Feeding Pets

There are so many different pet food on the market each claiming to be the best or most appropriate for your pet. It can be mind boggling as to which is actually right for your pet!

 It makes such logical sense to me to simply go back to basics. Consider what it is the pets body was designed to work on, nutrients are after all simply chemicals, and each type of animal is designed to function optimally with certain ones. Some are neeeded by all, where us others differ depending on the species in question. Nutrients are involved with building brain chemicals, recieving and processing hormonal messages such as stress hormones and, well all brain activity really! It is crazy to think that nutrients wouldn't play a part in our pets behaviour choices. We may not know exactly what does what yet - although thanks to scientific research we are getting there, but if we know we are putting in the correct nutrients for the animal and species in question

then its a damn good start!

Please do have a read of my blog below or perhaps simply jump to the bottom where you will find an array of different foods you could try for your pet. All designed with his true nutrient/chemical needs in mind!

My blog!

One word! - Biology! - noun - the science of life or living matter in all its forms and phenomena, esp. with reference to origin, growth, reproduction, structure and behaviour. The study of the biological characteristics of an organism. (dictionary.com)

Biology is the science Vets base thier training and studying on ( alongside other sciences such as chemistry).

The principles of both Biology and Chemistry, can be used to research and state the type of food molecules (nutrients) an animals cells and its body chemistry functions on. An animals body chemistry is the processing and utilization of nutrients to create hormones, build cells, mend tissue and many more functions aimed at keeping the animals body alive and working optimaly! In short the 2 sciences can be studied to tell us the type of foods our different pets will thrive on, be able to digest easily, heal wounds with and grow strong on ect ect.

Coupled with an understanding of the digestive system as a whole - which (and i am only presuming here) all pet food maufactuers must be aware of. I am at a loss as to where its all gone so wrong! why are many vets, pet shops and pet food companies so keen to

1. advise diets containing nutrients biologically inappropriate for the species whos bodies they have spent years studying 2. disregard the importance or impact an appropriate biological diet could have on the well-being and health of an animal.

Pets are frequently being reccomended diets that basic veterinary sciences state are unfit for their digestion and bodies cells. This results in either a lack of nutrients or an abundance of incompatible nutrients or both. Plus all to often an inclusion of chemicals that could actually - when built up* in the pets body, harm the pet. (*molecules of chemicals can be stored by the body if the cells do not recognise them, cannot break them down, neutralize or eliminate them through its available channels - and so 'build up' in the body.)

Mostly the incompatible diets seem to be in the shape of foods that we humans find easier or more convenient to give to our pets. The 'bung the food in the bowl because we dont have alot of time syndrome'! - would we do that with our kids? - um maybe some people would!, but i wouldn't do that for my pets, let alone my kids!

I am no Vet, simply a pet owner and trainer who has studied human digestion systems and nutritional therapy - been amazed at the level of sciencetific evidence and the logic of it all, and applied the same logic to my pets.

There are lots of people out there who also share my views and questions. Many of them are Vets - which is fantastic, and many of them simply pet owners, who like me, all to often find a route through to a healthier diet for their pets via a behaviour or well-bieng issue that improves when they improve their pets diet! Lucky them!

A few points - .

1. Do your research! - Not all pets are they same! Even within the same breed, species or litter! They each will have there own personal nutritional history and own level of digestive ability, including of course allergies or intolerances. I have included a few links below to get you started.

2. Try not to listen to sales adverts or spiel. Make your own mind up! The Trading standards agencys seem unable to clamp down on the terminology pet food companies use - such as the term 'complete food'. It is ignoring science to say that each pet will get everything it needs from one type of food as every pet is just so different internally. (eg 2 dogs eating an egg - one may get more protien from the egg, one may get more omega fats from the egg, it depends on the dog and his individual organs and cells capabiltiy to absorb, digest and then utilize the different nutrients) A vaired diet with species appropriate foods has surely got to provide better nutrient balance?

3. Don't feel guitly, when you've read up on pet diets, for not giving better quality food beforehand!

This information has to come to everyone at some point, the more the word is spread the healthier and happier our pets will be!! Once id got over the feeling guilty and witnessed the fantastic positive changes in my pets, I couldnt wait to tell everyone what great information is out there to help pets, hence this blog!

Eating food to quickly can compromise the digestion of it. Many dogs especially those with 2 or 3 in the family get used to eating too quickly and may not be absorbing all the vital nutrients as easily. If this is sounds like your dog why not try this neat invention - the gobblenot bowl! I have not had any reports back on it so cannot vouch if it works but it looks good in principle. Let me know how you get on with it!