Raw Pet Digest June/July 2016 by rawpetdigest

June/July2016

RAWPETDIGEST

IN THIS ISSUE: -Her b s f o r p et s -Pr ep ar i n g f o r em er g en ci es -Raw f eed i n g an d h eal t h -co m p r o m i sed cat s -Get t i n g t h e sco o p o n p o o p -A n d m u ch m o r e!

Allen, Tracy Dion's beautiful "golden boy," enjoying his cat tree. Photo credit: Tracy Dion

Raw Pet Digest Editor-in-chief: Kristin Clark Technical editor: Dr. Jeannie (Jeannette) Thomason

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All emails and letters become the property of Raw Pet Digest and may be reprinted in future issues.

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

FEATURESAND COLUMNS Letter from the Editor - 4 Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, Oh My! - 5 Getting the Scoop on the Poop - 8 An Ounce of Prevention - 11 The Importance of Trust - 14 The Greatest of Virtues - 20 Raw Feeding and Health-Compromised Cats - 21 Herbs for Pets - 24 Spotlight on Health: Lorin Grow - 29

Grubat, a Maine Coon, taking a nap. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

Beneficial Nematodes - 36 The Cat We Needed - 41

Motley, a Portuguese Podengo, talking to the camera. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

Letter fromtheEditor Welcome to the June/ July 2016 issue of Raw Pet Digest! This issue was put together in the midst of lots of changes for me. While all the changes are good (excellent, in fact!), it still reminds me that change can cause some stress, at least until we get comfortable in the new routine. That feeling? that the earth is shifting under your feet? is one that I think we?ve all experienced. We talk about it in more detail in The Importance of Trust, starting on page 14 in this issue, because that feeling, and how we respond to it, are vital parts of caring for our beloved animals naturally. This issue has lots of practical information about how to support your pet?s body so that it is as balanced and strong as possible. A strong, balanced body? and all the systems that contribute to that body?s functioning? are of course much of what contributes to a healthy pet. But, as you read this issue and think about the information in it, please take a moment to consider how you are supporting your pet?s mind and spirit as well. As we?ve mentioned before, exercise is one of the most neglected of the eight laws of health. Now that the weather is nicer, think about some of the ways that you can bond with your pet while making sure that both of you get some exercise,

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

fresh air, and sunshine. Maybe you go and play a game of fetch with your dog, or take them for a bike ride. Maybe you take your cat out (on a harness and leash) and let them chase after bugs and play in the grass. Maybe you are already giving your pet plenty of exercise, and you choose to take some time each day to quietly sit with them, just reveling in the joy that comes with being with something that loves you unconditionally. Perhaps you share the beauty of a sunset with them, or go exploring together, or watch them playing with another dog or cat friend. Whatever it is, take some time to nurture your pet?s (and your!) mind and spirit. You and they will be happier, healthier, and more at peace because of it. Enjoy the issue! Kristin

SALMONELLA,E.COLI,ANDLISTERIA,OHMY!

Heather the cat, looking out the window. Photo credit: Tracy Dion

The two most common fears that raw feeding neophytes have involve bones and bacteria. In this article, we?re going to focus on the big bad specter of bacteria. Bacteria are everywhere. They are a natural part of our ecosystems and can be found from the depths of the oceans to the heights of the mountains. They are in the soil, in the air, and in the bodies of all animals? including ours. Bacteria are an integral part of the health of this planet and as such, are inescapable. Potentially dangerous bacteria are in our food chain, as evidenced by several recent recalls, in both the produce and meat supplies. Every food we offer our cats has some level of health risk. The question lies not in whether such risks exist, but in the quantification of those risks. Raw meat can be contaminated with bacteria, but kibble can be contaminated with the same pathogens and contains the added dangers of fungus and mold toxins, which have killed and sickened many pets. The Center for Disease Control recommends that pet owners not feed pets in the kitchen or wash their food and water dishes in the kitchen sink or the bathtub, though no such warning has been issued for the daily preparation of the family?s home-cooked chicken or steak dinner.

Commercially-produced cat foods also contain the risks of inadvertent vitamin deficiency or toxicity (or both!), not to mention the quality control issues inherent in the pet food industry?s processing practices. So what?s a kitty owner to do? Why, we provide our cat the fuel her high-performance gastrointestinal system is designed to run on. As an obligate carnivore, she is uniquely, specifically, and extraordinarily well-designed to thrive on the tissues and bones and organs of prey animals, and that is exactly what we should be feeding her. It is the diet that contains the consistently highest-quality nutritional profile and the lowest risk of contaminants. Ah, but what about those pesky, potentially harmful pathogens? As difficult as it may be to believe, it is a basic premise of natural science that cats, like all animals, are born with the tools and conditions necessary to maintain their health. In this case, they have evolved a natural and effective defense against the bacteria found in their foods and environment. It starts right in their mouths, with a salivary enzyme called lysozyme. This enzyme attacks bacteria and other pathogens, and can even neutralize bacteria on their fur during grooming. Bacteria that make it past the mouth hit an extremely acidic stomach that contains hydrochloric acid and several digestive enzymes, which lends to an environment highly inimical to those pathogens. Once past the stomach and into the small intestine, bacteria encounter additional obstacles, including strong antimicrobial agents in the form of bile salts from the liver. The pancreas secretes more enzymes as well as bicarbonate, which breaks down the cell walls of invading bacteria.

Ollie the cat. Photo credit: Tracy Dion

After the small intestine, digestive matter passes through the large intestine, where high levels of beneficial bacteria flourish. This natural intestinal flora competes with any surviving pathogens for resources, preventing them from taking hold and forcing them out of the body. Lysozyme, the initial gate-keeper, is also present throughout the digestive tract and is expelled right along with the cat?s waste.

According to Dr. Celeste Yarnall, the cat?s body is so efficient at managing bacteria that it destroys approximately 98% of the pathogens it ingests. 98% ! That?s as effective as America?s most popular cleaning solutions!

All of this happens very quickly, disallowing pathogens time to multiply. Comparatively-speaking, cats have one of the shortest digestive tracts in the animal kingdom. Their body length-to-digestive tract ratio is only 1:4, compared to 1:6 for the dog, and 1:20 for the cow. Animal-based meals take on average only 12 hours to pass completely through.

-By Tracy Dion

Several studies have shown an intimate relationship between the cat?s natural diet and the animal?s intestinal characteristics; what a cat eats affects how that food is digested. The latest edition of The Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats by the National Research Council (U.S.) Ad Hoc Committee on Dog and Cat Nutrition goes into great depth examining the complexities of this relationship. From the amount and composition of saliva secreted during the meal to the activity of stomach and intestinal enzymes and other digestive secretions to the speed at which food is moved through the digestive tract, high protein/ high moisture diets have a salubrious effect. Eating a raw diet is not only good for the cat from a nutritional perspective? it causes a chain reaction of chemical events that actively increases the cat?s natural defenses against pathogens.

From the first lick to their internal chemical reactions to the short transit time, healthy cats truly are well equipped for eating the raw animal diets upon which they are so beautifully designed to thrive.

Tracy Dion is a writer and feline care and behavior consultant, specializing in nutrition and feeding a species-appropriate diet. She has worked with rescue and shelter organizations rescuing and socializing cats, dogs, birds, rats, and reptiles for many years, but her focus for the last decade has been on cats. She is dedicated to improving their health and welfare through owner education, and is passionate about improving the owner/animal bond through increased understanding of natural feline behaviors and needs. She is a professional member of the Cat Writers?Association and past Editor of Raw Instincts Magazine, as well as the mind behind CatCentric.org. Her articles have been published by the Feline Nutrition Education Society, the online magazines Raw Instincts and Catnip Chronicles, the American Council for Animal Naturopathy, and more.

