The best diet for dogs and cats
What do you feed your dogs and cats? There is such a variety of pet foods available. As well as different feeding theories. And they all claim to be everything your pet will ever need. How does an ordinary pet owner like myself decide?
Dr Martin Zucker, a veterinarian in the USA, describes a very alarming situation – a gradual decline in the general health and well-being of our pets. Vets are noticing:
More serious diseases in ever younger animals
More allergies
Weaker immune systems
Increased skin problems
More behavioural problem
Why is this happening? Amongst other things, Dr Zucker believes that the factors contributing to this alarming trend are:
Bad breeding practices
Low quality, unnatural pet food
Pollution
Stress
To a very large extent, we can help this situation in our own pets’ lives, by changing the way we feed. Vets comment on how even a small change in the way we feed our animals can ‘cure’ a lot of diseases.
Not many of us have hours spare in which to formulate and feed elaborate diets to our pets. What is the best we can do with limited time?
Option 1 – for very busy people
You want to feed your dog or cat a good diet, but really don’t have time to do more than fill the bowl with kibble. If this is you, then buy the best kibble you can afford. In most cases, you get what you pay for. Do the best you can.
Option 2 – busy, but can spare a bit of time
Feed the best quality food that you can afford as a base. To this base, add broth, table scraps, oils, meat, eggs, vegetables, fruits. Keep it varied, keep it fresh, keep it natural and unprocessed.
Option 3 – deluxe diet
There are various theories about the best way to do this. Here is one option that Dr Blakely recommends:
- One half of the diet – cooked whole grains (eg. Brown rice, oatmeal)
- One quarter to a third – high quality protein (eg. Raw or cooked meat)
- Up to a quarter –lightly steamed vegetables and grated fruits
- Add a good relevant supplement
Another excellent Deluxe option is the BARF diet.
Choose 1 and start from there
By changing to any of these three options, you are going to see a real difference in your pet’s health. Give it a try, then let me know your opinion.
Well described
A friend of ours who lives in Cornwall, England feeds her Collie dog on a diet of fresh organic meat and offal, rice, pasta and steamed veggies as well as many miles walked a day. She is a vegan and eats a raw vegan diet. But she understands that dogs eat meat. He is a very fine dog. Smart and handsome since he was a pup with many miles more on the clock. :)
Sounds great! So many vegans try to turn their dogs into vegetarians as well, and that isn't fair.