Pregnancy, Lactation, Puppies and Kittens

During pregnancy

Pregnant cats and dogs require a highly nutritious diet that is made up of a wide variety of food produce.

During the first 6 weeks of a dog pregnancy, food requirements remain the same as before pregnancy.  The temptation to overfeed should be avoided at this time.  Cats however are different, their food intake increases as soon as they are pregnant and they should be fed more at this time.

High quality protein and fat are essential for a healthy pregnancy and fetal development.

Around week 6 of the dog pregnancy, nutritional needs increase.  From here on meals should be given more regularly in small portions.  This prevents putting too much food into a body already pushed for space due to developing fetuses.

During the cat pregnancy, her body is preparing early for the developing fetuses.  Energy stores are built up throughout the pregnancy.  In the last 2 weeks, she eats twice her normal food amount.

Following the birth

When the dog gives birth she may loose her appetite temporarily.  Small, nutritious, portions of food should be offered so that she can maintain her strength.

As the puppies develop and become more demanding for milk, the mother’s appetite should also increase.  Her food intake may increase up to 4 times the normal amount in order to provide the puppies with rich milk.

Feeding the puppies or kittens

When puppies and kittens are around 3 weeks old they can be given minced meat and bones.

Between 4-6 weeks old, the permanent teeth are ready to cut through and the demand for nutritious food increases.

At 6 weeks of age, puppies and kitten can be fed chicken carcasses, necks and rabbit.

Growing kittens and puppies require 2-3 times as much energy per kilogram of body weight than adult cats and dogs.

Why should food quantities be monitored for puppies, particularly larger breeds?

When there is a new puppy in the family there is a temptation to spoil him with overfeeding.  Whilst puppies do require more energy per kilogram of body weight than the adult dog, this still needs to be limited to avoid obesity.

According to author of, ‘Give your dog a Bone,’ puppies should certainly not be overfed to ensure that growth is achieved slowly and gradually. “The way you feed your new puppy will determine its health for the rest of its life.  Its that important.” (Billinghurst1993)

At what age can raw meaty bones be introduced to puppies and kittens?

Between 4 and 6 weeks puppies and kittens begin to cut their permanent teeth.

According to Veterinarian and author ‘Tom Lonsdale,’ puppies and kittens are able to eat chicken carcasses, necks and rabbits at around 6 weeks old. This coincides with the time puppies and kittens begin to cut their permanent teeth.

Does the cat eat more or less within a week of successful mating?

When a cat becomes pregnant she begins to eat more within the first week of her pregnancy, laying down early energy stores for the developing fetuses. (Lonsdale 2001)

Is it normal for a bitch immediately after giving birth to lose her appetite temporarily?

When the dog has given birth to her pups, she may lose her appetite temporarily. (Billinghurst 1998)

Dietary considerations during pregnancy and post pregnancy through to 6 months of age.

A pregnant dog at the onset of the pregnancy will normally, for the first 2 weeks, not need to increase her food intake.  However, the food she does consume should be, as always, of the highest quality made up of a variety of foods.

Diet for the pregnant dog

The female dog has a gestation period of 63 days, which is exactly 9 weeks.

Once the female has mated she will require more protein in her diet, more vitamins and more minerals. This means her diet at this stage should include more chicken wings, more offal (such as liver and kidney), more flaxseed oil, more raw eggs, more kelp and cod liver oil, plus additional supplements of vitamin B, C and E.  As vitamin C boosts the immune system and is a powerful antioxidant, it should be added to the diet throughout the pregnancy and into the lactation period. The dosage for vitamin C is a minimum of 500mg per 20kg of body weight twice a day.

Following the mating period and during weeks 1 to 5:

-Maintain the raw meaty bone diet

-Eliminate cod liver oil (it is high in vitamin A and can be dangerous to fetal health)

At this stage the puppies are growing very slowly, therefore the mothers diet does not need to increase in quantity. She needs to keep slim and active rather than be fed too much and put on unnecessary weight.

The diet should be made up of high quality raw produce, which includes vitamins B, C and E.

