about the Hidden Hazards of Microwave Cooking.
Raw
Feeding Calculator and Video As a general rule, a normal active
dog require about 2% of its body weight per
day. A highly active dog may require about 3%
of its body weight per day. No two dogs are identical in their metabolic
rates, age, or activity levels Puppies can use up to 10%
of their growing body weight. Use this online calculator
to calculate the amount of food needed by body weight.
Ready-To-Eat Healthy Pet Food
If you don't have the time or the inclination to prepare homemade RAW meals
for your animal, you can purchase ready-to-eat frozen or freeze dried RAW
meals
Books
on Feeding Raw Food to Pets
Concerned
about Zoonosis? Zoonosis is an
infectious or parasitic disease, which is naturally passed from vertebrate
animals to humans, and vice versa, e.g. tuberculosis, rabies, or brucellosis.
"Dogs and especially cats can shed Salmonella organisms in both their feces
and saliva, meaning that transmission can occur via licking." More.
- A pet dog or cat licking your hand is a very common occurrence.
Sometimes a pet may lick the face of a child, helping germs spread more
easily. Animal saliva contains many pathogenic agents. More
If you have these concerns,
learn about the healthy alternatives to feeding raw food, you can feed
your pet healthy kibbles with all natural ingredients.
Alert!
Tainted
pet food deaths up sharply - At least 100 dogs
in the United States have been killed in recent weeks by toxic pet food,
contaminated with aflatoxins, despite a recall of the products. Some 19
brands of Diamond, Country Value, and Professional dog foods have been
recalled. But many pet owners are not aware of the recall, researchers
at Cornell University said Friday. Dogs have refused to eat the food and,
in some cases, their owners have enticed them with gravy and other lures
without knowing they were killing the animals. "Entire kennels have been
wiped out, and because of the holiday these past few weeks, the dispersal
of recall information was disrupted," says Sharon Center, a professor of
veterinary medicine who specializes in liver function and disease at the
College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell. The dog food is tainted with
deadly aflatoxins that waste the liver away. Learn about quality,
safe and nutritious pet food, guaranteed to be free of aflatoxins.
learn more
Healthy Alternatives to Feeding
Raw Food
Natural dog and cat foods with only natural, wholesome ingredients
and nutrient-dense with vitamins, minerals, fats, and fatty acids which
are essential for the optimal health of your dog or cat. No
harmful chemicals are used in these pet foods!
They are made from the highest-quality
ingredients with all-natural preservatives
and
do
not contain meat or grain by-products, color additives, or chemical
preservatives. Learn more about these natural
pet foods.
Transitioning
to a New Diet William Pollak D.V.M.
Upon switching to a more nutritious diet, physical and behavioral improvements
can be dramatic or gradual depending on the state of the animal’s health.
Severe nutritional deficiencies and toxic states have been known to mimic
almost every known disease in veterinary medicine. In chronic conditions,
some developing over several generations, improvement in health can take
months or years.
Malnutrition and the toxic condition of the animal fed commercial diets
can result in the inability to digest and assimilate basic food components
of the fresher, more wholesome type we are describing here. The body will
sometimes expel these accumulated poisons during periods of diarrhea, hair
loss, scaling of skin. These periods are known as Healing Episodes/Healing
Crisis. Though these situations are not necessary, they are not uncommon.
The body will cleanse itself of these toxic agents before it can assimilate
more healthful nutrients to regain a higher state of balanced health. more
on healing crisis
THE HEALTHY PATH -- FOR EVERY
ANIMAL Dr. Christina Chambreau offers guidelines for
nutrition, quality of ingredients in your pet food, supplements, and general
healthcare guidelines.
Diarrhea
Usually Not Disease -- Just Cleaning House
Diarrhea can be a normal part of transitioning to a healthier
diet. Changing the food to the natural raw meat diet can sometimes cause
diarrhea as the energy content is too rich for the current digestive ability
of the animal. With slow transitioning on to the new diet, the pet’s digestive
system can acclimate to the higher flow of nourishment.
