Raw Pet Digest February/March 2017 by rawpetdigest

February/March2017

RAWPETDIGEST

Merlin, an American Pit Bull Terrier. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

Raw Pet Digest Editor-in-chief: Kristin Clark

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Our mission at Raw Pet Digest is to share information that supports natural health with a broad audience to help improve the lives of our carnivore pets. We believe that only the body is capable of achieving and maintaining true health, but we also believe that there are many things that we can do to help support the body in its quest to maintain balance (health). Raw Pet Digest aims to help educate and inform you about those things so that you can help your pet live a long life and thrive naturally.

DISCLAIMER: All information contained in Raw Pet Digest is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prevent, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body or pets, and the author(s), publisher, and contributors accept no responsibility for such use. Anyone or their pets suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult with their physician or veterinarian. The statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, all views expressed herein by those being interviewed or featured are their own views and do not necessarily represent the views of Raw Pet Digest. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author(s) and Editor-in-Chief. The articles herein are for educational purposes only. The decision to use, or not to use, any information is the sole responsibility of the reader.

Lycan, Merlin, Midge, and Pansy. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

FEATURES ANDCOLUMNS Letter from the Editor - 4 The Tipping Point - 5 Kidney Disease in Dogs - 9 The Beginner's Corner - 14

Teddy, an Anatolian Shepherd mix. Photo credit: Jen Thackery

The Blessings of the Day - 22 The Man Behind the Curtain - 25 The Diet of the Pet Food Industry - 31 Cold Laser Therapy - 35 Let Food Be Their Medicine - 37

Dexter and Daisy, two Bengal cats. Photo credit: Jamie and Allen Reitz

Letter fromtheEditor What a whirlwind the last few months have been! The hustle and bustle of the holidays finally gave way to a brand new year, which of course brought with it the chance to make a fresh start. So often, people make New Year?s resolutions to lose weight, or go to the gym every day, or take up a hobby, or declutter their home and their life. While all of these are great resolutions, you may find, as I have, that sometimes what?s needed is to focus on what you have now, and only then ask yourself what you can do, right in the moment, to make what you have a little better. And of course, resolutions don?t just affect you. They also affect your pets? those wonderful, beloved, bright-eyed furry companions that share your home, your life, your heart. Each decision we make, whether it is a split-second micro-decision or a sweeping conclusion based on hours, days, weeks, or even months of thought, shapes our lives. And, I believe, each of our decisions, from the smallest to the grandest, can also shape the lives of our pets. They are subject to our choices, our routines. We control so many aspects of their lives? where and how they play and exercise; whether they get to feel the grass under their paws and the sunshine on their backs; whether they get to interact with other animals and people; how much social time they get with us; what, how much, and how frequently they eat; whether they are given clean, pure water; where they can go to the bathroom; how clean their living quarters are; whether they are confined in a crate or have ample space to run around; and a myriad of other details about their lives.

Kristin with Cleo, Motley, Elle, and Barkley. Photo credit: Adam Gilbert

When you really think about it, our animals have hardly any autonomy and barely any control over any aspect of their lives. So, ask yourself? what choices are you making and how are they affecting your pet? Do you find yourself regularly making choices that lead to a decrease in your own health and vitality? Do those choices? choosing to sit and watch TV instead of going outside for a walk, for example? impact your pet? In this example, by making the choice not to be active, are you also preventing your pet from getting the exercise he or she needs? I find it worthwhile every so often to reflect on what choices I?m making and what outcomes those choices lead to, both for myself and for my pets. If you take the time to reflect and find that there are some areas in your life where you can improve, commit to making the choice to do things differently? to do things better. If you do, I think you?ll find that this might be the best year yet? for yourself and for your pets. Enjoy the issue! -Kristin 4

THETIPPINGPOINT

Teddy, an An at olian Sh eph er d m ix. Ph ot o cr edit : Jen Th acker y

In his 2000 book The Tipping Point, Malcolm Gladwell talks about ?that magic moment when an idea, trend, or social behavior crosses a threshold, tips, and spreads like wildfire.? Everything I do is to support the tipping point that I know will eventually arrive when it comes to changing how we feed our dogs and cats. This magazine? my book Let Food Be Their Medicine: Using Nature?s Principles to Help Your Dog Thrive? the conversations and consultations I have both with pet owners and people who are working to bring about awareness and change? all of these things are to contribute to the tipping point when raw feeding will cross a threshold, tip, and spread like wildfire. When I watched the documentary Pet Fooled (available to rent or buy through several different platforms, including Amazon), I was blown away. Here was a full-length feature documentary about pet food, or perhaps more accurately, about how the pet food industry fails. The information is accessible, understandable, and incredibly timely. I was so excited that a documentary like this has been put out, partly because I live and breathe this stuff and could happily discuss pet nutrition and health all day long, but maybe even more importantly because it showed that the issue is gaining steam. More and more people are realizing that the so-called pet foods manufactured by the pet food industry are inadequate at best and dangerous at worst, and this documentary is proof of that. It?s a clear demonstration of the trend that we are getting to a point where we will no longer accept substandard and even toxic food for our pets. And I can say, without any hesitation at all, that seeing that message symbolized in a film available to everyone is one of the most exciting things I?ve ever seen.

Pet Fooled?s strength is not just that it discusses this very important topic (and I can?t stress enough how important this topic is. Diet is the foundation of health, so if you don?t provide nutritious food to your pets, they will never thrive, leading to a loss of vitality for them and loss of time and money, not to mention massive heartache, for you, as a result of visits to the vet because your dog or cat is sick.). It is also strong in how clearly it presents the information. After watching it, you can?t help but question all that you might think you knew about pet food and its manufacturers. The tipping point doesn?t come from one person or one movie, of course. Every single person that takes up this issue, in whatever form works for them, contributes to the tipping point. I recently had a conversation with someone who was trying to find a way to share the message about species-appropriate raw food diets with other people. I reminded her that each of us contributes in whatever way makes the most sense. I am a writer, so it came naturally to me to start this magazine and write a book. Other people focus on spreading the word by talking to their friends about raw diets (truthfully, I find that once someone switches their dog or cat to a raw diet and sees the incredible difference it makes, they often become ardent supporters of the diet and will discuss it with anyone who is interested). Still other people support the movement simply by choosing, day in and day out, to feed their dogs and cats a raw, species-appropriate diet. There are as many ways to support the paradigm shift that must occur as there are dog and cat owners in the world. The drive to improve our pet?s vitality comes, I believe, from a deep-seated belief that we owe it to our pets, when we take them into our homes and hearts, to give them the best life 6

Thedrivetoimproveour pet?svitalitycomes,I believe,froma deep-seatedbelief that weoweit toour pets,whenwetakethem intoour homesandhearts,togivethemthebest lifepossible. -KristinClark Smoke, a Greyhound, eating a raw meaty bone. Photo credit: Jen Thackery

possible. I fundamentally believe that when people truly understand that there is a better way to do something, and not only that, but that the old way is harmful, the vast majority will change. It is part of human nature that most us are more comfortable doing something if those around us are also doing it. Because of that, the more people who embrace a raw, species-appropriate diet for their cats and dogs, the more people who will be willing to try it for their own pets. Eventually, the tipping point is reached, and our dogs and cats? lives are vastly improved as a result.

