Pets Need Wholesome Food Also
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Healthy Food — Healthy Pets

Love Is Essential For A Healthy Pet

Dogs and cats deserve a wholesome raw meat diet

Not All That Itches Are Fleas

Fleas and itching — the two seem to go together like jalapenos and heartburn. I have lived almost my entire life in south Florida, so I have a lot of experience with these two subjects. Often, an itching pet will have a few fleas and everyone assumes that they are the cause. Then the poor animal is subjected to flea shampoo, flea dip, flea drops, flea pills and the list goes on. The reality is that not all itching comes from fleas and not all pets with fleas itch. One of the prices we pay for the mild Florida winters is an abundance of insect life all year round. Fleas are no exception. It is virtually impossible for a dog or cat go out of doors and not have fleas. Actually, I think it is unnatural for that to happen. Generally, the use of unnatural (and usually toxic) means of flea control is required to accomplish this. The normal balance of nature is when a pet has a small number of fleas and no symptoms of distress. I believe that should be our goal and it can usually be accomplished without toxic drugs, dips, etc. This requires a multi faceted approach. The pet’s general health must be strong and the environment not abnormally overloaded with fleas. The reason most pets itch from a few fleas (even one flea in some animals) is that their immune system is over reacting. There are several reasons this occurs including improper nutrition, poor bacterial balance in the digestive tract, excessive vaccination and inadequate elimination of toxins by the liver and kidneys. We must address each of these problem areas.

In my over 15 years of experience, a balanced raw meat based diet is best way to provide proper nutrition. There are many recipes available in books and on the web (including pet-grub.com) for home preparation of such foods. In addition, there are a growing number of excellent pre–made frozen raw foods available. In general, I prefer a diet based on grass fed beef, lamb or bison as these are higher in omega 3 fats and the adrenal glands need cholesterol is to make important hormones. The addition of good quality fish oil provides additional omega 3’s. A good dose is one drop per pound of body weight up to 50 drops (1/2 teaspoon) daily in the food.

“Dysbiosis” is the term used to describe an imbalance in the bacterial population of the body. We usually think of this problem as referring to the digestive tract. Recent research demonstrates that good bacteria activate the immune system throughout the body as well as protect all the body surfaces from other microorganisms. A good probiotic containing Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacteria is essential. Unfortunately, the quality and stability of probiotic products varies greatly and there are few good ones. Seek advice from someone familiar with these products.

Dealing with over vaccination problems and inadequate elimination of toxins necessitates working with an experience practitioner. For many pets, the diet changes and probiotics will make a dramatic improvement in their sensitivity to allergens, including fleas. If these steps combined with the following flea control options do not solve your pet’s problem, please seek professional assistance.

You can control the fleas in the pet’s environment without pesticides. If you have your own yard, I strongly suggest you apply beneficial nematodes. These microscopic worms are natural enemies of fleas. You apply them like a lawn spray and they can last a long time. They are completely non toxic and environmentally safe. Most homes that have a significant indoor flea problem have carpeting. Begin with a good deep cleaning to remove as many fleas and their eggs as possible. Then use a high–grade borax based flea–killing product. Often it is best to hire a professional company to do this process. On the pet, you can use one of the many over the counter herbal flea sprays. While these do not have the same powerful killing action as the insecticides, they can significantly reduce the number of fleas that jump on the pet. Apply it right before walking and use a flea comb before entering your house to remove any unwanted visitors. As your pet’s health improves, you will see he/she attracts fewer fleas. This flea control program is more involved than a few drops on the pet’s back or a pill. The only side effects are a nicer lawn (the nematodes kill lots of other “bad” insects, too.) and a fragrant pet. There is no risk of liver or neurological damage as there is with the drugs and pesticides.

While I am no fan of fleas, I think it is important for the long–term health of our pets, that we realize the true causes of their symptoms and work to correct them. It is easy to go after the obvious “villain”. Nevertheless, that will not result in optimum wellness. Good health does not come in a convenient, ready to use package. It takes a holistic understanding of the individual and a willingness to do what is right, not necessarily, what is accepted.

  • Russell Swift, DVM, Classical Homeopath

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The Wonders of A Wholesome Meal!

2010-03-10

Hello everyone,

We are two Pomeranian brothers Dolce & Gabbana.

We were born on the 18th of November, 2009 in Malta, Europe (near the southern part of Italy in the Mediterranean Sea).

We have been struggling with allergies since we started eating at 4 weeks of age.

When our mother took us home for the first time she immediately realised that there was something wrong with us, Big possibility it was allergies. Mummy took us to the vet with no delay. Our vet changed our food, yet another garbage dry food perhaps even worse from what we where having. It was full of corn, maize, corn, maize. Mummy thought this food was more appropriate for chicken and not puppies. This food only made us feel worse with watery eyes, itchy skin and it just irritated much. So Mummy thought ok I will feed them what I believe is nutritional and healthy – nothing can beat natural food.

So mummy started cooking for us fresh cooked food – 2 parts meat and 1 part vegetables and some boiled apples, pears and raw bananas instead of vegetables for breakfast. Our skin and itching had improved in the first week but our eye irritations and watering got worse. To the vet again. This time the same brand food but a veterinary diet and still with corn plus some supplements such Omega 3, Omega 6, taurine, minerals and vitamins. Since Mummy did not know much about these sources she did not trust it and believed this was another commercial crap. She bought it and the food also but never gave it to us. Now Mummy came to the conclusion that we were allergic to wheat – so no treats, allergic to corn – so no commercial food. Mummy had to find what was harming us in her fresh food diet that she believed in so much.