To
ease the diarrhea, I mix a little therapeutic clay into the food. Shirley
Dr. Cohen - "In addition
to the role it plays as a potent detoxifier, Calcium
Montmorillonite Clay has also been used extensively in the treatment
of pain, open wounds, colitis, diarrhea, hemorrhoids, stomach ulcers, intestinal
problems, acne, anemia, and a variety of other health issues. Clay not
only cures minor problems, such as diarrhea and constipation through local
application; it acts on all the organs—on the whole organism. Everything
unhealthy that emits negative radiation is irresistibly attracted to clay
and becomes subject to immediate elimination."
Fasting
for Health in Holistic Veterinary Medicine
A powerful healing practice
William Pollak, D.V.M,. on fasting:
"Many
experts on canine nutrition recommend occasional fasting, such as one day
without solid food per week or month, to simulate the natural conditions
in which these animals evolved. Fasting gives the digestive organs an opportunity
to rest and helps the body repair itself. In the wild, predators alternate
between gorging themselves and going for one or several days without food,
so a once-a-week or once-a-month fast is both beneficial and easy for most
dogs to adjust to."
Bill Winter D.V.M on fasting: "To
this day I do not believe that I have ever discovered a healing technique
quite as powerful. I have recommended fasting for 10,000 to 20,000
animals, and have seen true miracles over these years of practice. Juliette
de Bairacli Levy says that the two most important aspects of natural
animal rearing are: fasting and a raw diet." More
on fasting your animal for health
If for some reason your dog or cat is unable to tolerate all or part
of the raw food diet, you can join the Alternative2rawfeeding
forum to discuss the alternative methods of feeding your companions.
F. Batmanghelidj, M.D.
- "Every function inside the body is regulated by and depends on water.
Water must be available to carry vital elements, oxygen, hormones, and
chemical messengers to all parts of the body. Without sufficient water
to wet all parts equally, some more remote parts of the body will not receive
the vital elements that water supplies. Water is also needed to carry toxic
waste away from the cells. In fact, there are at least 50 reasons why the
body needs sufficient water on a regular, everyday basis. Without sufficient
water to constantly wet all parts, your body's drought-management system
kicks into action. The histamine-directed chemical messenger systems are
activated to arrange a new, lower quota of water for the drought-stricken
areas. When histamine and its subordinate "drought managers" come across
pain-sensing nerves, they cause pain. This is what I discovered in my research
that I mentioned earlier." More
on hydrotherapy (water therapy)
Microwater
machines generate alkaline living, energized water. This
healing water is regarded by a growing number of health care professionals
as the best water to drink. In fact the Microwater ionizer water filter
is listed as a medical device in Japan and is used in the treatment of
several degenerative diseases. Ionized water has several health promoting
qualities. Acid/alkaline balance is important in keeping the body
strong, healthy, and free of stress. Drinking alkaline water is the simplest
and most effective way to remove (flush out) acidic wastes from our body.
Removing acid waste has also been attributed to reversing the aging process.
(Read more on this from the book Reverse
Aging by Sang Whang.) Dr. Hidemitsu Hayashi,
M.D. wrote an important
article on the healing
power of water. (Dr.Hayashi is the director of the Water Institute of Japan.)
The alkaline water ionizer machine do more than simply purify tap water.
It transform tap water into a living, energized, alkaline water. For
more information visit the
IonMicrowater website or contact
Shirley: 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560 -
Sodium-Deficient Diet
Wild
Health: How Animals Keep Themselves Well and What We Can Learn From Them
For millennia, humans have observed animals in the wild eating plants
and minerals and applying naturally occurring topical antitoxins from the
same sources to combat infectious wounds, parasites, and internal disorders.
Herds of elephants risk injury and death in a perilous journey to hidden
salt caves where they supplement their sodium-deficient
diet.