If you haven?t watched Pet Fooled, I highly recommend it. Whether you already feed a raw diet or not, watch it. You may learn something that will help you do better by your own pets. Or, maybe you will learn something that you can pass on to a friend or a family member who is still feeding processed pet food. This documentary supported my belief that we are moving in the right direction, and when you watch it, you will be contributing to moving us towards the tipping point. None of us can know when we might reach that tipping point, but that doesn?t make the striving towards it any less important. -By Kristin Clark

Photo credit: Jen Thackery

KIDNEYDISEASEINDOGS Recently, I was digging through some research to figure out the most common reasons people take their dogs to the vet. Almost everything I read indicated that chronic kidney disease is one of the top 10 reasons for owners to seek help for their dogs (and their cats!). Based on the data I reviewed, it was also clear that kidney disease in dogs is on the rise, so in this article we take the opportunity to discuss kidney disease in dogs. Types of kidney f ail ure Before we really dive into the discussion, I should point out that kidney failure in dogs can take one of two forms: acute kidney (or renal) failure, and chronic kidney failure. Acute kidney failure is often triggered by a particular event, such as a severe bacterial infection or a urinary obstruction. It may also come about as a result of the dog ingesting a toxic substance, such as antifreeze or a poisonous plant. Dogs that are severely dehydrated can also develop acute kidney failure. Acut e kidney f ail ure If your dog develops acute kidney failure, he or she will probably exhibit severe vomiting, be very lethargic, and show no interest in food at all. Less frequently, your dog may also appear disoriented, stumble and/ or show a lack of coordination, and/ or strain to urinate. If you suspect that your dog is experiencing acute kidney failure, you should seek medical help immediately.

Elle, a Lhasa Apso mix. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

Chronic kidney f ail ure In this article, we are going to discuss chronic kidney failure. Unlike acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure in dogs often takes months or years to develop. In general, dogs don?t even begin to show symptoms of chronic kidney failure until 70-75% of kidney function has been lost. While not every dog will show the same symptoms, common symptoms of chronic kidney failure include: -

Vomiting Diarrhea Constipation Depression Lethargy Increased thirst 9

Lack of appetite Acute blindness Seizures Bloody urine Weight loss Increased urination (both in frequency and amount)

These symptoms will often come on slowly over a period of time. If you suspect that your dog has chronic kidney failure, your vet can do a blood test and urinalysis. Once it has been diagnosed, though, what should you do? While there isn?t a cure for chronic kidney disease, there are things you can do to help support your dog?s body so that he or she can live as optimal a life as possible. To help you understand what your options are, it is important to understand a little bit about the kidneys themselves.

Underst anding t he kidneys The kidneys are part of the body?s filtration system. They help the body filter out waste products (such as glucose, salts, urea, and uric acid) and extra water from the blood. The waste products and extra water become urine, which then goes to the bladder and is excreted. While the kidneys are capable of filtering an extraordinary amount of waste, if there is a build-up of toxins in the body, they may not be able to filter it out quickly enough; if this happens, the kidneys may become clogged. Over time, this can compromise kidney function and lead to them being extremely over-worked or even damaged. In these instances, chronic kidney failure often results. When the kidneys are supported and aren?t subjected to more toxins than they can handle, they are much less likely to become clogged or damaged.

King, an American Bully, enjoying a raw meaty bone. Photo credit: Kim Bloomer

Addressing kidney f ail ure So, what do you do if your dog has chronic kidney failure? The answer often depends on how far gone the kidneys are, but no matter what, it is important that you aim to reduce the toxin load on the kidneys. This means ensuring that your pet isn't subjected to or comes into contact with toxic substances (over-the-counter preventives, herbicides, pesticides, and so on) and that you follow the eight laws of health (more about this in a minute).

systems? are designed to handle a raw meaty bones diet. The key is to feed them high quality, raw protein; this ensures that their bodies can assimilate the nutrients with a minimum of effort, and that they don?t end up taking in more toxins with their food. Studies are being done that support the fact that restricting protein intake in dogs with chronic kidney failure does not actually aid in renal function; based on these studies, even some conventional vets are beginning to understand that restricting protein is not useful.

Many people also recommend diets low in sodium for dogs with kidney failure. While a While most treatments for chronic kidney species-appropriate raw food diet does not have disease include dietary changes, conventional an excessive amount of sodium, many practice advises us to feed dogs with kidney processed dog foods do. Again, high quality, raw failure a low-protein diet. However, this belief meat, bones, and glands will be easily and appears to be a result of research that was readily assimilated by your dog's body; in other done on kidney disease in rats. Unlike dogs, words, the kidneys won?t be further taxed when rats are omnivores, and they are not equipped your dog eats this way, because more toxins to handle high amounts of protein. Our dogs, aren?t being introduced. on the other hand, are carnivores, and they? from their dentition to their digestive Diet ary considerat ions

Knox, an English Mastiff, eating a raw meaty bone in the snow. The proper diet is vital to the health of the kidneys. Photo credit: Jennifer Lee

As I mentioned earlier, following the eight laws of health is vital when dealing with a dog with chronic kidney failure. We touched a bit on the first law of health, nutrition, which is one of the best ways to support the body when it is comprised. Feeding a high-quality diet of organic, pasture-raised meat that is antibiotic and hormone-free is crucial. There is evidence among humans that small frequent meals are easier for the kidneys to process than larger, infrequent meals. Therefore, if your dog has chronic kidney failure, you may want to try feeding them three or four times per day instead of just once per day. However, keep in mind that humans have completely different digestive systems than dogs; monitor your dog and if it seems like they are doing better with larger, more infrequent meals, do that instead. If your dog has chronic kidney failure, you will need to pay attention to how much phosphorous they are consuming. Keep in mind, though, that it should not be removed completely. Following a species-appropriate raw diet, either by feeding whole prey or prey model, will ensure that your pet gets the right balance of phosphorous. You may need to adjust somewhat if the disease has become severe? for example, you may want to focus on feeding meatier bones such as poultry breasts or thighs, and avoiding bones with less meat, such as poultry backs and wings. You may want to avoid beef and pork ribs as well. You may decide to feed egg shells instead of feeding bone at all. Make sure, though, that you do continue to feed bone or eggshell, as these contain calcium and other nutrients that are vital for keeping the system functioning as smoothly as possible. Calcium is important in part because it binds to phosphorous and helps to remove excess amounts of phosphorous from your dog?s body.

Fattier meats can also help to reduce phosphorous levels, but remember that they should be fed raw to avoid overtaxing the other organs (especially the pancreas) and to help ensure that all of the proteins and nutrients are in a form that is usable by your dog?s body. Many dogs with kidney failure show signs of depression, dizziness, and muscle weakness. Magnesium can help the body return to balance and overcome these issues, and can be found in a wide variety of whole food sources, including rabbit, chicken, turkey, pork, goat, ostrich, eggs, beef, salmon, sardines, and bison. Omega-3s are an essential fatty acid (meaning that they are vital to the proper functioning of your dog?s system, but your dog cannot produce them itself) that, among other things, help support the kidneys. Fish and fish oil are a good source of omega-3s for dogs. Flax seed oil, on the other hand, is very difficult for dogs to break down and assimilate. You may also consider giving probiotics and digestive enzymes to your pet. If you choose to give it as a supplement, look for one that?s specifically formulated for dogs, and if your pet will eat it, choose a powder that you can sprinkle on the food rather than a capsule. Raw green tripe is loaded with probiotics and digestive enzymes, and it allows dogs to get these nutrients from a whole food source. As you can see, a balanced species-appropriate raw food diet is vital for supporting a dog with chronic kidney disease; however, there are a few other things that are also important. Exercise Exercise (the second law of health) is very important for keeping your dog's body systems functioning as normally and optimally as possible. If your dog is very weak, you can try a 12

