In the shadow of a shocking experience, the pet food recall in March 2007, a silver lining appears.
“After the big scare, a lot of my customers had questions about their pet’s food and healthier alternatives. Simultaneously I saw manufacturers drifting to a
greater [natural] approach to pet food,” recalled Virginia Byrns, co-owner of dogma for pets in Canton.
In the past, the average dog owner mainly had to decide between dry or canned. Today, the multiplicity of alternative choices and brands can be
overwhelming as raw, grain-free and gluten-free have made a stronger presence in the general marketplace.
The alternative deemed most natural is the increasingly popular raw diet which mimics the predomesticated canines in-the-wild diet primarily of uncooked
meat, skin, bones, and organs toting benefits of better skin and coat, whiter teeth, more efficient digestion and longevity, more naturally.
“The idea of feeding raw is not a fad, it is an evolution in the way of feeding based upon a better understanding what a dog’s dietary needs are for optimal
health,” explains Lucy Postins, co-founder and lead nutritionist for The Honest Kitchen pet food. Pets are part of the family nowadays. People are truly
invested in feeding their dogs well. It’s [a case of] pay now by feeding your dog quality, low-processed food or pay later in terms of increased vet bills, as an
unhealthy consequence of a bad diet.”
An example of the difference an improved diet can make is Elphie, a Sheltie-mix, adopted by a Baltimore couple. Elphie was 6 months old and not house
trained when adopted from the Animal Advocates of Howard County by Scott and Sharon Vail of Federal Hill.
“In actuality she was incontinent and medication helped that, but we also discovered she had chronic acid reflux and loose stool,” remembered Sharon.
“Scott searched the Internet to find solutions to her other issues and stumbled on the raw diet theory. He felt it was a match to Elphie’s needs.”
Sharon wasn’t so sure. “I was reluctant because a raw diet sounded gimmicky and gross. Even so, we decided to go for it. ”
The changes in Elphie were almost immediate. “We noticed her stool firm up, she stopped vomiting after her meals and she started losing her excess weight.
By the fourth week her frizzy coat appeared smoother and shinier.”
A raw diet means a few adjustments admits the Vails. “We spend more on her food than before, need to plan ahead to thaw out Elphie’s meals, her food
looks gross and smells icky, but we are thrilled to have a happy, healthy dog.”
Just 10 years ago, there were a sprinkling of raw brands available to purchase, but predominately it was a grass-roots effort, as many devout raw followers
were preparing their own pet’s meals at home. Today there are roughly 20 raw manufacturers nationwide, three of which are located in Maryland.
“Companies are making raw diets more convenient because it’s a rare person who wants to grind uncooked chicken necks in their own kitchen for their dog,”
says Kevin Newton, store manager at All for the Pet in Severna Park.
“With the raw diet, there are now a lot of choices available from frozen to pasteurized to dehydrated. It does tend to cost more and not everyone can afford or
wants to switch 100 percent, so in some cases our customers will mix a raw feed with a quality grain-free kibble. Others just stay with grain-free kibble
because of the extended shelf life, ease in handling and overall convenience.”
Okay, but what does grain-free mean and what does it have to do with raw diet dog food? Grain-free stems from the “ancestral” approach to raw feed and
the absence of cereal-type grains like oats, corn or wheat that are used by some dog food manufacturers as essential source of carbohydrates. It has been
recognized that some dogs are actually grain intolerant. As a result, more health conscious kibble makers are using grain-free alternatives like potato, sweet
potato or peas to supply carbohydrates.
Dr. Sean Delaney, senior executive vice president and chief scientific and medical officer of Natura Pet Products adds, “Grain-free foods that are also low in
carbohydrates are similar to raw diets which should also be low in carbohydrates. Low carbohydrate foods have many potential benefits including increased
palatability, higher energy density (meaning less volume needs to be fed and less feces need to be cleaned up), and positive effects on coat quality and body
condition.”
According to Dr. Scott Sanderson, owner of the Animal Wellness Center, a holistic veterinary practice located in Columbia, some dogs are more genetically
prone to digestive sensitivities; therefore, breed, medical history and age can help define whether or not the raw diet is most suitable for your dogs needs.
“We live in a toxic world; the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. Any living being requires the cleanest, healthiest fuel in their body for the
best possible health.”
Dr. Christina Chambreau, homeopathic veterinarian, educator and author of the Healthy Animal Journal strongly recommends a wide variety of fresh food.
“Each dog is unique. How do you know what diet is best for your dog? Observe your pet before and after you try different nutritional approaches. Track their
overall health and disposition as you research feeding options that make sense for your lifestyle and are good for your dog.”
Dr. Chambreau recommends the following resources to study more about animal nutrition and alternative diets:
The Truth About Pet Foods: Rationale for Animal Nutrition by Dr. Randy Wysong
See Spot Live Longer by Steve Brown and Beth Taylor
Eat, Drink and Wag Your Tail (video)
“After the big scare, a lot of my customers had questions about their pet’s food and healthier alternatives. Simultaneously I saw manufacturers drifting to a
greater [natural] approach to pet food,” recalled Virginia Byrns, co-owner of dogma for pets in Canton.