Spencer playing in his cat tree. Photo credit: Tracy Dion

GETTINGTHESCOOPONTHEPOOP Ask anyone who feeds their dog or cat a species-appropriate diet what one of their favorite things about the diet is, and chances are high they?ll mention their pet?s, um, waste products. While it might not be dinner-party appropriate, the fact remains that it is a subject worthy of discussion. I have had many people ask me about this topic, and I know that it is something that my colleagues also get asked about, so I wanted to take some time to talk about it here. If you already feed a species-appropriate raw food (or SARF, for short) diet to your carnivore pet, you are most likely very familiar with what their droppings look like. But if you don?t, this is one more reason to switch them to a SARF diet. So, is there really a noticeable difference between the droppings of a dog or cat fed a SARF diet, and one on a processed-food (kibble or canned) diet? In short, yes, there is a huge difference. Processed food diets? no matter how much the brand purports to be ?high quality?? contain lots of material that dogs and cats simply cannot use. Furthermore, because processed foods are cooked, the protein is denatured, which in essence means that the body cannot use the amino acids in the protein, but instead views it as something toxic. Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins, so without them, none of the processes performed by proteins can be carried out. Our carnivores take in amino acids through the protein in their food. However, as I mentioned above, when that protein is cooked (and therefore denatured), the body

Midge, a raw-fed Redbone Coonhound, proudly posing next to her poop. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

cannot use it. Imagine that you are planning to build a wall, and you have all the blocks laid out, ready to stack up and form the wall. Then, imagine that someone comes along and smashes the blocks with a sledgehammer. The blocks are still there, but not in any form that will allow you to build the wall, and even if you manage to 8

piece the blocks back together, they are weak and won?t provide any real strength or support to the structure. Because the blocks are broken and smashed, you isolate them and put them aside, and eventually you throw them away. The same thing happens with amino acids that have had their bonds destroyed in the cooking process (which is essentially what we?re referring to when we talk about denatured protein). The body can?t use them to form strong proteins, so it isolates them and sets them aside. However, if they just sit in the body they become a source of toxicity, so they must be dealt with: the body must eliminate them. The problem comes when we continually flood our pets? bodies with these toxic and fundamentally unusable proteins (and this is part of the reason why, no matter what the brand?s marketing department tells you, no processed food will ever be a source of health for your pet). Their systems go into overdrive to shed out the toxins that their bodies are encountering on an almost-constant basis. We often see this shedding of toxins present as skin issues (hot spots, itching, eruptions), but it also shows up in the volume, consistency, and smell of our pets?feces.

Fresh droppings from Barkley (there were a few more just like this out of range of the camera). You can see that it is lighter in color, firmly packed, and small. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

I was at the Living Desert in Palm Desert, CA recently, and I was talking with one of the reptile handlers about how they feed the animals at the Living Desert. We realized that both of us (the Living Desert and me) buy food for our animals from Layne Labs (for more information about Layne Labs, see the April/ May 2016 issue of Raw Pet Digest). When she realized that we have dogs and a cat, and feed them a SARF diet, her first comment was, ?Their poop must be amazing!?. It made me laugh, but she was exactly right. By feeding a SARF diet, our animals? bodies can use a profound amount of the nutrients and amino acids in their food? they can take advantage of almost everything. Because they are fed the right balance of bones, meat, and organs/ glands (and the bones, meat, organs, and glands of course contain calcium, phosphorous, and various other vitamins and nutrients), they can take advantage of almost everything that they eat. Subsequently, when they defecate, their droppings are quite small, relatively speaking (there just isn?t much waste material that they need to get rid of). The droppings are also a different consistency? generally speaking, they are fairly hard, and dry quite quickly, so that if you inadvertently step on one (not that we try to, but it has happened on occasion), it just crumbles away instead of sticking to the bottom of your shoe. Their droppings also don?t smell nearly as much as a carnivore fed a processed-food diet, and they don?t attract nearly as many flies. Animals fed a species-appropriate raw food diet also defecate much less frequently than their kibble-fed counterparts (again, they just don?t have as much waste to get rid of). A dog or cat fed a processed-food diet, however, has a significant amount of waste that it has to eliminate from each meal. Their droppings are often immense, compared to the size of a SARF-fed animal, and 9

tend to be soft and smelly (again, compared to a SARF-fed animal). Our dogs in particular were designed to have to strain just a little bit when taking a bowel movement, which helps to keep their anal glands nice and clear. Nowadays, cleaning out anal glands is an almost-routine service offered by many groomers and vets, because so many dogs have issues with this, but when everything is working properly, the very act of going to the bathroom takes care of that for our dogs.

No matter what size of carnivore pet you have, you will see a noticeable difference in its feces? for the better!? when it is fed a SARF diet. Just for fun, take a look at the pictures (we have both SARF-fed and kibble-fed examples) to see what a SARF-fed dog?s droppings look like compared to a kibble-fed dog?s. -By Kristin Clark

Droppings from a raw-fed, 270-pound male Mastiff. Notice that the poop is compact and relatively small, especially for that size of dog. Fresh droppings from a kibble-fed, 60-pound, German Photo credit: Jennifer Lee Shepherd/ Chow/ Labrador mix. The owner said that he is two years old, fed Blue Buffalo, and defecates this much or more 3-4x/ day. She commented that this was a "small pile." Photo credit: Kristin Clark For comparison purposes, here are droppings from a 75-pound kibble-fed German Shepherd (top) compared to a raw-fed 100-pound German Shepherd (bottom). Notice that the raw-fed dog, although he weighs more, has smaller, denser droppings. Photo credit: Bre Altherr

Droppings from a kibble-fed 18-pound dog. Notice the softer consistency so common in kibble-fed dogs. The owner stated that the dog defecates multiple times per day. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

ANOUNCEOFPREVENTION I live in Southern California. While it?s beautiful here? sunny skies, a great climate, mountains, beaches, and forests? there are some things that aren?t so great. Earthquakes are very common, the heat can be intense, and we sometimes get hot, dry, and incredibly powerful winds that can wreak havoc on homes and powerlines. And, while the earthquakes and other events we experience here might not be the same as what you experience where you live, I?m willing to bet there are other types of natural disasters that you might experience or have to deal with. When it comes to any sort of disaster, it?s best to be prepared? and that preparation extends to your pet(s), too. That?s why we?ve put together a list of things to include in your disaster-preparedness kit for your dog or cat. If you keep a kit in an easy-to-reach, accessible location at home, along with one in your car, you?ll go a long way towards being ready if anything should ever happen. The April/ May 2016 issue of Raw Pet Digest had an article about a homeopathic first-aid kit for pets. It?s a good idea to keep those items on hand in your disaster-preparedness kit in case they?re needed? and you may also want to print the article out so you have a guide of what remedy to use when, and how to give it. And, in addition to the homeopathic remedies discussed in that article, we recommend that you keep some other items in your disaster preparedness kit? we?ll list those items in a bit.

Dog with a first-aid kit. Copyright Sergey Rusalov

As you?re putting your kit together, you should also think about where you will take your pets if there is an emergency and you have to evacuate your home. Call around before anything happens to find out where animals can be safely taken and kept in the event of an emergency. If you have family members or friends that you think might be able and willing to take them, make sure you ask them first. If they are willing, write down their contact information (including name, address, email(s), and phone number(s)) and put it in each of your kits. 11

If you want, you can purchase a first-aid kit for people and then add some pet-specific things to it. Or, you can just assemble the items listed below and keep them in a duffel bag or backpack. Remember, one kit should be in an easily accessible location in your house, and each car should also have a kit in it? along with a kit for the human members of the family!

It ems t o incl ude in your pet emergency preparedness kit : Make sure to keep all documents (paperwork, photos, etc.) in a waterproof container or sealable plastic bag. Animal-specific items (make sure you have enough for each pet): -

Collar with ID tag and contact information for each pet Leash for each pet Cat harness and leash (if you have a cat? and it?s a good idea to familiarize your cat with the harness, just in case)

Muzzle for each dog (sometimes, in high-stress situations, even the calmest dog can become panicked. A muzzle is a good idea to have on hand just in case, particularly if a stranger has to handle your dog) - On a side note: if your pet is vomiting, choking, coughing, or having difficulty breathing, do not use a muzzle Self-cling bandage (these are handy because they can stretch, and they?ll stick to themselves instead of your pet?s fur. You can find them at pet stores or online) Information about where you can take your pet(s) in the event of an emergency, including address and directions (in case you can?t access directions via the internet or cellular network) A current photo of each pet, in case they get lost Microchip information for each pet, including the microchip number(s)

King, an American Bully, enjoying a raw meaty bone. Photo credit: Kim Bloomer Daiquiri the cat, relaxing on a piano. Photo credit: Devin Nelson

Any paperwork you have for your pet(s), including medical information Extra medication for your pet, if they are taking any First-aid book for pets Phone numbers: The nearest emergency vet clinic (and directions if you aren?t familiar with how to get there) Poison-control center or hotline (at the time of publication, the ASPCA poison-control center hotline is 800-426-4435) If you have a cat, a carrier is a good idea to have on-hand as well. Make sure your cat is accustomed to going into the carrier. A space for food for your pets (and enough food for 2-3 days of feeding). - If you feed raw, you can keep extra frozen food on hand for your pet(s). Freeze-dried is also an option. If you feed processed food, make sure you have enough set aside for 2-3 days of meals. Water Transportable food and water bowls Homeopathic remedies listed in the April/ May 2016 issue of Raw Pet Digest Bach Rescue Remedy for Pets