short gentle walk, or even try holding your dog while gently bouncing on a trampoline. This can be very helpful in flushing out the circulatory system. Wat er Another law of health is providing your dog with fresh, clean, pure water. It is important that you give pure, filtered water? remember, we want to avoid introducing more toxins into your dog?s system. Most tap water contains high levels of toxins, such as chlorine, fluoride, and other chemicals, along with trace amounts of aluminum, nitrates, insecticides, herbicides, and even prescription medications (for more information, please see the August/ September 2015 issue of Raw Pet Digest). So, give your pet filtered water, especially if their kidneys are already overloaded with toxins. CoQ10 suppl ement at ion Research has been done that shows that one milligram of CoQ10 per pound of body weight daily may help reduce

creatinine levels. Creatinine, the waste product of creatine, is normally filtered out of the blood by the kidneys. However, when the kidneys stop functioning properly, they are unable to filter out the creatinine effectively. Creatinine levels in the blood is one of the ways to determine whether a dog is in kidney failure, and if so, how advanced it is. As I mentioned, though, some small studies have shown that CoQ10 may help to reduce creatinine levels. Concl usion Unfortunately, in general, damage done to the kidneys is not reversible. However, there are many things you can do to help support the kidneys and ensure that they function in as optimal a level as possible. This article discussed some of the things you may want to consider if your dog has chronic kidney failure; for more information, or for information specific to your dog, contact a qualified animal naturopath (visit https:/ / www.animalnaturopathy.org/ practitioners/ for a list of certified practitioners). -By Kristin Clark

Midge, a Redbone Coonhound, enjoying a species-appropriate whole prey meal. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

THEBEGINNER'SCORNER

Daiqu ir i as an ador able k it t en . Ph ot o cr edit : Devin Nelson

Here at Raw Pet Digest, we aim to bring you information that will help you support your dog or cat in living the best life possible. We know that each of our readers is in a different stage on the journey of exploring and implementing a more natural approach to health care for their pets. In light of this, we have decided to introduce a regular series called The Beginner?s Corner. This series will include a wide variety of topics ranging from feeding to fasting, from basic first-aid care to introductions to natural healing modalities. If you are a long-time reader of Raw Pet Digest, or if you have been involved in natural health care for your pet for a long time, you may already be familiar with the information we present in The Beginner?s Corner. We hope that, by including it in its own series, we will help those who are new to these concepts

understand them in more depth, while at the same time make it easy for those who are already knowledgeable about these topics to quickly decide whether or not they want to review them. When we were thinking about what to talk about in the first article in this series, we realized that there really was no better place to start than at the heart of naturopathy: the eight laws of health. Understanding the eight laws of health is vital to understanding how to effectively support your pet in achieving optimum vitality and wellness. To understand the nuances of the naturopathic approach to helping your pet thrive, you must understand the eight laws of health. And so, we return to our foundation in this article, which provides an overview of the eight laws. I hope that you find it helpful, whether you are reading about

Tan n er , a Weim ar an er m ix, playin g in t h e sn ow. Ph ot o cr edit : Jen Th acker y

these laws for the first time or just reviewing them as a refresher. Naturopathy is a powerful way of supporting the body to heal itself naturally. At its foundation, naturopathy relies on proper nutrition to achieve true wellness. However, nutrition alone does not give the body enough to heal itself and maintain balance. Besides nutrition, there are seven other laws of health that must be adhered to for complete wellness. Each law is vital and must be followed; failure to do so means that eventually the body will be thrown out of balance and dis-ease will occur. By following the eight laws of health, all living beings can remain in balance and thereby prevent or cure dis-ease. This holds true for carnivores, such as dogs, cats, and ferrets; herbivores, such as horses; and omnivores, such as people.

allow us to approach health care organically, holistically, and naturally, while retaining our own power and letting go of our fear.

Of course, while this concept is simple, it does not necessarily follow that it is ?easy,? especially since over time we have been conditioned to do what is convenient instead of what is right. We have also been led to believe that those in authority (such as vets and doctors) possess accurate knowledge and are somehow omnipotent forces to which we should surrender all authority. We have been told that health care (which, in our modern-day world, is more accurately labeled disease care), whether it is for ourselves or our pets, means addressing and suppressing symptoms instead of viewing the individual as a whole? mind/ body/ spirit. Embracing the naturopathic path means taking responsibility for our own animal?s lives, along with our own lives, instead of surrendering that responsibility to someone else. It means taking a truly holistic approach towards caring for our animals and ourselves. The eight laws of health guide us in all of these things, though, and

Nutrition, which is the first law of health, is at the core of naturopathy. Broadly defined, nutrition as it relates to this law means species-appropriate food in the appropriate quantities. This means that carnivores must be fed a diet appropriate to a meat eater? in other words, raw meat, bones, organs, and glands. In the last hundred years or so, however, pet food companies have managed to convince us that the correct diet to feed our animals are processed, biologically inappropriate foods. Unfortunately, these processed, biologically inappropriate foods throw our animals? bodies out of balance and lead to acute conditions which, if allowed to continue, will eventually become full-blown chronic illnesses. Take a bag of dog kibble, for example. When the dog eats the kibble, its body perceives the kibble as a foreign invader and moves to attack it. That it does this should come as no surprise; 80% of the body?s immune system is in the gut. When the

My 14-year-old cat, Gryphon, enjoying sunshine and fresh air. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

Embracingthenaturopathicpathmeanstakingresponsibilityfor our ownanimal?slives,alongwithour ownlives,insteadof surrenderingthat responsibilitytosomeoneelse. -Krist in Cl ark

Merlin playing in the snow. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

immune system is healthy, energy (electricity) flows freely and the body is balanced. The kibble, though, has little to no electrical frequency/ energy. It is essentially made up of some combination of ?4-D? animals (dead, diseased, dying, disabled) and grains (which are essentially poor quality chaff). These are then cooked at very high temperatures and synthetic vitamins and minerals are added back in (often with other synthetic materials, depending on the brand). The kibble can cause a flood of basophils, which then release chemicals like histamines. This can result in symptoms such as itching, vomiting, and diarrhea? to say nothing of the fact that the dog could not get the nutrients it has evolved to need. This means that in addition to its body spending energy attacking what it perceives as a threat, the dog?s essential energy is not replenished. If this continues, the body?s acute reaction can become a chronic condition. The second law of health is exercise. All animals must have appropriate exercise, both for their species and for themselves as individuals. Horses, for example, were designed to be able to move fast when necessary to escape from predators. This means that, unlike cows, horses are ?trickle feeders? that continuously eat small amounts over long periods of time. They evolved that way so they aren?t bogged down with lots of heavy food in their stomachs at any one time. This means that, in order to thrive, they must constantly move as they graze and forage. They constantly eat small amounts while standing and moving, in general between 14 and 16 hours per day. This constant movement, interspersed with periods of intense effort (running and playing) keeps their lymph systems healthy, their blood pumping properly, and their feet at the appropriate length. Dogs and cats must also exercise, although unlike

horses they do not tend to move constantly for hours at a time. They must have intense exercise (taking into account, of course, their age, condition, and any other factors, such as whether or not they are currently recovering from some sort of disease). This exercise (such as a good run) pumps their lymph nodes, much as the heart pumps the blood, and also keeps them from becoming obese. Exercise also helps our pets drain excess energy that otherwise might come out in very inconvenient ways (anyone who has dealt with a cat pouncing on their feet and biting their toes while they?re trying to sleep, or had their dog chew up the furniture while they?re away, can attest to this!). All animals, of course, need pure, clean water. In this day and age, that means filtered water that is free of chlorine and fluoride. Making sure that animals have access to pure water at all times is essential, for without this pure water, their bodies cannot function properly. Like us, our animals are about 70% water, and they must be able to maintain that level for all

