Kim Bloomer Dr. Kim Bloomer is a veterinary naturopath, and the creator and host of Animal Talk Naturally radio show. She hosts the show weekly with her like-minded colleague, Dr. Jeannie Thomason. Dr. Kim is the co-author of the book Whole Health for Happy Dogs and author of the book Animals Taught Me That. Dr. Kim’s articles have been featured in various publications including Animal Wellness Magazine, Natural Horse Magazine, and Dogs Naturally Magazine. She is an adjunct professor with Kingdom College of Natural Health. Dr. Kim is trained and knowledgeable in the preventive, holistic health care of dogs and cats through proper species appropriate nutrition and other natural modalities. Its an honour that she has given an interview to ‘BARk’ and we hope our dog lovers take the best of her advises.
DoG-fOoD-dOg Interview on Raw Food Diet taken by Love to Know who asks questions on behalf of our readers
What people fail to realize is that all
cause we're the ones who purchase the
those things can and do happen with
food. No one wants to think of their dogs
processed commercial foods, particularly
as house wolves or their cats as house
kibble. And while those things can hap-
lions, but that is exactly what they are. So
LoveToKnow (LTK): Why is raw food
pen with raw feeding, there are some
to reiterate, most of the misconceptions
very simple solutions to counter all of
are merely misplaced fear-based notions
Kim Bloomer (KB): This is simple -
those misplaced concerns. Something to
from a human, not a canine, perspective.
because dogs are opportunistic scav-
keep in mind about dogs is that they are
LTK: What are some problems with
best for dogs?
enger carnivores. Their entire anatomy
scavenger animals designed to eat just
and physiology is designed to eat a raw,
like any other wild scavenger animal.
KB: My colleague, Dr. Jeannie Thoma-
carnivorous diet.
Things that would be unthinkable for us
son puts it best when she says, "Kibble
to eat are simply part of a dog's natural
is kibble is kibble no matter what label is
diet. After all, many dogs eat poop with
on the package." She wrote a great arti-
no problem, but it sure isn't something
cle that explains in detail all that is wrong
we'd want to do!
with kibble.Most kibble include grains that
LTK: What are some common misconceptions about raw food diets? KB: Oh there are a lot of misconcep-
feeding kibble?
tions, especially by those who would
This leads to the primary problem, and
rather pet owners not know that there is
that is that those afraid to feed a raw diet
zymes to digest adding to problems in
a natural way to feed their pets. I recently
are most likely basing it all on their own
their long-term health that begin to pres-
wrote an article about some of those mis-
likes or dislikes or their own nutritional
ent initially with allergies, skin problems
conceptions (Removing the Fears Asso-
needs or human limitations, since we are
and so on.
ciated with Raw Feeding). Some of the
not scavenger animals. Our dogs are re-
misconceptions include things such as
ally buzzards on four legs with fur.
"they'll get parasites" or 18 Food
"there will be a bacteria problem.”
dogs simply do not have the proper en-
That's one of many things wrong with kibble - not to mention it is so overcooked
The pet food manufacturers certainly
as to not have any nutrients of any value
aren't catering to the needs of our pets,
left. Let's not count the synthetic sprayed
rather they are catering toour needs be-
on version of "nutrients" put on kibble as