During week 4

The pregnant female may experience morning sickness.

Her appetite may decrease

Keep the diet simple; do not introduce any unfamiliar foods.

Weeks 6 to 7

The puppies are now growing at a faster rate and as a result the mother will require a larger food intake. As there is now less space in her body for large meals, she should be fed small meals at more regular intervals. This will maintain her energy levels without weighing her down by giving her a full and uncomfortable belly.

The nutrition density of food needs to now include:

-More eggs, more high quality meat, more offal, flaxseed oil and less fruit and vegetables.

-The raw meaty bones can be reduced at this stage

-The long, large bones can be eliminated

-During this time add extra kelp, Vitamin B, C and E to the food.

-Cod liver oil can now be reintroduced back into the diet.

Week 8

-The food should now be increased to one and a half times the amount of food she was consuming in weeks 6 and 7.

-Carbohydrates can be added such as cooked brown rice, whole meal bread and rolled oats soaked in water or milk. These complex carbohydrates should be no more than 20% of her overall food intake.

Week 9

-During this final week of pregnancy the puppies do not grow very much. As a result the mothers food intake can be reduced.

-The vegetables should be increased

-The meat and offal decreased

-The flaxseed oil can be increased.

-This altering of food ratios makes up a slightly laxative type diet, allowing waste material to pass easily.

-Close to the time of birth reduce the food to a quarter of normal food intake.

It is interesting to note that pregnant dogs in the wild eat far more offal and meat than bones, which dramatically lowers the amount of calcium intake and increases the amount of phosphorus in their diet. Research has shown that too much calcium in the diet at this time can cause soft tissue calcification and other birth defects.

(Billinghurst 1998)  In agreement with Billinghurst, author of ‘The Complete Holistic Dog Book,’ warns that excess calcium leads to fetal problems.  However, it is advised that calcium is adequate for the mother during pregnancy as low calcium can lead to weak bones and seizures. (Allegretti et al 2003)

When the puppies are born and her appetite has been restored following giving birth, the quantity of her food needs to be increased.

Diet for lactating mother

Following the birth of the puppies, the mother can basically be fed however much food she wants, especially if she is supporting a large litter.  Her raw, high quality diet should continue and can be based on three specific meal types. These three meal types ensure that she provides high quality milk to her pups, whilst maintaining her own immune system, overall health and energy.

1. Raw meaty bones

2. Meat and vegetable raw patty mix

3. Fortified Milk

1. The raw meaty bones should be made up of raw chicken necks, wings and carcasses. Meaty bones from the chicken provide high quality protein, a balance of calcium and phosphorus, omega 6 and a concentrated source of energy; the fat. If raw meaty bones are refused, they should be minced and incorporated into the patty mix.

2. The raw meat and vegetable raw patty mix. The patty mix should have a ratio of 20-40% vegetables and 60-80% minced meat plus supplements. The following recipe is to make a total mixture of 2kg.

Recipe for ‘Meat and Vegetable Raw Patty Mix.’

20-40% raw pulped/crushed vegetables and fruit (choose from)

Silver beet

Spinach

Celery

Carrots

Sugar beet

Tomatoes

Apples

Bananas

Pears

Berries

60-80% minced raw meat (choose from the following)

Chicken

Lamb

Kangaroo

Beef

Rabbit

Supplements including offal (include all of the following)

200ml plain live yoghurt

3-5 eggs

3-4 tbs flaxseed oil

lambs liver (this should be approx 10% of all meat content)

1-2 cloves garlic

3-4 tbs kelp

Vitamins B and C

230g cottage cheese

2 tbs brewers yeast

All of the ingredients should be of a high human grade quality, preferably organic. 

Other additions to the mix can include Vitamin A (for the immune system and the internal lining of mammary glands) and extra essential fatty acids such as salmon oil and borage seed oil. 

During lactation, the mother will also require extra calcium in the form of synthetic calcium supplements.  This is the only time whilst feeding a raw meaty bone diet that she will require calcium in excess of what the bones can give her.

