The Owlery

There is always a debate going on about the best diet suitable for our system and that of our pets. Though there are a number of factors to be considered in deciding the optimal diet for humans as well as animals the fact is that our health and that of our pets will improve when we depend less on processed foods.

Our dogs and cats’ digestive systems, just like ours are designed for fresh and natural wholesome foods packed with all the necessary nutrients and not for processed foods. Their digestive tracts are intended to take in raw meat and not the processed kind with undecipherable ingredients loaded with preservatives.

While determining the best diet for your pets keep in mind that it should be as fresh as possible with optimal rotation of different foods for variety. Fresh  foods contain probiotics, vitamins, enzymes, minerals and vitamins in a natural state that can be more easily digested and assimilated. Heat is not conducive for the nutrients in food which means that canned  foods or dry kibble that are processed at high temperatures are less likely to contain the nutrients in their natural state.

The less the food is heat processed the more likely the nutrients in the food are preserved in their natural state till you feed them to your pets. Even the most premium canned foods lack the necessary nutrients needed for your pets.

Moist dog foods packed in cans are loaded with flavor enhancers and preservatives. However, this is better than dry  foods that have even more chemicals added to them to increase their shelf life. However, the major problem is the ingredients in the canned foods itself, which are most often than not meat or poultry parts that are labeled as not fit for consumption by humans. Sometimes, diseased or even dead animals are used to make pet food.

Feeding your pets with these unhygienic processed foods will cause diarrhea, vomiting and in extreme cases might also cause cancer or organ failure and even death when consumed for longer periods.

So, why then are pet aisles in stores abounding with canned and other processed foods? It is because they are convenient and cheaper than the fresher alternatives.

While fresh home-made raw food diet is undoubtedly the best for your pets, with today’s busy lifestyle it is not possible for most pet owners. So, the best alternative is to find a good balance between a nutritional and convenient diet for your pet. Fortunately, today you can choose from a wide variety of frozen raw foods, freeze-dried and dehydrated  food diets that are healthier for your pets and at the same time convenient for you.

It is not practical to make home-made pet food for each meal. The trick is to rotate the different types of healthy pet foods available, taking care to see that you offer a balanced mix of fresh home-made pet food with store-bought frozen raw foods and dried foods. If you are not able to avoid feeding kibble then make sure that you read the label for ingredients.

The basic guideline for pet owners while shopping for pet food is this:  Do not buy a  food product with ingredients that you wouldn’t consume yourself.

By: Rob Zygelman

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It seems that the public is starting to wake up to the fact that commercial dog food is not quite the healthy and nutritionally sound pet food product that we thought it was. Thanks to heavy commercialization and big advertising budgets, pet food companies have become a booming business for hundreds of thousands of busy dog owners like you and me.

In the old days, mom and pop would just scrape off our dinner leftovers right into the food dish. Today, however, through some subconscious way of programming, most people recommend pet food from a can or plastic bag rather than homemade chicken and biscuits. In fact, many of these pet owners that would solicit such advice are without a hint about the major food warnings that has been surfacing lately.

Waking Up To The Truth

Even during the current wake of information regarding how terrible most commercial dog food can be for our pets, you will still run into people who will recommend pet food over hamburger meat for your pet.

How is it possible that such ignorance still runs throughout the minds of so many pet owners? Have they not heard the truth about all of the diseases and other physical ailments that pet food is causing our pets to suffer with? Have these people not heard about the dog food warnings on the news?

In case you have missed the latest research of pet food problems and illnesses, the following should be an alarming wake-up call. Here is just a brief list of the types of sicknesses that our pets are suffering through from eating so-called “healthy pet food”

1. Chronic ear infections

2. Heart Disease(s)

3. Bladder inflammation (cystitis)

4. Food intolerance

5. Feline hyperthyroidism

6. Kidney stones

6. Bloating

7. Canine Mammary Cancer

8. Inflammatory bowel disease

9. Skin disease(s)

10. Obesity

What Is In Commercial Dog Food That Causes Such Problems?

You may be wondering exactly what it is about commercial dog food that makes our pets sick. Unfortunately, your trust has been taken advantage of and due to commercialism, your choice in pet food has been misled. Between processing, pesticides, and ingredients containing chemicals and other by-products, most food sold in stores are dangerous to your pet’s health. And worse yet, there are no laws forcing these companies to put these food warnings on labels.

For example, did you realize that much of the “meat” that is used as a main ingredient in pet food comes from sick animals that have been loaded with antibiotics and pesticides?

Such toxic meats are processed, packaged, and sold in stores that may still contain drugs such as penicillin and other antibiotics. These drugs and chemicals remain unchanged through the processing of the meat and thus becomes digested by your dog. Ironically, have you read about these dog food warnings at your local pet store? Absolutely not!

By: Sam Turner

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