Dog and Cat Health Problems

Frequently Asked Questions about dog and cat health problems:
Dog and cat health problems can be prevented by just putting your pet on the right diet. Here are some FAQs about how your dog's and cat's health problems can be solved by eating raw food.

Making The Switch to Raw?
Transition is the most essential element of a healthy and safe change from dry kibble or canned wet food to a raw diet. We recommend making this transition slowly. Allow 1-2 weeks for your pet's digestive system to properly adjust from a highly processed diet to their new diet of raw foods. Begin by mixing the raw food into your dog’s previous food at a ratio that your dog will tolerate (you can start with as little as 1/4 raw food to 3/4 of your pet’s former food). Gradually increase the amount of raw food until your dog accepts the raw diet without the addition of any kibble or canned food. To determine how your dog’s system is accepting the new diet, monitor their stool. As you change over to a raw diet, your dog’s stool size will be greatly reduced. Stools will become small, firm and void of any offensive odor. If your dog’s stool is soft or loose as a result of the transition, introduce the raw food more slowly.

During the transition to a raw meat diet, you should begin to notice positive changes in your dogs' health, including a shinier coat, decreased body odor, cleaner smelling breath, cleaner teeth that can be maintained with bone chewing instead of dental work, and better overall organ health e.g an appropriate decreased water consumption = healthier kidneys. Problems that have improved on raw meat diets include but are not limited to impacted anal glands, skin problems, allergies, kidney and liver problems, pancreatic problems, digestive problems and poor dental health.
Will raw food help my pet's allergies?
It's possible. A switch to raw food may alleviate allergic symptoms your pet may be having. Many pets are allergic to protein in grains. These allergies can be seen in symptoms of chronic yeast infections, skin rashes and stiff joints or arthritic conditions. Long term exposure to large amounts of grains, for these animals, can be a precursor to more serious and permanent illness over time. But it is never too late to switch to a raw natural diet. Pets of any age can be given a new diet and benefit from it very quickly.

How do I handle raw food safely?
Proper Handling:

• Thawed food can be kept in the refrigerator for about 2- 3 days

• Leftovers can be kept but should be refrigerated immediately

• Defrost the food unopened in cool water or placed in the refrigerator for thawing

• Always keep the food frozen until you are ready to use it; do not refreeze thawed food products

• Wash utensils and working surfaces with hot soapy water in the same manner you would handling your own raw meat for dinner

• Make sure your pet's dish is thoroughly washed after use

Does your food contain any wheat gluten?
Our raw food is selected and designed for health and nutrition. It is all natural, 100% pure. There is no wheat gluten in our product.

How do I ensure the proper Calcium: Phosphorous ratio?
The proper balance of calcium and phosphorous can be a difficult to determine when feeding a kibble product. Kibble manufactures can insure the ratio is correct in a chemical analysis, but it may be in a form that is impossible or difficult for the dog to digest e.g., limestone. It is not surprising to find that raw bones contain the proper ratio of calcium and phosphorous. After all wild dogs do not have the benefit of a lab and chemists yet they are able to thrive on what nature provides. If we feed enough bones (10-15% of the total diet) we can ensure our pets receive the proper minerals in the necessary ratio.

Can I cook your raw foods?
Cooking raw beef does alter nutrient composition. There is lot of scientific evidence to prove this. Cooking and processing of any food item alters the chemical composition of food. Raw meat contains all the amino acids that are not altered. It provides enzymes (which are protein) which help with chemical reactions in the body whether the chemical reactions are digestion, assimilation, absorption, building muscle, etc. Amino Acids build protein. If the amino acids are altered then they can not serve as building blocks for protein or enzyme construction. Raw meat contains an excellent array of fat including essential fatty acids.

Will my pet have a negative reaction to this diet?
Very often, when pets (or people) make a switch to a more balanced, nutritious diet, they can sometimes display negative symptoms, such as (in the case of pets) runny eyes, itchy skin, rashes and pimples, bad breath, smelly ears. This is just a part of the healing cycle, in other words they are mobilizing toxins, which have been stored in the cells of the body. These symptoms should pass over a period of time, usually a few days.

What about risks such as Toxoplasmosis, E. Coli and Salmonella?
A Pets stomach contains very strong acid, equipped to digest meat and even bones. The acid is hydrochloric acid, or HCl, the same stuff that’s in human stomachs, only a stronger concentration. This acid makes short work of any bacteria that might come its way. Also, the overall length of the gastrointestinal tract of a dog is much shorter in comparison to a human’s. This means that food passes through the system much more quickly, in hours rather than days.

