Rss Feed
Tweeter button
Facebook button
Technorati button
Reddit button
Myspace button
Linkedin button
Webonews button
Delicious button
Digg button
Flickr button
Stumbleupon button
Newsvine button
Youtube button

There is a significant increase in the market share of Natural and Holistic Pet Food, and it is predicted to double over the next five years. But why the sudden increase in our pets health? It seems that as we become more concerned with our own family's health and what we eat, it's natural to also be more concerned about what our pets eat, as they have truly have become part of our families. Today, it is now easier to provide a complete healthy meal for our pets. In fact, our pets may be eating better than we are!

What to Expect from All Natural and Holistic Pet Food?

1. Switching to All Natural and Holistic Pet Food, produces substantial results over time. We all are accustomed to using synthetic drugs which can stop symptoms quickly. But, in many cases, the problem reoccurs because it was treating the symptons, not the problem. Holistic Pet Foods provide an environment that allows the body to health itself, not just treat the symptoms. This results in a more permanent cure and a healthier pet.

2. A good, high quality diet is the foundation of your pet's health. What we find in the market today for our pets, often contain chemical additives that can be detrimental to their health. Many commercial premium foods contain chemicals known to be toxic, as well as low quality meat that is not fit for human consumption. Many of the ingredients are hard to digest, so the nutritional value is diminished becuase it doesn't reach their bloodstream. An animal's immune system is worn down over time because of poor diet and the lack of a complete balanced diet doesn't foster a long life. There has been a significant increase in kidney and liver failures in young dogs and cats that has recently been linked to the amount of chemical preservatives. That's why the FDA recently recommended the manufactururers of pet food cut the amount of certain chemical preservatives in half. Our pets eat the same food everyday, so the food they eat will have a heightened effect over time on their health, that's why a good, high quality diet is best for your pet's health.

Domestic pets are descendents of animals that have been existing in the wild. Many vets feel that pets should eat natural and less processed food. They recommend feeding pets fresh food with some supplements, or choose an all natural or holistic pet food. Your choice is to select the healthiest food for your companion pets.

What is All Natural and Holistic Pet Food?

Of course, we know that the proper mix of protein, vegetables, carbohydrates, and fats are needed for a healthy diet for our pets. Along with the 23 essential amino acids, pets also need vitamins and minerals. But the types of proteins, vegetables, carbohydrates, and fats is what holistic pet food is all about. Holism is the theory that animals should be viewed as interacting, complete entities, that are more than the sum of their elementary particles. Holistic food is naturally balanced, and provides the pet's body with much more than just the sum of its ingredients. Each ingredient is chosen for not only it's nutritional value, but also for it's interaction with other ingredients. In selecting ingredients, manufacturer's must know how an ingredient aids digestion, and select the ones that provide the most health benefits. Many ingredients are known to be good anti-oxidants, so why not choose an ingredient that has that added value. Then the combination of ingredients as a whole can be evaluated to understand the total value of a complete and balanced diet.

Holistic pet food manufacturers choose the most digestible meats, vegetables and carbohydrates so that the nutrients are almost 100% bio-available, meaning that it actually gets into their bloodstream. If it is a meat that can't be easily digested, then it just passes through their digestive system, and less is really available. The sources of proteins, vegetables and carbohydrates are just as important as the amounts. We also know that certain meats, vegetables and carbohydrates are prone to produce food allergies, and therefore it makes sense to avoid using those ingredients which are known to have a high incidence of digestive problems or allergies.

Given that we can determine the proper mix of ingredients, it also makes sense that we should utilize the best available ingredients for your pet and avoid using questionable ingredients such as by-products or meat digest. The source of the ingredients should be held to the highest standard of human grade food, and as natural as it can be. That means meat that is free from contamination from animals that were not given steroids, antibiotics or hormones, and to avoid meat by-products or meat digest. Vegetables should be free from pesticides or herbicides. We should avoid known food allergenic ingredients (beef, wheat, or soy), and not use chemicals preservatives, dyes, or genetically modified organisms. Holistic pet foods come as close to organic in nature without any chemicals or drugs, or as we say, "The Very Best for Your Best Friend!"

About The Author

Fred Ege provides All Natural and Holistic Dog and Cat Food, the very best for your best friend. To learn more about our All Natural and Holistic Dog and Cat Food, go to: http://www.foxvalleypetfoods.com.

fred@foxvalleypetfoods.com

"We are seeing disease conditions in animals that we did not see years ago. Many of these may be traced to nutrition as the source…" Don E. Lundholm, DVM

pet food for healthDr. Kollath, of the Karolinska Hospital in Stockholm, headed a study done on animals. When young animals were fed cooked and processed foods they initially appeared to be healthy. However, as the animals reached adulthood, they began to age more quickly than normal and also developed chronic degenerative disease symptoms. A control group of animals raised on raw foods aged less quickly and were free of degenerative disease. In nature, we see another example of wild animals eating entirely enzyme rich raw foods being free of the degenerative diseases that afflict humans.