Basic supplies (for humans and animals): -

Absorbent gauze pads Adhesive tape Antiseptic wipes, powder, or spray Blankets (can be foil emergency blankets or old spare blankets) Cotton balls or swabs Gauze rolls Non-latex disposable gloves Rectal thermometer (your dog?s body temperature should be 101-102.5

degrees Fahrenheit (38.3-39.2 degrees Celsius), and your cat?s body temperature should be between 100.5 and 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit, or 38-39.2 degrees Celsius) Water-based lubricant (to lubricate the thermometer) Scissors with blunt ends Sterile non-stick gauze pads for bandages Tweezers Sterile saline solution Glucose paste or corn syrup (for diabetic animals) An expired or sample credit card? these are very handy for scraping away insect stingers Nail clippers Splints and tongue depressors Towels Needle-nosed pliers Penlight or flashlight (check the batteries periodically to make sure it?s working) Plastic eyedropper or syringe Rubbing alcohol for disinfecting the thermometer Colloidal silver (see the February/ March 2016 issue of Raw Pet Digest for more information about colloidal silver)

While there are other things that you may want to include in your disaster preparedness kit (for example, I have a small jar of Manuka honey and some essential oils in mine, in addition to what is listed above), the items listed here are a good place to start. With a little foresight and planning, you can easily help make sure that you and your pets are prepared in case anything comes up. By planning ahead, you can help your pets stay calm and safe, even in an emergency. -By Kristin Clark

THEIMPORTANCE OFTRUST Cleo, our 18-year-old Canaan dog, moseying through the backyard. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

In this, our last article in our series on the 8 laws of health, we will be talking about trust. Naturopathic principles are of course built on nutrition as the foundation, but trust is one of the principles that brings everything together. However, before we really dive into a discussion of this law and how it might apply in caring for your pet, I want to take a moment and discuss something with you that I know we can all relate with: the feeling and concept of groundlessness. By and large, people spend a lot of energy and time creating the illusion that they are standing on solid ground. We especially seek this figurative ?solid earth under our feet? in times of crisis or upheaval. Our brains are designed to try to create patterns out of chaos. We are a creative species, and the more afraid

The Grand Canyon. Copyright: Galyna Andrushko

or helpless we feel, the more we lock down and attempt to regain control. The problem, of course, is that fundamentally, we aren?t in control. We cannot control how others treat us, nor can we control many of the events in our lives, whether positive or less so. As Pema Chodron says in her book The Places That Scare You, ?Many of us prefer practices that will not cause discomfort, yet at the same time we want to be healed. [? ] We can try to control the uncontrollable by looking for security and predictability, always hoping to be comfortable and safe. But the truth is that we can never avoid uncertainty. This not knowing is part of the adventure, and it?s also what makes us afraid.? Later, in the same book, she describes a personal situation, saying, ?Once I was changing jobs and houses at the same time. I felt insecure, uncertain, and groundless.

Hoping that he would say something that would help me work with these changes, I complained to Trungpa Rinpoche [her Buddhist teacher] about having trouble with transitions. He looked at me sort of blankly and said ?We are always in transition.? Then he said, ?If you can just relax with that, you?ll have no problem.?? This concept she describes? the concept of groundlessness, of uncertainty, of transition? is one that, I think, everyone can relate to. Perhaps at some point you were fired from a job. Perhaps a beloved family member or pet got sick, and you face the prospect of losing them. Perhaps you did lose them. Perhaps a natural disaster strikes, or you face some sort of unexpected upheaval that leaves you reeling. We all have experienced these sorts of situations, and when they occur, they remind us that nothing is truly fixed or guaranteed. These are the moments when we truly, viscerally experience the feeling of groundlessness. When these moments occur, particularly when it relates to our pets, the eighth law of health, trust, is vital. Throughout the groundless times, we can choose to trust in the process to help us move forward, and we can also choose to trust that everything can be an opportunity for growth and learning. Indeed, it is by experiencing these groundless moments and trusting in the process that we learn how to balance, and of course we (and our pets!) must be balanced if we (and they) are to thrive. About three months ago, our 18-year-old dog, Cleo, went through a period where she was noticeably slower, weaker, and frailer. She was having a hard time moving around, she seemed weak, and she was less vibrant than before. We began to say our good-byes, because we thought that she was entering what was

essentially the hospice phase, and we thought she probably wouldn?t be with us much longer. For a short time while this was happening, I began to question whether or not I was doing everything that I could to help her stay strong. She is old and her jaws and teeth aren?t the best, and I experienced the groundless feeling of wondering whether she was capable of digesting what we were feeding her, or if there was something else I should be doing. Did conventional medicine hold the answer? This feeling didn?t last very long, because I know that the regimen we follow with all of our pets truly supports them and gives them what they need to be as balanced and optimal as possible, but for a brief time, the groundless feeling? where I felt like I wanted to clutch at something, anything, to feel safe and secure again? did arise. I turned to the eighth law of health, trust, during this time. I experienced the groundless feeling, because it was very clear to me that Cleo was not doing well, and I had no idea how long she might be around, or if she was even going to make it through this time. I love her, and I know the pain of losing a dog, and the fear of losing her came up strongly for me. But, at that point? both on a conscious and subconscious level? I put my trust in the process. Eventually, Cleo began to get stronger. The sparkle returned to her eye, her stride got stronger, and she was more present than she had been. Her vital force returned. Now, I?m not saying that this is always how it turns out, but no matter what, by recognizing the groundlessness that we were experiencing, and by trusting in the process, we were more fully open to any outcome. It removed so much suffering, because we knew that the process we were following was the best one for her. We continued to make sure she got appropriate exercise, we fed her a species-appropriate diet, we made sure that 16

It?showyourespondtothegroundlessnessmomentsthat makethepivotal difference. ?AdamGilbert

Palm trees at sunset. Photo credit: Mardi Linane 17

her environment was free of toxins, we made sure she got fresh air and sunshine every day, we gave her unlimited access to pure, clean water? in short, we did everything we could to make sure she could thrive, and her body/ mind/ spirit eventually came back into balance. Today, she is happy and healthy, and she continues to enjoy her life.

switch back to what you were doing before, disregarding all the information and evidence that led you to make the switch to a species-appropriate diet in the first place. This, again, is where the eighth law of health is so valuable: by trusting the process, you can help your cat or dog get through the healing response, come back into balance, and thrive.

Perhaps you have recently switched your pet to a species-appropriate diet, and they are going through a healing response. That?s another example of a groundless time, especially if you don?t have a solid frame of reference for what?s happening (if you are experiencing that, please take a look at the April/ May 2015 issue of Raw Pet Digest, where we talk about the healing response in some detail). You may see your dog or cat seeming to get worse, and it can be very scary. The tendency in that situation can be to

Maybe you breed dogs or cats, and you have a pregnant female. You may have been feeding a species-appropriate diet, but now that your pet is pregnant, people are encouraging you to switch back to kibble or canned food, and then go back to a species-appropriate diet once the kittens or puppies are born (this scenario actually occurs frequently, and can be especially difficult for people who are new to natural breeding and rearing principles). The people encouraging you to switch your pregnant dog or cat to a processed-food diet may think it?s safer because they assume that a kibble or canned-food diet is more ?balanced? than a species-appropriate diet. This is another groundless moment: you want the puppies or kittens, as well as the mother, to be as healthy as possible, and you find yourself torn between what you might think of as the old, familiar solid ground, and the ?newer? naturopathic principles and species-appropriate diet. You must be able to surrender to the groundlessness and trust the process. Trust is what gets you through it all. -By Kristin Clark

A butterfly on a Lantana bush. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

Wemust findtimeto stopandthankthe peoplewhomakea differenceinour lives. - JohnF.Kennedy Grubat, stretched out on the bed. Photo credit: Jim Clark

In the April/ May 2016 issue of Raw Pet Digest, we introduced a regular column that is designed specifically to express gratitude for everyone that?s contributed, in one way or another, to Raw Pet Digest. I believe that a practice of gratitude is vital to finding balance and joy, and thriving. Meister Eckhart, the 13 th century German theologian and philosopher, is credited with saying ?If the only prayer you said was thank you, that would be enough.? And, centuries before that, Marcus Tullius Cicero, the Roman philosopher and orator said ?Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.? Gratitude, appreciation, and the expression of those? by word and deed? fill us up, and fill up those around us.

I think that John F. Kennedy said it well when he said ?We must find time to stop and thank the people who make a difference in our lives.? In this case, I want to thank the people who have made a difference in the life of Raw Pet Digest, and thereby a difference in the lives of pets around the world. Our sincerest appreciation goes to all the people that have helped make this issue of Raw Pet Digest informative, interesting, and entertaining for you.

Thank you to Bre Altherr, Jennifer Lee, Jim Clark, Devin Nelson, Tracy Dion, Mardi Linane, and Adam Gilbert for generously contributing pictures to this issue.

Thank you to Mardi Linane and Tracy Dion for the articles they contributed to this issue.

