At Heel 2 Heal we believe it all starts with food.  Just as with humans eating a healthy whole-food diet is the first step to a healthy, happy life for dogs and other animals. I frequently get calls and emails from clients and concerned pet owners, asking just what they should feed their animal companions.  So, in this section I am going to attempt to answer some of those questions and then take a look at how to read a pet food ingredients label, and why it is important that we learn to do so.

If after reading this section you still have questions on the best diet for your pet you can schedule a Diet & Nutrition Session and we will help you customize a program for your dog's needs. 
                                      To schedule call 561-586-5159


Section One: Foods

Section Two: Toxins

Section Three: Supplements

We hear that a healthy dog (or any other animal) eats a well-balanced diet, and that brings us right back to "what is a well-balance diet?", so a good place to start would be to take a look at what Nature intended them to eat.  While I was at Wolf Park in Indiana, one of the first questions I asked was "what do you feed the wolves?", the answer, quite simply was Deer, usually road-kill reported to Wolf Park by the local Sheriffs office, and the occasional cow or calf courtesy of local farmers.  This along with occasional fruit and vegetables and some healthy leftovers from the park's staff as treats, can be called a well balanced diet.

Times have changed since the days that dogs were able to go out and hunt for their own food, and even since the time that I grew up as a child in Scotland where our dogs mostly ate leftovers of what we were eating (which was always fresh & pretty healthy), along with an abundant supply of seasonal fruits that they would forage for on our walks, and actual dog food comprised of only about 25% of their total food consumption.  Nowadays most of our animal companions are totally reliant of what comes out of a can or bag to fulfill their nutritional requirements, and that is why I believe it is our responsibility as caretakers to fully educate ourselves as to what exactly we are feeding to our animal friends and what we can do to better improve their diet.

Snack Time! Wolf and Deer Leg

Section One: Foods & Label Reading

RAW FOOD DIET

Yes, I know the raw food debate can be quite a heated one, but here's my take on it (for what it's worth).. I think it is the best route for most of our dogs and cats.  Why?  Well, just have a look at the wolf above.  Raw food is packed full of nutrients and enzymes that would be lost in cooked foods.  There are many companies out there today specializing in pre-prepared frozen raw foods.   

 HOMEMADE DIETS

Alot of people, myself included like to prepare their pets meals at home, whether you choose to feed raw    (I like to feed raw) or cooked, just remember that balance and variety are key. Also the quality of the foods you are using are exceptionally important, personally I use free-range, organic foods that are free from hormones, antibiotics, preservatives and pesticides whenever possible, not only with my animals, but also for myself.  As I mentioned before variety is key and there are plenty of different foods to choose from like; chicken, lamb, rabbit and beef, it is also beneficial to feed organ meats once or twice a week such as, heart and liver.

Animals that are prey for wild dogs are Herbivores, which means they eat greens, grains and fruits like berries, the stomach contents are the first thing that a wild animal will eat after it has killed it's prey, followed by the organ meat.  With this in mind, let's take a look and fruits and vegetables in the diet.  I feed my dogs a variety of fresh raw vegetables, including green beans, broccoli and spinach, I usually puree them in the blender with some bottled water, along with a small clove of garlic (keeps the fleas away) and some fresh sliced ginger. I also will add some fruits such as berries (blueberries, blackberries, strawberries), apples and bananas into the blender with the veggies and use about 3-4 tablespoons per dog per day mixed in with the rest of their meal.  Another big hit is boiled sweet potatoes, these are also great for a dog recovering from an upset stomach.  Try adding some other ingredients such as organic pasta, organic brown rice and potatoes, use dairy products sparingly, but an organic egg once of twice a week is fine.

If you are planning on making homemade meals for your animal friend bear in mind that you should transition slowly and remember that if your pet has been on a highly processed commercial pet food it's stomach muscles may be weak and may need more time to adjust to a healthier diet, but as the animal becomes more healthy on a good diet it's system will become stronger.  It is also advisable that you choose a Home-Prepared Diet best suitable for your dog's needs, below is some suggested reading that would be beneficial before starting out on your venture.