If you spend a little time observing the physical condition of animals in the wild, you will find that so-called degenerative or old age diseases are relatively unknown to them. Except for the danger from natural predators, wild animals generally live quite long and healthy lives. Now, what happens when we domesticate animals and make them into house pets? Are you aware that they quickly develop the same diseases as their human "owners"? We must be making the same mistake with them that we're making with ourselves. Some years ago, Dr. Francis Pottenger tried an experiment on several hundred cats. He divided them into two groups and fed one group their natural diet of raw meat and the other group a man-made diet of cooked pet food. He carried on this experiment through three generations. The cats that were fed their normal uncooked diet thrived. The cats that were fed a cooked diet developed the same diseases, and required the same medical treatment, as we humans. (excerpt from an article at the NewVeg site)

Dr. Donald Ogden D.V.M. writes that commercial pet food (even the best known and most expensive brands) have had their nutrients altered, adulterated, devitalized and destroyed by heat, processing, coloring, preservatives and other chemicals. Feeding your animal such food on a regular basis causes waste-toxins to accumulate in the blood, lymphs and tissue which contributes to a weak immune system and renders our pet susceptible to chronic diseases.

Jesse Dallas writes that Processed foods and drugs have seriously depleted the natural vitality and immune systems of many pets. Dogs and cats are anatomically very different to humans. Their intestinal tract, for example is only about half as long as a human's, and food is therefore processed and assimilated very differently. Whereas large amounts of red meat can cause cancer in humans, a lack of raw red meat in an animal's diet can lead to serious health problems.

Animals, like humans, require the enzymes, amino acids and other nutrients in the raw meat in order to stay healthy. Many skin and coat problems are a direct result of a lack of raw animal fat in the diet – fat which humans often believe is bad for their pet. Animals need at least 30% raw fat, and their systems are not designed to handle cooked meat or cooked fat. In the wild, a panther or jackal does not barbecue, grill or smoke its prey. It definitely does not walk to the local supermarket to buy dry food either. Yet most pet owners recoil at the thought of feeding raw meat to their dog or cat, concerned about bacteria or parasites. However, dogs and cats don't get salmonella poisoning because their digestive system is so acidic (or at least it should be) that it kills everything. This is why a dog can bury a bone and dig it up two weeks later and eat the rotting meat.

For a return to health, pets require a diet which strengthens the immune system and most closely resembles that which they would get in the wild. It's really easy to do. Essentially, you feed your pet a combination of certain raw meats and select from a host of raw vegetables.

About the Author: by Shirley Lipschutz-Robinson. For more information about the healing power of RAW DIET for animals, including as sample recipe and if you want to know what's really in commercial pet food visit Shirley's Wellness Cafe: Optimum Pet Nutrition & Natural Health Care for Animal at http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/1158/animals.htm

Two weeks ago most pet owners had not even heard of the term "Swine Flu". But now, as well as being worried about ourselves, pet owners are concerned that the new strain of flu could affect our pets.

petsAll birds and mammals can be infected with a form of influenza virus, of which there are three types (A, B and C). Humans can be infected by forms of all three, but most flu varieties in animals and humans that cause serious health concerns are Influenza Type A. Viruses can mutate rapidly, and because hosts' immune systems do not initially protect against new mutations, new strains can subsequently cause widespread infection. Often new strains result from the spread of an existing flu virus from one species to another, which provides the virus with the necessary tools to transmit between members of a different species to it's usual host.

Swine Flu

The latest flu strain to hit the headlines (H1N1) – known popularly as "Swine Flu" is a strain of Influenza Type A. While the normal version of "Swine Flu" causes outbreaks of influenza with low mortality rates in pigs, the strain which is currently causing human deaths is not the same virus. The new strain combines genes from human, pig, and bird flu and is similar to the strain that caused "Spanish Flu", responsible for a human pandemic in 1918. "Swine Flu" is an entirely different virus to the "Bird Flu" which was widely talked about last year, and among the most important differences is that "Bird Flu" infected humans who had direct contact with infected birds, where as "Swine Flu" is being transmitted from human to human.

Flu in Horses

Influenza is widespread in horses and is believed to have a nearly 100% infection rate in unvaccinated populations. Flu in horses is primarily caused by the H7N7 and H3N8 strains. In 2007, an outbreak caused the Sydney Races in Australia to be suspended.

Flu in Cats

An avian strain ( H5N1) of Influenza Type A, which was given the popular name "Bird Flu", had until recently posed the greatest risk for a new influenza pandemic since it first killed humans in Asia in the 1990s, but it did not mutate into a form that spreads easily between people. H5N1 is unusual in being deadly to many species, including domestic cats which were never previously susceptible to any influenza virus. Aside from when infected with H5N1, the term "Feline Flu" does not actually refer to infection by influenza, but instead generally refers to the symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection. Because cats have little exposure to influenza viruses, any case of flu which was able to transmit between humans or dogs and cats would probably lead to a widespread infection, since cats have no natural immunity to any influenza virus.

Flu in Dogs

Type A Influenza viruses also include equine influenza (H3N8), which in 2004 was discovered to be responsible for Canine Influenza. Because of the lack of previous exposure to this virus, dogs have no natural immunity to this virus.