And, as ever, thank you to each and every one of you, for your support, your feedback, and your love for your pets.

Thank you to Lorin Grow for the insights she shares about raw feeding and natural health care for our pets in our Spotlight on Health article.

-By Kristin Clark

A river as the sun begins to set. Copyright: Vian1980

Thank you to Adam Gilbert for contributing ideas about articles, the title suggestion for Getting the Scoop on the Poop, and for his wonderful quote about groundlessness. Thank you to Chiara Marrapodi for her help with my pack, and for helping me to go deeper in my understanding about so many things.

RawFeedingandHealth-CompromisedCats One of the two most common concerns of cat owners contemplating the switch to a fresh diet is the specter of potentially lethal bacteria (the other is a fear of bones, which we discussed in the October/ November 2015 issue of Raw Pet Digest). In the article Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, Oh My!, starting on page 5 of this issue of Raw Pet Digest, we discuss how easily and thoroughly healthy cats manage the bacteria in their environment, including in their foods. But what about feeding a diet with potentially harmful bacteria to a cat that isn?t healthy, or one with a compromised immune system, such as an FIV+ kitty?

Cats looking out the window. Photo credit: Tracy Dion

My answer to the query, ?Can you feed raw foods to a cat whose health is compromised in some manner?? is ?Yes!? Cats are so finely-tuned for a diet of prey animals that it?s not only safe to put FIV+ cats on a raw diet, it?s vitally important to support their immune systems by feeding them the foods that are going to nourish their physiology at the highest levels. As I mentioned in Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, Oh My!, the latest edition of The Nutrient requirements of Dogs and Cats by the National Research Council (U.S.) Ad Hoc Committee on Dog and Cat Nutrition goes into great depth examining the complexities of the relationships between the cat?s digestive physiology and chemical workings and the foods it eats. It cites studies proving the cat?s entire digestive system

functions at a higher level of efficiency when fed a raw diet; beginning right at the mouth? more saliva, with a more efficient composition of enzymes, is produced during a meal of raw, animal-based foods. The stomach acids are different, the pacing through the system is different, the enzymes released from the various organs (gallbladder, pancreas, etc.) are all different? and more efficient? when a cat is fed the diet she is so beautifully designed to thrive upon. There?s a veritable smorgasbord of material illustrating the overall health benefits of raw-feeding, from improved oral health to reduction or outright elimination of a multitude of diseases to improved coat quality, a drastic jump in energy, and a nice reduction in stool quantity and odor (see the article Getting the Scoop on the Poop article, starting on page 8 of this issue of Raw Pet Digest). All the reasons we feed our healthy cats a raw diet apply twice as strongly to a cat who is coping with some type of illness; she needs the foods that are going to provide her with the highest level of nutrition and energy for the least amount of work? for an obligate carnivore, that?s animal-based meats, organs, and bones. And cats? natural, inborn defenses against bacteria don?t disappear just because their health is

A young girl petting a cat. Photo credit: Tracy Dion

compromised, they become FIV+, or catch an upper respiratory infection? the glands in their mouths still produce lysozyme-containing saliva, their stomach acids still kill incoming pathogens, their digestive tracts are still just about the shortest, comparatively-speaking, in the animal kingdom. Why isn?t this more widely known, or accepted? Why do so many raw-feeding experts and advocates tamp down the rhetoric when the discussion turns to sick cats? It is my belief that proponents begin waffling and throwing out caveats because we have all? every last one of us? been sold so solidly on the dangers of raw foods, especially meat, that even in the face of plain logic, those doing the recommending can?t stand their ground because they don?t know? as in, don?t have anything they can point to as proof (notwithstanding the thousands of years of evolution and wild living)? that raw feeding health-compromised cats is safe. If something went wrong? even if it was completely unrelated to raw feeding? without that ?real proof? of safety (i.e. scientific studies done on health-compromised animals), the cat?s owner will be unable to know for sure he or she didn?t hurt their furchild, and of course, no one wants to feel responsible for the pain of a cat that suddenly dies. Logic and evolution, however, shouldn?t be discounted simply because science hasn?t gotten around to ?proving? them. I believe it?s both safe and the best choice we could make to feed health-compromised cats a raw diet. Right down to my bones, I believe it. In fact, when Ralph arrived here, all

terrified skin and bones last year (the below picture is of him shortly after his rescue), the very first thing I did was plunk down a plate of fresh raw turkey for him. And today, he?s the strongest and boldest of my clowder.

Ralph shortly after being rescued. Photo credit: Tracy Dion

some cats to become constipated, so it?s best to feed in combination with plain-meat meals.) In addition, for cats that have had to cope with a lifetime of overly processed kibble and canned foods and now have IBD or other digestive issues, you can purchase probiotics and digestive enzymes and sprinkle those over the raw foods, as per the directions, for a few weeks to help kick-start their digestive systems. Bottom line, not only are raw foods safe for our beloved felines, they are the highest in bio-available nutrition and the best foods you could feed, especially to health-compromised and FIV+ cats. Options are available for assuaging fears if needed? what?s important is to get the cat on a healthy diet.

For those who want to start raw feeding their cats, but are having a difficult time with the concept, I offer you two viable compromises. If your preference is home-prepared, first rinse and then lightly sear the outside of the boneless meats and organs you wish to feed (bacterial pathogens are nearly always on the outside of meats), and supplement with freeze-dried bone or eggshell instead of real bones; once your cat returns to full health and/ or you become comfortable with the raw-feeding concept, you can upgrade to a wholly fresh, raw diet with real bones. If you prefer commercially-prepared foods, there is at least one? Nature?s Variety? that guarantees their products are pathogen-free. (Note: NV has a relatively high bone content and can cause

-By Tracy Dion

Two cats on a table. Copyright: Zlatkolugaric

HERBSFORPETS

Dog in a f iel d. Copyright : Iryna Dobrovyns'ka

I know that many of you are very interested in learning about natural alternatives to conventional ?treatments? for your pets. In this issue, I want to discuss a few herbs that you may find very helpful if your pet needs a little extra help in rebalancing and thriving. Like everything we discuss in Raw Pet Digest, herbs do not heal in and of themselves. Instead, they help support the body?s own natural, internal healing mechanisms. It is not a matter of ?see this symptom, give this herbal remedy?? instead, the symptoms become a road map to the root cause of the issue, and the herbs are used to help support the body in addressing that root cause; they aid the body in coming back into optimal balance. This distinction may seem inconsequential, but it is at the heart of understanding how to truly maintain optimal health in our pets. Because only the body has the ability to heal itself, we must always do everything we can to support the body in remaining strong and centered, so that it can heal and thrive. Sometimes the body may be very out of balance, and this may present as weakness, disease, or a loss of vitality; when this occurs, we may sometimes have to do more to help bring the body back to a state of homeostasis. The body can work wonders, but sometimes the damage is beyond repair, and in those instances, we may have to continually support the body with extra things to help it maintain balance (because it has lost the ability to truly achieve and maintain balance on its own). But always, always, we are continually aiming to bring the body (and of course, the mind and spirit) back into balance. When you are using herbs with your pet, you will have to make some changes from how you might use herbs for yourself or another person. Since our dogs and cats are much smaller than us (in general? certainly some dogs outweigh

the average-sized human!), quantities should be adjusted accordingly. For example, if your dog weighs about 50 pounds, you would only give 1/ 3 the amount recommended for a 150-pound person. However, keep in mind that our dogs and cats have a much faster metabolism than we do, so you may find that you need to increase the dosage after a few days. Some pets respond very well to a very small quantity, while others may not respond at all, even when the amount is increased. If you do find that you need to increase how much you?re giving, do it in 10% increments and don't exceed more than 50% of the starting amount. If you need to decrease how much you?re giving, cut the amount in half. You may want to cease giving any herbs for a few days if the dosage needs to be decreased, and then start up again at the lesser amount. In short, think balance and temperance (one of the 8 laws of health); all of these guidelines aim to achieve balance and moderation for our pets. It?s best to only use one or two herbs at a time. This helps ensure that you can monitor your pet?s response to the herb, and determine whether it?s effective or not. It?s also a good idea to give your pet two days off from each herb (on a weekly basis)? doing so helps ensure that balance is maintained, and there isn?t a build-up of tolerance or toxins if you use the herbs on a longer-term basis. Keep a written record of any positive or adverse changes in your pet while you're giving them the herb, along with any observations you may have. This will help you understand what works and what doesn?t, over time, and adjust accordingly. If you haven?t seen any results after you have been giving the maximum dosage for at least seven days, you may want to switch to another herb. Your written notes will be invaluable to you when deciding how 25

effective the herb is, and determining whether you should continue to use it or move to something else. Remember that, even though herbs are considered natural alternatives, they can sometimes produce a toxic reaction. Generally, the body?s response to toxicity is vomiting soon after the herb is given, but sometimes you may notice itching, sensitivity to light, diarrhea, or other issues. Keep careful note of any reactions, because they could indicate that you should stop giving the herb completely or give it in a smaller quantity. If you are in doubt, seek the advice of someone knowledgeable about herbs for pets. Herbs can be used in various forms, including fresh herbs, dried bulk herb material, tinctures (alcohol extracts), glycerites (glycerin-based herb extracts), herbal teas, decoctions, poultices, salves and ointments, and oil infusions. The method you use will depend on the herb, why you?re using it, and the animal to whom you?re giving it. Now that we?ve discussed a little bit about using herbs for pets, let?s take a look at some specific herbs that you might find helpful for your pet. As always, do your research before