Cod Liver Oil should also be added.  A 25kg dog should be given 3-4ml daily.

B and C vitamins can be given without danger of excess, as they will easily pass through the liver and kidneys to be excreted in the urine.  Vitamin C can be given up to bowel tolerance.  B vitamins can be given on body weight ratio to the human dose.

The ingredients, once thoroughly mixed can be divided into small portions and frozen.  When they are being thawed prior to feeding, vitamin E should be added.  A 25kg dog should be given 400iu Vitamin E per day.

3.  Fortified Milk

This recipe should be blended and served at room temperature.  Vitamins B and C can be added if the dog or cat isn’t put off by this addition.

Fortified Milk recipe:

250ml                  milk

1-2tsp                  Flaxseed Oil

2                           raw egg yolks

1         digestive enzyme supplement (eg: bromelain)

The aim is to return the mother back to her original body weight.  If there are times of loss of appetite, Zinc and B vitamins can be added to the diet to assist.  An herbal supplement ‘Fenugreek’ can be added to the diet to stimulate lactation.

During the second week of lactation the busy mother can be consuming double the amount of food. 

In the third week of lactation this may increase to three times the normal amount of food intake.

At week 7-8 of lactation the puppies can be weaned from the mother.  The amount of milk being produced can be reduced by: lowering raw meaty bones, stopping the fortified milk and increasing the ratio of vegetables to meat in the mixed patties.  At this time, the mother can be given long, large meaty bones to keep her busy and active.

If for any reason the mother is not feeding her puppies, replacement milk can be made at home for them:

Replacement milk for orphan puppy

250ml         full cream milk

20ml                  natural yoghurt

2                   egg yolks

10ml                  flaxseed or hemp oil

10ml                  honey

10drops         Vitamin B

250mg         Vitamin C (non acidic e.g.: Ester C)

(Billinghurst 1998)

At about 3 weeks of age the puppies become interested in the food their mother is eating.  At this time they can be introduced to a raw, nutritious diet that will lay down the foundations for health, longevity, growth and energy.

The puppy diet 3-5 weeks old

This is the time when the puppy will be interested in his mother’s food.  Therefore, this is a good time to introduce the raw meaty bone diet in the form of finely minced patties made of bone and lean meat.  (Lonsdale 2001)  The meat and vegetable patties can slowly be introduced prior to starting on raw meaty bones.

A highly nutritious puppy porridge recipe from author of ‘Grow Your Pups With Bones,’ can also form part of the diet at this stage:

Puppy Porridge

100g                  soaked oatmeal porridge (in water)

1 tsp                  honey

1 tsp                  olive oil

1 tsp                  brewers yeast powder

2-3 tbs         pulped vegetables and or fruit

1 tbs                  shredded coconut

1/8 tsp         kelp powder

2                  egg yolks                                     (Billinghurst 1998)

Once the puppies begin to cut their permanent teeth, small soft bones can be introduced such as chicken or rabbit carcasses and chicken necks. (Lonsdale 2001)

The puppy diet from 4-6 weeks to 6 months old

Based on the BARF diet for pups by Dr Billinghurst, the diet should consist of raw meaty bones, raw vegetable and lean mince patties.

The raw meaty bones can be fed on their own:

-Chicken necks

-Chicken wings

These bones are soft and small, therefore suitable for puppies.

The recipe for the:

Raw Vegetable and Mince Meat Patties

1kg raw crushed vegetables* and fruit*

1kg finely minced lean meat (chicken, beef, lamb, kangaroo)

200g                           plain, low fat yoghurt

3                           raw free-range eggs (yolk and egg white)

2 to 3 tbs                  flaxseed oil

200g                           lambs liver

1 to 2          cloves of garlic (only if your pet likes the taste!)

2 to 3 tbs                  kelp powder

2g                           Vitamin C

2g                           B Vitamins (Brewers Yeast)

2.5g                           Calcium carbonate powder

The mixture can be separated into small 100g packages and frozen for convenience.

Vitamin E should be added to the patty just prior to feeding time. 