Knox and Clarice, English Mastiffs, playing in the water. Photo credit: Jennifer Lee

systems to function properly. If we look at it even more closely, we find that blood is 83% water, muscles are 75% water, the brain is 95% water, and the lungs are 90% water. Clearly, water is critical, both to maintain and cleanse the body. Sunlight, which is one aspect of the fourth law of health, is critically important to your animal?s overall wellbeing. Of course, as we will see later, all things must be done in moderation, so it is not beneficial for either our animals or us to go out and bake in the sun for hours at a time. However, animals have an innate sense of how much sunlight they need. By giving them access to sunshine and letting them decide how long to stay in the sun, they will ensure they get enough sun. My own dogs regularly go outside and sun themselves daily, even when it?s 100Â°F or more, but often it?s only for 10 minutes or so at a time. Then they move to the shade or come back inside, before going back into the sun a little while later. Because they innately know to practice moderation when it comes to time spent in the sun, they don?t get sunburned, and they get all the benefits the sun provides. The other aspect of the fourth law of health is supplements. It is important to realize that most animals have had some sort of damage done because their owners have not followed the eight laws of health. Therefore, a species-appropriate diet and supplements help repair the damage that has been done. Some examples of supplements are probiotics, enzymes, and colostrum. Probiotics and enzymes are especially important when switching carnivores from a kibble diet to a raw diet. If you feed a processed-food diet, it's highly likely that your dog's enzymes, vitamins, and minerals are depleted. Often, they're further reduced by vaccines and other ?preventatives? (such as flea and tick medicines and heartworm pills) we give

them as a matter of course. Supplements may be needed to help build back appropriate levels of various nutrients, enzymes, beneficial flora, minerals, and vitamins. Even after switching to a raw diet, though, supplements may still be needed. Because so much of our soil has been depleted through improper management, the herbivores that graze on the soil are also depleted, and that depletion moves up the chain to the carnivores when they eat the already-depleted herbivores. Temperance, or moderation, is the next law of health. This comes into play in so many areas of naturopathy and health care. When I think of this law, it reminds me to slow down and be OK with taking things a step at a time. Nature works over the course of time, and as long as balance is achieved over time, a perfect formula does not have to be followed each and every day. Follow moderation with feeding: feed your pets the correct amount of food for their species and as individuals. Overfeeding, even if your pets are on a SARF (species-appropriate raw food) diet, can lead to obesity. It?s also important to feed the right things in moderation. For example, while bones are very important for carnivores, just eating bones without moderating them with other foods will lead to an imbalance, just as only eating meat without the bones will lead to an imbalance. Temperance reminds us to maintain a balance in everything we do, which in turn maintains health. Giving our animals access to fresh air is the sixth law of health. Hopefully, by letting them have an appropriate amount of sunlight and exercising them appropriately each day, they will get lots of fresh air, but it is important to keep fresh air moving as much as possible 19

throughout the day, for our sakes and theirs. This means opening up the house or office, if possible, even if you only open the windows a small amount because of the weather. This will keep everything fresh and will also help mentally and emotionally. Making sure that we, along with our pets, get plenty of fresh air, is one of the things that truly nurtures the mind, body, and spirit.

the other hand, allows the body to cure itself, which can be a long, slow process. It can involve a healing response (also sometimes called a healing crisis). If you begin to fear that the process is not working or try to suppress the symptoms of the healing response, the process will be halted and healing won?t take place. It is vitally important to remember this law and trust the process One of the biggest examples of rest rather than going back to conventional (seventh law of health) for our animals is medicine. fasting. Fasting reduces inflammation and is The role of mind/ body/ spirit cannot be a form of healing. Fasting, which is done by overlooked in any discussion about animals in the wild, gives the body a break naturopathy. While conventional medicine from the duties of digestion. When the body takes a mechanistic and reductionist view of is sick, it must focus on healing? it cannot health and the body, naturopathy looks at the heal and digest at the same time. When individual holistically. When the mind and fasting, the body detoxes by digesting spirit are depressed, the immune system morbid matter and pushing it out. You can (which is innate and throughout the whole fast your dogs by feeding them once per day organism) is also depressed, and therefore and/ or skipping feeding them for one day. not operating at full efficiency. On the other Experiment with fasting and see what works hand, when the mind and spirit are happy and for your dog. And of course, on their rest light, energy flows more freely throughout day, you don?t need to exercise them the whole individual. Everything is connected. intensely (remember the fifth law of health: As Caroline Myss says in her 1996 book all things in moderation!)? just let them Anatomy of the Spirit: rest. ?As neurobiologist Dr. Candace Pert has The eighth and final law of health is trust. Just like each of the other laws, this one is vitally important. Naturopathy is slow to work, and if you do not have trust in the process, you will not stay the course. As I mentioned above, we have been conditioned to believe that our vets know more than we do about how to properly care for our animals. However, what vets do, most of the time, is disease care, not health care. They suppress symptoms instead of healing the root problem. Naturopathy, on

proven, neuropeptides? the chemicals triggered by emotions? are thoughts converted into matter. Our emotions reside physically in our bodies and interact with our cells and tissues. In fact, Dr. Pert can no longer separate the mind from the body, she says, because the same kinds of cells that manufacture and receive emotional chemistry in the brain are present throughout the body.? Myss goes on to quote Dr. Pert as saying, ?Clearly, there?s another form of energy that we have not yet understood. For example, 20

there?s a form of energy that appears to leave the body when the body dies? Your mind is in every cell of your body.? Our animals pick up on our energy and often take our emotions into themselves, so if you feel negative about the healing response your dog is experiencing, for example, or if you are worried about your cat?s sickness, the emotion becomes a part of the animal?s being as well; this depresses their immune system and makes it more difficult for their bodies to handle it. Therefore, it is really important

to stay positive. The added bonus is that staying positive will have a beneficial effect on your own health as well as your animal! At its essence, naturopathy is about supporting the mind/ body/ spirit to come back to and maintain balance. Naturopathy uses nutrition as the foundation for this, but as we have seen, every one of the eight laws of health is absolutely vital to keeping the body in balance. To truly support our animals on their path to true, sustained health, we must look at the mind/ body/ spirit connection and treat them holistically, rather than working to suppress symptoms and looking at the body from a mechanistic and reductionist viewpoint. And, just as importantly, we must remember that every individual, whether that individual is a human or an animal, possesses the innate ability to heal him or herself. -By Kristin Clark

Motley, a Portuguese Podengo Pequeno mix. Motley thrives with natural vitality in large part because we follow the eight laws of health with his care. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