Burdock. Copyright: Vasilyok

giving anything to your pet, whether you have a dog or cat, to make sure you understand any potential risks or restrictions, how to use it, how much to give, and so on. Burdock (Arctium lappa or A. minor): Burdock, a member of the sunflower family, is widely found throughout North America. It grows best in rich, moist soil, and it blooms in mid to late-summer. Medicinally, the root is used primarily for its effectiveness as a blood cleaner, a liver and gallbladder stimulant, and a diuretic. You can actually use Burdock in any form, but it does require relatively large amounts to be therapeutic. It?s often easiest to give it as a strong tincture of fresh or dried root. Many animals also respond well to Burdock in glycerite form. Burdock is incredibly helpful in the long-term support of dogs and cats, in large part because it helps support the body in cleaning and building the blood. Burdock is also exceptional when it comes to helping with skin issues that are a result of liver deficiencies or an excess of toxic substances in the body.

Dried burdock root. Copyright: Leung Cho Pan

You can find fresh organic Burdock root at many health food stores. Herb retailers often offer dried Burdock root and root tinctures (or glycerites). Chaparral (Larrea tridentate): Chaparral, also known as the creosote bush, is a member of the Caltrop family. It is found throughout the American Southwest. Interestingly, Chaparral is one of the oldest living things on earth: some plants are believed to be over 10,000 years old! The leaves, flowers, and fruits are all medicinal, and are primarily used because they help to inhibit bacterial reproduction and support the body in blood cleansing, and because of their antifungal and antioxidant properties.

Hop (Humulus lupulus): Hop is from the Mulberry family. A trailing vine, the strobiles (strobili)? commonly referred to as hops? are used medicinally. Hop is a mild nervous system depressant and hypnotic, which makes it a great choice when a mild, general-purpose sedative or calming agent is needed. It also helps to stimulate digestion, and it is a diuretic. Hop has also been known to help with separation anxiety or hyper-excitability, such as when an animal has difficulty getting to sleep and is restless, whining, and pacing. It is also helpful when an animal needs to relax but is experiencing some sort of physical pain, because it helps the animal deal with the pain naturally rather than actually delivering painkilling benefits (again, remember, the herb is supporting the body? it does not actually provide a ?cure?). Keep in mind that hop will help ease some emotional distress, but it can?t

Chaparral. Copyright: Philip Reaves

Chaparral is best used as a decoction and applied externally to the skin and coat as a rinse, or used in a salve or ointment. For dogs and cats, you may want to apply it by putting a gauze over the desired area and then pouring the infusion onto the gauze until it?s soaked. This method of application, known as fomentation, is helpful with Chaparral because it helps ensure that the animal doesn?t lick it all off. This is important, because Chaparral can cause problems if ingested. Chaparral should not be given internally, but can be very useful for external applications. Herb retailers commonly carry Chaparral.

Hop vine. Copyright: Atarel

remove the root cause. If your pet is experiencing chronic emotional issues, you need to investigate what is going on and address the root cause of it, rather than just trying to patch it with a ?Band-Aid? fix.

syrups (these are very concentrated and can cause toxic reactions in animals). You can also grow your own Hop vines; they are fairly hardy, attractive, and easy to grow. You can get Hop plants and root cuttings from plant nurseries.

You will want to give Hop to your pet as a tea or tincture.

These are just a few herbs that you may find useful for your pet. We will cover other herbs in future issues, along with other natural alternatives to conventional treatments.

You can get dried Hop from herb retailers, and it?s also available wherever beer-making supplies are sold. Keep in mind that you only want the whole dried strobiles, not the compressed pellets or

Flowers in a field. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

-By Kristin Clark

SPOTLIGHTONHEALTH:LORINGROW

Yorkshire Terrier. Copyright: Viorel Sima

In this issue, our ?Spotlight on Health? series focuses on Lorin Grow, who owns Furry Face, Inc. in Redlands, California. Lorin is incredibly knowledgeable about appropriate nutrition for cats and dogs, and has helped hundreds (possibly thousands) of dog and cat owners learn about the proper nutrition for their beloved pets. Here, she shares some of her knowledge and insight about species-appropriate nutrition, disease, and how to help our carnivore pets thrive. Enjoy! 1. I know t hat you are passionat e about dogs, t he best way t o f eed t hem, and t he best way t o support t heir heal t h nat ural l y. You provide educat ion t o pet parent s al l t he t ime about how t o hel p t heir pet s achieve opt imal heal t h. Addit ional l y, you have an award-winning bout ique pet st ore. What f irst drew you t o nat ural f eeding and heal t h care? I?d al so l ove t o get some insight on how you got t o where you are t oday. OK, so because you asked, here's why I do what I do and my experience. I have a couple of degrees which isn't that big of a big deal. I loved school since I love education and information and understanding how so much in the world works. School came easily. The US Navy paid for my schooling and, if they had continued, I would have continued as well. Ironically, I never knew at the time of my schooling that I would ultimately be able to utilize those degrees doing what I love to do now. I'm not a veterinarian. I don't pretend to be one. I am a driven and impassioned animal lover. Currently, I live with 12 dogs. In my lifetime I've cared for literally thousands of dogs and cats. I've been where everyone else is at or has been at as an animal lover and Furr-Parent. It's incredibly, astoundingly, and disturbingly unbelievable how difficult it is to

get help, information, and facts that you can trust to do the right things for your animals and your lifestyles. I got to where I'm at with nutrition thanks to a cat named Raisin. Raisin was not supposed to live beyond the age of 10 and that was a generous assessment at the time. I drove two hours each way three times a week to a cat clinic where he was a constant guest. For five years and literally thousands of dollars worth of meds and treatment, Raisin led a tortured existence under the palliative effects of Prednisone, continuous back-to-back courses of antibiotics, and even had a custom made kitty inhaler to deal with his asthma. I loved him to the moon and back. I finally removed my blinders of fear and started to consider his quality of life. I began to look for answers on my own. What I discovered was crushing. First, I discovered that the food I was feeding him that was ridiculously expensive and what I thought was the "best" available was absolutely the last thing I should have been feeding him, both in form and content. Then, as I continued to dig for more information, I discovered that all this expensive, great care that I was getting him (two hours drive away, each way) was not CURING him at all. It was sustaining his life while furthering his issues. I was sick. I doubted what I read. Back then, so little was so readily available and there weren't many people, high-profile or not, with the right information. I couldn't accept that I was a contributing factor to his poor health by blindly agreeing to the things done to, and for, him. Yet, the more I researched the more I realized the truth of what I was reading. I started slowly. I changed Raisin's food. A simple thing, right? Not a big deal, right? Just take him out of the dry veterinarian diet and put 30

him on a canned diet. Not the grocery store crap, I knew better than that at least (yet I fed veterinary prescription grain-filled DRY kibble to a CAT. Ugh). Within a month I noticed I really didn't need to go to the vet three times a week anymore. I was down to once a week. Even then, I was sort of going because I thought I should. It was a hard habit to break. Within another month, I noticed Raisin hadn't needed his inhaler in a while. Huh. Even with all that I was seeing unfold before my eyes in a relatively lightning-fast period of time, I couldn't accept that it was THAT simple of an answer.

Another 30 days or so went by, and Raisin was weaned from his Prednisone. From that point forward, both of our lives were forever changed. I was on an endless mission of information acquisition. Raisin never got another vaccination. He was an indoor cat anyway. He also never went back to the vet? any vet. No more drugs, no more meds, better and better food, holistic additions when needed and more love than ever. Raisin died in February of 2013 at the wonderful, cranky, purr-full old age of 20. An old man-kitty who was generously given the hopeful estimate of MAYBE living to the age of 10 and lived 10+ years beyond. I own Furry Face, Inc. In Redlands, CA. It's a holistic and organic retail pet supply store with a heavy emphasis on nutrition. We also offer grooming. Furry Face has won multiple awards both locally and nationally. As the owner, I've spoken at industry seminars on the topic of nutrition multiple times. I'm very often asked for input and perspective on industry articles. I work with several local and semi-local vets who refer clients to me on a regular basis for nutrition help, education, and guidance, especially with regard to specific medical issues. I have held a number of free pet nutrition seminars and make myself available for referrals and consultations locally and nationally, all of which are done for free. I've been called an "expert" by many, but to me that indicates the top of a field, a place from which there's not much more to learn. I will never be at that place, as I never stop learning. I view what I do for animals and their owners as a calling. I didn't invent the information I share. I don't blindly read something on the internet and run with it. I take nothing at face value. Everything is suspect and I'm never satisfied with the information at hand. Knowledge is evolutionary so it must continue to be acquired. And shared.

