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Those NOT So Pearly Whites |
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A topic that appears over
and over again in dog magazines is the problem of tartar on the teeth of dogs
and cats. The statistic that surfaces as often as the articles is: 80% of dogs 3 years of age have periodontal
disease. That is an amazing number of
dogs (and surely cats are suffering at least as badly!) to be suffering from all the complications of build up of tartar and the end result, periodontal
disease. Not only does the poor
animal’s breath get so horrible no one wants to be within 6 feet of the
creature but the entire system – not just the teeth and gums! – is on a
downhill slide. The most readily
affected areas are kidneys, liver and heart.
Doesn’t take much imagination to see how far reaching the health
issues can get. By the time your dog’s
teeth are coated, the gums are red and you encounter loss of appetite,
difficulty eating, irritability and more, your dog’s health has been in
trouble for quite some time. Why? Why is this happening? In an article about dental
care in the magazine Animal Wellness, Dr. Steve Marsden says: I rely on diet first and foremost to
prevent periodontal disease.” A
healthy diet MUST include as many fresh, whole ingredients as possible. “No processed foods”, says Dr. Sharon Doolittle
in the same article. She says to feed
“…real food only. Processed food leads
to degenerative health conditions including tartar on teeth.” The very food that most vets insist their
clients feed to the dogs is the culprit causing periodontal disease. The carefully cared for house cat gets
tartar – her wild/feral cousin who eats mice and rats has no such
problems. Most especially true of
low-end dry foods but true of all dry foods – they are high in grain, which
contain sugars and starches. “The bacteria
in the mouth that causes periodontal disease is anaerobic which means it can
survive in an environment without oxygen. If you’re not living on oxygen you
are living on sugar and most commercial pet foods, being grain based, contain
an ample store of sugars.” Raw meats and raw meaty
bones combined with fresh vegetables are loaded with probiotics
and enzymes that help fight the harmful bacteria and provide the nutrients
your dogs need – and deserve! All of
those things disappear in the cooking process that produces those cute little
pieces of dry food sold everywhere. Dr. Marsden says: “Raw bones have an edge
even over meat. They give the jaw a
workout.” Dr. Marsden says that raw
chicken necks provide the same benefits for your cat that a knuckle bone
gives your dog. The key word, the
essential word is RAW! Chicken bones
have gotten a bad rap – with good cause – but those are cooked bones. Raw chicken bones do not pose a splintering
hazard. The raw bones that I recommend
the most are beef back bones, pork neck bones, chicken parts including wings,
rib cages, backs and of course, a doggie favorite – chicken feet! Cats are “true” carnivores
and should always have fresh, raw meat and bones. While most vets certainly
believe they are giving the very best advice when it comes to processed food
the reality is that they learn about nutrition from dog food companies. Fortunately there are many, many vets that
have decided something is seriously wrong with the animals they see and treat
and have made the leap away from processed foods. The internet is loaded with
email groups that discuss raw diets for their critters. There are more books all the time offering
advice on how to feed our animals better.
A few books that I recommend are: RAW MEATY BONES by Tom
Lonsdale, graduate of the Royal Veterinary College, London THE BARF* DIET by Ian Billinghurst, B.V.Sc(Hons), B.Sc.Agr., Dip.Ed, graduate of veterinary science, Sydney University NATURAL NUTRITION for DOGS
and CATS – The Ultimate Diet by Kymythy R. Schultze, C.C.N, A.H.I. RAW DOG FOOD – MAKE IT EASY
FOR YOU AND YOUR DOG by Carina Beth MacDonald- an “Honest, informative, humourous” approach to the subject. Starting today – check the
teeth and gums of your canine and feline buddies. In addition to tartar buildup there are
other health issues that can develop in the mouth. If you see a build up you can rush off to
the vet’s or you can buy a fresh raw meaty bone** and be amazed at how fast
the teeth get a brand new look to themselves. But – clean or not – be
certain your vet checks your pet’s teeth whenever you have reason to be in
the office. Make diet changes slowly
to avoid intestinal tract problems. *BARF – Bones And Raw Food – or - Biologically
Appropriate Raw Foods **My suggestion is to avoid
the “marrow” bones. They are weight
bearing bones (very hard!) and hearty chewers can crack a tooth. The marrow is pure fat and can most
definitely upset stomachs and finally – they have no meat and we are talking
raw MEATY bones. H |