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How to Switch Your Pet to Organic Food

Barbara Feiner — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 17:07:53 +0000

Dr. Edward Moser, a veterinarian, animal nutritionist and adviser to several top U.S. pet-food companies, answers commonly asked questions on how to safely switch a pet’s food. I’ve tried to switch my dog’s/cat’s food before, and it really messed up her digestive system. Why is switching food so disruptive? Some dogs/cats have stomachs that are sensitive to a dietary change. It can be for a multitude of reasons relating to the food, the animal’s health or sometimes to their eating behavior. Commonly, digestive upset associated with the introduction of a new food is the result of the new food’s novelty; dogs and cats will wolf down the new food, overwhelming the digestive system. Or, it may simply be that the new food has a stronger flavoring system they aren’t used to. What’s the best way to switch my dog/cat to organic food? The most cautious way of switching a dog or cat to any new food is to introduce the new food over the course of 4 to 7 days by mixing in small amounts of the new, while decreasing their current food. Each day, add more of the new and remove an offsetting amount of the current food. Watch your dog/cat closely during the change. If some digestive disturbances occur, then take the changeover a bit more gradually, extending it over a few additional days. What will happen if I switch my dog’s/cat’s food too quickly? If no problems occur, then all is OK. Some dogs and cats switch quite easily. If, however, your dog or cat is sensitive to a change in diet or dietary habit, then it is most common that feed refusals, vomiting or diarrhea will be observed. My dog’s/cat’s food seems fine. She eats it when I give it to her. Why should I consider switching? Switch diets if you feel the food is not meeting your pet’s nutritional, functional or performance needs. You should also switch if there is concern regarding the origin of the food, its safety, freshness or consistency. I’ve heard that organic foods are safer. Are they really worth the extra money? Organic certification is a “seal of approval” or “quality-control check” for the ingredients and food preparation facilities used in the production of the pet food. This extra degree of scrutiny provides more confidence that no synthetic ingredients, preservatives, pesticides, herbicides and other unsafe compounds have been added to the food. Photo courtesy of ARA

Pets & the Holidays (Part 1)

Barbara Feiner — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 14:16:56 +0000

You feed your pets organic food and go out of your way to ensure they’re healthy. But the holidays pose special risks, so follow these tips from Dr. Lorraine Corriveau, a wellness veterinarian at Purdue University’s School of Veterinary Medicine (pictured here with Chili, a military macaw).

Chocolate: You may have more organic chocolate than usual around the house—lovely for humans, but toxic for pets (especially dogs) because it contains theobromine. Bittersweet and baking chocolate, the varieties most often found in kitchens during the holidays, contain more theobromine than the average candy bar. If your dog eats chocolate, call a veterinarian or your animal poison control center immediately.

Candles: Candles should never be left burning unattended. Flames and shadows are tantalizing to pets. Make sure lit candles are always kept a safe distance from them.

Decorative Plants: Some plants and greenery, including holly, ivy and mistletoe, can be very tempting, but they are toxic if a pet eats them. Keep all decorative plants out of reach or out of the home.

Tinsel: Decorating your tree? Cats and kittens seem to find shiny tinsel especially appealing. If eaten, thin pieces of string or tinsel can cause the intestines to bunch up and can even cut through the intestinal wall. Either could be fatal.

Electric cords: Light strands, loose wires and electric cords can be a serious hazard to your pet. Some animals, especially puppies, may chew cords and put themselves at risk of serious burns or electric shock.

Tune in tomorrow for Part 2 of this story.

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Purdue News Service Photo by David Umberger

Has Your Pet Gone Organic?

Barbara Feiner — Mon, 08 May 2006 16:26:20 +0000

In her recent blog entry, Organic Authority Publisher Laura Klein explains why she feeds her dogs organic food. She’s not alone: More Americans are concerned about creating healthy lifestyles for their pets. Interest in natural supplements, organic pet food and holistic veterinary care is on the rise, according to Eric Houtkooper and Leslie Hayes-Houtkooper, CEOs of Pup Life, an online retailer of healthy dog supplies. The company, in fact, is sponsoring Dog Health Awareness Month for the third consecutive year.