Learn more about real salt for human and animal
health
Overweight Pet: Weight
Management for Dogs and Cats
Obesity is a significant health problem in many pets, and can contribute
to major disease. There are many easily identifiable causes of weight gain
in pets.
Rearing
Healthy Pups and Kittens
Pet owners often complaint that their new puppies are sick with diarrhea,
vomiting, running eyes, and ear infections. A lot of money is spent on
veterinary care and medication, often with poor results. Learn how to wean
your pup or kitten to a natural raw food diet. Learn about alternate method
of vaccination. You will see all symptoms of ill health clear up in a few
weeks and your animal will thrive.
Breeders who have changed their animal's diets and used alternative
methods of health care and vaccination have observed dramatic health improvement
in the young and adult alike, including larger litters and less complication
of prenancies and birth such as premature birth, smaller litters, C-sections,
tiny or weak puppies; sick pups, and puppy mortality.
Feline
Natural Diet
Dr. Pottenger discovered quite by accident that cats degenerated unless
they were fed raw food. In his 10-year study of 900 cats, he found the
optimal diet for his cats was 2/3 raw meat and 1/3 raw milk plus a little
cod liver oil. If either the meat or the milk was cooked, the cats degenerated.
And if both were cooked, the degeneration was much worse, and the cats
could no longer reproduce by the third generation.
Some of the problems Pottenger found in the cats fed cooked food were:
heart problems; nearsightedness and farsightedness; underactivity and inflammation
of the thyroid; infections of the kidney, liver, testes, ovaries and bladder;
arthritis and inflammation of the joints; inflammation of the nervous system
with paralysis and meningitis. And in the third generation, some of the
cats' bones became as soft as rubber. Lung problems, and bronchitis and
pneumonia were also frequent. Moreover, the females became irritable and
even dangerous, and the males became passive and lacked sex interest. more
Natural Diet for Pet
Birds
Bird owners are beginning to question the value of commercial diets,
realizing that they are a far cry from resembling anything our birds are
accustomed to eating in the wild.
Nutrition
in Small Mammals
by Susan A. Brown, D.V.M
A variety of small mammals such as hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, mice,
rats, rabbits, chinchillas, and ferrets are commonly kept as household
pets for adults and children alike. These pets have been bred in captivity
for years and are ideal for a variety of pet owners because of their small
space requirements, quiet nature, ease of handling, and relatively simple
husbandry requirements. Diet is an important part of the care of these
pets, and each species should have its own specific nutritional needs met.
A rabbit is not a rodent is not a ferret, and so on.
SMALL
MAMMAL HEALTH SERIES
In Veterinary Partner.com's Small Mammal Health Series, renowned exotic
animal veterinarian Dr. Susan Brown covers general husbandry and proper
diets -- as well as specific common (and not so common) medical disorders
in rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, etc.
Nutrition and Care for Ferret, Reptiles
and Rodents
Testimonials
Read the heart warming testimonials about animals who fully recovered
from cancer and other illnesses with holistic/nutritional therapies. This
is a collection of emails I received over the years and for which I received
the permission to publish on my site. With almost each testimonial you
will find an email address to facilitate correspondence, feedback, and
support. Shirley
Natural
Animal Health Library
Books and video on Natural Health Care for Animals -- Obedience Dog
Training (and behavior problem-solving), and Solving Cat Behavior Problems.
Need help/support?
-
Sample Recipes of Homemade Rawfood Diet for Animals
-
Get inspiration from breeders and pet owners who share their ideas, experiences,
and recipes about RAW homemade meals.
-
Raw Recruits Support
Group
-
This is a group of like-minded souls who have come together for the well
being of their pets. They are a support group for people who have chosen
to feed their cats and dogs a Species-Specific Raw Diet and to care for
them as much as possible in a holistic way. Many of them have fed a raw
diet for many years, some only more recently. How did they get here? Some
came here through recommendations by friends, but many of us were struggling
alone after reading books by Pitcairn, Volhard, and Billinghurst. They
were looking for that "bit extra" and for others who shared our beliefs
and could give us support. They have found that support with Raw Recruits.