What are the benefits of feeding raw food to my pet?
There are many benefits associated with the raw food diet. Here is a brief list of the most commonly observed:

	Overweight pets often lose weight and thin pets gain muscle mass and fill out to normal weight.
	Some pets stop reacting to food and environmental allergies and become more comfortable and symptom free.
	Hyper pets can become more calm since many behavioral problems are related to diet and allergies.
	Lethargic pets often gain much more energy and personality due to the nutrient dense food and enjoyment they get from eating it
	Pets with body odor and bad breath will often become fresh and clean smelling since their entire body chemistry changes with the introduction of fresh food into their diet.
	Pets with dull, dry and course coats will often become more shiny, lustrous and soft to the touch and along with that their skin is more supple.
	Their teeth become whiter with less tartar buildup. The raw food causes pets to salivate and saliva is what keeps their teeth clean and white.
	Your pet will experience a better quality of life with a variety of food in its bowl each day just as you and I can get joy and comfort in our many choices of fresh foods.
	Improved digestion - no more 'irritable bowels'/diarrhea
	Fewer (if any) infertility/breeding problems
	Fewer or no fleas & Less scratching/itching
	If your pet suffers from hot spots, a raw diet may be the answer. It may be best to eliminate the hot spots by proper nutrition, rather than pouring on (or in) more medications.

Should I feed my pet feeding kibble and raw at the same time?
No, you shouldn't mix kibble with the raw meat mixture, as they digest at different rates. Raw food is much more digestible, taking only 3-4 hours, while the kibble usually takes 9-12 hours. Kibble is a cooked processed product that is harder for the pet to digest because the molecules are bound tighter together. When raw meat and kibble are mixed together the meat will digest, meanwhile leaving some of the kibble to rise to body temperature and ferment. The bacteria level in the pet's digestive system will then rise and could eventually cause unwanted problems.

Are there any hormones or antibiotics in the food?
All our food is100%  pure and natural. There are no hormones, preservatives, or additives of any kind.

Should I give my pet supplements with raw food?
By all means, we believe by adding a few simple supplements will round out their diets. We recommend you see our dog health vitamins and supplements page

Will feeding raw meat make my pet vicious and create a blood lust?                   
Basically, this is a myth. There is no causative relationship between eating raw meat and wanting to kill animals. It has nothing to do with what my pet is fed and has everything to do with natural prey drive, training and socialization. For example, some breeds like the husky can have a very high prey drive. If raised around animals and trained not to chase them, a lot of them will have no problem co-existing happily, no matter what they are fed. With a lot of pets, the instinct is a very ingrained primal one and the sight of an animal running can bring this out in them no matter what they are fed. Pets can easily distinguish between what they are protecting and what they are eating.

How can a raw diet reduce the chances of my dog bloating?
The first is that raw food doesn't swell like kibble which can sometimes cause problems. The second thing is that most pets eat more slowly when they are eating raw food compared to the familiar "inhale" style eating that pets use when they are eating kibble. Because they aren't inhaling their food, less air is sucked into the stomach. Another reason is that chewing allows the dog's body to prepare for digestion. The necessary juices and acids are released slightly prior to the "deposit" of food into the stomach.   

Dog and cat health problems can be prevented by feeding raw. Here are a few reasons why you should not feed your dog or cat commercial pet food
A pet's food should never be cooked. It should be fed in a raw natural state like nature intended. Cooking a pets food ruins most of the nutritional value. Pets should have access to raw meaty bones. These clean their teeth, work and develop their neck and jaw muscles, and the chewing action prepares their stomach for the incoming food mass. Chewing bones also slows down the eating process considerably, making it far harder for a dog to over eat. Articles-natural pet food and more

Dog foods have as their main ingredient cereals - the main ingredient your dog should be eating is raw meaty bones. And it is these very cereals that cause a range of conditions such as allergies. Commercial dog foods are laden with preservatives, colors (dyes), and salt. They have additives to make the food taste better so that the dogs will overeat.

The vast majority of commercial dog foods have far too much carbohydrates in them. High levels of carbohydrates are linked to over-eating, diabetes, weight gain, and numerous other problems. Dogs should eat a diet with only a small amount of carbohydrates. There is no substitute for a raw diet.
The case for raw:

	Provides a fresh diet, without preservatives
	Raw bones are not dangerous. They are soft enough to bend easily and break well for the dog to digest
	Clears up long-standing allergies
	Fewer visits to the veterinarian for health reasons
	Eliminates dog odor
	Naturally cleans pets' teeth
	Produces much less stool, and stool is firm and disintegrates easily
	Mirrors what a dog would get in the wild
	Develops jaw, neck and shoulder muscles
	Pets have more energy
	Reduces arthritis
	Better weight control
	Pets live longer
	Bitches manage pregnancies better
	Better weight and survival figures in puppies
	A healthy pet fed on raw food manages the bacteria found in raw meat

If you liked the information on our Dog and Cat Health problem page please read more on our Article Page Natural Pet Food and More or go to our testimonial natural pet food and more

                                                                                                     
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