April/May2017
RAWPETDIGEST
I N THI S I SSUE: -Ch oosi ng a commerci al raw f ood -Feedi ng bones -A t-a-gl ance sampl e menus f or your cat -Deal i ng w i th tox i ns -A nd much more!
Tris, a t hriving raw-f ed Greyhound. Phot o credit : Jen Thackery
Raw Pet Digest Editor-in-chief: Kristin Clark
To get an annual subscription (6 issues): -Go to the Store at Canine Health Promotion: www.caninehealthpromotion.com -Using PayPal: send $20.00 USD to kristin@rawpetdigest.com -Using Square: go to mkt.com/ rawpetdigest -Email kristin@rawpetdigest.com for alternate forms of payment
All emails and letters become the property of Raw Pet Digest and may be reprinted in future issues.
Our mission at Raw Pet Digest is to share information that supports natural health with a broad audience to help improve the lives of our carnivore pets. We believe that only the body is capable of achieving and maintaining true health, but we also believe that there are many things that we can do to help support the body in its quest to maintain balance (health). Raw Pet Digest aims to help educate and inform you about those things so that you can help your pet live a long life and thrive naturally.
DISCLAIMER: All information contained in Raw Pet Digest is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prevent, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body or pets, and the author(s), publisher, and contributors accept no responsibility for such use. Anyone or their pets suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult with their physician or veterinarian. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, all views expressed herein by those being interviewed or featured are their own views and do not necessarily represent the views of Raw Pet Digest. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author(s) and Editor-in-Chief. The articles herein are for educational purposes only. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader.
Lycan, Merlin, Midge, and Pansy. Photo credit: Bre Altherr
FEATURES ANDCOLUMNS Letter from the Editor - 4 Choosing a Commercial Raw Food - 5 Menus & Tips for Feeding Your Cat - 10 Spotlight on Health: Tracy Dion - 15 The Beginner's Corner: Bones - 21 The Aim of Life - 27 Let Them Eat...What? - 30 Bone Broth Supplement Smoothie - 35 Dealing with Toxins - 37 Introducing a New Pack Member - 42 Learning, Loving, and Letting Go - 44
Photo credit: Jen Thackery
Gryphon. Photo credit: Devin Nelson
Letter fromtheEditor Happy spring, everybody! While I love the winter? the colder days, the overcast skies, the rain (especially the rain, after so long without it here in Southern California), I?m so glad to be moving on to spring. I love seeing the leaves coming back onto the trees, and the flowers blooming, and seeing the birds and the butterflies and bees starting to go about their springtime business once again. With the longer days and warmer temperatures, spring brings with it the chance to get out and really enjoy the outdoors with your pet. If you've gotten out of the habit of getting your pet (and yourself!) out for some fresh air and exercise, now is the perfect time to get back in the swing of things. Exercise will help brighten your pet's mood (and yours as well!), help them sleep better, and keep their lymph circulating like it should. It will also drain excess energy that might otherwise come out in problematic and annoying ways. It's also a great way for you to bond with your pet! So, grab their leash and get them out for a walk or a run, or try a new activity with them that you've never done before. Remember that exercise is one of the laws of health and vital to achieve and maintain optimum vitality! Along with the change in season, we here at Raw Pet Digest are also celebrating the 2-year anniversary of the magazine. It seems absolutely unbelievable that 2 years have gone by, and yet, here we are.
Kristin with Cleo, Motley, Elle, and Barkley. Photo credit: Adam Gilbert
This issue is full of great information for you! To celebrate our anniversary, we take a look at some practical information about common questions, along with natural approaches to dealing with some common issues. I also share some thoughts about navigating through a pet?s declining years (or months, or even weeks). It?s a topic that?s been on my mind even as I?m celebrating the rebirth that is spring, and I hope that, if you have a senior pet, the lessons I share will be helpful to you. Finally, if you haven't already, check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ rawpetdigest. We have ongoing tips, info, and even contests, so head on over! Enjoy the spring, my friends? we have much to be thankful for. Always, Kristin 4
CHOOSINGA COMMERCIALRAWFOOD
Copyr igh t Alph aspir it .
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There are many people who want to feed their dogs and cats something other than a processed food diet (by processed food, I mean kibble or canned), but aren?t yet ready, for whatever reason, to make the switch to prey model raw or whole prey meals. For these pet parents, commercial raw may be a great way to go. Commercial raw is an excellent way to transition to a prey model raw or whole prey way of feeding. And just to be clear, by prey model raw, I am referring to a diet that includes about 80% muscle meat, 10% raw bones, and about 10% organ meat (5% liver and 5% non-liver organs). It does not include fruits, veggies, grains, or dairy. In other words, it attempts to mimic what your carnivore pet might eat in the wild, and it also is a diet that you prepare yourself (rather than buying it pre-made at a pet store). In this context, I am referring to a diet that includes pieces of various animals put together to form the whole meal (for example, maybe a turkey neck, some chicken liver, sheep ribs, and some green tripe). Feeding this way is sometimes also referred to as frankenprey. Whole prey refers to feeding the same proportions as prey model raw, but in whole prey form? in other words, giving your pet a whole chicken, or rabbit, and so on. Many people who feed a raw, species-appropriate diet feed both ways, depending on what?s available, but there are many who just stick with a prey model raw diet that doesn?t include whole prey.
