Natural Health for Pets: Nutrition for Dogs, Cats and Birds

Pet HealthDogs
Pets today suffer from allergies, skin problems,Mix 1/3 raw vegetables (any except onions, which
hypertension, heart disease, cancer, liver and kidneycan be toxic to dogs), 1/3 cooked grains (white rice
failure, and other serious illnesses. These conditionsor pasta are acceptable, but whole grains or brown
have been exacerbated by the tainted foods werice are preferable), and 1/3 raw meat. Add a splash
feed our pets, and the lack of vitamins, minerals,of oil and serve - it's that simple!
enzymes and other nutrients in their diets.* Note that measurements are given as proportions
Commercial grade pet foods may contain harmfulrather than amounts, as serving sizes will vary
additives and processed grains, instead of high qualityconsiderably depending on the size of your dog.
proteins. These foods weaken the immune system,Raw bones are also recommended once a day,
providing the environment for disease to gain aespecially marrowbone or kangaroo tails.
foothold.Cats
Improving your pet's health is relatively simple. It is aUnlike dogs, cats are almost exclusively carnivorous,
matter of feeding your pets natural, whole foods,and will do well on a meat-only diet. Give your cat
and ensuring a proper balance of vitamins, mineralsraw meat, fish (whitebait is the perfect size for cats,
and micronutrients is achieved. I recommend theand very inexpensive), or organic chicken. Feed in
following basic diets for dogs and cats, try them andsmall portions twice a day, and remember to remove
watch your best friend grow healthier and happieruneaten food before it spoils.
before your very eyes!When allowed to go outside, cats will normally
All animalssupplement this diet with herbs and grasses, which,
If you have the means to feed your pets organicapart from self-medicating, also supply nutrients that
foods and filtered water, please do so! Organicare not present in meat, such as chlorophyll.
vegetables can be grown cheaply and with littleTherefore, it is especially important to supplement
effort in your own garden, and I'm sure there's athe diet of indoor cats who are not permitted to go
GSW Class on how to do it, as well as the GSWoutside with a good vitamin-mineral supplement.
Gardening Club.Birds
The easiest way to prepare vegetables is to use theBirds should always have a good mix of different
pulp left over from juicing. I like my carrot, apple,grains and seeds as well as fresh water available. I
beetroot and celery juice in the mornings, and therealso recommend giving birds some raw fruit and
are plenty of nutrients left in the pulp to keep thevegetables daily. It's nice if you can give them some
dog and the birds healthy as well! If you don't drinkaccess to fresh grasses as well.
juices (you should, they're great for you!), you'll needSome birds, especially parrots, will happily eat a whole
to use a food processor, as they should be choppedapple or another fruit if you just cut it in half. Others
up quite finely.need the fruit and veg to be chopped or pureed on
For meat-eating pets, try to get game meats, asthe food processor. Be guided by what your birds
they are generally leaner and free of all thelike, but please, stick to foods that are naturally
hormones and antibiotics that are present ineaten by your species of bird!
commercially grown meats. Also keep in mind thatNever give your chickens "layer pellets" as they are
diced meat is better than minced. Here in Australia,made with fish and meat meal - that is, ground up
many pet shops sell frozen diced kangaroo meat infish, cow and chicken bones - about as far from a
1kg packs (and 15kg boxes) at very reasonablenatural diet as a chicken can get! Chickens' diet should
prices.consist mainly of wheat, other grains and seeds, fruit
Always add a good colloidal or crystalloid vitamin andand vegetables, grasses, any insects and worms
mineral supplement and some high-grade Omega 3they can capture. Look for "wild bird seed" in your
and 6 oils.supermarket - it's great to mix in with their wheat
Aged garlic extract, various herbs, enzymes, spirulina,and they love it! If you are able to let them out,
bee pollen and kelp can also be added either on aeven if for only a few hours a day, then do so! They
regular basis or as needed, to ensure the highestwill always return to their "coop" by sundown.
level of well-being for your pet.What now?