The amount of Vitamin E is: 5kg body weight = 100iu Vitamin E/daily

Cod Liver Oil should also be added upon feeding.  

The amount of Cod Liver Oil is:  5kg body weight = 1-2ml/daily

The calcium added is to balance the high phosphorus levels in the meat and offal.  The general rule is for every 150 grams of meat, 300mg of calcium carbonate should be added.  Fortunately when feeding raw bones there is no need for synthetically added calcium.

*Vegetables that can be used for the patties are: silver beet, spinach, celery, and root vegetables such as carrots and sugar beets.

*Fruits that can be added include: tomatoes, apple, orange, mangoes, and bananas

The ratio of vegetables to lean mince in the patties should, over time, be changed to include more vegetables and less meat. This prevents the puppy from receiving too much protein and an excessive growth rate, both of which can cause skeletal problems, especially in the larger breed dogs.

To increase variety to the puppy’s diet, healthy food scraps and an occasional porridge meal can be added as well.  Healthy scraps for example are left over rice, scrambled egg, cottage cheese, fruit salad and plain yoghurt.

Large bones should also be given to the puppy so that he can chew the cartilage from the ends and obtain lots of exercise and teeth cleaning in the process.  This activity also assists teeth that are cutting through. (Billinghurst 1998)

Nutrients found in the raw meaty bone diet for puppies:

Raw Meaty Bones provide most of the protein, fat, minerals and vitamins a puppy needs to be healthy.  They are however short in B vitamins.

Fat found in the chicken bones provides a balance of essential fatty acids and fat-soluble vitamins.  In particular, chicken wings contain lots of iron in the marrow. 

Chicken produce is always from a young bird, therefore there are no toxins, and the bones are soft and a great size for puppies cutting their teeth.

As raw meaty bones are naturally balanced in calcium and phosphorus, calcium supplements are not required.  If added to a raw meaty bone diet, they could do more harm than good as excessive calcium can lead to skeletal problems.

Information on the supplements, which form part of the puppy’s diet

B Vitamins are essential to maintain a healthy puppy.  In particular vitamin B6 assists in the absorption of minerals.  A lack of B6 can cause a lack of appetite, anaemia and nausea.  As all the B vitamins are water soluble, excess of them is not a problem and will be easily excreted out of the body by the kidneys.

Vitamin C is the, “safest and least toxic vitamin…” (Billinghurst 1993) Vitamin C can be given up to bowel tolerance on a daily basis.  A starting amount is 50mg Vitamin C per kilo of body weight.  Every cat and dog is different.  If the Vitamin C causes diarrhea then you’ve given too much.  Vitamin C assists the immune system, reduces inflammation, it is an antioxidant destroying dangerous free radicals, assists in the formation of red blood cells, assists in the uptake of iron from the digestive tract and is strongly recommended for pregnant mothers and during lactation. (Billinghurst 1998)

Vitamins A and D are supplied in the cod liver oil supplement.  Cod Liver oil should be given, at least 1 teaspoon (5ml) per week.  Vitamin A is essential for growth and development of bones and teeth.  It is important for the immune system, to maintain hormone levels, for healthy eyes and skin, eyes, the lining of the gastrointestinal tract, the urinary tract and the activity of the adrenal glands.

Vitamin D is important to prevent an unhealthy skeletal system.  Rancid fats can destroy Vitamin D, therefore EFA’s such as flaxseed oil should not be given if its old, not in a dark bottle and if its not been kept refrigerated.  By adding Vitamin E to the diet, it can protect such oils and prevent them from going rancid.  Rancid fats in the body promote degeneration.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant and protects the fats in the cell membranes. It is vital to the immune system and is involved in the formation of DNA. In particular when feeding cod liver oil or flaxseed oil, Vitamin E should be added to prevent destruction by any free radicals if the oil is possibly rancid.  Vitamin E can be given daily, the average amount for a puppy being 200iu.

