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Natural Awakenings South Central Pennsylvania

Best Foods For Pets

Jan 31, 2023 09:31AM ● By Linda Stern
Just as people do, animals need a proper balance of nutrients to survive, and health is related to the quality of food that is consumed. Animals can survive on calories; however, if our pets are missing essential nutrients, their health can be compromised. Whole foods are balanced in a way that cannot be replicated, and adding artificial supplements are not well-absorbed. Although a diet may appear balanced with the addition of artificial supplements, the body is unable to absorb nutrients properly as if received from whole foods.

 

Many commercial diets have additives and fillers that are either harmful or not useful. Dogs and cats have no nutritional needs for carbohydrates, yet they are frequently the prominent ingredients in commercial formulations. This is also a primary reason many of our dogs and cats are overweight and have other health issues.

 

The more processed or cooked at high temperatures, the more nutrients in foods are destroyed. Adding nutrients does not replace those naturally occurring in food. Kibble is the worst in nutrient value. Most is processed at extremely high temperatures and use carbohydrates as a binder. Canned foods are next, and then freeze-dried. Raw foods are the least processed. Unless someone has a complete understanding of feeding raw foods, raw is not recommended, especially homemade raw, for most individuals. Making our own pet food can also be difficult, and there are companies that make quality whole foods for dogs and cats.

 

The protein source and vegetables used in pet food is only as good as where it is sourced. If it's an organic source, certain rules have be followed. No chemicals, artificial additives or GMOs are allowed. The food is not allowed to be radiated to extend its shelf life. Nonorganic meats frequently are frozen, defrosted and refrozen many times, allowing harmful microbes to multiply. This is one of many reasons meats should always be cooked if the source and handling is unknown.

 

Dogs and cats are unable to break down the cell wall in vegetables, so they need to be cooked or broken down in a food processor. There are trillions of microorganisms in the body of our pets that depend on the quality of whole food.

 

Linda T. Stern, DVM, MS, CVA, is the owner of Healing Creatures Animal Hospital, located at 3300 Hartzdale Dr., Ste. 108, in Camp Hill. For more information, call 717-730-3755 or visit HealingCreatures.com.