Random Raw Rant

Grace, in all her 70lb splendor

     Today I went to see my Veterinarian.  Grace needed to have blood drawn for her annual heartworm and blood parasites test, phenobarbital blood level check and T4 measurement.  She weighs in at a petite 70.6 pounds, and is oh so patient with the assistant who coos and musses her face and ears.  

     I allow the large woman to bend over, fuss, pet and talk "baby-talk" to my sweet Shepherd because last time I asked her to stop, she was so offended, it almost effected Grace's visit by making the dog uncomfortable.  The woman seems oblivious to my body language too.  Thank goodness Grace has a very consistent work schedule to keep her tolerant of such overly invasive interactions!

     Grace quickly winds up until she is dancing frantically back and forth across the employee's feet.  As I put a hand on Grace's nose and tell her to "Settle" so the Vet can draw blood, I informed the helper quietly "She is much easier to handle if you don't amp her up in your initial greeting.  All that excited petting raises her energy level."   I still got a dirty look, but I made my point as politely as I could.

     As we pay our tab and prepare to leave, I comment on our recent dietary changes.  "Almost three months on kibble now, instead of their raw food... their coats are doing poorly, Grace's skin remains constantly irritated, and she has had her first seizure since coming to live with me."  The last time, I had conversed with my Vet, and he gave me the scripted answer "Raw food carries bacteria, it is dangerous" et cetera et cetera.  I eat meat myself, and certainly know how to be careful when preparing it.  That part I completely disregard.  What I do consider a valid point however, is that it is possible that with a raw diet they could be missing some needed nutrients.  

     At this point, I am not satisfied with the results.  I am going to continue with the kibble however, for approximately 6 more months in order to give it a fair trial.  Since I am exploring other brand options, the dogs will need time to adjust to their new diet.  I adore my veterinarian, and take his opinions seriously enough that I am willing to try another route on his advice.  Ultimately, the decision will be based on the health and performance of the pups though, not what anyone says.  

     What really made my blood boil, and prompted this peckish entry, was the comment the assistant made next.  "Well I won't feed my dogs the canned food at all."  At this point I was vaguely annoyed- I agree heartily, but what does canned food have to do with raw diet?  

     "I completely agree.  Canned food is garbage."  I stated.

     Then it dawned on me.  She believed this whole time that when I was speaking of my dogs' raw diet, that I was giving them canned food.  I saw the good Doctor turn to leave the room.  I smiled tightly and left also.

     People, please be careful who you ask advice of.  Just because someone works in a Veterinary Hospital, does not mean they are well informed, or pay a lot of attention to what is going on around them.

*     Massive amounts of information are available, both for and against raw food diets. Advertisements largely target things that appeal to a human consumer, not the dog's actual dietary needs.  (for a recent article on AVMA new policy concerning raw diet, click here)  Since I have been feeding my dogs raw food for quite a long time, I thought it only fair to give kibble a real trial.  I am willing to learn new things if they will help my pups!  After sifting through large quantities of information, I decided to switch Brutus and Grace to a high protein Canadian brand who use homeopathic veterinarians for their formulas. (for more information on this particular brand click here.)  

Input = Output

 

     One of the joys of pet ownership is disposal of said pet's waste. What's this you say? You don't enjoy scooping poop? Whew! Guess that makes me normal! Poop patrol is not my favorite task, although a necessary one.

     What I do is minimize the amount coming OUT to make the scooping process a bit less of a pain. It's not magic or torture, it's a simple matter of nutrition. 

     The substances consumed will always effect substance excreted. Even more- what is eaten can also have an effect on physical and mental performance (think about how YOU function on junk food alone!). If your pet is on a high quality food, they will be absorbing much of the volume they consume, thus: excreting less waste.

     Without getting into too much detail (a fine line we are walking here)... do you realize that stool is meant to be firm?  Loose or runny bowel movements can be caused by not only a change in diet, but also a diet that is not compatible with the system ingesting it.  The waste needs to be firm enough to express the anal glands as it is excreted, or they can get painfully full and your vet or groomer will have to empty them for your poor dog (an extremely smelly and uncomfortable ordeal, for the dog and human alike).

     If you've ever heard "You get what you pay for", it applies in this case.  One will have to spend higher amounts for more nutritious foods. What offsets this cost is the fact that an animal will have to consume less of a higher quality food to maintain a healthy weight than they would of a poor quality food. I believe healthier animals live longer, and one way to contribute to good health is proper nutrition.

   For me, what makes it worth spending extra money is not only the difference I see in the comfort and health of my furbabies, it's also having less poop to scoop!

     If you are in the Mooreville, NC area, check out Village Paws and Claws!  Rick, the owner, and his dog Diesel will be there to welcome you at the door and can help you choose a healthy food for your best friend.  He carries my favorites that I feed to my babies at home.