-
There is also an email
list you can join. Find support, help, feedback, motivation, etc. about
all issues related to the BARF diet (BARF = Bones and Raw Food - it refers
to a type of diet fed to dogs and cats, which totally excludes all commercial
dog foods. Also check out the (BARF = Bones and Raw Food)
-
NATURAL REARING
BREEDERS DIRECTORY Dedicated to dog and cat breeders using holistic
health care for their animals
SICK OF DRUGGING YOUR PET?
Dr Charles E Loops DVM - "After
10 years of traditional veterinary practice I became tired of having no
treatment for chronic disease, incurable conditions, and a plethora of
allergic maladies which seem to plague all veterinary practices. I was
frustrated with giving animals cortisone because
I had no other solutions, or using antibiotics
for infections which I knew were of viral origin. There is so much that
can be done for an animal, bird, or reptile that is ailing by utilizing
homeopathic medicine."
For years dog health supplies have included toxic
materials to artificially maintain dog health as a temporary measure.
The time has come to change to a more natural approach toward animal health.
Natural remedies have been shown to achieve more immediate, more complete
and longer lasting health, vitality, quality and longevity of animal lives.
Learn
about herbal remedies and other safe alternatives to drugs, chemo, radiation
and surgery
Michael Dym, VMD - "Over the past 40 years and 17 generations
of dogs and, cats we are seeing tremendous increases in chronic ill health
in our pets that was rare back in the early 1960's. Most of these illnesses
revolve around breakdown in our pets' immune systems, and include chronic
skin/ear allergies, digestive upset, thyroid/adrenal/pancreatic disorders,
seizures, gum/ teeth problems, degenerative arthritis, kidney/liver failure,
and cancer across all ages and breeds. We are also seeing a record number
of behavioral and emotional disorders including alarming and unexplained
fears/aggression., as well as difficulty focusing/training and paying attention.
The analogy of these compared with escalating immune/behavioral diseases
in children is quite disturbing. The two biggest factors in our pets' population
health decline over these generations has been the severe overuse
of multiple vaccines and nutrient poor and toxin
filled commercial pet foods. We have also failed to address the underlying
cause of disease by only sup pressing symptoms with antibiotics,
cortisone
and related drugs, so the disease progresses and goes deeper. Homeopathy
offers a viable alternative in truly curing pets and making their bodies
healthier."
Dr. Pat Bradley, DVM, Conway, USA - "The most common problems
I see that are directly related to vaccines
on a day to day basis are ear or skin
conditions, such as chronic discharges and
itching.
I also see behaviour problems such as fearfulness
or aggression. Often guardians will report
that these begin shortly after vaccination, and are exacerbated with every
vaccine. In a more general and frightening context, I see the overall health
and longevity of animals deteriorating. The bodies of most animals have
a tremendous capacity to detoxify poisons, but they do have a limit. I
think we often exceed that limit and over-whelm the body's immune system
function with toxins from vaccines, poor quality foods,
insecticides,
environmental toxins, etc. This is why we've seen such a dramatic increase
in allergies,
organ failures, and behaviour problems." (NOTE:
a growing number of holistic veterinarians use
Transfer Factor before and after vaccination to minimize the side effects
and help the animal recover)
Dr. Blanco, D.V.M - "You take healthy animals
and often very quickly after you vaccinate, you
can see simple things like itching of the
skin or
excessive
licking of the paws, sometimes even with no
eruptions. We see a lot of epilepsy,
often after a rabies vaccination. Or dogs or cats can become aggressive
for several days. Frequently, you'll see urinary
tract infections in cats, often within three months after their
[annual] vaccination. If you step back, open your mind and heart, you'll
start to see patterns of illness post-vaccination." more
about vaccinosis
Will Falconer, DVM - "Most of the chronic diseases we commonly
see in animals (and humans) have an immune basis, e.g. diabetes, allergies,
asthma, thyroid disease, inflammatory bowel diseases, repeated ear infections,
cancer, etc. While they can be cured through the careful use of homeopathy,
the road to cure can be a long one -- often years if the animal has had
years of disease. Transfer factors can significantly shorten the course,
by giving a much needed balancing effect to the immune system. If the immune
system is overactive as in allergies, ear infections, asthma, diabetes,
or hypothyroidism, Transfer Factor can balance this overactivity so the
system is not attacking its own organs, overreacting to things that shouldn’t
be perceived as a threat. If, conversely, the immune system is under-active
as in mange, parasites, viral infections, or cancer, Transfer
Factor Plus can clearly stimulate it to better meet the challenges
it needs to be alert to." Prevaccination
Protection Dr. Falconer D.V.M. explains how to protect your animal
from vaccines damage
Sam Jones, DVM - "Two cats, both about 8 years old, had severe
diabetes. It was impossible to get the insulin requirements adjusted. They
had lost weight to a point that they were skin and bones. Both cats had
no quality of life left. After one week of being on transfer
factors; we were able to get their insulin requirements adjusted. It
is now 6 months and they have regained their weight and have a great quality
of life and health."
