22 Sep Raw Feeding Hants £35

The Why and How of Practical Raw Food Feeding 22/9/12 Hants

A one-day seminar for all dog owners and dog lovers.


By Holistic Vet Nick Thompson BSc (Hons) Path Sci., BVM&S, VetMFHom, MRCVS

Nick established his own practice Holisticvet Ltd., www.holisticvet.co.uk/ in ’99, in Bath and works throughout the UK, Europe and the Channel Islands and with clients also in Zimbabwe, Malta, Spain, Belgium, the U.S., Australia and Korea. He was a lecturer at Southampton University teaching complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of behavioural problems at the School of Psychology. He is also veterinary consultant to Paddocks Farm Ltd. who produces Verm-X. Nick also writes for Horse Magazine and Dogs Today and has lectured throughout the UK and for the Faculty of Homeopathy in Portugal.

His specialist interest is in chronic disease, treating with complementary and alternative medicines, including, homeopathy, acupuncture, herbs and nutrition.

Venue: Sway Village Hall, Middle Road, Sway, Lymington Hampshire, SO41 6BB
Registration: From 9.15am – Start 10.00am – Close Approx 4.30pm
Cost only £35.00 Per head to include Coffee on arrival; Mid-Morning Tea/Coffee & Biscuits; Ploughman’s Lunch & Afternoon Tea/Coffee with special CDT Cake.

Unfortunately dogs cannot join us on this occasion.

Event organisers
CARA DOG TRAINING
Chrissy Gough MIACE, APDT 653, PDTE (F094) & Barry Gough APDT 893, ADTB Approved. Heathers, Gilpin Place, Sway, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 6EU. Tel: 01590 683 529 Email: caratraining@ic24.net www.caradogtraining.com

Why are processed foods undesirable?

They are designed for the “Average Animal” which has been ill defined and, by definition, 30% of dogs fall outside the bell curve. Many dogs are allergic to the Food Storage Mite and thus by no longer feeding dry food, the symptoms disappear.

Cereals are not natural for dogs. The nation with the most problems with gluten intolerance is Italy, due to their staple diet; pasta. By eradicating these items from the diet many problems can be alleviated. Alternatives to the usual grains are quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth (oats).

Donald R Strombeck developed a suggested weaning protocol to minimise allergies ie

• Wean after 6 weeks of age
• One new food at a time till tolerant
• Avoid conglomerates of ingredients
• Use highly digestible foods eg meats, eggs, pureed vegetables.

Dairy Products

Humans are the only animals to continue to use milk post weaning and there is no need to feed milk to dogs.

Digestion, Nutrients and Supplements

If your dog suffers from BVS (Bilious Vomiting Syndrome) give it a small fatty meal at night.

RDAs

Recommended Daily Allowances or Ridiculous Dietary Arbitraries? They may prevent disease but they do not necessarily optimise health

They are dependent on:

• Stress
• Toxin exposure
• Age
• Activity
• Individual variation

Raw food v Manufactured

Raw contains phytonutrients, natural variety and fibre plus no contaminants if organic.

Manufactured foods may have variable bioavailability, contain contaminants and combine foods which produce an interaction prior to ingestion.

Pre and Pro biotics

These are bacteria essential for the development of mucosal barrier, synthesis of vitamins, metabolism of bile acids, production of short chain fatty acids, reduction in ph in large bowel, immune system activation.

What are Antioxidants? They are known as free radicals; examples are:

• Vitamins ACE
• Selenium
• Plant supplements
• Pycnogenel – pine bark

What do they actually do? They counteract the effects of stress, toxins and drugs

Why do we need supplements?

According to the publication (McCance and Widdowson’s, The Composition of Foods) there has been a deterioration in mineral content of many vegetables and fruits (up to 75%) over the last 50 years due to depleted soils because of the use of NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium) fertilisers.

What sort of supplements? Brewers Yeast, Kelp, Keepers Mix,
EasyGreen, Spirulina, Ginger and Garlic can all be useful additions to the diet.

What are Neutraceuticals?

They are foodstuffs which provide health benefits in addition to their basic nutritional value such as chondroprotective agents like chondroitin, glucosamine, MSM. Vitamins B and C and CoQ10

Nick believed that if a good diet was provided then all that was needed was a
Vitamin and Mineral Supplement plus Fish Body Oil.

Meat

Nick said that many people divided meats into good, ok and bad but the fact is that if it suits your dog then the source is immaterial. Whilst it is technically possible to feed dogs a vegetarian diet he believed that was not what was best and, if fed, required great attention to detail. Even home cooked food is better for dogs than commercial diets. Feed in chunks where possible and use minces to get the fruit and vegetables into dogs which are less keen on them.

Organ meats such as Heart, Kidney and Liver should be fed once a week and avoid mincing if possible as the fibrous content, especially of heart, is good for cleaning teeth and gums.