Grubat, a Maine Coon cat. Photo credit: Jim Clark

Sharing it is important. Getting the word out is important. The more people that have ALL factual and complete information, the better the care, nutrition, health and wellness of the animal. 2. What sort of changes are you seeing in t erms of how peopl e are caring f or t heir pet s? Do you f ind t hat more and more peopl e are beginning t o f eed raw? I think most people are frustrated with the vortex of vet visits, meds, and palliation, followed by a cyclical repeat of the same with no improvement in their animals. In fact, after repeatedly experiencing the same vicious cycle, they see their animals getting worse every time. Once people are able to find real help, based in logic, science, physiology, and fact, and then they see the first sign of improvement, they are all on board for continuing that track! As things continue to improve, they don't look back and even become harbingers of that same help. 3. Do you have any specif ic ideas on why diseases l ike cancer are appearing in our dogs at younger and younger ages? Are you seeing t hese sort s of diseases among any of t he nat ural l y bred/ raised dogs? Without a doubt, cancers, various illnesses, autoimmune diseases, and general overall poor health, even malaise, is at an all-time high. The factors contributing to this are easily reduced to two main reasons: 1) Completely inappropriate nutrition, meaning processed convenience foods that contain no real nutrition. This is why a vitamin pack is added to canned and kibble foods.

Essentially, the animal lives on a synthetic vitamin pack. These diets are high in sugars and starches, both of which feed disease. Ingredients in these types of diets are in question, both with regard to quality and sourcing as well as assimilation and effect. Even worse are the veterinary fix-it diets that audaciously claim some mysterious ability to address an illness and disease whilst costing a fortune and giving pet parents false hope in their snake-oil effects! Add to that the depletion of our soils and water, which affect all ingredients in all foods but in poorly made foods leave you with nothing worthwhile. 2) Over-vaccination, over-medication, over-prescribed antibiotics, and chemical pollutants. These pollutants? metals, toxins, chemicals, etc.? are forced upon animals through many, many allopathic vets who were taught to do so in vet school and feel strongly that they are doing the right thing. Combine that with the environmental pollutants and you actually see the perfect storm for the health decline being forced upon animals. Naturally bred/ raised dogs will absolutely fare much better in both the short and long runs. 4. What do you say t o someone who is nervous t o make t he swit ch f rom f eeding kibbl e t o f eeding raw? Do you have any t ips f or peopl e t hat are get t ing int o raw f eeding? I deal with all types of pet parents, so I find it's best to work within people's comfort levels at the speed they're comfortable with. Everyone is different. Some are good with being prodded and led, others dig their heels in and resist until they're ready. My view is that I would rather keep someone at their pace than lose them at mine. Trust takes time to build and many people have questions as they go. Making them comfortable and helping them find their way has always culminated in positive results. 32

5. There are l ot s of raw diet phil osophies out t here (commercial l y prepared raw, prey model raw, a mix of raw f oods t hat are cut up f or t he animal , et c.). Have you f ound one t ype t hat you pref er? If so, which one? Does it ever depend on t he dog (size, breed, act ivit y l evel )? No, I never present a "preference". I'm not here to dictate to people. I'm here to present facts, physiology, options, and answer questions. I also won't lie. If the facts are that a dog will do better on one of these different philosophies, I inform that pet parent with the reasons why. This often doesn't mean that the pet parent will agree or follow that recommendation. Sometimes, it's a conversation that needs to be repeated (sometimes often) before the pet parent decides to give it a try and gets the desired results. As for size/ breed/ activity level, I would again say no to any particular diet. No size/ breed/ activity level is the same across the board. Every single being is an individual with different responses, different metabolisms, different assimilations. I never view two animals the same, and I find it a bit

frustrating when people generalize based upon those particular parameters of size, breed, activity level, and so on. 6. What sort of prot eins do you t ypical l y f eed your own dogs? Can you describe a t ypical day in t heir diet ? I feed many different proteins, and I rotate through them. It's unlikely that, left to their own procurement of prey, they would eat the same meal after meal, so I avoid feeding them that way. I have many dogs (12) of various ages and sizes, so meal times are interesting and fun. Sometimes, meals are skipped for the benefits of fasting. I feel that feeding the natural animal appropriately is a way to honor and appreciate what they are naturally. I think poor feeding is disrespectful. 7. How import ant is it f or meat (incl uding bones and organs) t o be organic, hormone-f ree, ant ibiot ic-f ree, and past ure-raised? IT'S EVERYTHING!!! It's literally, truly everything. If the dog were feeding itself, it would catch wild prey, which is far and away healthier than that which is "raised" or farmed for food. To get as close to wild as possible, especially in an

Yorkshire Terrier running in a field. Copyright: Dazb75

urban environment, you really should feed the best you can, which means organic, hormone-free, antibiotic-free, and pasture-raised. Having said that (words my family and our animals live by), I realize that this can be prohibitively expensive for many people. This then becomes about degrees of relativity. Relative to processed canned or kibble, almost any balanced raw is better!

polar opposites. The sad irony of the situation is that their carnivore has had this incorrect diet forced upon them because the owner wants to be thoughtful and kind with regard to animals in general. Yet, their carnivorous animal is suffering terribly for that conviction.

As previously stated, I try to keep an open mind to the vast and varied clientele I have. But I simply must draw the line at the veg/ vegan diet. These are carnivores. Not maybe, not sometimes. Yes, dogs are opportunists and can be forced into facultative choices. But to impose a personally held conviction by a human pet parent upon a carnivore who has no other choice is cruel, unkind, inhumane, and disrespectful. Further, it's a recipe for disastrous illness. I've had the disappointment and heartbreak of those people who have come in when it's too late, seeking a fix that remained true to their personal convictions, only to have to be in the unfortunate position of telling them that their convictions and their dog's physiology are

breed. For example, Great Danes do better on lower purine diets as a breed. How low depends upon the individual dog. But I would not agree that the answer or fix to a dog's particular sensitivities is fruits and vegetables. In fact, I typically find the opposite. If a pet parent wants to feed a small amount of veg at no great disruption to their dog's overall health and wellness, I have no objection. But as soon as yeast or skin or teeth issues (among others) pop up, removal of veg is my first recommendation. Note: many vets think the answer to vomiting or diarrhea is rice when, in fact, rice will only further the inflammation. I find many vets use food as a panacea that appears to work palliatively but in fact creates worsening of the issue in the long run.

9. I have had many dif f erent peopl e t el l me t hat t heir vet s t ol d t hem t hat t heir specif ic breed of dog cannot digest meat and prot eins as wel l as 8. I recent l y read an art icl e f rom a vet t hat ot her breeds, and so t hey shoul d f ocus on argued t hat t here are l ot s of chemical s f ound f eeding f ruit s and veget abl es. Have you ever in soil t hat f ind t heir way int o grasses and come across any breed t hat does not digest ot her pl ant s consumed by herbivores. These meat / bones/ organs/ gl ands wel l ? Why do you herbivores t hen get t he chemical s in t heir t hink t hat vet s are saying t his? bodies, and t hese are concent rat ed even Well, I don't generally think of vets as people more in t he carnivores t hat eat t hem. The who should be giving any advice with regard to art icl e t hen went on t o say t hat , f or t his nutrition! If the vet can show me they've had reason, f eeding our dogs and cat s a vegan (or appropriate training in carnivore nutrition, I at l east a veget arian diet ) was saf est f or might listen then. Since I've actually taught some t hem. What is your response t o t his? What do vets about appropriate nutrition on a friendly, you say t o peopl e who are concerned about one-on-one basis, I'm aware of how much most t he chemical s and t oxins t hat herbivores are vets don't know about it. Again, I like to deal with exposed t o? individual beings rather than the generalities of a

10. Why do you t hink t hat t he t here is a common myt h t hat dogs are omnivores and shoul d be f ed f ruit s and veget abl es (and even grains)? Dogs are enjoying a never-before attained level of placement within the household. They've been elevated anthropomorphically to family members, which is a wonderful statement of our adoration of the species. The unfortunate side effect of that is humans are forcing human habits upon them to include sharing our diet with them. 50 years ago, humans didn't feel quite the same about dogs, or at least not anywhere near the level to which they are held in reverence now. Yet we fed them better! At the same time, the state of our food supply, soil, water, pollutants, chemicals, molds, and toxins were completely different then from now too. And let's face it, back then humans actually ate real meals, with real ingredients, homemade and seasonal. If humans scraped their plates then, the dog fared much better. Nowadays, scraping your to-go container of fast food full of artificial ingredients and flavorings and sharing that with your dog is downright harmful. It's actually bad for you too, but much, much worse for the carnivore sitting next to you on the couch!

