Pets Don’t Always Experience Great Pet Health, But They Can!

Our quest to provide our pets with great health began by looking at the history of our domestic animal family members. Evidence shows that canine family members have existed for over 20,000 years and feline family members 10-12,000 years ago. They have been with us for a long time. In our never-ending quest for optimal health, we needed to research their origin, where they lived, and what their natural foods and diet were like before domestication.

With the realization that one’s health comes from everything that enters the body, it is comprised of nutrition, water, air, and now a plethora of man-made chemicals including preservatives, food additives, cleaning products, extracts, medicine, vaccines, lawn products, insecticides, and so much more. We all know that we don’t have control over the air and have limited control over our water supply, however, we can control what we use in our homes, medications, and feed.

Our focus in this column is to guide you on what you can do to ensure optimal health for your pets and also carry it to your family. Besides limiting exposure to toxic, harmful chemicals and substances in the body, the healthiest regimen you can follow is to provide the cleanest, species-appropriate foods available.

Our pets entered mankind in a period that is referred to as the Paleolithic era, which dates from approximately 2.5 million years ago up to 10,000 years ago.

Our pets since their initial contact with humans have subsequently adapted to us in modern times undergoing many changes including exposure to toxic, harmful, and processed foods. During the Paleolithic period, humans ate lean meats, fish, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds obtained by hunting and gathering. A pet’s diet was similar to humans while remaining species-specific.

So, what was the actual diet of our pets’ ancestral Paleolithic-era pets? As carnivores, it would be animal-based foods. Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they only need animal-based foods. Canines are opportunistic carnivores, meaning they are more scavenging. They will eat outside the animal-based diet only to balance their needs.

Today’s modern diets for pets contain ingredients that are mostly grains, legumes, and large amounts of processed ingredients that don’t even come close to their ancestral Paleolithic foods. The meat and other ingredients commonly used are substandard for human consumption. They are complemented with synthetic, foreign-made nutrient additives not even available to the body through the natural digestive process. Is it any surprise that our modern pet family has many more health issues than their wild, natural cousins?

Our pets deserve to be fed the biological and species-appropriate foods that are part of their ancestry.

Our values need to respect the natural order of their biological needs. It is understood that clean meat diets can be more costly than filler-based diets, but you are their caretaker. You assumed the responsibility to do whatever is necessary. It’s not about primarily saving on the cost of food or being subjected to expensive and at times unnecessary veterinary care. Starting with a natural basic food program can help prevent unnecessary visits to the Veterinarian. Going back to what would be called a Paleo Diet, our advice is to investigate it, evaluate all the life-changing improvements that your pet experiences, and then decide.

Statistics show that dogs are the number one cancer and toxic animal on earth. Our pets are reflecting parallel health challenges that humans experience. There IS a reason and a solution. It is right in front of you here. Go back to the basics and better health shall prevail.

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