Mummy began to believe that we had protein allergy. So our diet had been adjusted to boiled duck breast and sweet potatoes. At this point Mummy was worried sick about us and our health at this very crucial time while we are growing from babies to young boys. She was worried that we are going to be weak for the rest of our lives just because she did not know what was the proper food for us. She was feeling irresponsible that she had brought us to her without knowing how to take care of us properly. The love she gave us was not enough for our needs. She hesitated to go to the vet again as she felt that he was not understanding her when she explained natural food was her choice to feed us.

Meanwhile Mummy kept on searching on the internet for a remedy, day and night of course this was how she learned to detect our allergies to wheat, corn and also protein – from the internet. Mummy was worried sick, Saying to her self, but if I don’t feed them protein from meat what can I feed them to make them grow strong and healthy? Vegetables were not enough! Dogs are not vegetarians! It is against their nature. Mummy’s head was spinning now feeling down and sick of not eating herself. Spending nights not sleeping, staying on the internet searching for a remedy for our proper intake and praying to mighty God to help her find a solution to make us healthy and happy. On Friday night or early Saturday morning on March 5th, 2010, Mummy came across Pets Need Wholesome Food Also. She thought, here I am, this is the answer to my prayers!

Mummy kept reading till morning – her eyes filled with tears of joy. She knew this was it. Same diet as she was giving us, which she believed in so much except uncooked! So Mummy has found the key. At least, that was what she was hoping.

After she read and understood all which was very plain and easy for her to understand, she went to the freezer, got the fresh meat which she had bought and packed in portions the previous day for us. Mummy thought she would start off with chicken breast minced, although, there was a time that she was beginning to think that we where allergic to chicken meat but after she read the story of the The Sick Pet Project, it encouraged her to give it to us. She thought this is for sure more wholesome than the poor meal of 2 parts sweet potatoes and 1 part cooked duck breast which we have been eating for 3 days now.

So Mummy prepared the well blended vegetables which consisted of carrots and peas and defrosted the chicken mince by putting it in a plastic bag and soaking it in warm water: For this time she had learned not to use a microwave for our food. Than she broke some eggs, washed the shell and removed the white lining inside and also removed the parts which where printed with ink for date of consumption, then she crushed them as fine as possible by putting them in a plastic bag and crushed them further with the rolling pen several times. Unfortunately, in Malta we do not have a homeopathic veterinarian, let alone a place where to buy the homeopathic remedies for pets.

By now it was 6 o’clock in the morning. Mummy had realised that we where hearing her all the time so we were not sleeping in our playpen. While Mummy always gave us breakfast at around 7:30 AM or 8:00 AM, she could not wait to start giving us this wholesome meal and start us fresh on this what she called miraculous raw diet. We where so starving that we ate double the portion we normally eat. Mummy started crying and showered us with kisses and cuddles and telling us that now we were on the road to recovery, good health and happiness. We had a very nice sleep afterword and Mummy was very much concerned about our reaction to the new diet so she kept watching us constantly while we where sleeping like two little angels.

When we got up we where rather upset because it was our digestive system. Mummy thinks we needed some FloraZyme LP according to what she understood in her reading but unfortunately Mummy did not have any on hand, neither could she go buy it nor make it her self for us like she did the calcium. So Mummy decided to rub our tummy and stomach with warm hands after some time one of us went to the washroom on the nappy to get relieved, that was me Dolce, and immediately I started playing and running with my toys. Gabbana was still upset looking up at Mummy with mercy. He did urinate quit a few times, not only on the nappy but wherever. His urine was very clear like water. Meanwhile, five hours has passed and Gabbana had no sign of apatite.

This time we were not so keen on the food both of us. Not much of a nice taste like the food we are use to. So Mummy decided to mash some peanut butter in it because that is our favourite treat. We ate it all from Mummy’s hands, given with love.

My brother Gabbana still has not been relieved and he was sleeping again when Gabbana got up went to the nappy pad and got relieved. Seeing us happy playing and full of life was a great relief for Mummy! We have been fed 4 times a day as usual but much bigger amount, almost double of what we normally ate. Although we are very small, we still have managed to take big meals until this morning. I, Dolce, weigh 1.6 Kg and my brother Gabbana weighs 2.1 kg. Today is our fifth day on the wholesome meal raw diet. At our first meal of the day we ate the usual big meal and after some small pieces of pear and bananas. At our second meal we ate a little less and our third meal was less for Gabbana. Gabbana always seemed to be the strongest.

In these 5 days, we had become two complete different puppies – no excessive itching, no eye irritations and the rough hair patch on the lower part of our back and tail begin to get smoother. Mummy had helped it a little by messaging some olive oil on it too. It is unbelievable how much benefit we have had from the wholesome raw diet in just 5 days. We are already feeling and looking healthier – and much more playful, relaxed and obedient. And all this was not possible without the help and amazing educational information to our Mummy of how to feed and make wholesome meals for us (http://www.pet-grub.com/).

We have no words to thank you enough Jesse. You are a God sent gift to us and those like us. May God be with you and bless you always!

– Dolce & Gabanna


Dolce and Gabbana

Shining Bright

2005-03-10

Wynnie's coat shines like I have never seen it shine before. She also had a bowel condition that flared up every 1 to 2 weeks. Now these flare ups are 2 months apart. Her water consumption has been cut by more than two thirds. In closing, there are no words of appreciation that can express how thankful I am for your dedicated interest in the nutrition of dogs and cats.

— Heather and Wynnie

Enjoying Your Method

2011-06-06

Thanks so much. I'm so enjoying making pet food via your method. It's just a breeze now and of course they are all happy. Especially the cats. The cats have always loved the raw diet though. It's night and day over feeding commercial food. I cannot think of one person that feeds commercial cat food that doesn't put up with the indifference that cats display. Having fed commercial for years, I can remember going through different types trying to find something that they wouldn't turn up their nose at. Now, I kid you not, you could get trampled feeding this crew.

– Rose