Optimizing Your Pets Health, Adding Vitality and Increasing Life Span

Cats and Dogs are just as important as our other human family members and while their diet needs are actually quite similar to ours, unfortunately so are their illnesses. Have you noticed that pets today are suffering from many of the exact same modern day diseases as humans, such as diabetes, obesity, anxiety, allergies, skin issues, auto-immune conditions and cancers. In order to bring a balanced and healthful state back to our pets, I recommend creating a lifestyle as close to their ancestral lifestyle and diet as possible in these modern times.

Feed them their ancestral diet

Cats are obligate carnivores. “People refer to cats as obligate carnivores when they are trying to emphasize the fact that cats are a little different than many other meat-eating predators. Obligate means “by necessity.” The dictionary definition is: 1. Restricted to one particularly characteristic mode of life. 2. Biologically essential for survival. Combining obligate with carnivore is pretty clear. Cats must eat meat, it is a biological necessity.” (source)

Dogs have an undeniable carnivorous biased.”Dogs we know, from DNA studies, evolved directly from the timber wolf somewhere around 15,000 years ago.And, of course, it should come as no surprise. Wolves are clearly carnivores. So, by their very genetic pedigree, dogs also demonstrate similar and noticeable carnivorous traits. Their teeth, their digestive systems and their behavior clearly confirm this fact.” (source) Many dogs may appear to tolerate an omnivorous diet, they seem to do okay with other healthy real food, such as greens, some legumes and berries, the exception is for grains and sugar, these should be totally avoided for optimal health.

Cats and dogs do really well with well sourced fats and proteins in their diet. Research has proven that fats and proteins are hormone precursors, they feed the cell membrane, nervous system, adrenals, feed the brain, help optimize the gut and act like rocket-fuel for the immune system. Adding these to your pets diet daily will add vitality and optimize their health.

Feed homemade if possible. A real food homemade diet is optimal. Here are my top 3 recommended books on ancestral health care and ancestral diet for cats and dogs to provide optimal health and increase their life span.

1. Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats
2. Fresh Food & Ancient Wisdom
3. Dr. Becker's Real Food for Healthy Dogs and Cats: Simple Homemade Food

Optimal Diet for Dogs

• Raw meats (chicken, beef, bison, salmon, etc…)
• Organ meats (liver, gizzards, heart, tongue, kidney, etc…)
• Raw bones (cow bones, turkey necks, chicken carcasses, etc…) Cooked bones can be a problem and should be avoided. (Source)
• Raw eggs
• Bone broth 
• Vegetables (Brussel sprouts, broccoli, kale, other leafy greens, green beans, carrots, etc..)
• Fruit in moderation (blueberries, etc..)

How to Make Real Food for Your Dog

An adult dog needs to eat between 2-3% of his body weight in food each day (whether it's raw dog food, or homemade food that you're cooking for him).

So, for a 10lb dog around .2-.3lbs of food; for a 50lb dog around 1.5lbs of food, 70lb dog (my dog) about 2 lbs, and for a 100lb dog about 2.5-3lbs. You can use this guide to figure out how much your dog needs, but of course bear in mind that all dogs are different and that these figures are guidelines only.

Ratio can be 75% – 95% meat/eggs/bones/organ meats/coconut oil and 5% -25% vegetables

Bone to meat ratio can be approx  1:2 – 1:3

I personally feed my GSD most of his meaty bones as treats, but he gets some bones from his sardines and food that already has bonemeal.

If you can’t find local grass fed sources of meats and bones, these are three I highly recommend: this one,  this one and this one.

Don't use garlic, onions or potatoes with their skin on… these can cause stomach upset and even be toxic in large quantities. Cabbage and turnips can result in a lot of gas, and tomatoes, cucumbers, mushrooms and peppers can cause tummy upsets.

‘Extra' ingredients as part of a raw dog food diet
Other ingredients that can be used to add variety and extra nutritional value to raw dog food recipes.

They do not need to be added daily, perhaps 3-4x a week for most is generally enough…

• Plain Yogurt (or Kefir)
• Almonds (NOT Macadamia Nuts)
• Sunflower seeds
• Chia seeds
• Pumpkins seeds (ground) these are excellent for helping explell parasites!
• Wheatgrass
• Food grade bonemeal
• Kelp

The Hidden and Dirty Secrets of The Pet Food Industry

The shocking truth about the ingredients found in most commercial pet food is that the ingredients usually come from rendering plants. Rendering plants are facilities where left over waste and other incomprehensible products are brought, pulverized, then turned into your conventional store bought pet food.  All of which is not fit for human consumption, but yet somehow, is fit for our four legged family members! Here are a few examples of items that are brought to these rendering plants that wind up in your pets food bowl; expired grocery store meats including their styrofoam and plastic packaging, dead, dying and diseased livestock, overcooked/dirty and rancid vegetable oils that would have been dumped out from restaurants, euthanized cats and dogs many times along with their tick/flea collars, even zoo animals. (source and source) This is why researching and utilizing the best food quality and well sourcing of food is critical in this day and age.

Cats MUST eat wet food for optimal health. Read why and learn all the details here my cat nutrition article. Good quality grain free wet can only, if not homemade, never dry; ex. organix and  wellness core

My absolute TOP PICK for  dog and cat food is grass fed steaks, grass fed organ meats and grass fed pet treats from Tropical Traditions, CLICK HERE to check it out.  One stop shop for all your dog or cats need: food, bones, treats,  all natural shampoos/conditioners and oils, CLICK HERE.

If homemade is not an option. Plan B.

Note: Health will never be as optimal as with a homemade diet. Choose pet food with salmon oil versus the anti-inflammatory oils.

