WhiskerFeathers News

Let’s All  Eat Better

Since people  and dogs have been hanging out together they have been big on sharing. We’ve been sharing housing, sharing work, sharing hunting and also sharing food. Cat domestication has also brought about a lot of sharing. Cats have shared the fire and the hearth since they were gods back in Egypt, made so because they were such great mousers. All this sharing has a good news/bad news component. The good news is the wonderful bond we have with our pets. I recently heard someone say that they, the animals could probably do nicely without us but we surely could not do without them!  The bad news is that we share many of the same afflictions such as arthritis, cancer, and kidney problems just to name a few.

We’ve been talking about the problem of pets being overweight. That’s a fact that can’t be denied, proper feeding and exercise is the remedy for that. The question is what should we be feeding them? Let’s look at our own eating issues first and we might get a clue. Back a few generations, Mom stayed home and cooked hardy home-made meals. People had three squares a day plus desert but weight was not such a problem as it is today. People ate healthy food probably grown locally and they moved a lot more and by doing so got more exercise. Pets were fed table scraps from the same healthy food the family was eating and were out running around with the kids.

During WWII a phenomenon called K-rations came about. K-rations were canned foods that the soldiers could eat while in the field. When Mom went to work by necessity during WWII she had less time for cooking. In order to feed the family she started turning to fast, convenient foods that came in a can from the grocery store. Before canned goods people used to “can” fresh fruits and vegetables in Mason jars.

Since that time we have been relying on and eating more and more convenience foods. Today it has been recognized that there is a necessity to take the time and eat healthier. We saved a lot of time in the past but at a great expense to our bodies. The true damage has yet to be determined. Today we have choices such natural food and organic food to add to the menu.

Organic foods are foods which are grown without the use of pesticides and chemicals is taking us back to those days of healthy eating. Recently my favorite grocery store did a remodel and they are now prominently displaying organic food.

Unfortunately we took our pets on that fast food ride with us. Commercial pet foods today are as full of preservatives as ours. In 2007 there was a widespread pet food recall, quite a few dogs and cats died as a result of food they had been fed. Trusted brands like Eubanka, Iams, Nutro Ultra and Master Choice were quickly taken off the shelves and people were understandably worried. This was a time for us to step back and take a close look at what’s out there. There are basically three choices:

•    Regular pet food: You get it at the grocery store or pet store. It’s readily available and convenient.
•    Natural Food: The American Association of Feed Control Officials (AAFCO) defines natural food. Natural foods are basically foods which contain vitamins C and E as preservatives not chemicals such as BHA, BHT, ethoxyquin and propyl gallate. They also have in them meats such as chicken, lamb or beef instead of unspecified by-products of various animals.
•    Organic Pet Food: The National Organic Program of the US Department of Agriculture Organic (NOPA) defined organic pet food in 2002. It is defined as pet foods manufactured by “certified organic” companies. These are free of pesticides, synthetic chemicals, antibiotics and additives. “All Natural” pet food usually embodies these traits, but are not regulated by this certification. Meats found in organic pet food are grown free range, or are considered “organic” given their lack of antibiotics.

The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) is an independent, third party agency. Their label assures you that a product is organic and has passed specific labeling and manufacturing requirements, this takes the guess work out of it.

What are the benefits of feeding your dog or cat organic food?

•    Healthier coats
•    Allergy Protection
•    Reduced skin ailments
•    Better health
•    Improved physical condition
•    Longer lifespan

You can just look at a healthy person and see their skin glow, their eyes bright and pep in their step. You can also look at a healthy cat or dog and see their coats shine, a gleam in their eyes and their tails wagging. They are more active and full of life because their bodies aren’t at war with all the junk in their bodies.

Here is a challenge for you, take the organic test for yourself. After eating organic food and adopting an overall healthy lifestyle for a while see if you don’t feel better. Next do the same for your pet and watch them enjoy life too!

Photo by alfonso benayas Released under Creative Commons

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