Key Features
- By Kymythy R. Schultze C.C.N., A.H.I.
- Paperback
- 145 pages
Product Description
There are an estimated 60 million dogs and 70 million cats living as beloved companions in American homes, and feeding pets is a multi-billion dollar business. With pet disease and illness on the rise, a significant proportion of pet owners are turning to holistic health care to prevent disease and enhance their pet's well-being. The foundation of holistic care is optimal nutrition. Our own doctors extol the virtues of eating fewer processed foods and more fresh foods if we wish to enjoy good health. Certainly, our pets deserve the same consideration. This easy-to-read book will help pet-lovers enable their dogs and cats to enjoy an ideal quality of life through a species-appropriate diet of raw, natural foods. Readers learn how to easily prepare a healthy homemade meal so their pet can have a shiny coat, healthy skin and digestion, clean teeth, bright eyes, and no fleas or "doggy breath". Also included are the Holistic Animal Yellow Pages, an invaluable information resource.
Table of Contents
- Species-Appropriate Nutrition Raw Food
- Evolutionary Timeline
- The Ultimate Diet Basic Food Groups
- The Ultimate Diet Raw Food Pyramid
- Diet Comparison
- Making the Meal
- Food and Water Dishes
- Why Buy Organic
- Resources for Diet Ingredients
- How Often Should Your Pets Eat Fasting
- Snacks, Treats and Travel
- Herbs and Green Foods
- Foods to Avoid
- Making the Switch
- Detoxification
- Pregnancy, Puppies, and Kittens
- Senior Citizens
- General Guidelines
- Species-Appropriate Sources of Nutrients
- Your Tribe
Book Review
Natural Nutrition for Dogs and Cats: The Ultimate Diet argues for the feeding of a balanced raw diet to domesticated dogs and cats instead of commercially prepared kibble. Forwards by two holistic veterinarians offer brief comments on the connections between diet and wellness, and encourage the reader to use this book as an introduction, or stepping stone, to learn more about the nutritional needs of pet animals and how proper nutrition can prevent or remedy pet ailments.
The author’s views on health and nutrition are quite in keeping with concepts of folk and alternative medical systems in this country. Over twenty-five years ago I had the opportunity to investigate folk veterinary medicine applied to hunting dogs in West Virginia, and eventually presented a doctoral dissertation on a folk healer and his folk healing system to the Department of Folklore and Folk life at the University of Pennsylvania. Like that West Virginian healer, Schultze presents an argument that reflects a carefully thought out system of nutrition and wellness for pet dogs and cats based on personal experience, formal and informal training, anecdotal evidence, and alternative (non-mainstream) health beliefs and practices.
The author’s basic points supporting feeding a raw diet for pet dogs and cats are:
- Dogs and cats are carnivores, the products of an evolutionary process that has shaped their nutritional needs and digestive systems. They need meat in their diets, as well as various supplements.
- Bacteria found in raw meats and elsewhere are not a problem for healthy dogs and cats.
- Commercial pet food products, although convenient, lack vital enzymes and provide no variety for dogs and cats.
- Heating or cooking commercial food during processing makes them even less viable and in some cases dangerous to health.
- For thousands of years humans fed their dogs and cats the same unprocessed foods they were preparing for themselves and for their families, so processed foods therefore are demonstrated to not be necessary.
Included in the book is information on what ingredients to buy, how to prepare balanced meals for dogs and cats, how often to feed young, old, and pregnant animals, how to balance the meals with vegetables and supplements, and much more.
In any case, this book is a good read, and it contains an informative, thoughtful presentation of the author’s views on a holistic health system that she believes to be a sound and humane way to feed and care for pet dogs and cats. I rate this book at four stars.
- John Eilertsen, Ph.D.
About the Author
Kymythy R. Schultze, C.C.N., A.H.I. has been a trailblazer in the field of animal nutrition for over a decade. Her professional experience with animals includes being a trainer, a breeder, a groomer, a veterinary assistant for multiple doctors, and a wildlife rehabilitator licensed with the federal government. She has studied many holistic and allopathic modalities, including tutorage with Dr. Richard Dahout, and canine nutrition at Cornell University. She has also hosted a popular radio talk show featuring health and community service issues.
Kymythy is certified Clinical Nutritionist and a certified Animal Health Instructor, and teaches classes in holistic care for dogs and cats at a California college and worldwide. Her nutritional recommendations are endorsed by holistic and allopathic veterinarians. She has fed her own dogs and cats a species-appropriate diet of raw foods for many years with proven results. Her breeding program has produced American and International champions; titled draft, obedience, and water rescue dogs; and, most important, nurtured beloved family companions. She has helped hundreds of people all over the world improve the health of their dogs and cats, naturally. Kymythy is also the editor of the Holistic Dog and Cat newsletter, with circulation worldwide.
Here are the books that I think every dog owner that is interested in the health and a natural diet for their dogs should own. These books will forever change the way that you look at the health and care of your dogs.
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My vet went through every possible explanation - everything but diet. I ended up researching on my own and switching vets. I was tired of hearing it must be fleas when they had none. We had tried cortizone shots and pills before I found the right food combo and within a week they had stopped scratching. It was literally 2 days and the itching stopped. I didn't think my vet would believe I had stopped giving them the prednizone pills.
Next time around I will “grow my pup with bones.â€
The completely natural diet did not work so I found that a combination of the all natural dry food's (Hund n Flocken / Innova type food) and raw meat and vegetables worked best. My dogs coats are thick and shiny and they are lean and fit & they have never looked better (they are both almost 4 years old).
My dogs are no longer picky eaters either. I mostly give them chicken necks, raw eggs, backs, gizzards, livers, wings - nothing too meaty. They seem to do best with mostly chicken and some lamb and beef. They love the beef soup bones and their teeth are white and clean - people often comment on their white shiny teeth. I give them the raw meat mostly frozen slightly thawed. I give them different combinations of vegetables - carrots are a favorite.
I have learned what works and once you get there life is so much better for the entire family. The period of time when my dogs were itching and miserable was just awful for them and I wish more vets were open minded to the idea that allergies to food are real and can be solved rather than pushing pills. I think most people would be willing to try anything to keep their pet from suffering. Pills seem to be barely a band aid.
You have a great web site - very informative - great videos.
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