Brewers Yeast, being a popular and important addition to the diet is made from the dead bodies of yeast organisms is packed full of B vitamins, it is rich in phosphorus and contains a chromium compound known as GTF (glucose tolerance factor) which controls blood sugar levels.  It also contains the antioxidant selenium, which is known to slow down the ageing process, assist the immune system (by increasing antibody production) and assist in the treatment of arthritis. (Billinghurst 1993)  As meat and bones are in short supply of B vitamins, Brewers Yeast is a good addition to the puppy diet.

Kelp is the most abundant, iodine rich sea vegetable.  The iodine in Kelp helps to restore thyroid function, which improves and increases metabolism.  It is also abundant in other essential minerals.

Eggs are a wonderful source of protein, Omega 3, vitamins and given with the shell, they provide calcium too.  I usually save all of my eggshells, dry them out in a warm oven and then grind them into a powder using a coffee bean grinder.  I can add this to my cat or dog’s diet if no bones are available.

1 egg shell = 1000mg calcium

A 6kg puppy not being given bones with the meat, requires approximately 500mg of calcium a day, which is a quarter of a large eggshell. (Allegretti et al 2003)

Garlic assists the immune system and is known to rid the body of internal and external parasites.

Plain yogurt with live culture is excellent food for cats and dogs, kittens and puppies.  It’s high in protein, calcium, Vitamins B and A, enzymes, maintains a healthy gut and it is an excellent source of fat and calcium.

Liver is high in protein, rich in vitamin A, rich in minerals (Zinc, Selenium, Iron, Manganese), contains vitamin C, is high in B vitamins and contains vitamin E and D.  However, as liver is very rich in nutrients (like other offal), it should only be fed in small amounts.  It should only form 5-10% of the puppy’s diet.

Crushed or pulped vegetables and fruit  provide vitamins, minerals and fibre.

A list of what not to give or do with a growing puppy or kitten

-Commercial pet food*

-Nylon bones (they can cause bowel blockage)

-It’s essential to not overfeed

-Do not use your puppy or kitten as a dustbin, unhealthy scraps belong in the trash.

In reference to commercial pet food, author of ‘Give a Dog a Bone,’ describes it as, “just a belly full of lifeless food.  Food that sits in a lump in a swollen, flabby belly of a thinly muscled pup that will never grow to its full potential.” (Billinghurst 1993)  I believe this quote sums up beautifully why commercial, heavily processed pet food is not the way to a healthy, happy growing puppy or kitten.

As the puppy grows and develops, it remains important to not overfeed him.  With a raw, highly nutritious diet and access to the outdoors, a ‘wild dog’ lifestyle can be imitated to maintain a happy healthy dog.  This means that he may occasionally eat soil, faeces from another animal, the bark from a tree and of course a tasty insect that he proudly caught himself.  This behaviour not only adds variety to the diet but it gives the puppy lots of exercise, which can sometimes be far more beneficial than long, tedious walks on a lead.  Whilst walking with the lead is important to learn, especially in social settings and of course in places where there are busy roads and lots of people, playtime should not be underestimated. (Billinghurst 1993)

References:

Allegretti, J. & Sommers, K D.V.M. 2003, ‘The Complete Holistic Dog Book, Home Health Care for our Canine Companions.’ Celestial Arts, USA

Billinghurst, I 1998, ‘Grow your pups with bones,’ Warrigal Publishing, Australia.

Billinghurst, I 1993, ‘Give your dog a bone,’ Warrigal Publishing, Australia.

Internet references:

Raw Meaty Bones website. http://www.rawmeatybones.com/papers.php

Lonsdale, T. 2001. Article entitled, ‘Diet Guide for Domestic Dogs and Cats.’ http://www.rawmeatybones.com/diet/ExpDiet.html

Grain based diets can cause health problems

In the wild, dogs would not have access to grain except for the small amount found in the gut of the prey.  As most commercial pet foods now contain grain as their main component, it is clear that this huge shift away from what nature intended may be the cause of many health problems in our pets.

