The USDA reports that beef from 1963 to 1992 has dropped drastically in nutrient content. For example: calcium has dropped by 20%, iron by 35% and thiamine by 50%.
By Holistic And Organix Pet Shoppe
When feeding a raw diet, it is important to understand that your dog may need vitamins and minerals along with the raw diet. Many of your raw diet groups and alike will tell you, supplements are not needed. This is incorrect. There is a lot of controversy on this and the reason is, OFFICIALLY there have not been studies done to actually say what is and what isn't the RIGHT way to feed a raw diet. So let's work with common sense.
When feeding your pet a raw diet, they need proteins to survive. We have to look at the way the meat was raised. (Cows, chickens, pigs etc) What were they fed? What's the quality of the feed provided to the animals etc? Once the animal hits the processing plant, what is done to the meat there to remove some of its nutrients? Any chemicals/preservatives added in? We honestly don't know for sure unless you are a fly on the wall.
When feeding a raw diet, it is important to understand that your dog may need vitamins and minerals along with the raw diet. Many of your raw diet groups and alike will tell you, supplements are not needed. This is incorrect. There is a lot of controversy on this and the reason is, OFFICIALLY there have not been studies done to actually say what is and what isn't the RIGHT way to feed a raw diet. So let's work with common sense.
When feeding your pet a raw diet, they need proteins to survive. We have to look at the way the meat was raised. (Cows, chickens, pigs etc) What were they fed? What's the quality of the feed provided to the animals etc? Once the animal hits the processing plant, what is done to the meat there to remove some of its nutrients? Any chemicals/preservatives added in? We honestly don't know for sure unless you are a fly on the wall.
If you can afford organic meats, that is your best bet but most of us can't, especially trying to feed a pack of dogs or have a large family. So let's just assume the meat isn't quite what it should be and is lacking in nutrients. Then you have the carnivore vs. omnivore in dog's question. Dogs and cats ARE Carnivores.
Carnivores need meat period. So the question is, what about vegetables? Well veggies are not bad as long as most of the diet consists of meat. Raw whole foods crushed, finely chopped or juiced are in its most potent form of nutrients. I always recommend a blend of organic green veggies for vitamins and Humic/Fulvic Acid for minerals to add to your dog's diet. Greens are the lowest in sugar content and contain the most nutrients found. Want to add in some amino acids, add collagen to the diet.
Also vitamin C (magnesium ascorbate/sodium ascorbate/calcium ascorbate) or even a much better form..Camu Camu) should be in every pet's diet over the age of three years or has any type of illnesses or diseases including arthritis or lameness. Also add in joint supplements over the age of 6 months. And calcium supplements may be needed if your bone content isn't at least 10% in the meal. Pure high quality fish oils and added vitamin E (three times a week) is needed as well. As you can see, raw diets consisting of only meat is not beneficial. To see a complete list of recommended supplements...see here.
Carnivores need meat period. So the question is, what about vegetables? Well veggies are not bad as long as most of the diet consists of meat. Raw whole foods crushed, finely chopped or juiced are in its most potent form of nutrients. I always recommend a blend of organic green veggies for vitamins and Humic/Fulvic Acid for minerals to add to your dog's diet. Greens are the lowest in sugar content and contain the most nutrients found. Want to add in some amino acids, add collagen to the diet.
Also vitamin C (magnesium ascorbate/sodium ascorbate/calcium ascorbate) or even a much better form..Camu Camu) should be in every pet's diet over the age of three years or has any type of illnesses or diseases including arthritis or lameness. Also add in joint supplements over the age of 6 months. And calcium supplements may be needed if your bone content isn't at least 10% in the meal. Pure high quality fish oils and added vitamin E (three times a week) is needed as well. As you can see, raw diets consisting of only meat is not beneficial. To see a complete list of recommended supplements...see here.
As Dr Karen Becker puts it-"The best of diets – even a raw, species-specific diet – can come from soils that are depleted or from lower quality food sources. Sometimes the food simply loses many of its nutrients through processing and storage. And most commercially available pet foods, even if they’re “fortified” to meet AAFCO standards, contain synthetic, lab-concocted vitamins and minerals which don’t provide optimum nutrition."
"It is no longer a question if a diet without supplements is complete. The question is what is missing. No matter what diet you feed, it is likely to be depleted of some nutrients because of worldwide mineral and nutrient soil depletion." ~Dr Peter Dobias
Remember, giving your dog a vitamin supplement isn't your best choice. Most vitamins are synthetic and the body does not absorb or recognize these. So it is best to use foods in the natural raw form if at all possible. This is why I recommend your greens either in a powder form or juiced forms. Dogs cannot digest whole pieces so they must be puréed or finely chopped.
So adding in a small amount of veggies and fruits, is completely ok. Just make sure you check out the list of what they can and cannot eat. Always do your homework before feeding anything to your pets.
So no matter what diet you feed, unless it is wild game that's never been fed grains or fed by humans in any form, you must add supplementation. You can use the most natural forms of vitamins within foods or organic powders. But like with Vitamin E, you won't get enough. So you must use synthetic supplements to help add to the deficiency needs. While vitamins are synthetic, our bodies do not absorb them well nor do pets. But when the needs cannot be met through foods, you must add an OTC supplement to get what's needed within the body. For vitamin C, you can use like Camu Camu. It is a food and all natural and contains a lot of vitamin C. That's food supplementation, but like with vitamin E, there isn't an option of a specific powder or food to get the needed amounts unless you ate bowls full a day.
Our water, air and foods are contaminated with toxins, chemicals and preservatives. Everything we come in contact with daily has been contaminated, even our lawns and soils. It's overwhelming if you think about all of it. So the best thing we can do is, clean the air in our homes (HEPA filters), throw away chemicals in the home as much as possible including air fresheners, laundry detergents, shampoos, soaps, etc. Don't clean carpets and floors with chemicals, don't use fertilizers or pest control, filter your water and feed organic every chance you can get. Second best foods are pasture fed or from a farm.
For a list of supplements needed....click here....
Holistic And Organix Pet Shoppe ©
Our water, air and foods are contaminated with toxins, chemicals and preservatives. Everything we come in contact with daily has been contaminated, even our lawns and soils. It's overwhelming if you think about all of it. So the best thing we can do is, clean the air in our homes (HEPA filters), throw away chemicals in the home as much as possible including air fresheners, laundry detergents, shampoos, soaps, etc. Don't clean carpets and floors with chemicals, don't use fertilizers or pest control, filter your water and feed organic every chance you can get. Second best foods are pasture fed or from a farm.
For a list of supplements needed....click here....
Holistic And Organix Pet Shoppe ©