In the past, the average dog owner mainly had to decide between dry or canned. Today, the multiplicity of alternative choices and brands can be
overwhelming as raw, grain-free and gluten-free have made a stronger presence in the general marketplace.
The alternative deemed most natural is the increasingly popular raw diet which mimics the predomesticated canines in-the-wild diet primarily of uncooked
meat, skin, bones, and organs toting benefits of better skin and coat, whiter teeth, more efficient digestion and longevity, more naturally.
“The idea of feeding raw is not a fad, it is an evolution in the way of feeding based upon a better understanding what a dog’s dietary needs are for optimal
health,” explains Lucy Postins, co-founder and lead nutritionist for The Honest Kitchen pet food. Pets are part of the family nowadays. People are truly
invested in feeding their dogs well. It’s [a case of] pay now by feeding your dog quality, low-processed food or pay later in terms of increased vet bills, as an
unhealthy consequence of a bad diet.”
An example of the difference an improved diet can make is Elphie, a Sheltie-mix, adopted by a Baltimore couple. Elphie was 6 months old and not house
trained when adopted from the Animal Advocates of Howard County by Scott and Sharon Vail of Federal Hill.
“In actuality she was incontinent and medication helped that, but we also discovered she had chronic acid reflux and loose stool,” remembered Sharon.
“Scott searched the Internet to find solutions to her other issues and stumbled on the raw diet theory. He felt it was a match to Elphie’s needs.”
Sharon wasn’t so sure. “I was reluctant because a raw diet sounded gimmicky and gross. Even so, we decided to go for it. ”
The changes in Elphie were almost immediate. “We noticed her stool firm up, she stopped vomiting after her meals and she started losing her excess weight.
By the fourth week her frizzy coat appeared smoother and shinier.”
A raw diet means a few adjustments admits the Vails. “We spend more on her food than before, need to plan ahead to thaw out Elphie’s meals, her food
looks gross and smells icky, but we are thrilled to have a happy, healthy dog.”
Just 10 years ago, there were a sprinkling of raw brands available to purchase, but predominately it was a grass-roots effort, as many devout raw followers
were preparing their own pet’s meals at home. Today there are roughly 20 raw manufacturers nationwide, three of which are located in Maryland.
“Companies are making raw diets more convenient because it’s a rare person who wants to grind uncooked chicken necks in their own kitchen for their dog,”
says Kevin Newton, store manager at All for the Pet in Severna Park.
“With the raw diet, there are now a lot of choices available from frozen to pasteurized to dehydrated. It does tend to cost more and not everyone can afford or
wants to switch 100 percent, so in some cases our customers will mix a raw feed with a quality grain-free kibble. Others just stay with grain-free kibble
because of the extended shelf life, ease in handling and overall convenience.”
Okay, but what does grain-free mean and what does it have to do with raw diet dog food? Grain-free stems from the “ancestral” approach to raw feed and
the absence of cereal-type grains like oats, corn or wheat that are used by some dog food manufacturers as essential source of carbohydrates. It has been
recognized that some dogs are actually grain intolerant. As a result, more health conscious kibble makers are using grain-free alternatives like potato, sweet
potato or peas to supply carbohydrates.
Dr. Sean Delaney, senior executive vice president and chief scientific and medical officer of Natura Pet Products adds, “Grain-free foods that are also low in
carbohydrates are similar to raw diets which should also be low in carbohydrates. Low carbohydrate foods have many potential benefits including increased
palatability, higher energy density (meaning less volume needs to be fed and less feces need to be cleaned up), and positive effects on coat quality and body
condition.”
According to Dr. Scott Sanderson, owner of the Animal Wellness Center, a holistic veterinary practice located in Columbia, some dogs are more genetically
prone to digestive sensitivities; therefore, breed, medical history and age can help define whether or not the raw diet is most suitable for your dogs needs.
“We live in a toxic world; the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. Any living being requires the cleanest, healthiest fuel in their body for the
best possible health.”
Dr. Christina Chambreau, homeopathic veterinarian, educator and author of the Healthy Animal Journal strongly recommends a wide variety of fresh food.
“Each dog is unique. How do you know what diet is best for your dog? Observe your pet before and after you try different nutritional approaches. Track their
overall health and disposition as you research feeding options that make sense for your lifestyle and are good for your dog.”
Dr. Chambreau recommends the following resources to study more about animal nutrition and alternative diets:
The Truth About Pet Foods: Rationale for Animal Nutrition by Dr. Randy Wysong
See Spot Live Longer by Steve Brown and Beth Taylor
Eat, Drink and Wag Your Tail (video)
| Article from The Baltimore Dog Magazine - Fall 2008 |
