| Long before the dog food scare, health-conscious | | | | dogs choke on kibble daily than all other dog diets |
| dog and cat owners in Europe and Australia knew | | | | combined. But you never hear that in the news. |
| of the B.A.R.F. diet and had been feeding it to | | | | People ask me, "But isn't all this expensive. |
| their pets for years. Now America is catching on, | | | | Grinding up raw fruits, meats and veggies daily for |
| but it is a slow process. Raw foods remind us of | | | | just an animal? First, I resent the "just an animals". |
| "something unhealthy". Even the official | | | | Second, the money I have saved in vet bills far |
| veterinarian manual does not have a lot of | | | | outweighs what I would save buying dog foods, |
| information regarding animal nutrition. Most of it | | | | and most importantly Thor's major personality |
| comes from the very powerful dog food lobby, | | | | changes made it all worthwhile. |
| which, may be killing our pets. Forget about the | | | | Take a look at pet history. Seventy years ago, |
| rat poison recently found. That might be the | | | | before dog food was introduced, our furry loved |
| healthiest ingredient in that mush. | | | | ones ate what we did. We did not hear about all |
| Television offers us one view of how to care for | | | | these new diseases being introduced daily that our |
| our dogs, especially the many "high quality" dog | | | | pet may have. For goodness sake, now they |
| foods now available on the market. But how high | | | | make puppy Prozac! |
| quality are they? More and more research is | | | | A few months ago I was flying to Charlotte, N.C |
| revealing that even the highest quality dog food | | | | on business and to see friends. I was talking to a |
| (and cat food) does not come close to what the | | | | young woman before takeoff, sitting next to me |
| b.a.r.f diet can do for dogs and cats. | | | | who had two yellow labs. They were both |
| For the past eight years he has been on the b.a.r.f | | | | constantly sick. I told her about the b.a.r.f diet and |
| diet (bones and raw foods) and again, I won't go | | | | how most vets don't know about it, because |
| into the details of that diet (except that it is all | | | | they are educated by the dog food industry |
| raw human-grade meat, bones fruits and veggies | | | | salespersons. |
| (and herbal tinctures). For more information on it, | | | | A woman in front of us turned around abruptly |
| simply google the b.a.r.f diet. It works great for | | | | and said, "Sorry to interrupt. I am a vet in |
| dogs and cats as well. Thor, is finally reaching the | | | | Sterling, Va, an traditional one. But I know as |
| age where he is experiencing a few health issues | | | | much as anyone about the b.a.r.f diet and I would |
| (at an age when most dogs do who eat | | | | never recommend feeding a dog or cat |
| processed foods at about age six-to-ten. | | | | processed food." |
| My anger remains at the pet food industry. There | | | | I asked her how she could possibly compete with |
| is no way they cannot know they are selling a | | | | vets in her community (She lived in suburban |
| dangerous product, but a profitable one. I guess it | | | | Washington, D.C.), and she said, "Most are already |
| is something I will have to live with, just like | | | | educated there and very aware of the diet." She |
| alcohol or tobacco both being available but so | | | | added, "Many have had their pets on the b.a.r.f |
| poisonous. But we are analytical humans and know | | | | diet long before the books were written." |
| it. A pet has to rely on us, and we have to rely | | | | Thor was a survivor. He came back three times |
| on the vet who is relying on the pet food | | | | from the gates of death. This past week, his |
| salesperson. It's a viscious cycle and until someone | | | | body gave out at age twenty one. I have shed |
| blows the whistle, it is likely to remain that way a | | | | many tears but am happy I had the chance to |
| long time. | | | | own this amazing creature, and, learn of this |
| Vets are worried that dogs will choke on chicken | | | | incredible diet. I hope and pray others will learn |
| and pork bones. They will not. Raw bones are | | | | about it and have a similar experience that I had |
| flexible. They are easily digested even by puppies | | | | with my loving dog Thor. |
| and elderly dogs. Kibble is the big danger. More | | | | |