THEBLESSINGS

OFTHEDAY

A ver y h appy Gr eyh ou n d. Ph ot o cr edit : Jen Th acker y

In this issue?s appreciation page, I want to do something a little bit different. But before I get to that, let me take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation to all the people who have helped make this issue of Raw Pet Digest the best that it can be. To that end, I want to share special thanks for Adam Gilbert, Bre Altherr, Jen Thackery, Milton Clark, Tracy Dion, Chelsea Uribe, Mardi Linane, Devin Nelson, Jamie and Allen Reitz, Kim Bloomer, Jennifer Lee, and Kevin Peuhkurinen for their contributions of article ideas and pictures. I am so grateful for all of them, and I am also humbled by their continual willingness to support the mission of this magazine. My thanks doesn?t end there, though. As I was putting this issue together, I started thinking about all the people who have taken personal accountability and responsibility for their pet?s welfare. I thought of all the people who use their own critical thinking and observational skills to help them determine what?s best for their pets. I thought of all the people? in a movement that?s growing larger and stronger every day? who have a genuine desire for their pets to live the happiest, healthiest lives possible, and to that end

have committed to doing everything within their power to make the life of their pet better. With so much misinformation out there, it can be really difficult to figure out what?s best for the health of our animals. So many questions surround how to properly feed and care for dogs and cats. Should I feed a raw diet? Will a raw, species-appropriate diet provide all the nutrients necessary for my dog or cat? I need fruits and vegetables to stay healthy? does my dog? Does my cat? Are parasites and bacteria going to harm my pet if I feed them a raw diet? Is my dog a carnivore or an omnivore? And on and on? so many questions that it can be overwhelming and even paralyzing when trying to figure it all out. Then, you start to look at the bags of processed pet food at your local pet store or grocery store, and it becomes even more confusing. What life stage is my pet at? Do I need to buy a food specifically made to give my pet healthier skin and a better coat? Maybe I should get one that helps them maintain a healthy weight? Maybe I should get one that supports healthy brain function? Oh, but wait, this one over here says that it?s good for supporting healthy joints and muscles. But this one says it?s a good all-around food, and it has peas and carrots in it! I completely understand how tough it can be to figure out the right thing to do, the right thing to feed. I don?t have children (human children, anyway!) of my own, but I imagine that it?s a similar quagmire trying to figure out how to best nourish them growing up. One of the goals at Raw Pet Digest is to help you sift through all the marketing material and misinformation that?s floating around out there, and give you enough information to make an informed, knowledgeable choice about what to feed your pet and how to help them live a life where they thrive. And so, I want to say an extra special thank you for all the people who have realized that something is 23

wrong with the pet food industry, and are taking the time to try and do better by their pets. Thank you to the people who have chosen to take back personal responsibility for their pet?s health and vitality, rather than turning it over to a pet food manufacturer whose sole interest is in making a profit. Thank you to the people who are willing to push past the fear? fear that we?ve all been conditioned to have? that might stop them from questioning what the marketing on a pet food bag tells them. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, to every single person

who is taking steps to give their pets a healthier, happier, more balanced, more vital and thriving life. Our pets are completely at our mercy when it comes to what they eat, and when you choose to feed and care for them according to their needs rather than just on what is convenient or mainstream, you support them in health. They, in turn, repay it back a hundred times over, with unconditional love and devotion. On their behalf, and on behalf of dogs and cats everywhere, thank you.

Cleo, our Canaan dog mix, enjoying a nap by the fire. Photo credit: Adam Gilbert

-By Kristin Clark

THEMANBEHINDTHE CURTAIN

Remember the movie The Wizard of Oz? Dorothy, played by Judy Garland, believes that the wizard will be able to help her get home. The Tin Man believes that the wizard will be able to give him a heart. The Scarecrow? He believes that the wizard will be able to give him brains. And the Cowardly Lion? He?s visiting the wizard for a magical dose of bravery. Together, they (along with Dorothy?s adorable little black dog Toto) journey down the Yellow Brick road until they get to the wizard?s home: the Emerald City, the capital of Oz itself. At first, the wizard appears as a giant face, surrounded by smoke and flames and mist. His voice is loud, booming, intimidating. He sends them away with orders to defeat the Wicked Witch of the West before he?ll consider granting their requests. After they defeat the Wicked Witch of the West, they return to the palace and present him with her staff as proof that she?s been destroyed. The wizard, you may remember, appears again as a giant green face. He tells them to come back the next day, because he needs more time to consider their request. They are understandably upset? they trusted that he would help them if they did what he asked, and now he appears to be breaking his word. Toto slips away from the group, runs over to the side of the room where a curtain is draped, and pulls the curtain back. When he does this, he reveals an ordinary man using parlor tricks to appear to be a magical being. When this man? who is soon revealed to be the wizard? realizes that he?s been discovered, he first tries to pull the curtain shut again, and then, realizing that they have seen him, he says, ?Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!?

The Wizard of Oz was released in 1939, and it was popular among viewers and critics. Released again for TV in 1956, it became wildly successful. Its popularity, of course, made the Ruby Slippers, the Yellow Brick Road, the song ?Over the Rainbow,? flying monkeys, and Munchkins familiar to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. But along with those things, the movie also introduced its audiences, in a very real way, to ?the man behind the curtain.? Until Toto pulled the curtain back on him, the wizard in The Wizard of Oz had all of the people in the Emerald City, as well as the people in the surrounding countryside, convinced that he was truly capable of magic. Through slick tricks and the power of suggestion, the people believed that he had magical powers. They surrendered authority to him, making him ruler of all of Oz. And if someone ever doubted that he was all he claimed to be, they didn?t question it; after all, everyone they knew believed in the wizard, and a challenge to him would undoubtedly be met with resistance.

A black Cairn Terrier, similar to Toto in The Wizard of Oz. ÂŠ Anna Krivitskaia | Dreamstime.com

Once the wizard was revealed, though, there was no going back. Dorothy and her friends realized the magic they had believed him to possess was fake. Once Toto exposed the man behind the curtain for what he was, they could nevermore believe him to be the ?Great and Terrible? Oz that he himself claims to be. The Wizard of Oz, of course, was a fictional story. But, like any good story, it weaves together elements of reality to make the story more relatable and authentic. Those realistic elements are a perceptive and insightful commentary on human nature and what?s going on in the world, and the fact that the story continues to resonate with generation after generation is due in large part to the fact that the themes and insights in the movie continue to ring true. The idea of the man behind the curtain is a perfect example of this. When it comes to our pets, the man behind the curtain is not a single, solitary man, easily sent away in a hot air balloon like the wizard in the movie.

Instead, the man behind the curtain is both the pet food industry and the pet health care industry. Using what seems to be magic, they are skilled at showing people what they want to see, even though, often, there isn?t any substance to back it up. Take the pet health care industry, for example. As we?ve discussed in previous issues of Raw Pet Digest, often symptom suppression is presented as a cure. If your pet is ill and you take it to a vet, they often prescribe a pill (an antibiotic or a steroid, for example) that seems to magically cure your pet. They have lots of explanations for what the pill does and why it works, but those explanations, when subjected to close scrutiny, are really just fancy ways of saying that the symptom was suppressed, often with more damage being done than if it had just been left alone. I?m not implying in this article that, if your pet is ill, nothing should be done. But to truly cure your pet, the root cause of the issue, not the symptom, must be addressed. The man behind the curtain has convinced the majority of pet owners that there is no difference between the two. And what happens? Often, the symptoms come back

Ollie, the cat who was the inspiration for Catcentric.org, founded by Tracy Dion. Photo credit: Tracy Dion

Bypullingthecurtain back?researching, asking questions,andtakingacold,hard lookat thefacts?you helpensure your pet hasthebest foundation for healthpossible. Gent and Tula, Greyhounds. Photo credit: Jen Thackery

