Dietary needs of every animal are different, due in great part to size, age, overall health condition, and a variety of other factors. Pets, like humans are suffering from the ill effects of eating highly processed, chemical-laden foods that over time have replaced our natural, evolutionary patterns of eating.
In pet diets for example, grains and soy have in many cases replaced fruits, vegetables and meat. The consequences are seen in the rise of obesity, cancer, GI disorders, arthritis and other diseases at a much earlier age.
Pet Life has created a nutrition and cleansing program that works in a broad variety of conditions and circumstances, designed to enhance the health of all animals, sick or healthy. Here are the suggested guidelines for Pet Life’s Nutrition Program:
Food
Dogs: 35-50% Meat, 50% fruit, veggies and certain grains/starches
Cats: 75-85% Meat, 25% fruit, veggies and certain grains/starches
Note: These are broad generalizations. Your pet may have specific dietary needs based on history and current medical conditions. The percentages listed are based on food intake in a natural habitat and do not reflect nutritional value available in typical commercial pet food. We recommend that you ease your pet into this nutrition program by starting with small portions of new foods in conjunction with their present diet of commercial food while slowly increasing the ratio of new food into the mix. It is important that you consult your veterinarian for their recommendation of the best quality commercial food for your pet’s needs, and then look for a higher grade specialty formula to ease into.
All food should be certified organic, pesticide free, antibiotic free, free range (cage free), grass fed meats with no artificial flavors or preservatives. Specialty organic grocery stores are your best bet for the highest quality meat.
Serving suggestions:
- Meat: Beef, lamb, wild fish, rabbit, chicken, duck, venison
- Fat: Though fat will be included in the mix, it is extremely important to add our fresh oils (contaminant-free) or a sliver of avocado for added fat and palatability
- Fruit: A few pieces of apple or pear
- Veggies/Starch: Steamed green beans, steamed cabbage, snow peas, potato, mashed carrots, brown rice, quinoa, spelt, oats
14 Day Cleanse
For a 14 day cleanse period we are purposely avoiding wheat, barley, rye, corn, soy and casein because of their potential allergenic qualities. If you do not feel this is an issue with your pet then you can include these, however it may be prudent to exclude them and see if there is a difference. Wheat is usually the worst offender as these crops can also contain unwanted pesticide and fungal residues. At this time we recommend cooking your meats; though if you are already feeding raw meats, it is your choice to continue it.
Water
Fresh Water is essential for optimal pet help. Tap water contains fluoride and chlorine which can be harmful to pets. Fluoride has been implicated in causing arthritis, and other chemicals found in tap water contribute to oxidative stress, which has been linked to diseases including cancer and Parkinson’s disease. Instead, search for a high quality bottled water. (Tip: never leave bottled water in a hot car because the plastic can leach into the water which can lead to any number of health problems).
In order to achieve optimal results it is essential to provide your animal with the following supplemental nutrition:
- High levels of unaltered antioxidants found in nature. This requires fruits and vegetables that are intact, not extracted components, as in synthetic vitamins. There are many unknown compounds holding together fruits and vegetables that we cannot produce separately in a laboratory. Whole fruits and vegetables also contain enzymes that help naturally digest food.
- Essential fats. These are necessary to achieve proper balance of proteins and carbohydrates and to help proteins work better, reduce inflammatory processes in the body, and contribute to thousands of reactions that needed to achieve optimal health. Essential fats have natural antioxidants in them and are much more powerful than synthetic vitamins and have none of the adverse side effects or the tendency to lead to unbalanced nutrition.
- N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC). Vital to enhance the cleansing aspect of this program, this pharmaceutical substance is a precursor to a powerful antioxidant system in the body and helps get rid of toxins that can contribute to a sluggish metabolism, which may slow down the entire health enhancing process.
- A good balance of beneficial bacteria. Many GI problems are on the rise because processed foods do not support the proper balance of bacteria in the gut which can seriously impact the health of your pet. Medications and antibiotics can also destroy this delicate balance. Therefore it is essential to provide your pet with a good balance of foods rich with beneficial bacteria, such as grass fed meat, fruits and vegetables.
- Soluble and insoluble fiber. Most fibers on the market contain phytates (which sub-optimally bind essential minerals) or allergenic fillers, yet they do not contain essential prebiotics that feed good bacteria in the gut.
By following the basic guidelines above you can help achieve optimal results for a healthy, happy pet. We must stress, however, that before making any changes concerning your pet’s health or embarking upon a dietary regimen of any kind, please consult your veterinarian ahead of time to make sure it is right for your pet.
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* These statements have not been evaluated by
the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to
diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