Flu in Pigs

Although this new influenza is being called "Swine Flu," it is being spread from person to person, not from pigs to people. None of the infected humans in North America have had contact with pigs, and no pigs in North America have been found to be infected with this strain. Pet pigs are therefore not known to be able to contract the strain of "Swine Flu" which is being talked about in the news, however they are able to contract normal "Swine Flu", which does not normally have any more serious consequences than seasonal flu does for humans.

Conclusions

In general, influenza viruses are not transmitted from one species to another. For example, dogs and cat do not develop flu after exposure to owners with a seasonal flu virus. While it is theoretically possible for a new influenza strain to be transmissible between humans and other domestic animals, it is likely that such a strain would be transmissible between only humans and one other animal. Because the "Swine Flu" virus contains genetic elements of human, pig and avian flu viruses, it would seem very unlikely that this strain would have the ability to infect hosts which are not humans, pigs or birds. And, according to the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA), "there is no evidence that pets are susceptible to this new strain of influenza; it appears to be transmitted solely from person to person".

About the Author: Daphne Reid
http://www.petpeoplesplace.com

natural healthy dogPet immune disorders can be a serious problem, especially as our pets are exposed to an increasing number of toxins and an unusual amount of stress in their everyday lives. In order to counter the effects of domestic life, it is important that you bolster your pet’s daily diet with a regular herbal supplement which can provide the extra boost they need to ensure good immune system health.

Pet immune system issues are the single biggest cause of health problems seen by most vets. A weakened immune system can leave your pet open to a variety of illnesses. As with humans, pets can benefit from the healing power of nature when it comes to ensuring that they get the right amount of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients on a daily basis.

Artificial colorings and preservatives in packaged pet food, household chemicals and pesticides can all cause considerable damage to the immune system. Pet immune disorders generally fall under one of three categories: immune deficiency, immune hyperactivity and cancer of the immune system. A weakened immune system, caused by exposure to toxins and other stressors, can leave your pet open to any of these types of disorders.

Everything from simple allergies to cancer can be caused by pet immune system issues so preventing them should be a top priority for all pet owners. While animals in the wild can and do often turn to certain herbs and plants when they are sick, domestic animals don’t have that option. That is why it is imperative for their owners to fill in the gap with natural supplements.

Knowing how important these natural fighters can be, homeopaths have developed a range of natural products which enable domestic pets to get the extra natural boost they need. With a carefully selected blend of herbs and other plant based ingredients, these supplements provide your pet with everything they need to fight pet immune disorders and improve over all health.

Along with providing all the proper nutrients, there are other steps you can take to ensure your pet is free from pet immune system issues. This includes feeding your pet a good, balanced diet free of artificial additives, making sure they get plenty of exercise on a regular basis and maintaining a clean water source so they can remain properly hydrated.

As part of a regular healthy routine, natural supplements made from ingredients such as Mistletoe, Echinacea, Huang Qi, and Indian ginseng can go a long way toward preventing pet immune disorders. Working together, these natural ingredients not only stimulate immune system function, they can also help to increase energy, improve appetite and promote overall good health.

We all want what’s best for our pets and when it comes to avoiding immune disorders, that means making sure they are getting all the nutrients they need. Nothing works as well on that count as all natural products. Talk to your vet today and find a daily natural supplement which will keep your pet looking and feeling healthy for years to come.

About the Author: Laura Ramirez is a passionate researcher of products that help restore health and vitality to pets and people and keep their immune system strong for prevention. To learn more about her findings, go to www.pet-health-supplements.com

 white healthy dogBeing the caretakers of our treasured pets, why not give them the best all natural dog treats and eliminate dangerous dog food from their diet. It’s true, we could give them off the shelf, well-known, name-branded treats, but why would we when there is an alternative.

More specifically, when our best friends health could be at stake, isn’t it worth being a little pickier? Sure, we just want to pamper our four-legged family members, but at what cost if it’s not quality ingredients.

Additionally, as much as our furry companions love those morsels from the dinner table, some can actually be toxic. Wouldn’t it be worth knowing what is harmful to our pet’s health? I, for one, would not want to be inadvertently responsible for some illness or possible fatal outcome of feeding Fido toxic kibbles.

There are some fabulous creators of quality all natural dog treats and it is our duty as the parental units for our canine friends to seek them out. Just look into your puppy’s eyes and see how you are the most important living being in his world.

It would be unfair to give him less than he would give us–loyalty, love, and his desire to please–and how best could we show our love in return than by providing him with the best treats available. He will thank you with good health and plentiful, healthy years to share his devotion.

Today is the day to find out what is on the market that could actually save you money by spending less time at the vet by eliminating dangerous dog food from our dog’s diet.

Visit http://www.squidoo.com/dangerousdogfood now to learn some shocking truths about dog food. Quality nutrition will provide your pet with a longer, healthier life. Get your FREE REPORT that highlights Dangerous Dog Food issues and gain access to much more.

About the Author
Lisa Griffiths ~ As an avid pet lover, I find satisfaction in finding the best information available to ensure my dog’s health.

black seed in euforia for pet health by nuverus