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Ask Jesse — Holistic Health For Dogs and Cats

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Dogs and cats deserve a wholesome raw meat diet

Boomer Part 1: Do I Have To Add Calcium To Fish?

I give Boomer boneless raw fish occasionally for dinner with the veggies, instead of meat (today it was 'sole'. I assume it's okay to give him raw fish occasionally (he loves it as did our previous dog, Teddy), but I'm wondering if I need to give the calcium with raw fish which I know is necessary with raw meat? I have been adding the calcium with the fish.

Jesse's Answer

When it comes to any raw meat, the calcium should be added and this includes fish.

The only time the calcium does not need to be added is when the food being fed is a whole prey. An example would be if a cat catches a mouse or a bird... or if a dog catches a rabbit.

Only with whole prey are all of the nutrients naturally there, including calcium. The primary source for calcium in the meat is blood. But the meats we buy, including fish, are drained of blood. Therefore, we must add an external source of calcium.

I personally feed my cats raw fish all the time but the fish I feed is whole... brains, guts, skin, bones, blood... everything from head to tail. So with this type of fish, no calcium is needed... many people feed raw meat and bones thinking they are feeding enough calcium, but they are missing the fact that the meat has been drained of blood. So even raw meat and bones need calcium added to the meat. Only when the meat is whole prey is calcium not needed.

  1. Boomer: Part 1
  2. Boomer: Part 2
  3. Boomer: Part 3
  4. Boomer: Part 4

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The following are testimonials shown in random order. In addition to reading these testimonials, you may also want to read The Sick Pet Project.

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In Just 6 Days

2010-06-10

Here’s our story.

We have 2 rescue Chihuahuas, one is a mix, we believe, with Jack Russell Terrier. His name is Lucky and he is approximately 8 years old. We rescued him 3 years ago. Our other little guy is Chico and he is about 2-3 years old. We rescued him November, 2008 and they said he was 2 but we think he was younger, just looked older and acted older because he was undernourished. We have been feeding NutroMax and Iams dog foods, which we believed were on the better side of commercial grade pet food.

Lucky has lost some teeth and recently developed allergies with wheezing and coughing. The vet gave us 2 medicines for him to give twice a day. On Saturday, May 29, 2010, he came to his breakfast, sniffed the food, shook and shuddered and walked away. I thought that was weird!, but when he gets hungry he will eat. Saturday night he did the same thing and also Sunday morning. By now my husband, Robert, and I are getting a little concerned. Lucky is a little chunky, but not obese, so missing a few meals probably wouldn’t hurt him as long as he was drinking his water, which he was. Well I tried giving him the canned food, which he ate for a couple of meals and then did the same thing as he did with the dry. Sniffed, shuddered and walked away. Well, for a week I tried several things, canned chicken, cut up chicken (sautéed) and then on Friday, June 4, 2010, I started searching the internet for homemade pet food. Praise the Lord! I found your website. I immediately switched both dogs to raw food on Saturday morning. I happened to have thawed a chicken breast, cut it into small pieces and they both chowed down!

Saturday I bought some ground meat, turkey and some beef (lean), and have been feeding them both raw meat mixed with some chopped frozen veggies ever since. The immediate improvement (within 6 days) in both dogs has been just short of miraculous. Lucky is not wheezing and is back to his old bouncy self. He gets the bounce from the Jack Russell side of his family. He hasn’t had his meds since he quit eating because we thought they might have been part of the problem. Chico is more relaxed and not as fearful, which is a strange benefit, but I’m loving it. We believe he was quite abused in his former life and even after being with us for 1-1/2 years still acted fearful. Both their coats are smoother already and their bowel movements are much better, still firm, but not hard. Believe it or not they are even getting along better with each other. I guess just generally feeling better overall.

I am so excited about their new diet, oops, new life style change, and am telling everyone about it and giving them your web site info and a copy of the condensed version of your book.

Thank you, thank you, thank you for being there when we needed you.

God bless you and keep up the good work taking care of His creation that give us so much love. And isn’t love the key to everything?

– Hazel

Chloe Is Doing Well — Thanks Jesse

2007-01-31

ChloeHi Jesse, you have helped me so much. Chloe has gained 4 lbs since I added the Thyro GO, Rena GO, Pet GO and the Vitamin C with rutin. She rarely gets diarrhea now. I hope you know how lucky I feel to have found you. Thanks for everything!

PS: Chloe was chosen to be an Ambassador for the Animal Adoption Center (a no kill shelter) and as of 1/15/2007 she is registered with Therapy Dog Inc.

– Mary Jane

The Results Have Been Amazing

2011-02-22

Thank you for this!!

I am a dog trainer and work for a dog grooming business. I have always known that a raw food diet is just plain common sense. I have convinced many pet owners to come over to the other side so to speak, and put their animal on a raw diet. The results have been amazing!!! Of course it has!

I went online to find a way to make your own raw pet food, and I was blessed to find your site. Many pet owners I deal with say they cannot afford the raw food offered on the market. You have put into print what I have been thinking and telling folks. But you have gone all the extra miles!!! Your book is extraordinary and genius!!! Believe me... common sense is genius when it come to understanding animals, their behavior, and their eating requirements. Common sense is rarely used these days in our society. Thank you for all your hard work. Your hard work just made my life and the lives of many pets easier. :) (grinning ear to ear and if I had a tail, it would be wagging viciously)

– Donna