Our
pets are prone to suffer from minerals and trace mineral deficiency. For
optimum health, I supplement my animal's diet (and my diet too) with the
following: fulvic minerals , marine
phytoplankton (consist of an immense arsenal and array of naturally
occuring powerful phytochemicals, biochemicals, supercharged antioxidants,
free-radical scavengers, super oxide dismutases, nutrients, enzymes, hormones,
amino acids, antibiotics, antivirals, and antifungals), bee
pollen (rich in naturally occuring vitamins),
kelp
(marine plants),
the right kind of salt
(not
common table salt) and therapeutic clay (to
promote healing and to detoxify) and with omega 3
oils. Shasta does not drink
tap water. I give her only
energized,
alkaline microwater which is free from toxic chlorine and fluoride.
I never cook or warm up food in a microwave
oven. Please read about the Hidden Hazards of
Microwave Cooking. Shirley
Just like humans, domesticated animals like dogs and cats are affected
by the health hazards of modern living. Pollution, poor nutrition, stress
and unhealthy lifestyles can lead to a variety of illnesses and conditions
that are very similar to those experienced by humans. These days, emotional
and psychological problems like depression, anxiety, ADHD and behavioral
problems are just as prevalent in pets as they are in their owners. Similarly,
physical ailments such as diabetes,
arthritis, chronic fatigue, digestive disorders, cystitis, kidney and liver
disease, skin disorders, obesity, thyroid dysfunction and other problems
are becoming more and more common in domesticated animals. Many, if not
most of these conditions can be prevented by helping your pets to live
a healthier lifestyle. For pets already suffering from existing conditions,
a combination of lifestyle changes and natural medicine can work wonders!
Dr. John Hanover, DVM - "Young puppies and kittens with
respiratory infections are given Shipibo
Treasure Tea which they will lap up even when they will not drink water.
I frequently recommend Amazon Herbs for my patients, especially geriatric
animals and our Search and Rescue dogs.” more...
Dr. Jerry Tennant, M.D.
says that marine phytoplankton contains
almost everything one needs to sustain life and to restore health by providing
the raw materials to make new cells that function normally. Learn
how phytoplankton saved a dog's Life
CHLORINATED
and FLUORIDATED WATER.... A BIG NO-NO !!! There
is a perception among many people that bottled water is somehow more healthy
or pure than water from their tap. This is simply an illusion of marketing.