Here are 5 reasons why grain based diets can cause health problems:

1) Cooked grain leaves a layer of residue on the teeth.  As cats and dogs do not have the enzyme in their saliva to break down this residue, it leads to gum and teeth problems. (Wolfweb 2010)

Gingivitis is the result of long-term residue on the teeth.  If left untreated, it can lead to a compromised immune system and problems with organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys.  (Goldstein et al 2005)  When teeth and gums are diseased, the bacteria easily spreads into the digestive tract and from there are absorbed into the blood and into the vital organs.

So many dog owners complain about their dog having bad breath.  Rather than address the cause of the problem (usually bad quality food and as a result gum and teeth disease), pet shops conveniently sell poor quality chew bars that mask the smell of the disease and add more problems to the dogs’ health. 

Brushing our pet’s teeth certainly helps but if they are on a raw diet with bones this isn’t necessary. 

If we all made more of a conscious effort to address cause rather than symptoms the health of our loved ones would improve dramatically. 

Before I started educating myself on good quality pet nutrition I thought it was normal for my pets to have yearly trips to the vets for their teeth to be cleaned due to tartar build up and red, sore, inflamed gums.  I can honestly say that in the last 18 years of my cat’s life, not one Veterinarian has ever suggested changing the feeding program to prevent such a painful and health threatening disease.  In my opinion, Australia is in serious need for well-trained holistic animal nutritionists.  Unfortunately the Vets would have less business due to the reduction in pet diseases, however our animals would certainly be happier with a longer life span free of pharmaceutical drugs and disease.

2) Grains are mostly carbohydrates.  The pH in the gut required for the breakdown of carbohydrates is around ph6-7 (pH 7 being neutral).  If a dog or cat has been eating mainly a raw diet, the pH in their gut will be very low and highly acidic.  Therefore feeding too many grains with raw animal produce will certainly lead to digestive problems. (Wolfweb 2010)  The short length of the cat and dog digestive tract should also be strong evidence that these animals are not suited to a grain based diet.

3) Too many grains means an excess of carbohydrates which, when broken down in the gut results in a huge amount of sugar.  This abundance of sugar is rapidly absorbed into the blood and the blood sugar (glucose) level spikes dramatically.  The pancreas is required to supply an abundance of insulin in an attempt to store the excess sugar.  This over works the pancreas, which may result in its slowing down or complete failure.  Without adequate amounts of insulin in the blood to store excess sugar, the glucose overload causes problems around the body and can destroy the body’s filtering organs, the kidneys. (Goldstein et al 2005)

Unfortunately most Veterinarians will treat the symptoms of diabetes without addressing the cause, which is poor nutrition.  Holistic animal practitioners however, would surely change the diet to fresh produce with very little grain and supplements to help a poor functioning body.

David Wolfe, producer of the movie ‘Simply Raw,’ took a group of very unhealthy, severely overweight, insulin dependant diabetic adults and reversed their disease within 30 days using a raw food diet accompanied with daily exercise.  “With the correct diet and lifestyle, diabetes can be reversed.” (Simply Raw, ‘The Movie’ 2010)

Examples of the protein to carbohydrate (complex sugar) ratio content in some grains are:

- In 100 grams of cornmeal (found in cheap commercial pet food) there are 8 grams of protein and 70 grams of carbohydrate.

- In 100 grams of Amaranth (a high quality grain not found in commercial pet food) there are 14 grams of protein and a more acceptable 57 grams of carbohydrate. 

- Rolled oats appear to be the best source of grain when trying to reduce sugar content as they have (per 100 grams), 17 grams of protein and 56 grams of carbohydrate. (ImmuneWeb 2007) 

Even the best grains contain 4 times the amount of carbohydrate to protein ratio.

Excess sugar from too many poor quality grains may indeed be the major cause of diabetes in cats and dogs. 

“Commercial pet foods contain up to (and in some cases in excess of 50 percent refined, poor quality carbohydrates, as contained in white flour and white rice.” (Goldstein et al 2005)

4) Cancer thrives on sugar.  Too many grains in the diet provide the optimal conditions in which cancer cells can grow. 