Raw Bones

• Beef - knuckle, shin, neck, brisket and back are best
• Lamb - Brisket, neck, skull, large bones Ie non weight bearing best
• Chicken Wings and backs
• Turkey Necks and carcases

Vegetables

Not onions, use both root and leaf and rotate.

Fruit

All bar grapes.

Nuts

Hazel, Brazil, Almond, Walnut and Cashews but NOT Macadamia

Seeds

Pumpkin, Sunflower, Sesame and Pine Nuts

Herbs

Basil, Thyme, Rosemary (unless epileptic), Sage

Fillers

Quinoa, Buckwheat, Amaranth, Buckwheat, Brown Rice (not every day) these can be used as part of the fruit veg component for dogs

Proportions/Ratios

Adults 50 – 70% meat (+bone) and 30% vegetables which equates to about 2 - 400 g meat/bone per 10kg of bodyweight. Pups – 60 - 70% meat/bone till maturity; older dogs – 30 –-50 % meat/bone

Chicken Wings, Chicken Bones, Turkey Necks and bones

Use these as part of the meat component if your dog is maintaining weight use as an extra if more weight is needed.

Veg and fruit (+/- fillers)

Nuts, Seeds, Herbs blended with water; use rainbow colours as variety is the spice of life. Mix with meat mince or feed separate for dogs

Ideal weight

You should be able to feel the ribs but not be able to see them. Fat over the ribs generally correlates to the rest of the body. Breed ideal weights are deceptive. Beware shaggy dogs and use your hands on the ribs!

Oils for calories oils for health

For omega 3 fish body oil rather than cod liver oil. For calories – olive oil, hemp oil, corn oil. Avoid sunflower oil as heat is used during refinement which oxidises the oil. Alternating oils is best.

Brewers yeast and kelp

Brewers Yeast contains Vitamin B Complex; kelp may be contaminated and the mineral content can vary. Do not feed if you give a mineral and vitamin supplement, Nick preferred Spirulina.

Treats

Instead of processed food treats use freeze dried liver, chicken, prawns etc Chopped apples, carrots, bananas, nuts.

Cost and keeping them down

Cooperatives can take advantage of the competitive prices offered by bulk buying, markets, PYO (Pick Your Own) and growing your own plus end of day bargains in supermarkets.

Feeding older dogs

Reduce protein to 30 – 52% and keep up chicken wings for teeth

Feeding for pregnancy and lactation

Feed more chicken wings for calcium otherwise just feed more food more often as pregnancy advances; ditto for lactation. Add oil for calories

Nutritional Problems

Fussy Eaters

If dogs dislike food/ ingredients you can change meats, vegetables and fruits. Try sealing meat in oil and flash fry, use real chicken stock not a cube and mix what they like with what they don’t. Try changing the temperature or texture, making it drier or wetter. Older animals may prefer to eat from raised bowls. Competition or lack of can affect appetite as can being watched. Some dogs have very small requirements.

Obesity

This is caused by giving too many calories and/or the diet being too digestible. Reduce meat and fat and increase vegetables; increase exercise. Make sure the dog has a good mineral and vitamin supplement.

Poor Doers

Look at the calorific density of the food and increase intake and consider adding oil to meals.

Colitis

If the vet has checked for any underlying disease strip diet to 1 meat 2 fruit 2 veg and a mineral and vitamin supplement. It should improve in 1 – 2 weeks if not change meat; one of the major triggers can be wheat and/or beef/tripe. Consider the use of Animal Aloe.

Anal Glands

Problems often flare after a bout of diarrhoea and may improve with increased fibre eg fruit, vegetables, nuts, oats, bones; take to vet if there is prolonged scooting or tail chasing.

Grass Staining

Tomato Juice, Black Olives and increase fluid intake. Dog Rocks appear to work in some cases.

Ooops forgot to add the Kidney and Liver disease notes.

Kidney Disease

Obviously vet monitoring
Maintain protein levels
Consider Beef for erythorpoetin
Increase fat in diet eg olive oil
Use Omege 3 fish body oil
Give Vitamin B Complex/Brewers Yeast to replace excreted Vitamin B
Vitamins A, C and E
Schizandra Herb
Ipakitine

Liver Disease

Vet monitoring
SAMe or TMG supplement
Vitamin B complex/Brewers Yeast supplement
Milk Thistle
Reduce protein perhaps
L-Carnitine
Vitamins A, C and E
Fish Body Oils

And I thought that antioxidants eliminated free radicals. You live and learn

Oh dear I made a typo, tsk tsk you live and learn.........

put Buckwheat down twice as well.............. even worse...............

And everybody else (63 people) took it as gospel ..tut tut..

And I didn't even say thank you for your wonderful efforts - finding faults instead. That's people for you.

Thank you so much for pointing out my errors, it means I have time to correct it before it goes to publication.

Great to have a proof reader for free.

Cheers!

Yes, you are absolutely correct, but I am rarely disappointed.

Who said it was for free?