The Holistic Guide for a Healthy Dog by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, DVM   www.volharddognutrion.com

Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, by Richard Pitcairn, DVM

Section Three: Supplements

Of course, in the perfect world we would not need to take any supplements but, today seemingly more than ever we are finding that taking certain supplements can enhance our vitality and general well-being. Not only may we not be getting our nutritional needs met through our diet each day, our bodies also have to combat the added stresses of exposure to the environmental pollutants and toxins that are present in the atmosphere today.  Even around our homes we daily come into contact with toxins present in such things as household cleaner and pesticides we use on our lawn. I acknowledge that with all the products on the market and the frequent advertisements of vitamin companies in magazines and TV, we often don't know where to start when choosing a supplement that is right for us or our pets.

As we discussed in Section One of this page it all begins with diet.  Whether you are feeding your animal a raw diet, home cooked, premium dry or canned food, all will play a role in when, what and how much you should supplement your pet.  Other factors to take into account when you are considering adding supplements to your pets diet are; the age of the animal, current health condition, is he or she recovering from a physical injury or suffering from some other sort of ailment or behavioral issue?  These all play a major roll when choosing the right supplement for your pet (or yourself).  It is also just as important not to over supplement your pet, balance is what you are looking to achieve and sometimes less is more.

Zeolites - Probably the most important supplement you will ever give your animal companion

What are Zeolites? Zeolites are naturally occurring crystalline minerals commonly found in rock deposits: they are formed by the crystallization of volcanic rock and ash when they come in contact with fresh or salt ground water over millions of years.

Why are zeolites so important?  Zeolites are capable of selectively attracting and binding toxic particles, whether they are heavy metals, radioactive particals, viruses, or other carcinogens that may be contributing factors to chronic illness, and SAFELY removing them before they negatively affect overall health.  Not only do zeolites eliminate toxic build-up, they have also been known to control blood sugar levels, balance the body's pH level, improve digestion and nutrient absorption, support healthy immune function, help those who suffer from chronic allergies, and improve the body's resistance to diseases like cancer.

Vitamins & Minerals

The most efficient way to go is to opt for a good vitamin and mineral combination, as opposed to trying to figure out how much of each individual vitamin and mineral you should use, and just like with human supplements you will want to choose a brand that is high quality from a reputable company that stands behind it's products.  .

 When talking about vitamins and minerals – always look for vitamins and minerals in an absorbable form…. what does that mean? When searching for foods, vitamins or minerals always look for “chelated in amino acids”.  This means that they are absorbable.  Chelation means that it is bound in an amino acid and therefore protected as it enters the intestinal wall and into the blood stream.  That’s the only way to metabolize the mineral.  If your supplements (human, dog, cat, horse, pig) are solely oxides, sulfates or carbonate, there is a good chance they won’t be absorbed because they are inorganic.  On occasion there will be a mix of inorganic minerals with chelates, but because of the chelation process, it is more absorbable than if it stood on its own and entered the system.  Crudely put, chelation is the only way to make sure that basically you don’t pee it out.     

Probiotics

Normally many different kinds of beneficial bacteria can be found in the gut, and each one of them has a job to perform to aid in functions such as digestion, absorption of nutrients, balancing the body's PH levels, as well as general well-being.  There can be many reasons as to why this intricate balance can be knocked out of whack, anything from diet to a round of antibiotics or stress, and the good bacteria get wiped out and the bad guys move in.   Animals experiencing digestive problems and will often benefit from a good probiotic.  Animals who may be traveling for shows or events would benefit from probiotics starting a week or so before and continuing through their schedule.  Also if your animal is in a training program, or will be staying at a boarding facility or with a pet sitter, then you may want to consider using a probiotic during that time. Just like with the vitamins and minerals I encourage you to choose a high quality product from a reputable company. 

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