Did you ever notice that we are turning our beloved canine companions into four-legged replicas of ourselves? No, I am not talking about fashion or genetic engineering. I am talking about health. Cancer, heart, liver and kidney disease, epilepsy, asthma, allergies, skin conditions, endocrine problems, immune system failure, skin conditions, hormonal imbalance, urinary tract infections and a cornucopia of other calamities. Younger and younger dogs are falling victims to these diseases and complications. Like humans, obesity is practically epidemic among dogs and invites a host of problems. More and more dogs have lackluster coat and eyes that lack sparkle but not goop, flaky skin, discharging ears, nasty teeth which remind you of something the cat left on the back step, breath which is strong enough to knock out small children and I won't even address what comes out of their rear ends.
What, my dear lads and lassies, are we doing wrong? Let's put on our thinking caps and mull this one over a bit.
Ah-ha! Ever hear that snazzy phrase "you are what you eat"? Go ahead and pick up that bag of kibble and read the ingredients label. It probably is a list of corn, fillers and chemicals. Let's take a step back now, back to a biological concept that my ten year old cousin grasps fully. The dog is a product of the wolf. Man has shaped the dog through breeding for traits and looks to suit his needs and desires, but for all intents and purposes, the dog is a wolf. They share similar behaviors and they have the same inner organs and the same digestive tract. If we would like our dogs to enjoy good health, we should feed them what they would eat in their natural state: what they would eat as a wolf.
My Fila is raised in what I consider and all-natural way, without vaccinations, antibiotics, flea dips, cortisone shots or kibble. She is 11 months old at this writing, and has never eaten a drop of kibble nor stepped a paw in the vet's office. We as a public have been conditioned to believe that we are incapable of feeding our dogs without the help of pet food manufacturers and that our dogs surely cannot survive and definitely become disease-ridden without regular trips to the vet. A small but growing number of people have decided to throw that propaganda into the face of it's originators and raise our dogs the way we feel is right. And let me tell you, the proof is in the pudding. One only needs to look. My puppy is the perfect picture of health and vitality. Her coat glows and feels like silk, her eyes sparkle and remain clear, her teeth are pearly white and she does not have typical doggy-breath or doggy-odor. Her conformation is exceptional and she is very well put together with smooth lines, proper angulation, great muscle tone and tight feet. She is energetic but not rambunctious or hyperactive. She is very balanced and grounded, and I owe all of this to her diet, which is generically called the BARF diet.
There is tons of information on the BARF diet and natural rearing on the web. I encourage everyone, lovers of all breeds of dogs, to do some reading. I know it can be a little rough to think that your vet who recommends Science Diet is wrong, but keep in mind that Animal Nutrition is not mandatory at vet school, but is an elective. Also keep in mind that pet food companies are major sponsors of and give big bucks to vet schools. Who owns pet food companies? Why, big corporations like Black and Decker and Phillip-Morris and Co.Do you think that the CEO's of these corporations REALLY care what you feed to your dog? Or do you think that they are more interested in what's in your wallet? So they prey upon our weaknesses for our animals with clever marketing schemes and bingo! They are making money hand over fist by selling us "premium" pet food, which really is just weakening the health of our dogs bowl by bowl. Think it over. Do you know who else is a major sponsor of vet schools? Why, the manufacturers of vaccinations and other drugs. Can you see where I am going with this? If you do some reading and dig a little, you will be shocked by what you find.
Will your friends think you are weird if you decide to make the switch to the BARF diet? Maybe, but maybe you could educate them and make a difference in their dogs life as well. Will your vet balk? Probably, but hey, there are quite a few holistic vets out there that support the use of raw diets and minimal inoculations. Is it a little scary to make the switch? Sure. Will other people think you are wrong or crazy? Of course.The first time my mom saw me feed my little tiny puppy a leg quarter that was maybe as big as her head, the look on her face was priceless. She thought for sure the puppy would choke or get Salmonella. Now, she has changed her mind. With a little education and some patience, maybe we can change the minds of A LOT of dog lovers and dog owners. Happy researching.
