NATURAL PET FOOD 101

WHAT ARE THE BASICS I NEED TO KNOW?

We all want to give our loyal companions the best care and comfort. Best doesn’t necessarily have to mean expensive. We can keep pets on a budget and still ensure they receive the care to remain healthy and happy.

In this article, you will find some of the basics to assure best possible care for your pet, without breaking the bank.

WATER

Purity of your pet’s drinking water is a serious consideration. Contaminated water is often the most common cause of health problems among pets. Simply replacing tap water with distilled, bottled, or filtered water can have significant improvements on the general well being of the animal.

Your pet doesn’t need food all the time but it should have unlimited access to pure, healthy water. Whatever method of water purification you choose for your family, make sure you give it serious thought and consideration,and make an informed decision since it is about your family’s health which also includes your furry baby.

FOOD

Researches and long-term studies have repeatedly shown that pet food should contain raw, fresh, and as much as possible organic ingredients (free of pesticide, chemicals, antibiotics).

Bones: Raw, meaty bones from beef, lamb, turkey, chicken, and other healthy animals. For cats and small dogs, use poultry necks, thighs and drumsticks.

Protein: Raw beef, lamb, chicken, and small quantities of organ meat(liver, kidneys, sweetbreads, giblets, tripe). Raw or lightly cooked fish or shellfish. In a pinch, you can use canned sardines or tuna, though try not to make it a habit. Raw milk, raw milk cheese, yogurt, cottage cheese treated with lactose enzymes.

Grain and Legumes: Fresh, raw sprouted grains such as wheat or rye; oats or other grains soaked in raw milk, yogurt, raw vegetable juice or water; lightly cooked beans, rice, or other legumes in small quantities. Serve with enzyme powder containing amylase to help digest carbohydrates.

Vegetables: Finely grated or puréed raw carrots, parsnips, zucchini, cucumbers, sweet peppers, celery, peas, sweet potatoes, sprouts, wheatgrass, finely chopped or minced herbs. Lightly cooked broccoli, corn, peas, potatoes, green beans served with enzyme supplements.

Fruits: Grapes, apples, blueberries, mangos, bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, peaches, plums, pears, raisins, dates, avocado. You can share some of your fresh raw fruit juice with them too.

Seeds and Nuts: Sunflower seeds, chia seeds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, pecans, almonds, and hazelnuts. Serve them grinded or pureed.

SUGGESTED SERVING SIZES FOR COMMON HOUSEHOLD PETS

Breakfast for a 50-Pound Dog

Serve any two of the following to a dog who spends an hour or more in active outdoor exercise. Increase the quantity for larger or more active dogs, and decrease for smaller and less active dogs. Switch around the choices daily to ensure variety in your pet’s diet:

• 1 or 2 bananas, apples, melon pieces, or other fruit; OR
• 1 avocado sprinkled with some salt; OR
• ¼ or ½ cup raw oats or similar whole grain, or raw sprouted wheat or rye, soaked in ½ cup raw milk, fresh fruit or vegetable juice fresh yogurt or water; OR
• ½ cup raw milk cheese and 1 raw egg

Dinner for a 50-Pound Dog

• 1 to 1½ lbs. raw bones and meat.
• 2 to 4 tbsp. finely minced fresh wheatgrass, dandelion greens or other fresh herbs.
• ¼ cup finely minced or puréed raw vegetables.

Breakfast for a 10-Pound Cat

Adjust the quantities according to the size and age of the cat. Combine ingredients and if possible, warm the food before serving.

• ½ cup warm raw milk, yogurt or kefir
• ¼ tsp. fish, vegetable, or cod liver oil, or an essential fatty acid supplement
• 1 tbsp. fresh carrot juice
• 1 pinch of salt

Occasionally serve fresh fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, mango etc. Let your cat determine how much food to supply. Remove the tray after 15 to 20 minutes and supply only water between meals.

Dinner for a 10-Pound Cat

• ¼ lb. raw chicken with bones with a pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. finely minced fresh wheatgrass, collard greens, or other herbs
• 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. finely minced or puréed raw carrots, peas, beans or other vegetables

Feeding birds, rabbits, gerbils and other household pets follows the same idea—provide (as much as you can) what they would normally eat in their natural environments. Even if their diet is mainly consisted of pelleted food, supplement it regularly with raw foods such as seeds, nuts, grains, fruits, and vegetables.

This conscious change in your pet’s diet may not be easy to implement, but once you and them are used to the new food habits, you both will be a lot happier!