“Throughout the month of May, we will be featuring interesting and informative articles about creating healthy canine lifestyles, with industry leaders including Lucy Postins of The Honest Kitchen,” Eric says. “Ms. Postins will speak about the importance of a healthy diet and if switching to a dehydrated raw diet is right for your dog. We will also be talking with Cheryl Carter, agility expert and dog trainer at Candy's Canines. Cheryl has some great tips on exercise and fitness.”

Leslie is particularly concerned about an epidemic that’s affecting both pets and their humans: obesity.

“As guardians of our dogs’ health and happiness, we need to be aware of the dangers of obesity,” she says, emphasizing the importance of discussing weight management with your vet. “We are seeing an increase in liver disease, kidney disease, diabetes and structural complications like hip dysplasia in the canine population. These increases can all be linked to the rise in dog obesity. You can combat obesity—and complications from obesity—by incorporating simple things into your dog’s lifestyle, including increased exercise, feeding raw or dehydrated raw dog food, and even participating in dog sports like agility or obedience competition.”

Why I feed my Dogs Organic Food

Administrator — Fri, 21 Apr 2006 04:10:19 +0000

When people meet my dogs, Bamboo and Truffle, they are immediately drawn to their luxurious healthy coats. People invariably ask me what I feed my dogs. When I tell them I feed them organic dog food and organic fruits, veggies and meats they think I’m crazy. When they continue to ask me if I eat organic I say, "of course!" Their reaction: they immediately assume I am some sort of hippy (Do I look like a hippy? No!). I guess you can’t blame them, I used to think the same thing: people who eat organic foods and live a “non-toxic lifestyle” are “granola” people, and who would want to live like that and give up all my creature comforts!

It wasn’t until I went to culinary school that I discovered the true tasty treasures of organic food and one of the biggest secrets of the finest chefs in the world. The best chefs used nothing but the finest ingredients in their dishes which include using as many organic ingredients they can find. I was hooked.

As I got deeper into this organic thing, it started spilling over into my personal life. I began questioning what the heck is in all these personal and cleaning products I use everyday?!? Upon closer look at these products, I threw them all in the trash!

So back to why I feed my dog organic food. Well number one, after uncovering all the toxic chemicals, pesticides and other garbage, agribusiness and conventional food producers spray on their crops and put in their highly processed products, I can only imagine what’s in my dog’s food.

On the advice of my holistic veterinarian, I started feeding my first dog, Bamboo, fresh organic foods including vegetables, some fruits and of course meat in addition to her regular organic dog food, Karma Organic Food For Dogs . He theorized that a lot of the nutritional value in conventional dog food is lost in the processing of the food product. Thus, to ensure that Bamboo gets the nutritional vitamins and minerals she needs fresh organic and natural foods added to her daily diet. Well that made sense! After all, if she were living in the wild that is exactly what she’d be eating!

The result: Bamboo now has the most gorgeous coat I have ever seen (of course I am a little biased, but many people would agree with me). I now have a second dog, Truffle who is seven months old and I have her on the same diet. She, like Bamboo, was a rescue dog who at the time of her rescue virtually had no coat. Now her fur has a nice vibrant sheen to it and is incredibly healthy.

Now when people ask me “what do you feed your dogs” and I tell them organic dog food along with whole organic foods, I then ask them the same question, if they don’t answer organic dog food, I look at them as if they’re crazy!

My friends, the proof in the pudding, simply take one look at and feel my dog’s luxurious coat and there is little left to convince people of. Particularly when cancer rates, heart disease and obesity are on a steady increase in animals just as it is in humans. Now who’s crazy not to be eating natural and organic foods?

If you want to know where you can order organic pet foods, visit Only Natural Pet Store online.

By the way if you want to see a picture of Bamboo, check out her photo with me on my home page at www.OrganicAuthority.com .