(recurring infections and chronic diseases are two examples of this), usually worse than before. The man behind the curtain has an answer: bring your pet back, pay money for an exam, and then pay more money for another ?treatment.? Once again, the root cause is often overlooked in favor of suppressing the symptom. And such is the hold that the man behind the curtain has on so many of us that the cycle continues time after time with pet after pet after pet. Think about a pimple (I know, not the most attractive image, but bear with me). When you have a pimple, if you were somehow able to push it back down, would that mean that the issue that caused the pimple in the first place was gone? Or would your body have to work even harder to expel the pus and toxins that caused the pimple in the first place? When we suppress symptoms in our pets, in essence, we are pushing pimples back down. It?s futile and ineffective, but the repeated attempts do bring in a lot of money to the pet health care industry. The man behind the curtain is also alive and well in the pet food industry. Again, it?s not some simple man standing behind an actual curtain, pulling levers and modulating his voice to fool someone into thinking he?s truly a wizard. It is, however, an entire industry that uses marketing? flashy images, slick words, pretty pictures? to convince pet owners that the food that?s in the bag is a healthy, balanced, nutritious choice for their dog or cat. There?s no Toto to pull this curtain back, either, so you have to do it yourself. How do you pull that curtain back? Research. Critical thinking. Observation. Asking questions. Curiosity. When you start to look for yourself, you will quickly find that processed pet food contains

so many ingredients that are either harmful to your pet or completely unnecessary. And the ingredients that may be beneficial have, in most instances, been rendered worthless nutritionally because of the processing that?s been done to them. When Dorothy and her companions first realized that the wizard?s magic wasn?t real and they were on their own, they were understandably upset. The wind had been taken out of their sails. They had put their faith in him, and they had believed that he would be able to help them. When they realized that he didn?t have the powers they ascribed to him, they went through a period of worrying about how to achieve their goals. But what they soon came to understand was that they were strong and self-sufficient in themselves. When you first realize that the pet food industry, and even the pet health care industry, isn?t the magical solution and benevolent authority that you may have once thought, you may experience similar feelings that Dorothy and her friends did. After all, we want to believe that those industries truly have our pets? best interests in mind. But what we will realize, after we pull back the curtain, is that the answers are out there, and they really aren?t as complicated as we have been led to believe. That realization can lead, as it did for Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the Cowardly Lion, to a sense of empowerment, and the added benefit is that your pet will be healthier and happier as a direct result of your increased knowledge. After the massive pet food recalls of the last decade, many more pet owners than ever before began to realize that maybe the pet food industry wasn?t the compassionate and caring entity that it presents itself as. The raw pet food movement is growing: smaller, commercial raw food companies are appearing (and doing very well). The full-length documentary Pet Fooled was just 29

released, exposing a great deal of the issues of the pet food industry. People are writing blogs, articles, and books about how to feed your pet in a healthier, more species-appropriate way. The curtain is being pulled back. And every single person that researches, investigates, and comes to their own conclusions, independent of what the pet food manufacturers tell them, helps to pull that curtain back more. Every dog or cat that thrives on a raw, species-appropriate diet helps to expose the charade for what it is.

all along. At the risk of being overly sentimental, I posit that the power to help your dog or cat be as healthy and well-balanced as possible is within you too. You don?t have to rely on labels and marketing to determine what?s best for your pet. By pulling the curtain back? by doing some research, asking some questions, and taking a cold, hard look at the facts? you can help ensure your own pet has the very best foundation for health possible. And in light of the devotion and unconditional love that they show us every day, what could be better than that?

Dorothy and her friends eventually realized that the answers to their wishes were in them

-By Kristin Clark

Barkley, our English Shepherd mix. It is no exaggeration to say that changing how we feed and care for him ? which we did as a direct result of our research and analysis of the information out there? has made him healthier and happier than he's ever been. Photo credit: Milton Clark

THEDIETOFTHEPETFOODINDUSTRY

Kibble. ÂŠ Alexandro900 | Dreamstime.com

Last night, my husband and I watched the new documentary Pet Fooled. It was phenomenal to see a documentary that highlights some of the issues of the pet food industry (and there are many!). On a side note: if you haven?t watched it, I would highly recommend that you check it out. As I was watching it, though, I was reminded once again of something that I have been thinking about for a long time. Essentially, this is what I?ve come to think of as the ?diet? of the pet food industry.

My husband likes to say, ?It?s all in the sizzle.? What does he mean? The sizzle is the flash, the shiny thing, the slick words? it?s the way someone delivers a message so that someone else buys into that message. The pet food industry (a $23+ billion/ year industry) is built on sizzle. The flashy packaging, the catchy words, the pretty pictures, the implied benefits? this is the sizzle that makes pet owners trust the product in the bag or can is, first of all, food that can nourish their pet, and secondly, beneficial and nutritious instead of dangerous and devoid of any real nutritional benefit. 31

How do they do this? When you walk down the pet food aisle of a pet store or the supermarket, the choices can be overwhelming, there are so many of them. Your brain can?t possibly filter through all the options, and usually you get overwhelmed. When you?re overwhelmed, you can?t be as discerning. You step forward to look at a particular package, and you see a picture of a dog or cat. They have a shiny coat, an alert expression, bright eyes. Maybe they?re romping through a field or snuggling with a person. They look happy. Your brain downloads that image and associates it with that food. You see words like ?natural,? ?balanced,? ?optimal,? ?thriving,? or even ?organic.? Those words sound good, right? But what they don?t put on the bag is that what they mean by those words is very different from what you understand those words to mean. For example, the term ?natural? for pet food has been legally

defined to mean: A feed or ingredient derived solely from plant, animal or mined sources either in its unprocessed state or having been subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, purification, extraction, hydrolysis, enzymolysis, or fermentation, but not having been produced by or subject to a chemically synthetic process and not containing any additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic except in the amounts as may occur unavoidably in good manufacturing practices. When you look closely at this, you see that something can be subject to physical processing, heat processing, rendering, extraction, and so on, and still be considered natural. It can also contain additives or processing aids that are chemically synthetic, as long as they occur in an amount that someone decided is ?unavoidable in good manufacturing practices.? It does not mean it has to be in the same state as you would find it in nature, as you might assume. Additionally, if the pet food manufacturer uses ?natural? to refer to a

Sumo, an American Staffordshire Terrier. Photo credit: Chelsea Uribe

specific ingredient, they can add other plant, animal, or even mined products that don?t fall under the definition of ?natural? to the pet food. That?s because the legal definition only requires them to use natural to refer to a specific ingredient, not the whole food. So, if you had a product called Fido?s Treats with Natural Beef Flavor, everything except for the beef flavor would be exempt from the ?natural? definition. And, just to be even more confusing and tricky, the use of the word ?flavor? means that they don?t even have to have actual beef in the treat.

using ?organic? on their labels, but this is problematic because AAFCO is not a regulatory agency. Also, because there is no regulation on pet food names, companies can use the term ?organic? in their name even if their products are not organic. What about ?human grade? and ?human quality?? These terms are also not legally defined. Pet food manufacturers can?t use them on their labels, but they can (and do) use them on websites and in marketing materials. I could go on, but you get the idea. Essentially, the pet food industry? an unregulated, multi-billion-dollar industry? is master of the sizzle. They are committed to making a profit, and they have figured out how to do that. Unfortunately, they are not similarly committed to your pet?s health.