A four-year study by the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), released
in 1999, found that one-fifth of the sampled bottled waters contained known
neurotoxins and carcinogens such as styrene, toluene and xylene. Another
NRDC study found that, out of 103 brands of bottled water, one-third contained
traces of arsenic and E. coli. This means that out of a sample of 1,000
bottles sold in the U.S., at least 300 would have some level of chemical
contamination. It is well known that the average city water today contains
over 500 chemicals that do not belong in it. Part of this is due to the
fact that most delivery systems in the U.S. include cement, asbestos pipes,
cast iron, PVC (porous to certain solvents, herbicides and pesticides)
and that lead, cadmium and other toxic metals leach out of valves and couplings
of pipes between a water treatment plant and a faucet in the home. Why
Purified and Distilled Bottled Water are Bad For You and Your Animals
Safe,
toxin-free, Ionized,
Energized, Drinking Water helps to naturally flush toxins and acidic
waste from the body and is a powerful antioxidant. Ionized Water makes
more oxygen available to our cells than distilled, reverse osmosis, filtered
only, bottled or tap water and is the best possible drinking water. "Disease
and early death is more likely to be seen with the long term drinking of
purified water. Avoid it except in special circumstances." Zoltan P.
Rona M.D
Complementary and Alternative Therapies in Veterinary
Medicine
Routine
Vaccination: Is it Really Safe and Effective?
"...Lack of scientific evidence to support the current practice of annual
vaccination, and increasing documentation showing that over-vaccinating
has been associated with harmful side effects. Of particular note in this
regard has been the association of autoimmune hemolytic anemia with vaccination
in dogs and vaccine-associated sarcomas in cats -- both of which are often
fatal.* With boosters (except for rabies vaccine), the annual re-vaccination
recommendation on the vaccine label is just that -- a recommendation without
the backing of long-term duration of immunity studies, and is not a legal
requirement." More
* Testimonial
of a dog's full recovery from Auto Immune Haemolytic Anaemia
Dr. Richard Pitcairn D.V.M., Ph.D. "In this article we
begin to address the subject of vaccinosis, the general name for chronic
disease caused by vaccines. For some readers the very idea that vaccines
are anything but wonderful and life-saving may come as a surprise, and
it's not a very pleasant one. After all, the general population pictures
vaccines as one of modern medicine's best and brightest moments, saving
literally millions from the scourge of diseases like poliomyelitis and
smallpox."
Dr. Mc D.V.M - "...we must stop advocating yearly vaccines
because of the harm we are doing to the animals we vaccinate. He covered
the homeopathic concept of "vaccinosis." Vaccinosis is a disease entity
that may be introduced through vaccinating animals or people. Once vaccinosis
develops, there is a disturbance in the body's vital forces that leads
to symptoms of chronic disease that can be very difficult (and often impossible)
to cure. Dr. McCluggage also stated that there are no good reasons to recommend
annual vaccinations for our companion animals. "
Donna Starita Mehan D.V.M "Routine" vaccination has adverse side
effects, either short- or long-term. With vaccines that are repeated year
after year, the frequency and severity of these side effects in our pets
has increased dramatically. Most of the problems involve the immune system.
After all, the immune system is what vaccines are designed to stimulate.
But they do so in a very unnatural way that can overwhelm and confuse the
immune system and can result in increased susceptibility to acute infections
(such as ear infections in dogs, bladder infections in cats), chronic tapeworm
problems, or in more degenerative cases, cancer."
Read about the comments of other vets
who believe that vaccines are damaging our pets. Read
the above quotes in their entirety. Please get informed!
Correctly
Prescribed Homeopathic Remedies Can Often Undo the Damage Caused by Vaccines.
Homeopathy
is noted for its success
to relieve or remove the toxic effects of vaccines and to re-establish
balance in the organism and restore health. Certain homeopathic remedies
taken after vaccination can minimize vaccine damage. A professional
homeopathic vet should be consulted for more information.
Animals aren't the only ones at risk! What every parent should know
before their chidden are vaccinated!
Vaccines:
Are They Really Safe and Effective?
Why are a growing number
of parents and healthcare professionals around the world questioning vaccination?
The controversy stems from the thousands of deaths and permanent disabilities
attributed to vaccination annually, as well as the many published medical
studies, government statistics, congressional testimonies, and other credible
sources that directly contradict commonly held assumptions about vaccine
safety and effectiveness.