Some other options:
Raw Nature’s Logic
Raw Nature’s Variety
Raw Bravo

Kibble:
Wellness Core
Zignature

Wet:
Cocoliscious
Wellness Core

Freeze Dried Nuggets:

Primal Freeze Dried Nuggets for Dogs. These are great mix ins to use with kibble or to use as food with broth or water.

Treats:

Primal Freeze Dried Munchies

Use healthy mix-ins. If feeding homemade is not feasible, no worries! The next best thing is to use a top quality grain free kibble and add your own homemade mix-ins. As you can see from the chart below, mix-ins are super important when feeding a dry food diet. You will want to make up for the fat and protein not found in kibble. Mix-ins are foods that you as the human owner ideally should be eating anyway, so you can just make extra and add to the grain free kibble. Examples; steak, chicken, roast, pork, bacon, bones, marrow, bone broth, eggs, good fat juice, tallow, lard, coconut oil, etc… This is an excellent source for grass fed meats, bones, organ meats, eggs, coconut oil, etc…

A Dog’s Ancestral Diet vs. Today’s Kibble (source)

Avoid grains. Grains have been proven to be detrimental to a cat and dogs diet. Grains are pro-inflammatory, feed pathogen yeast and bacteria and feed illness and imbalance in the body. Read more on why grains are not part of your pets ancestral real food diet.

Offer consistent clean filtered water. The cleanliness of your pets water is a huge factor in determining optimal health. Try to use a filter that filters out chlorine, fluoride and other toxins. At the very least use a PUR or brita filter versus tap.

Avoid {over} vaccinating.  There is a high cost to vaccines and their side effects. Re-vaccinating your pet can harm his/her health. Did you know that once your puppy or kitten is fully immunized against viruses, he/she is immune for years, and often for a lifetime. Read the rest of Dr. Becker's article on pet vaccines here.

Avoid chemicals. Chemicals found in flea treatments, flea collars, shampoos, medications, cleaners, and other pet treatments and medications have been linked to nervous system issues, allergies, birth defects, liver congestion, skin irritation and cancer to name a few. Use natural shampoos and avoid treatments and unnecessary medications. I love Dr. Bronners for shampoo and for all my cleaning, this is a very effective and non-toxic cleaner for you and your pet.

Try to avoid medications unless imperative. Unless there is a life or death situation, almost all health imbalances are nutritional deficiencies or toxicities that have not been addressed. There may be a time or place for medications and especially perhaps short term use, but I challenge you to work to heal your pets health naturally. Naturally does not mean do nothing, it's actually the opposite. There must be serious lifestyle and diet improvements and probably some supplementing to turn the health picture around.

Exercise. Almost all dogs were working dogs at one time. It is critical that every cat and dog get exercise each and every day. This is so imperative to them thriving. For most dogs even a walk each day is not enough. Most dogs need to be ran hard 1-3x each day to shake off excess energy.

Socialize. Lifelong socialization is the best way to help your dog adapt to situations and learn how to respond in a healthy manor with less fear and stress to situations he will encounter throughout his life. It will him to be an overall happier, more balanced pet. Here are some excellent socialization tips from Dr. Becker.

Never ever keep dogs and cats as “outdoors” pets. In this day and age we know that domesticated cats and dogs that are left outside can never have all of their physical needs meet. Dogs and cats need to be examined weekly for any issues such as fleas, ticks, bumps, sores, allergies, dental concerns or a number of other issues that most likely WILL come up. Simply putting food out to a dog that is in stuck out in a kennel 24/7 or god for bid tied up, is unacceptable. Your pet is part of your family, always keep them as indoor pets.

Supplement Protocol for Dogs and Cats to Optimize Health

If you need an experienced practitioner to work 1:1 with you or your pet, you can contact me directly. 

In general here is a supplement protocol as a starting point.

1. Strong Probiotics. Probiotics help support digestion, clear skin, help avoid allergies, support brain function such as depression, anxiety, separation anxiety, and boost the immune system.
2. Fermented Cod Liver Oil. This is an excellent EFA and helps support brain function, helps support healthy teeth, healthy skin and coat, support joint, bone and ligament function and digestion.
3. High Vitamin Butter Oil. Activator X, a hormone similar to Vitamin D is found in dairy producing animals after grazing on real grass, and is a nutrient that is missing in our pets modern diets. The deep orange-yellow color is what contains all the fat soluble nutrients Vitamin A, D, E and K (2).
   
4. Magnesium. Over 80% of the population is deficient in magnesium and this goes for cats and dogs as well. Just a few drops in their food or water will help replenish their levels. Read more on why magnesium is a total health game changer.
5.  Primal Nuggets! I love these. They are organic freeze dried ancestral nuggets made of grass fed meats, bones and fruits and vegetables, that you can add to their diet or even dry kibble. They are super easy to store and just pop into your pets bowl and add warm water and done!

Breed Identification DNA Test

If you are interested at all in finding out your dogs breeds and lineage, this is a very quick and easy test. You simply send in a swab of saliva from your dog and mail in. Within a couple of weeks you get all the results. Click here to view the test or to order.

• With a simple cheek swab, you can uncover DNA-based insights that may help you understand your dog's unique appearance, behaviors and wellness needs
• Adult weight range prediction to help you make appropriate nutrition and diet choices
• Breed insights to help you provide a better training program, understand behavior
• You will be emailed an official Ancestry Report revealing your dog's a genetic background
• This single test allows you to test Mixed Breed, Purebred or Designer Dog breed ancestry back to great-grandparents

Here are my results on my GSD, very interesting!

The Bottom Line

Think of how your cat or dog lived in ancestral times and do your best to reflect their lifestyle and nutrition as close as possible in these modern times. They will be healthier and happier, which in turn will bring you more joy and love in your life.