Bichon Frise sitting in a field. Copyright: Vladimirnenezic

11. What dif f erences do you see, physiol ogical l y, bet ween kibbl e-f ed dogs and raw-f ed dogs? Kibble-fed dogs are bloated, obese, with dull and brittle coats, bad and inflamed skin, smell badly, sluggish, with decaying teeth, dull eyes, and often move uncomfortably. Often times they have personality issues. But a raw-fed dog is a beautiful thing to behold! Slender, muscled, with soft and shiny coats, clear and calm skin, no smell, with beautiful white teeth, bright eyes, and easy movement. I can tell what a dog eats just by looking at them. Often, people will challenge this by presenting their dog whom they believe is in direct contrast to this description of a kibble-fed dog. But I often see things they don't. Further, every animal has what I call a "kibble-intolerance" point. That point is different for each dog as to when but it does come for all of them. If they're lucky, we can catch it at the point of aesthetics before too much harm comes to the dog within. Sometimes, we don't get the opportunity to make a difference until disease presents itself, having been smoldering inside all along, undetected. 12. What are your t hought s about f ast ing? Do you f ast your own dogs? I think fasting is very natural. Left to fend for themselves, dogs wouldn't be able to eat regularly. They would eat as they got lucky. Many pet parents are quick to respond to this saying that fasting is cruel and their dog doesn't HAVE to fend for itself so they aren't going to "starve" their dog. Fasting actually serves many purposes and is excellent to allow an overall reset of the dog's body. Yes, I fast my dogs from time to time or as needed. 35

BENEFICIALNEMATODES What are nemat odes? Nematodes? microscopic, unsegmented roundworms? occur throughout nature. Many people think of nematodes as pests, but in truth, only a small number (relatively speaking) of nematodes cause problems, particularly for plants. There are also what are known as ?beneficial nematodes,? because they kill insects that many people think of as pests, and therefore can help provide non-toxic and safe pest control for our plants and our pets. Because of the way they hunt and kill, beneficial nematodes pose no dangers to humans, animals, plants, and even things like healthy earthworms. In fact, the EPA ruled that nematodes are exempt from registration because they are naturally occurring and do not require any genetic modification by man. They are safe and effective and can be used to control a huge variety of insect pests.

(think grubs, queen ants, or queen termites), then you want to use nematodes that move around and actively hunt their prey. Of course, you can always do a mix, where you introduce both ambushers and hunters to the soil to ensure you are addressing the widest variety of insect pests possible. Whether the nematodes are mobile hunters or stationary ambushers, they destroy pests the same way. Nematodes have symbiotic bacteria in their guts (Steinernema spp. nematodes, which are stationary, carry bacteria of the genus Xenorhabdus, while Heterorhabditis nematodes, which are mobile, harbor a species of bacteria from the genus Photorhabdus); once these bacteria are inside an insect, they can kill it within 24-48 hours. The nematodes enter the

How do t hey work? Depending on the variety, beneficial nematodes have two different hunting styles: mobile or stationary. Stationary nematodes lie in wait and ambush prey that comes close to them. Mobile nematodes actually move through the soil in search of prey. This is helpful to know when thinking about what types of pests you have. If the insect pests themselves are mobile (such as fleas, caterpillars, and worker ants), then you can use stationary nematodes, which ambush insects, because those insects move around and will get close enough to the nematodes to be attacked. If, however, your pests are stationary

Nematodes. Copyright: Rik57

insect pest (usually the larvae) through various openings, including the mouth, but sometimes directly through the body wall, and then emit their symbiotic bacteria into the pest?s body. At that point, the bacteria begin to multiply and cause blood poisoning, which kills the insect pest. The bacteria then break the insect pest?s body down into a form that can be easily digested by the nematodes. The nematodes feed on the insect pest, and they multiply while still in the host?s body. Once the host has been broken down (which can take several generations of nematodes), they exit the remains and the hunt begins again. When the insect pest population has been eliminated, the beneficial nematode population dies off and biodegrades into the soil. What insect s do t hey cont rol ? Beneficial nematodes can help control a wide variety of insect pests? over 200 species, in fact. Nematodes kill things as diverse as ants, banana moths, cutworms, fleas, flies, fungus gnats, grubs, Japanese

beetles, leaf miners, termites, ticks, borers (tree and vine), and cockroaches. To give you a good idea of the wide variety of pests they can control, we have included a longer list at the end of this article. How do you appl y t hem? Nematodes have six life stages: egg stage, four juvenile stages, and an adult stage. Nematodes enter the bodies of their hosts when they are dauers (the third juvenile stage), and the adults spend their entire lives in the insect pest?s body. When you get beneficial nematodes, they are in their dauer stage and ready to go. Beneficial nematodes are shipped in several different forms (depending on the supplier), including sponges, dry granules, and powdery clay. All of the forms dissolve quickly and easily in water, releasing millions of nematodes. For regular home use, it?s best to spray them directly on the areas that need treatment (lawns, gardens, etc.). Nematodes should be applied when the pests are in the soil, generally in the spring and fall, although in some areas, summer is the best time to introduce benefical nematodes to the soil. It may take several applications, especially if you?re dealing with an established insect pest population, so it?s often a good idea to apply them several times throughout the year. Nematodes need moisture to move through the soil, so you should water the soil before and after application (taking care that the soil isn?t too wet, as that can interfere with their ability to infect the insects). Additionally, because nematodes are phototoxic, it?s best to apply them on a

Beetle. Copyright: Viter8

cloudy day or in the evening so they aren?t exposed to light and UV rays as they make their way down into the soil. Avoid using any fertilizers two weeks before or after application, because high amounts of nitrogen may have a deleterious effect on them. I have found it most effective to apply beneficial nematodes with a simple sprayer that attaches to the end of the hose. Continuous agitation of the contents is important so that the nematodes don?t sink to the bottom? you want them going out and into the soil in an even stream to ensure the best coverage. Remember, the soil should be moist when you apply the nematodes, and it should stay moist after you put them down. A good rule of thumb is to water at least every three or four days if there isn?t any rainfall, to help ensure the soil is at an appropriate moisture level so the nematodes can move around. Use the nematodes as soon as possible after you receive them. If you can?t use them right away, you can store them for several weeks in the refrigerator, but make sure they don?t freeze. I recommend purchasing them directly from the producer (I prefer Arbico Organics), to help make sure the nematodes are alive and of high quality. Because beneficial nematodes die relatively quickly when they are stored improperly or don?t have enough food, buying them off the shelf at your local garden center is a gamble: many if not all of the nematodes may already be dead. While application is easy, review the manufacturer?s guidelines, and contact them if you have any questions.

How ef f ect ive are benef icial nemat odes? Nematodes are incredibly effective at controlling insect pests. It is good to remember, though, that because nematodes attack many insects in the larvae stage (when they are still in the soil), it may take several generations and up to a month to achieve maximum results. Also, because the bacteria break the insect pest?s body down and the nematodes eat it, you won?t see dead insects like you might if you used chemical pesticides. Additionally, if an insect pest population is established, it might take several applications of nematodes to really get them under control. We use beneficial nematodes regularly at our house, and since using them, we have noticed a significant reduction in the pests that attack our plants, as well as a reduction in fleas and ticks. Nematodes are just one of the tools we use, along with eliminating chemical pesticides and fertilizers, introducing other insects (such as ladybugs and praying mantises) to control insect pests, and supporting our pets using naturopathic principles so that pests such as fleas and ticks are less attracted to them. The nematodes are great for getting at the pests while they are still in the soil and, often, still in the larval stage, before they can do any harm. They are one of the things that I recommend most to people looking for a natural way to control insect pests in their yards and gardens. Where can you get t hem? There are many companies that sell beneficial nematodes. As I mentioned previously, I use Arbico Organics (www.arbico-organics.com). I have 38

consistently found that they have excellent customer service, and their products provide great coverage. They even have combo packs so you can get both stationary and mobile nematodes, to control the widest variety of pests. They also have helpful charts to help you determine which nematodes you should get if you are looking to control particular pests (instead of just a broad application), and they are very clear about how much coverage each of their packets provides. Buglogical Control Systems is another supplier you may consider; they have a variety of beneficial nematodes along with other biological solutions to insect pests. Buglogical Control Systems can be found at www.buglogical.com. (Note that I do not receive compensation from either of these companies for mentioning them in this article.) Concl usion Beneficial nematodes are a cost-effective, easy, and safe way to help control a wide variety of insect pests. Take a look at the following list (source: Arbico Organics), which includes many of the pests that can be controlled with beneficial nematodes. While the list may not be complete, it will give you a good idea of the range of pests that you can address with beneficial nematodes, safely and effectively. The list is in alphabetical order for ease of reference: -