More pictures of vaccine damage available to view at
the CDC
website
One Congressman is
calling for criminal penalties for any government agency that knew about
the dangers of thimerosal in vaccines and did nothing to protect American
children.
Congressman Dan Burton (R-Indiana)
during Congressional hearing: "You mean to tell me that since 1929, we've
been using Thimerosal, and the only test that you know of is from
1929, and every one of those people had mennigitis, and they all died?"
For nearly an hour, Burton repeatedly asked FDA and CDC officials what
they knew and when they knew it. (Thimerosal contains a related mercury
compound called ethyl mercury. Mercury is a toxic metal that can cause
immune, sensory, neurological, motor, and behavioral dysfunctions.)
"Bart Classen, a Maryland
physician, published data showing that diabetes rates rose significantly
in New Zealand following a massive Hepatitis-B vaccine campaign in young
children, and that diabetes rates also went up sharply in Finland after
three new childhood vaccines were introduced." Nicholas Regush ABCNEWS.com
In
fall 1997, two influential professional magazines featured articles asking
the question: Has the decrease of infectious diseases in childhood through
the mass use of vaccines been replaced with an increase in chronic diseases
such as diabetes and asthma? The Economist, a prestigious international
magazine read by world leaders in government, business, and public policy,
and Science News, a magazine read by both healthcare professionals and
the general public, explored the reported links between vaccines and chronic
diseases in their November 22, 1997 issues. Learn
more about the vaccine and diabetes connection -- the asthma
and vaccine connection -- the SIDS and autism and vaccine connection
-- the "Shaken Baby Syndrome": the vaccination link.
Alert! The
Premarin Industry: Holocaust for Horses Premarin, a prescription
drug currently being used by over eight million women with menopausal symptoms,
is responsible for agonizing conditions and ultimate death of thousands
of horses annually.
"Most women don't know that Premarin is made from a pregnant mare's
urine, and that the mares are kept in horrendous conditions. Their foals
are sold for slaughter. Premarin is the most prescribed of all
drugs in America today. The mares are artificially inseminated and forced
to spend their eleven-month pregnancies in stalls so small they cannot
turn. If they try to lie down, their heads are jolted upright by their
halter chains. Long lines of pregnant horses stand, chained and strapped
into cramped concrete and steel pens like rows of four-legged galley slaves.
They shuffle uncomfortably from hoof to hoof. A forlorn look fills their
eyes as they stare. Their coats are dull, their ears droopy -- tell-tale
signs of a horse's misery. Many get sore, swollen legs or become crippled
from standing months on end in their tiny concrete stalls. The mares are
kept constantly thirsty. They are denied water so that their urine becomes
thick."
Linda Page, N.D. Ph.D. (Learn
about safe and effective alternative programs from menopausal women)
"Most of what
I've learned about the holistic care and treatment of my dog I've learned
from Shirley's Wellness Cafe. This vast and detailed resource is the result
of a journey of natural healing that webmaster Shirley used on herself
and her family to completely turn their lives around. Those lessons are
applied here with full force for the benefit of our canine companions.
Raw food diets, detailed feature articles on a wide variety of wellness
topics, health reports, and studies are all represented here in a slightly
cluttered, yet home-style approach that blends a first-person knowledge
and passion for the subject with a caring and nurturing writing style.
Thank you, Shirley. The 'net's a better place because of sites like yours."Gene
Sower, Editor and Guide of dogs.about.com
Holistic
Pet Nutrition and Natural Veterinary Medicine
May,
07 The number of cases of kidney failure among
dogs and cats that ate poisoned pet food could total in the
tens of thousands says Dr. Paul Pion,
president of the Veterinary Information Network. He said the final
number for pets suffering from kidney failure could be in the tens of thousands.
more
on the recall ---
Listen to holistic veterinarian Dr. Jane Bicks D.V.M." Do
You Really Know What's In Your Pet's Food?"
Do
you have a question about holistic animal health or need assistance?
or call 206-984-3009 or 323-389-0560