Commercial raw, on the other hand, will still generally consist of the same percentages that prey model raw consists of, but may include veggies, fruits, and dairy. The bone contained in commercial raw is generally ground, and the entire meal is usually either ground or chunked. Because it generally comes frozen in a bag, you can simply defrost it and feed it to your dog or cat, similar to how you might feed canned or kibble. I find that most commercial raw is relatively expensive compared to prey model raw or whole prey, and because I am feeding 4 dogs, I find it easier and less expensive to prepare their meals myself. However, I did start out transitioning 3 of my dogs by feeding commercial raw, and it worked quite well to help ease me into the concept of feeding raw food. Commercial raw isn?t just valuable as a transition food. As we have discussed many times in Raw Pet Digest, kibble and canned foods contain toxic preservatives, fillers, sub-par meat, and other things that can cause your pet harm. Almost any commercial raw food out there will be better to feed than kibble or processed food, and there are many dog and cat owners who keep their pets on commercial raw for their whole lives. They enjoy the convenience, the knowledge that their pets are still getting (in most cases) a high-quality food, and they also find comfort in knowing that they don?t have to balance their pet?s meals themselves.
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Whether youfeedacommercial raw,preymodel,or wholepreydiet,your pet will thankyou. -KristinClark
Sm ok e, a beau t if u l Gr eyh ou n d. Ph ot o cr edit : Jen Th ack er y
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So, let?s say that you want to feed commercial raw. How do you know what to look for to make sure you?re making the best choice? When I discussed this with someone who is quite knowledgeable about the industry and the manufacturers, she said the number one thing to check for is where the meat is sourced. You want to make sure that the meat that?s used to make the food is high-quality. It should be hormone- and antibiotic-free. Grass-fed and/ or pasture-raised is very important. You should know exactly where the meat is coming from? and make sure that no 4D meat (meaning meat that comes from animals that are dying, diseased, desiccated, or disabled) is used. If you can?t find the source of the meat, don?t use it. Unfortunately, it?s not enough to just call the manufacturer to ask, either. The pet food industry is not regulated, and unscrupulous manufacturers may not tell you the whole story, even if you ask them directly. So, be ready to do some research, or talk to someone who is knowledgeable about the commercial raw pet food industry. Another major thing to consider when picking out a commercial raw food for your pet is the amount of veggies and fruit that?s included in the food. Remember that your dog or cat is a carnivore and designed to eat and thrive on raw meat, bone, organs, and glands. When a commercial pet food has a high percentage of fruits and vegetables, that means that part of your pet?s diet will be things that aren?t needed, and that can actually cause harm if
fed in too high of quantities. It is good that the fruits and vegetables are generally not fed whole in these types of diets, which spares your pet from having to tax their pancreas and other organs trying to break them down, but you still want to limit how much fruit and veg they?re getting. Chances are you?re paying top dollar for a commercial raw diet, too, so make sure that you?re getting the most bang for your buck by picking a food that wholly or mostly consists of exactly what your pet truly needs: meat, bones, and organs. Remember, too, that your pet needs variety. Different proteins contain different nutrients, and by giving them a variety, you help ensure that all their nutritional needs are met. Make sure that you include red meat along with birds (if you choose to feed them), and again, try to limit how much fruit, vegetable, and dairy is included. If you need to supplement, do so mindfully, and as your pet gets healthier, consider trying to replace the supplement with a food that supplies that nutrient or supplement. Some raw food manufacturers use high pressure pasteurization (HPP) to process their raw food. This is done in an attempt to eliminate bacteria. Unfortunately, HPP does denature the proteins, making your pet?s body much less able to use the amino acids to build new proteins, and it also destroys a lot of the good bacteria that is so beneficial in raw food. When choosing a raw food for your pet, make sure you know whether or not the commercial raw has gone through HPP. If it
has, you may want to strongly consider getting another food, unless there is a specific medical reason that you need a sterile pet food, at least for a short time. Feeding a commercial diet can be a great way to get your dog or cat off processed pet food, whether you move on to a homemade diet or keep them on it forever. Make sure that you do your research when picking out your raw commercial food, though, so that your cat or dog gets the highest quality food possible. Once you have decided on what food(s) you?ll be buying your pet, continue to monitor the manufacturer.
Dizzy the Border Collie. Photo credit: Chelsea Uribe
They can and do change their sources and practices, so it?s in the best interest of your pet to stay on top of it. Switching your pet to a raw, species-appropriate diet, is truly the single best thing you can do to support their vitality. Whether you feed a prey model diet, whole prey, or commercial raw, your pet will thank you. No matter what you choose, do your homework, so that you can feed them in the knowledge that you?re giving them the best chance you can at living optimal and vital lives. -By Kristin Clark
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MENUS&TIPSFORFEEDINGYOURCAT Ever wonder how much food you should feed your cat when feeding a whole prey or prey model raw diet? Are you confused about how to set up a menu to make sure your favorite feline is getting all their nutritional needs met? If so, you're in luck: the next few pages give some whole prey and prey model raw examples, and there's even a prey model raw "cheat sheet" that explains some basic information you need to know to make sure you're feeding your kitty properly. Remember, feeding fresh, raw, varied, and balanced species-appropriate food is the best thing you can do to keep your cat healthy and thriving. These pages are reprinted with permission from Tracy Dion at CatCentric.org. For
Bengal cats Dexter and Daisy. Photo credit: Jamie and Allen Reitz
more great cat-centric tips, articles, and information, go to www.catcentric.org, or join their active Facebook community. It's a great way to learn new information, meet people who are as devoted to the care of their cats as you are, and get answers to any and all of your health- and behavior-related questions! Enjoy!
Grubat, a Maine Coon. Photo credit: Devin Nelson
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