American cockroach Armyworm Ant Artichoke plume moth Asian cockroach Asparagus beetle

Bagworm Banana weevil Banana moth Beet armyworm Berry root weevil Bill bug Black cutworm Black vine weevil Bluegrass weevil Borers (tree and vine) Cabbage maggot Carrot weevil Caterpillars Chafer (European, masked) Citrus root weevil Codling moth Colorado potato beetle Corn earworm Corn rootworm Cotton bollworm Cranberry girdler Cranberry root weevil Cutworm Fall armyworm Flea (larvae, pupae, adult) Flea beetle Fly larvae Fruit fly Fungus gnats Gall midge German cockroach Grape root borer Grubs Humpbacked flies Iris borer Japanese beetle Large pine weevil Leaf miners May/ June beetles Mole crickets 39

Navel orangeworm Onion maggot Pill worm Raspberry crown borer Scarabs Sclarid Shore flies Sod webworm Strawberry root weevil

Sugarcane stalk borer Sweet potato weevil Termites Thrips Ticks Tobacco budworm Tobacco cutworm Wireworm -By Kristin Clark

A beautiful creek with plants around it. Photo credit: Kristin Clark

THEKITTYWENEEDED

Kitty enjoying the bed. Photo credit: Mardi Linane

We rescued our black cat, Kitty, from a shelter a few years ago. She stood out among the rest because of her name. I took it as a sign that this ?Kitty? had to be the cat for us because my lifetime-experience-to-date of three cats previous were all named Kitty. Oh, don?t judge. My husband?s birthday was approaching. I wanted to get him a cat. It had been six months since our beloved Kitty (# 3) left us for the great scratching post in the sky after 18 joyful years. I went online to see who might be available for adoption at our local shelter. The second bio/ photograph featured a fluffy black female cat named? wait for it, Kitty! She had to be the cat for us. Black cats are hard to photograph. She needed a new family. She possessed (from what I could make out) the basic cat shape (check), and the right cat name (CHECK)! The deal was done before I left the house to meet her. I realize as I write these words that it may seem that I have thin criterion for choosing a cat. It?s true. I love cats. I brought Kitty (# 4) home and transitioned her access to the entire house over the next week. She was not particularly excited to see us, rather a bit bored, almost polite. She did not appear stressed but she didn?t purr, which is a basic cat thing and odd but not a deal-breaker. Just the quirky personality of this particular cat. She will occasionally knead a blanket on the couch and purr quite loudly. She will not face us when she does this, as though she has a secret addiction that she is embarrassed about and she doesn?t want us to know. If we happen to get too close or pet her while she is in the middle of purring, she abruptly stops and leaves the room, with an air of, ?We will not speak of this again.? It?s puzzling and funny at the same time. She prefers a great deal of solitude, which we refer to as her ?me? time. She disappears between meals and brief

interactions to any one of a number of locations in the house for most of the day. However, if we stay up particularly late she will come to round us up for bed, which makes us laugh. She also consistently presents flirty, ?Pet my belly?? moves, but if we take the bait and attempt to pet her belly as requested, we are certain to have her claws wrapped around our innocent unsuspecting arm like a bear trap and likely to receive a formal introduction to her teeth. We fall for it again and again because she is the Academy Award Winning convincing flirt and has incredibly soft, ?pet-able? fur. She is so soft that I would love to pet her along her spine non-stop, if allowed, but she won?t have more than three pets at a time on the topside. There will be bloodshed if a fourth pet is attempted. Her motto? ?Don?t try it, human.? Her routine starts with breakfast with my darling husband, which is served soon after she bites him enough times to wake him to the point where he can?t get back to sleep. After a bite of breakfast, she wants a treat and maybe a

"Kitty" ignoring the family. Photo credit: Mardi Linane

little bit of hide and seek, chase the red dot play, or ?Did that hurt you?? surprise scratch attack. She then heads back upstairs to join me in bed, fully taking over my husband?s half of the bed. More than once I have rolled over in bed, stretched out to touch my husband or enjoy the empty spacious bed real estate and BAM! The CAT CLAW TRAP and business end of a certain set of teeth get me. It?s a shocking way to wake, cursing! After the initial good-morning bite, I pet her just a little bit anyway until she bites me again. I know it?s coming, but I cannot help it. I have to pet her a little because she is that soft! The bites become progressively more intense so I suppose she lets me gauge how much I want to suffer, as though I have had more than fair warning. She can open the door herself, but sometimes she meows just for the hell of it until I open the door for her. She is messing with me in her wily cat ways. There is no interaction. She wants to get in bed and for me to leave her alone as though the first nap of the day is her coffee and there will be no discourse until after coffee. I am not a morning person either, so I get it.

Invisible Kitty...almost. Photo credit: Mardi Linane

When I get up, she remains in bed. I make the bed around her. She ignores me. I tell her I am headed downstairs. No response. I tell her to ?have a good day anyway. And OK, I will see you around.? I often pretend she is deaf and that she would love to listen to me if only she could. I also envision her voice narrating to the fourth wall in a flat and bored tone how annoyed she is with her human. ?Why does she sound so well educated??, I often wonder curiously. Even though my imagination created her voice persona off-the-cuff, I completely suspend my disbelief or forget. I laugh at all the above. OK, so, she doesn?t purr, she doesn?t like physical contact, or hanging out with us all day. It?s a very platonic relationship, and she may sound like a very unappealing pet at this point. However, at some point during the day, she opens up and shows her very cute, playful personality, endearing and so worth all the aforementioned teeth, claws, and indifference. She?ll walk into the room and announce herself with one of many-a-nice cat sounds and a head nod, to which I imagine her saying ?Hey.? Or she blinks if we make eye contact. We, excited for the unexpected interaction, attempt to replicate the cat sound, and/ or blink, nod, and say ?Hey Kitty? back to her. Other times, she might quietly enter the room and pull a surprisingly commando move and swat our hand off the keyboard. She has successfully swatted a pen out of my hand and run triumphantly out of the room with it in her mouth as though she has stolen a football and is running for the winning touchdown. On more than one occasion, she has delivered a toy ball at our feet and stood staring at us until we felt the stare and got a ?freaking clue, human, I?m down here.? This cat cracks me up. 43

Catsareendlessopportunitiesfor revelation. -LesleyKapp

Her previous no-contact rule vanishes if the phone rings. She will come out from behind the couch or running from elsewhere and climb on my lap or near me when I am on the phone. She is like a child who only wants attention when it is divided and she is attempting to redirect toward her. I admit I have pretended to make a phone call when I have felt a particular need for attention from the cat. Cleverly, she can tell the difference between a phone call and a text message or calendar reminder alert. If the latter, she is so not interested. She is just so funny. Under cover of darkness, she becomes almost affectionate. Almost. She waits until we are just about asleep when she joins us on the bed and lays next to my head. As the night progresses, she makes her way closer to me until she is stretched out alongside, leaning on me. If I move she shifts to maintain contact. She still will bite me if I pet her but it?s a gentle love bite. Almost affectionate. Almost. After four years now, it turns out that when we return home she runs to the door to greet us. Often she meows excitedly and her tail is straight up, revealing her genuine excitement. She then heaves herself on her side and flirts with the come-pet-my-belly position. ?Maybe this will be the time she won?t bite??, we wonder. Nope. ?We?re home kitty, thanks for warmly biting us. Your secret love is safe with us.? She insists on our undivided attention by howling an ?I could be dying here? meow in a nearby room. She knows we will check to make sure she is not, in fact, dying. We find her in the position runners take when they're in the starting block? the ?get set? position, ready to be chased. She then makes one lap around the room like a cartoon character so fast she is leaning hard toward the inside edge of the circle she is creating, then bolts out of the room and upstairs like a ?cat outta hell.? Makes me laugh every time. More than anything in this life, I love laughing.

KItty. Photo credit: Mardi Linane

Kitty has taught us that relationships have many more layers than we might think. They require time and attention to develop. Sometimes forgiveness is needed when biting and scratching happens, because it does happen. Our ?Kitty? makes my day every day with some quirky hilarious thing or another. I love our quirky cat and am so grateful that we got the cat we needed in this life. -By Mardi Linane