Doesn’t that look like a dog’s breakfast!
Well, it sure is…in the picture is Sprocket’s breakfast. It’s been a hot minute since I posted about food and nutrition for dogs on our Facebook Page and this is the first blog on what I feed my dogs, I am very passionate about this subject because I did a big deep dive into holistic health for dogs when both Bear and Moto died so suddenly in 2021. I thought I would share some thoughts this morning regarding how I feed my dogs and why.
What’s in this bowl this morning? Well there was a sale on at Sobeys’s the other day, so I got 50% off some beef shanks and I have cut that up, along with some liver, a chicken drum, a plop of pumpkin puree, and a bit of Kale (I haven’t got any of my veggie slurry I normally have – will make some more on the weekend, and I will also attach the recipe I use for your information) to top off the meal we have some amazing Adored Beast products; Fido’s Flora- Species Specific Probiotic, Phyto Synergy a Super Antioxidant last but not least Cold pressed Raw Hemp Oil.
Are you wondering why I go through all the effort and expense to feed my dogs whole species-specific foods and proper supplements instead of tossing a bunch of kibbles into a bowl and calling it a day?
My first thoughts are that I feed them this way to keep them in top health. It also
Reduces vet visits, which reduces costs of owning a dog
The dogs remain fit and at the proper weight which reduces the amount injuries in their knees and hips
their eyes are clear, the fur is soft and shiny, they are not plagued by itchy skin and paws, or allergies. Also reducing costs of vet visits and medications that have a laundry list of side effects which we don’t want our dogs on
rarely do I see loose stinky poop- and on the poop subject when feeding a raw diet there is very little waste as the body uses what is put in thus lowering what is excrement (for the most part it doesn’t smell)
their teeth are clean and white – the bones and tendons act as a toothbrush and get scraped and flossed daily
the dogs aren’t dehydrated -if you were to switch your dog to a raw dog food you will immediately notice that they will drink less water
reduces the number of fleas, tics, heartworm other diseases as such because these kinds of issues typically don’t develop in healthy animals.
Eliminating sugars, carbs in dog food also helps with brain health and “sugar highs” there has been some studies on reactive dogs and when switching them to a raw diet they have lessened the anxiety and reactivity
Finally, they are thriving, enjoy and get super excited about their food
As mentioned above when I lost Bear and Moto, I was so devastated and nobody could give me answers to why so many dogs are dying suddenly of ruptured tumors, cancers and all sorts of issues we didn’t see years ago. I was seeing so much of this as a Dog Pack Leader and Trainer- there were many of my clients were experiencing the same thing and I was shocked. I started researching and well there are many reasons why dogs are dying so young these days and food is one of the problems. I am not going to go on and on about what is wrong with kibble you can do your own research there is plenty out there- I will attach a few podcasts and YouTube links below and DVM’s you can follow to gain information.
Basically, what I want to say about Kibble is that it’s over processed food, it’s cooked at such high temperatures all the nutrients and vitamins are burnt out of it causing the producer to then add them back in using synthetic vitamins and mineral. Not to mention the unnecessary fillers (carbs, sugars), the amounts of salt and unhealthy oils, food coloring and chemicals which are not helpful to dogs at all.
Remember that dogs are descendants from Wolves and wolves’ prey on animals. So, they are eating Meat, Bones and Organs – some vegetables that are in the stomachs of the prey they eat, this is what is means for dogs to eat Species Specific FOOD.
The other issues I have with Processed Dog food – is that the manufacturers are marketing geniuses, they have you believing that your dog is being fed the greatest meats and ingredients available. Which simply is not the case- the meats going into dog food is the stuff they can’t feed to us humans we don’t know where and what is being rendered for the dog food – its most likely going to be the sick and dying animals (whatever is the cheapest for them to buy) for the most part it isn’t regulated. If you don’t believe me, check out this website https://truthaboutpetfood.com/category/pet-food-ingredients/. Once I started to understand what is happening in the food world, I started to get super scared. I am not even going to get into the chemical side of things with the food dyes and preservatives, chemicals which are in treats, chews, toys! Ugh the list is endless, and we as pet owners are for the most part in the dark as to what we are feeding and doing to our pets.
