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The Natural Way is
the Actual Way!
It's that time of year again.
Time for us to get ready for the summer explosion of the kitten
and puppy population. Next to the holiday season, this is the time
of year when many people decide to bring a new pet into their
home. It's time for their clumsy skittering across our kitchen
floors and an unfortunate influx of hungry cries on America's
streets and alleyways. According to the American Humane
Association, 64% of animals that enter shelters in the United
States are euthanized, which equals 2.7 million in a national
survey which involved 1,000 shelters. Sadly, about 20% more cats
tend to be euthanized than dogs because cats are more likely to
enter a shelter without owner identification.
Some pets are lucky. They are raised in a loving environment with
careful attention to their health. Since most Americans are more
concerned about our health than we've ever been, we should have
equal concern for our pets ... especially regarding the
ingredients in their food. In theory, we would want the
ingredients in our pets' food to be acceptable for human
consumption. If byproducts are no longer tolerated in our food,
why should they be tolerated in our pets' food? We're also
starting to realize that our pets need daily supplements just like
we do, in order to take care of their bodies for the inevitable
woes of aging. In the span of an animal's life, an early start at
good health ensures less vulnerability to degenerative diseases,
joints that are less likely to creak with pain and a healthier
heart. We love our pets and we want them to live with us for as
long as possible. That's why we are dedicating this month's issue
of the HealthyPetNet News to the holistic care of pets starting
from puppy and kittenhood onto adulthood, covering things from
feeding to ear cleaning and grooming. If your pet is not an
infant, it's not too late! Hop on the HealthyPetNet wagon and come
along for the ride!
Before we start, we must stress that HealthyPetNet is dedicated to
the optimal care of dogs and cats. All of our products are
formulated by Dr. Jane Bicks, a highly respected and nationally
recognized holistic veterinarian.
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She
formulates products to help support the body's natural defenses in
order to encourage good health and discourage illness. Dr. Bicks
reminds us that a family veterinarian is the other part of the
wellness package. Our products are in no way formulated to tackle
a sick dog or cat that should be seen by their doctors. HPN knows
that through a healthy eating regimen, a good maintenance system
and a healthy lifestyle, many health concerns don't have to
manifest into the painful reality of illness.
The Food Factor
The very first thing we usually encounter as
new pet owners is the issue of food. What should we snatch off the
shelves and what should we run away from? Introducing a young
animal to the world of food should be a very delicate and
sensitive process. We must monitor closely how much food we give
our new pet versus how much they are eating. We should be
stringent about how quickly we increase the amount of food because
we always run the risk of overfeeding.
It's also important to be weary of dyes, chemicals, artificial
preservatives as much as possible. For example, BHA ... one of the
most common synthetic antioxidant preservatives mainly used to
prevent food discoloration and rancidity ... has been found in
scientific studies to cause stomach cancer in lab rats at certain
doses. In lesser doses, the preservative doesn't have a cancerous
effect but there is no telling what BHA can do to the body in
small doses over long periods of time.
Protein is crucial in a pet's natural development. Look for foods
with whole ingredients such as meat, eggs, fish and dairy rather
than byproducts. Unbleached rice is also one of the most
digestible carbohydrates and supplies a wonderful source of energy
for your pet. Corn and wheat, on the other hand, are much harder
to digest. It's also a really good idea to look for antioxidants.
In recent years, we have become much more conscious of our
antioxidant intake, so why shouldn't we have the same attitude
towards our pets? Free radicals also wage war on their bodies so
let's fight off those rascals so that we can all live longer
together!
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