It is our responsibility as pet owners to care for the well-being and nutritional health of our pets. Our pets need the same daily nutrients as humans do in order to achieve optimal health. Processed foods have seriously put our pets health in jeopardy, and studies have shown that feeding our pets these processed foods have increase the risk of our pets in getting cancer, arthritis, dental disease and obesity.
Optimum Health
Your pet’s diet should promote all the nutritional components that are necessary for all organs and nervous systems to function properly. We need to look beyond our own needs when it comes to our companions’ health. In fact, the business of selling pet foods is more focused on the convenience of the pet owners than the dietary health of our pets.
The success of marketing pet food is generally how the food looks, tastes, smells and feels, not on its nutritional benefits. Most of us would not consume a daily diet of potato chips and candy bars because it taste good. We know the importance of nutritional balance in our diets.
Processed Foods
Most processed foods are canned or package, and in order for them to stay fresh they are cooked, sterilized or pasteurized. This means that all the enzymes needed in order to digest the foods have been destroyed. Nutritional supplements can be taken in order to make up for some of the lost enzymes from processed foods; however they do not make up for the enzymes our pets get from raw foods. Pet food companies may use Soybean Meal, Wheat, Corn Glutens, Corn Meal and Ground Corn, which are poor sources for protein verses meat. Food coloring is still being used in pet foods and some have been linked to medical problems. Some pet manufacturers are still using condemned meat that was rejected for human consumption. Some of these condemned meats are known to be diseased or decayed and because of these lowered standards practice by pet manufacturers, a recent discovery of a drug used to euthanize animals (Pentobarbital) was found in some major store brand pet foods.
Healthy Diet
The following is a list of foods enriched with vitamins, fatty acids, fats and minerals that are essential for your pet’s health. Foods high in protein: chicken, (preferably steroid free) chicken meal, fish and eggs. Try to stay away from protein foods such as Corn, Corn meal and Wheat
Enriched antioxidants: fruits and vegetables
Check the ingredients before you purchase a pet food product. If the first 3 ingredients are Corn, Wheat, Corn gluten, do not buy it. This is not suitable for the required proteins your pet needs. Talk to your veterinarian or a Holistic practitioner to see what foods are best for your pet.
Bird Nutrition
Believe it or not, an all birdseed diet for a bird is far from nutritional. Many birds die from malnutrition because of their diets. The average life span of a parakeet is 10 years; when in fact, parakeets are known to live at least 25 years. A bird’s diet should include fruits, seeds and even insects. Seeds are very high in fat and offer very little vitamins and are low in calcium and protein. Offer additional food sources for a balanced diet, like pretzels, wheat or pasta. Dairy and poultry are excellent sources of calcium. You can offer them yogurt, cheese and even eggs and let us not forget the essential vitamins that fruits and vegetables can add to your birds diet, with the exception of avocados, they are toxic to pet birds. When a bird has been on a diet of birdseed alone, it can be difficult to change their diet, so patience is very important. Try feeding your pet outside of its cage, and try to give them seeds only as a snack. In time your bird will adjust. Taking more moderate steps in our pet’s diet can help improve the quality of their lives and a longer lasting companion.
