Do you think you should never give your dog or cat table scraps? That’s probably something you’ve learned from pet food companies, or from conventional veterinary medicine. But think about the kind of nutrition your animal gets from commercially produced pet foods, and then think about the kind of nutrition you want your pet to receive in order to stay healthy and happy. If you yourself are eating healthfully, there are lots of ways you can extend the benefits of your own good nutritional habits to your furry loved ones, and save money in the process.
Say you’re having salad for dinner. Save some without dressing for your dog or cat, leaving out the onions and avoiding tomatoes – they’re too acidic. Then grate your salad with a food processor or hand grater, and add it to your pet’s regular food. You’ll be reducing the amount of money you spend on pet food, and improving your pet’s diet at the same time. Cats, in particular, love salad and greens.
You can do the same thing with oatmeal. If you’re making yourself some for breakfast, make an extra cup, let it cool, and add it to your dog’s reduced morning helping of dry food. Oats are as good for animals as they are for people. Other good grains to use are brown rice and millet. The rich roughage and fiber content from these complex carbohydrates will ensure fewer hairballs in cats. Refined grains, however, should be avoided.
Almost any fruit, except citrus, can be shared with pets. Apples make a great snack for everybody in your household, two-legged or four-. Cats are often fond of melons. And remember to save some of your baked potato (without the butter or sour cream, of course) as cats and dogs love spuds and their skins. Buy organic potatoes if you can; otherwise, scrub the skin well before cooking.
Many people shy away from feeding table scraps to their pet for fear of upsetting their delicate digestive systems. But this should not happen if you introduce the food slowly and increase leftover portions gradually. One more caveat: Raw vegetables should also be eaten as fresh as possible; after purchase, refrigerate and use them within three to five days; otherwise, they will spoil as a result of naturally occurring enzymes and bacteria.
HOMEMADE FOODS—A GREAT OPTION
The best way to feed your dog or cat is to prepare the food yourself. Obviously, in this hectic day and age, not everyone’s going to be able to devote kitchen time to creating meals for their animals; many people can’t even do so for their children! But to extent, however limited, that you can cook for your pet, you’ll both benefit. You’ll feel good about doing something life-promoting. And your animal will become healthier for the change because high-quality protein supplies the full spectrum of amino acids needed to grow and replace muscles, blood cells, and many other body tissues, while good sources of carbohydrates ensure greater energy and vitality.
If you plan on making a real dietary shift to homemade, begin the transition slowly, especially if your pet is older or used to commercial foods. Because animals have sensitive digestive systems, they sometimes have adverse reactions to changes in their customary diet, even when the transition is from poor food to excellent. So start by mixing a very small amount of the new food into the previous brand and continue to convert with the gradual addition of new food every week. If the stool is loose or your pet rejects the food it probably means that you were trying to make the switch too quickly and that you should slow down a bit.
If you are planning to prepare food on a long-term basis, you will need to supply the correct constituents—particularly amino acids, vitamins, and minerals—in the correct ratio. Before you start to make homemade foods, consult with your holistic veterinarian about a dog’s, cat’s, or other animal’s overall nutritional needs, and to see if your animal has any special requirements. In general, a cat’s diet should consist of approximately two-thirds protein and one-third grains and vegetables, while dogs can eat equal amounts of protein and a veggie/grain-or-potato mix. Puppies and kittens will need slightly more protein and geriatric animals somewhat less. Also, if your animal is ill you will need to adjust the diet accordingly. An animal with kidney disease or inflammatory bowel disease, for example, should be eating less protein, and an animal with a hyperthyroid condition would need to minimize iodine-rich foods, such as sardines, turnips, and mustard greens. You may therefore need to customize your pet’s diet.
Begin as simply as possible. You might try supplementing your dog’s or cat’s regular diet with small amounts of lightly cooked chicken (no skin or spices) and rice. If this is agreeable to your pet, you can now add some vegetables and the correct amounts of vitamins, minerals, and fat. Raw vegetables should be put through a food processor and finely chopped or, if the animal has a weak digestive system, pureed, until his or her digestive tone has improved. Gradually expand healthy choices by alternating your base of chicken and rice with other sources of protein—beef, lamb, venison, fish, and even tofu and complex carbohydrates—brown rice, millet, potatoes, oatmeal, and barley. Pork should be avoided because it is very rich and may cause diarrhea and digestive upsets. Also liver or kidney, unless certified organic, should not be eaten because they contain many toxins including heavy metals. Fish should be frozen, and only then thawed and served, as freezing will kill parasite. Ocean fish is preferable to freshwater fish. Egg yolks can be eaten raw, although egg whites, if you’re using them, should be cooked, as they contain an enzyme that destroys the B vitamin biotin. In addition, you will want to add two of the following items: Most often you will want to give some cold -pressed olive oil, organic flaxseed oil, or brewer’s yeast; occasionally, try cod liver oil, garlic, wheat germ oil, or kelp. Your cat needs between a half and a whole teaspoon, while dogs need between one and four teaspoons, depending on their size. Food should never be microwaved, and should always be served at room temperature.
Whole grains are a rich source of the fiber needed to maintain a healthy colon and intestines and ensure proper weight. To prepare, cook millet and barley for an hour and half, brown rice for about an hour, and oatmeal for only five minutes. Brown rice is high in tick- and flea-repellant vitamin B1 and can be combined with millet for animals in need of a hypoallergenic diet. Your pets may find these less appealing to their tastes than commercial food, but you can dress them up with a drizzle of flaxseed oil or a tiny amount of Parmesan cheese. They’re even better when combined with protein and veggies.
Once you are sure that your pet has gotten used to a change in diet, he or she is certain to thrive on a variety of home-prepared meals that will constitute the first big step towards a better pet care approach.
