As any pet owner can attest, there’s nothing sadder than a sick puppy or kitten. While some animal illnesses are fleeting and readily recovered from, others are more insidious. Some pet owners worry that degenerative diseases in cats and dogs result from overly processed food and synthetic nutrients.
As one dog care expert puts it:
“The widespread disease and death of dogs from nutritionally inadequate and poison-laden commercial dog food is no secret in the world of vets and dog experts….” – Andrew Lewis
Pet food is similar to human food. Individuals that eat fast food and ignore fruit and vegetables will negatively impact their health.
Morgan Spurlock’s documentary Super Size Me provides a striking example of the importance of proper diets, and how devastating poor diets can be to overall health. Pet food is no different. Consistently feeding pets low-quality food will have similar detrimental effects on their health.
Pet Food Ingredients
It is important to carefully read nutrition labels and make sure that you understand what you are feeding your pet. If some ingredients seem vague or if you have any questions, it is always appropriate to call the company and ask questions about the product. Your pet may very well thank you, for some involved parties report worrisome facts about the pet food industry.
For instance, Richard H. Pitcaim (founder of the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy) states that “Most people don’t realize that terms like ‘meat by-products’ can actually mean poultry feather meal, connective tissue (gristle), leather meal, fecal waste from poultry and other animals, and horse and cattle hair.“
According to Pitcaim, customers should also be leery of terms like “meat meal” and “bone meal.” In his book Dr. Pitcairn’s Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs & Cats, Pitcaim writes that “Robert Abady, founder of the Robert Abady Dog Food Company, describes meat and bone meal as ‘generally comprised of ground bone, gristle, and tendons, and is cheapest and least nutritious of the byproduct meals. The same is true of lamb meal, poultry or chicken meal, or fish meal”. All of these are widely used in pet foods.”
Unfortunately, pet food may have additional issues that are not meat-related.
Some argue that the synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids (coupled with meat by-products, and chemical additives and preservatives) being used in commercial brand pet products (food and nutrients) do not do justice to your animal’s health just as synthetic vitamins, minerals, and amino acids sold to humans in health food stores do not do justice to human health. These vitamins, minerals, and amino acids in human and animal food are basically metals or oxides.
Just like parents with children, pet owners want only the best for their pets. Aside from the quality of pet food, here are some tips to turn those sick puppies and kittens into healthy animals again.
Tips for Regaining Healthy Animals
Diet
As discussed earlier, diet is very important. Yet it is not merely the type and quality of food that should be regulated, but also the amount. Just because little Kitty is meowing and twining around your legs does not mean that she needs to be fed for the third time that day, especially if she’s looking a bit plump. Animals can overeat just as much as humans, and the consequences can be drastic.
Exercise
As most pet owners know, not all animals need to be exercised the same amount. And as anyone has ever tried to walk a cat will attest, some animals are extremely resistant to enforced exercise. Yet many animals (especially dogs) enjoy trotting briskly around the block or jogging with their owners. In general, dogs should be walked twice a day. The owners will reap the benefits of frequent exercise.
Medical Care
It is true that “prevention is better than remedy,” and the first two tips are designed to prevent any medical issues from occurring for your pet. Yet if worst comes to worst and Skippy should fall ill, there are trained professionals able to diagnose and treat your pet. Such care can be expensive, yet animals deserve to be healthy and cared for. This is the responsibility of the responsible, serious, and conscientious pet owner.
Thank you for reading!
This article is compliments of Dherbs.com
Vincent Stevens is the senior content writer at Dherbs. As a fitness and health and wellness enthusiast, he enjoys covering a variety of topics, including the latest health, fitness, beauty, and lifestyle trends. His goal is to inform people of different ways they can improve their overall health, which aligns with Dherbs’ core values. He received his bachelor’s degree in creative writing from the University of Redlands, graduating summa cum laude. He lives in Los Angeles, CA.