Since the passing of Bear and Moto I promised myself, I would do better now that I know better. I try very hard not to upset myself with the fact that I should’ve known better, and I should’ve tried harder way back then, but the reality of that statement is that I didn’t know, I didn’t know until it was way too late. Kibble is great until it isn’t.
I have even a greater understanding of this now as I am currently undergoing gut/health issues, most likely from eating poorly, and by poorly I mean processed (prepackaged foods) compared to most people I was eating pretty healthy, still gluten and dairy free but I was eating sugars, and carbs, and things like chips.
I just wanted to tell a bit of my own health story so maybe it might click with you. When I was 16, I was in a very bad motorcycle accident where I spent 3 months in the hospital, and I didn’t walk for 9 months. I died twice in the initial OR and lost almost all the blood in my system from a ruptured spleen and a lacerated liver. I broke both my legs and left ankle, broke my pelvis, sacrum, left arm, ruptured spleen, lacerated liver, and 2 collapsed lungs. With all these injuries, over time and some abuse, my joints are hurting (especially those with injury, pain is at a constant along with a lot of inflammation throughout my body. I likely have a lot of arthritis and I know that the damage to my lower legs prevents good blood flow and all kinds of other problems. Now I had just assumed as time went on that I was just getting old, and this is how things are. But recently I have discovered this isn't the case.
After 9 years of doing my old job as a Control Room Operator at the Sky Train in Vancouver sitting for 12 hours a day in a very stressful job, I was probable at my worst health, I had gained a lot of weight and eating poorly. In 2016 I made a change and went on a health journey which ended up being very good for me. I discovered I was intolerant of Gluten and Dairy, so I have not eaten those types of foods since then. It was also around this time that I quit using chemicals to clean the house and do laundry, I only use natural soaps, deodorants, toothpaste, makeup, lotions etc. In late 2017 I quit my crazy job and opened my dog business in early 2018, and I was healthy well I should say I was healthier; I lost weight-I was out in nature every day and hiking dogs up mountains. I walked crazy amount of KMS daily. But then things started going down hill again because I allowed myself to get burnt out, I was taking on too many dogs, working 7 days a week, dealing with life issues, dogs dying, money issues, getting injuries and not taking time to heal up from them (for example I fell and broke my wrist and it went undiagnosed by the Dr’s so I continued to work through all the pain) I started getting more and more unhealthy again and pain seemed to be my new normal. So much so that when you live like this you can’t remember what it is like to feel healthy and pain free.
Moving to PEI I am not working at my dog business (only on the weekends), and I am again sitting at a desk 5 days a week. I don’t live in a house with stairs, I have been suffering with what is possibly plantar fasciitis in my right heel which stopped all my walking, I have become unfit, and the weight has slowly crept back on bringing along all my problems again of joint pain, foot pain, inflammation, weight gain, brain fog, depression the list goes on… I get told its just Menopause! Great so I think this is just my life? Well, I have chosen to fight back and in the last 8 weeks I have stopped eating all sugars, zero processed food, zero grains/breads, no gluten, no dairy, no carbs other than some sweet potato – I am only eating meats, vegetables, nuts, seeds, fermented foods. I have also started to do water fasts and daily intermittent fasting… and guess what? All the inflammation in my legs is gone, the heel pain is gone, the bloated belly is gone, weight is coming down, feeling like I have more energy, and things are looking up for me health wise. I still have a long way to go to get back to who I am- but I’m finally on this journey.
I was talking to a friend and yoga instructor last night and it hit me… if I feel this way after eating processed/sugary foods can you imagine what is it is like to be a dog getting fed this dried up kibble day in and day out? The recipe never changes the proteins don’t change most people feed the dog the same food it’s whole life like I did– I can admit I fed Bear the same exact dog food for 8 years because his guts were so bad and any kind of change would throw him into a world of sick so quickly I was terrified to make a change until I finally decided take the plunge and switch to a raw diet and the instant changes I saw were absolutely incredible. Funny enough the rule to feeding a Raw diet is variety is the spice of life and switching proteins is a must along with adding in different kinds of foods will help the pet get as many nutrients and minerals as possible. This is the same as many human health people state, it is advised to have 40 different foods in 1 month. Much the same as my own health journey. Unfortunately for Bear and Moto it was too late, and they obviously had more going on inside than anyone could see.