What about the term ?holistic?? It has no legal definition when it comes to pet food, so pet food companies can use it on their packaging without actually meaning anything. Same for ?gluten free.? This is not legally defined for pet food, and when many so-called ?gluten-free? pet foods are tested, It?s not just sizzle. The pet food industry also relies on, requires, and thrives on a diet of fear, gluten is often found. ignorance, and blind trust. They promote fear ?Organic? is legally defined for human food, about feeding raw diets, although there are no but not for pet food. There are no regulations independent studies to back up their assertions. or labeling standards when companies use it. They rely on people blindly trusting that the AAFCO does recommend that pet foods avoid industry is primarily interested in promoting health among our dogs and cats. They rely on people not questioning what?s really going into the food. They rely on people giving up personal accountability to make sure that what they?re feeding their pets is healthy, nutritious, and free of toxins and other harmful or unnecessary ingredients. In this day and age, we are all so busy that we often surrender our authority and accountability in the name of convenience without a second thought. It can be time-consuming and daunting to research the dangers of processed pet food, and it can seem difficult at the outset to find healthy, safe alternatives. But when we surrender Raw meat chunks. The picture of raw meat on the bags of pet accountability and responsibility to a profit-driven food are not an accurate representation of what's in the bag. industry, our pets pay the price, and when we stop ÂŠ Louella38 | Dreamstime.com 33

to look at how much time and money is spent on caring for sick animals, it calls into question whether surrendering this accountability is truly more convenient. The pet food industry is closely tied with the pet health care industry. When we look closely at these two industries, the similarities are mind-blowing. I am not necessarily referring to individual vets; rather, I am referring to the industry? the machine? as a whole. The diet is the same: the sizzle. For the pet health care industry, the sizzle is in the apparent magic of symptom suppression. It?s in the big words used to identify whatever you pet is diagnosed with. It?s in the white coat and the stethoscope? after all, we are conditioned to trust in someone wearing a white coat and a stethoscope, and we are conditioned to surrender authority to that person. The pet health care industry also requires blind trust, fear, and the relinquishment of personal accountability. The industry counsels against raw diets, saying: The AVMA [American Veterinary Medical Association] discourages the feeding to cats and dogs of any animal-source protein that has not first been subjected to a process to eliminate pathogens because of the risk of illness to cats and dogs as well as humans. Cooking or pasteurization through the application of heat until the protein reaches an internal temperature adequate to destroy pathogenic organisms has been the traditional method used to eliminate pathogens in animal-source protein, although the AVMA recognizes that newer technologies and other methods such as irradiation are constantly being developed and implemented. Animal-source proteins of concern include beef, pork, poultry, fish, and other meat from

domesticated or wild animals as well as milk and eggs. Several studies reported in peer-reviewed scientific journals have demonstrated that raw or undercooked animal-source protein may be contaminated with a variety of pathogenic organisms, including Salmonella spp, Campylobacter spp, Clostridium spp, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus. Cats and dogs may develop foodborne illness after being fed animal-source protein contaminated with these organisms if adequate steps are not taken to eliminate pathogens; secondary transmission of these pathogens to humans (eg, pet owners) has also been reported. If that isn?t based on fear, I don?t know what is. Reading this, someone might buy into the fear that?s being promoted, until they remember that dogs and cats are carnivores and have evolved mechanisms to deal with any bacteria or parasites that might be found in raw, species-appropriate food. They also may buy into the fear tactic that is prevalently on display in this recommendation, until they remember that many people handle raw meat daily when cooking for their own families, and that good sanitation and hygiene practices can ensure that bacteria and other pathogens are not an issue. The diet of the pet food industry, along with the diet of the pet health care industry, is made up of sizzle, blind trust, fear, ignorance, and the surrender of authority. I think it?s time to stop feeding that diet. Let?s instead aim for transparency, critical thinking, the reclaiming of personal responsibility and accountability, and knowledge. The outcome of a diet like that leads to healthy, thriving, balanced pets. And that?s exactly as it should be. -By Kristin Clark 34

COLDLASERTHERAPY Cold laser therapy is an excellent, non-invasive way to help provide relief for your pet, especially if they are experiencing any of the following: -

Arthritis Fractures Joint, ligament, or tendon injuries Nerve injuries Post-surgical incisions Skin abrasions or lesions Sprained or strained muscles Wounds

Cold laser therapy differs from hot laser treatments in that cold laser therapy treats the surface of the skin, while hot laser treatments treat deeper tissues. However, cold laser therapy is still effective in addressing the issues listed above because of how it works. Essentially, cold laser therapy uses a beam of light to send photons into tissue without damaging it. The photons are then absorbed in the mitochondria of the cells, where they cause a chemical change known as photo-biomodulation. This change causes the cell to start producing ATP, which is necessary for cell repair and rejuvenation. When a cell is injured or otherwise impaired, its ability to produce ATP is compromised, and it can?t repair itself. Because the cold laser stimulates increased ATP production, the cell is able to repair and rejuvenate. This allows the cell to more rapidly absorb nutrients, eliminate waste, and produce new cells.

Cleo, our senior dog. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

This in turn leads to: -

Reduced inflammation Reduced swelling Increased circulation Faster healing Alleviation of pain (chronic and acute) Endorphin release

Because the laser is a sterile, non-invasive, pain-free, and drug-free treatment, it is an excellent modality to use in a variety of situations. It has no known side effects, and because it supports the body in healing itself, it can be a powerful and effective tool to help speed up healing and relieve pain in your dog or cat. One of the best things about the laser is that it often causes the animal being treated to relax, just as you would relax if you were getting a massage. The laser emits a gentle warmth, and because there is almost instant pain relief, dogs and cats generally relax and seem to enjoy the laser treatment. 35

During cold laser therapy, there is no need to clip the fur off the affected area. For some chronic problems, multiple sessions may be needed, but in other instances just one or two sessions will have a significant impact. The bottom line? If you have a dog or cat that has some sort of injury, is experiencing chronic or acute pain, has had surgery, or has some kind of

wound, cold laser therapy may be a wonderful option for them. As you can see, cold laser therapy, like other natural healing modalities we?ve explored in Raw Pet Digest, supports the body to heal itself, and it does it in a safe, non-invasive, effective way. -By Kristin Clark

Ryu, a happy and healthy Rottweiler. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

LETFOODBE THEIR MEDICINE

For some time now, I have been getting lots of questions from people who have talked to their vets about raw diets. Their vets, they tell me, have warned them about the dangers of feeding their dogs a raw diet. They have counseled avoiding a raw diet completely, or at least only changing from a processed pet food under the strict guidance of a veterinary nutritionist. Some pet owners have contacted me to tell me that, while it seemed to them that their pet was thriving on a raw diet, once they spoke with their vet about it (usually at an annual wellness check or when they came in for their pets?vaccines), they got so scared by what their vet was saying that they decided to switch their pet back to a ?balanced? processed food. If you are reading this and already feed a species-appropriate raw food diet to your dog or cat, there is a good chance that your vet may try to convince you to stop feeding your pet this way. If you don?t yet feed a raw diet, there is an equally high chance that your vet will do everything they can to try and convince you never to start. This is not to say that every vet says that a raw, species-appropriate diet is dangerous or wrong. There are vets out there who support it, and there are also vets out there who say that they don?t have enough information to make an informed decision. But the fact remains that the vast majority of vets still do not support a raw carnivore diet for dogs and cats. Because I and others that I?ve discussed this with have encountered so many people who have experienced a vet counseling them against a raw diet, I decided to address this topic directly in this magazine.

Let me set the stage with an all-too-familiar scenario. Mrs. Smith adopts a dog from her local shelter. The dog? we?ll call him Baxter? almost immediately becomes part of the family. At first, Baxter seems healthy and happy, but eventually Baxter shows signs of skin allergies and itching. She takes Baxter to see the vet, who prescribes steroids and tells her it may be food related. The vet recommends a change in diet, but instead of a complete overhaul, just suggests switching to a different protein. In scenario A, Mrs. Smith decides to buy the food directly from the vet. In scenario B, Mrs. Smith buys a different type of food from the same company she had purchased food from before. And in scenario C, she researches the link between pet food and skin allergies, and decides to go with a raw diet. In scenarios A and B, Baxter probably doesn?t get better, because the root cause is never addressed. Instead, his symptoms are suppressed for as long as possible using stronger and stronger medications, but the link to diet is never truly explored. Mrs. Smith continues to bring Baxter in for check-ups and gets medicine for him when he has flare-ups. The vet receives a steady income stream from a client who has the best intentions of helping her dog live the best life possible but doesn?t have all the information. In scenario C, Baxter begins to get better. His symptoms seem worse for a time, but Mrs. Smith has learned about the healing response and supports him through it. Baxter is fed a diet of raw meat, bones, and organs. His meals are balanced over time, and he thrives. Mrs. Smith mentions to her vet how wonderfully Baxter is doing, and she tells her vet that she thinks it?s because of the diet change. The vet asks her what she is feeding him, and she tells him a raw diet. 38

Here?s where, so often, the alarm bells begin to sound. ?A raw diet!? the vet exclaims. ?Raw diets carry a high risk of salmonella and e. coli. And it?s incredibly hard to make sure your dog is getting everything they need from a raw diet. Are you supplementing? How do you make sure they get the fiber they need? How did you learn how to feed a raw diet? So many people who feed this way say that they aim to mimic nature, but your dog is domesticated and isn?t like a wolf or a coyote anymore. When you feed a pet food that you buy, it meets AAFCO requirements to ensure its balanced and complete.? And so on and so on, until poor Mrs. Smith is so bewildered, overwhelmed, and scared that she?s actually harming Baxter that she decides not to feed him a raw diet anymore, and instead puts him back on a processed pet food. Sadly, I have heard countless stories of each of these scenarios playing out over and over and over again. I get emails from people telling me that their vets have advised them not to feed raw anymore, and often they are asking for advice for what to do. I have talked with people about it face-to-face as well. And in the vast majority of these conversations, you know what word people use most to describe how their vet made them feel about a raw diet? Scared. That?s right? people frequently say they?re so afraid to feed a raw diet after talking with their vet that they decide to switch back to kibble or canned food to ?be safe.? If this happens to you, I implore you? hold the vet accountable for what they?re telling you. The very fact that vets use fear to stop people from feeding a particular way should be an indication that emotion, not facts and research, is being used to sway that person from the choice that they are entitled to make. We all

want to make sure that our pets have the happiest, healthiest, best lives possible. That?s not in question. But to make that wish come true, solid information, not emotion, is what?s needed. So, ask your vet for research. Where are the studies that say that feeding kibble or canned food is safer and more species-appropriate for your pet than eating a diet comprised of raw meat, bones, and organs? Where are the studies that say that raw-fed animals shed more salmonella and e. coli than those fed a processed food diet? Where are the studies that show that a dog?s digestive system and dentition are no longer similar to a wild canid, but instead more closely resemble an omnivore?s? Where are the facts that a species-appropriate raw food diet is not balanced? If the vet can provide the research, look at who funded it. Read the studies for yourself. Determine what the studies are actually saying. Find out how extensive the study was. And if your vet can?t provide the research, but instead continues to rely on fear tactics to try to dictate how you feed your cat or your dog, decide whether or not that?s truly in the best interest of you or your pet.

A beautiful Wolfhound eating a raw meaty bone. Photo credit: Kevin Peuhkurinen

Your vet isapartner inmaintainingyour pet?s healthandwellbeing, but heor sheisnot the authorityonhowyoucarefor your pet. Youare. -Krist in Cl ark Juneau, a Husky mix. Photo credit: Jen Thackery

Ask your vet about their own training in carnivore nutrition. Most veterinary schools offer very limited instruction in pet nutrition, and that is often provided by pet food companies themselves. If this is something that they don?t have much training in, try to determine why they are giving you advice about it. Is it lack of education? If so, did they admit to that lack of education and make it clear that this is just their opinion? Ask them how many of their patients are fed a raw meaty bones diet, and find out what the differences are between those animals and animals fed processed food. Ask them to present facts, not opinion, and to be able to support what they are saying.

It is a sad fact that the pet health care industry makes money on animals that are sick. A dog or cat that is thriving does not need the services of a vet. Vets are hit with huge school bills and have to figure out how to pay for school while earning a sustainable living. While I am not implying that vets deliberately keep animals sick, I do think that it is worth considering whether the very nature of the industry? the machine itself? lends itself to making sure pets survive, but perhaps don?t thrive. When the very cornerstone of an industry is fear, it?s hard to imagine a truly healthy and harmonious outcome. Couple that with the fact that vets are expected to know so much

Kitty cuddles. Photo credit: Tracy Dion 41

information that they can?t possibly keep up with it all, and you have a recipe for bad information being passed on, perhaps unknowingly, to pet owners who are surrendering authority to those that they believe have the answers. So often, vets seem to suggest that, unless you have an advanced degree, you can?t feed your dog or cat in such a way that you give them everything they need. Rather than researching how to ensure that an animal gets the nutrients they need, they suggest avoiding a raw diet all together. In this case, ask your vet for research that shows exactly what the AAFCO standards are. Ask for information about concerns about AAFCO standards. Do they have research available that shows what happens to wild canids or felids that don?t get fed a processed food? What about research that shows what happens to wild canids and felids that do get fed a processed food diet? Do they have research that shows exactly what nutrients, in what quantities, and in what frequencies, a dog or cat at any stage of life needs to be optimally healthy? What about research that shows that cooking food is better for a dog or cat?s digestive system than feeding it raw? The more questions you can ask, the better. Knowledge is what allows you to make truly

informed choices. And those truly informed choices must be made by us for our pets; we as pet owners cannot rely on other people? even people like vets, who we so often believe should know everything about the welfare of our pets? to have all the answers when it comes to nutrition. Ultimately, I do believe that most vets want what is best for our pets. Unfortunately, it seems that many of them have a knee-jerk reaction to hearing about species-appropriate raw food diets. Because they have not stopped to think critically about what a dog or cat?s diet should consist of, they continue to perpetuate bad information to pet owners that trust them, and the result is often animals that are fed in a way that is certainly not optimal, and in fact is detrimental. By being prepared to ask your vet for support for their assertions, you give yourself the ability to make decisions based on clear facts and evidence for those facts. You reduce the fear and other negative emotions that can, if left unchecked, cloud your judgment and lead to poor decisions. Your vet is a partner in maintaining your pet?s health and wellbeing, but they are not the sole authority on how you care for your pet. You are. So, hold your vet accountable. Arm yourself with information. Do your own research. Be relentless in separating opinion from supported fact; opinions aren?t necessarily wrong, but knowing that they are opinions will help you decide how much weight you will give them. By keeping these things in the forefront of your mind, you will help ensure your decisions are always based on the best information available. The best information leads to the best choices, and your pet will thrive as a result. -By Kristin Clark

Elle. Photo credit: Kristin Clark