So, it’s been my mission that I will do my best, feed the best that I can afford and choose healthier foods and supplements for my dogs. I know that there are some of you saying “good for you but I can’t afford to by raw food” and I am not telling you to go into debt to feed your dog(s) and cat(s) but I would highly recommend if you are going to stay with a kibble diet you need to really do your research and don’t buy cheap dog food. Buy the best you can afford, do your research on the brand you pick, add wholesome food to your kibble like the vegetable slurry I add to my dog’s food. When you can find some meat on sale at the grocery store add some to your pets’ meals. As a disclaimer – you can’t feed raw meat to a dog who eats a kibble diet because it will most likely make them sick. Raw food digests faster than kibble so having that in the belly and intestines at the same time won’t be good for your pets. But you could add it to their meal lightly cooked. Just as an fyi I see people feeding their dogs rice all the time, vets always recommend rice when the dog has an upset belly – don’t do this as rice can contain arsenic which can pose health risks like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and damage to the nervous system.
On a side note, I have been working on a course to get my Holistic Carnivore Nutrition Certificate completed. I have finished all of the course work I just need to complete the case studies, and I have 2 more case studies to complete so if you are interested in moving from a kibble diet to a raw fed diet, please send me a message and I would be happy to chat with you. For the case studies I need to have an interview with you with your dog and we will speak about any health issues your dog is having and then I will need to take pictures of your dog. I will need to go through this process once a month for 3 months. I can help you make decisions on how you want to feed your dog and assist you with any issues you are having along the way. If this sounds like something you are thinking of, please email me so we can chat! We can also do this if you don’t live close to me – I can chat over zoom, and you can take the pictures I need to complete this course.
Ok so this blog has gotten quite long and if you have made it all the way to the end thank you! So, if you are struggling with a dog who has allergies, loose stool, bloody stool, constant ear infections, hot spots, itchy paws, dry flaky skin, flat dry fur, health issues perhaps contact me and we can discuss how to change your dogs diet and see if food really is medicine!
Veggie Slurry
Kale
Zucchini
Parsley
Spinach
Sweet Potato
Carrots
Celery
Blueberries
Apple Cider Vinegar
Bone Broth (or chicken broth)
You are probably wondering about the amounts and of course this all depends on how much you want to make. I make big batches at a time- so I get 2 big bags of Kale, and 5 or 6 zucchinis, bunch of parsley, 2 bunches of Spinach, 1 large Sweet Potato, 4- 5 carrots, 2 bunches of Celery, 4 cups of Blueberries and 1 liter of bone broth, 1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar.
I don’t cook it. I blend up all the vegetables in the food processer and then dump it into a big pot and mix it well together. Once mixed, I scoop it into jars and place it in the freezer. Again, the amount you feed your dog is according to how much your dogs weighs. So, for me, Sprocket is about 75lbs and he gets a heaping tablespoon of the Slurry, Slicks gets slightly less. You would want to test it with your dog when you first start and just give them a little bit and see how the belly goes.
Podcasts to follow for more information about Holistic Health for dogs
· Vital Animal – Will Falconer DVM
· Not Just About Dogs Dr. Peter Dobias
· Mind Jam Podcast: Pet Health and Longevity with Rodney Habib & Dr. Becker they have also written 2 books on the subject The Forever Dog
· Dr Judy Morgan
· Dr. Ian Billinghurst
· The Pet Summit – has free web learning sites about Holistic Health/Raw feeding and more!
· Adored Beast has live events on Facebook where you can ask Julie Anne Lee (founder) questions
· HomeoEd.com Andrea Ring – she runs the course I took called Acute and First Aid Homeopathy for Animals (dogs and cats) There is so much to this course you will be blown away!
There is far more information out there than this, but what is here will definitely get you started on the right road.
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