Commercial pet foods containing high amounts of poor quality grain-by-products are a contaminated source of protein for our animals.  They totally lack ‘life force’ energy due to their being heated and processed before being packaged for months at a time before purchase and consumption. 

Cancer is by definition, “An abnormal growth of cells which tend to proliferate in an uncontrolled way and, in some cases, to metastasize (spread).”  (MedicineNet.com) 

In the words of Dr Goldstein,

“cancer is a group of chronic degenerative diseases that are named for the cell type or tissue where the body allows it to grow.  In its broadest sense, cancer is toxin overload in combination with an immune system that can no longer recognise abnormal cells when they arise and can no longer maintain healthy tissue.”  (Goldstein et al 2005)

The question is why does a healthy cell suddenly loose its way and mutate into something life threatening?  It could indeed be a combination of emotional, environmental and dietary insults such as:

- Grain based commercial pet food diets

- Yearly vaccinations,

- A lifetime of antibiotics,

- Systemic drugs such as worming and flea medications

- Exposure to environmental toxins such as flea bombs, flea collars, insecticides, chemical fertilizers around the family home

- Poor exercise, lack of companionship, neglect, cruelty

“Dietary changes make a remarkable difference in the course of the disease, and in the day to day quality of life for the animal.”       (Goldstein et al 2005) 

5) Cats and dogs raised on a grain based diet such as heavily processed, commercial pet food are more likely to have nutritional deficiencies.  Over several years the heavy reliance on grains for all of the cat or dog’s nutritional needs, will slowly wear down the body’s defence system, the efficient functioning of organs and cause the deterioration of the connective tissue, which includes skin and the skeletal structure. 

For example:

- Grains are deficient in lysine.  Lysine is required for the absorption of calcium, to maintain the immune system and to assist in the, 

“formation of collagen, which is the major protein in bone, cartilage and connective tissue, including the skin.” (Billinghurst 1993)

- Grains are also deficient in Vitamin C, which is essential for bone and other tissue generation.  Vitamin C is known to prevent bladder stones and urinary tract infections, boost the immune system, acts as a powerful antioxidant against free radicals, a natural anti-inflammatory and supports cortisol production.

- Also deficient, are some minerals including calcium.  As calcium is the main constituent of bones and teeth, aids in the metabolism of fats and is required for the proper contraction of the heart muscle, its shortage in the body, long term, would cause a variety of health problems.

- Most grains are also deficient in fats and essential fatty acids. As EFA’s are an essential component of the cell membrane and are necessary to create prostaglandins required for the regulation of basic body functions, the cat or dog has no opportunity of optimal health.

Should we supplement the diet?

Is it necessary to supplement the diet?

In a modern world of intensive farming methods which include the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, the stripping of topsoil and the massive overuse of food additives and growth hormones, there is certainly an important place for supplements in our pet's diets and in our own.  After having read several texts on cat and dog nutrition, four very popular and highly recommended supplements to add to the raw diet are:

- Brewers or Torula Yeast powder

- Essential fatty Acids (EFA’s)

- Phytogreens  (for example: spirulina, wheat grass, alfalfa, chorella, barley grass, kelp)

- Digestion aids (digestive enzymes and probiotics)

Whilst there are many more supplements which can be added to our pet’s diet for specific and individual needs, it is important to note that the recommendations are based on supplementing a raw diet.

Brewers Yeast

Dr Billinghurst from ‘Give a Dog a Bone,’ strongly recommends the addition of Brewers Yeast to the raw meaty bone diet.  Brewers Yeast, made from the dead bodies of yeast organisms is packed full of B vitamins, it is rich in phosphorus and contains a chromium compound known as GTF (glucose tolerance factor) which controls blood sugar levels.  It also contains the antioxidant, selenium that is known to slow down the ageing process, assist the immune system (by increasing antibody production) and assists in the treatment of arthritis. (Billinghurst 1993)

Author of ‘The Complete Holistic Dog Book,’ considers brewers yeast to be an excellent nutrition booster when added to the raw diet.  (Allegretti 2003).  For those cat and dog owners that chose to feed their pets a cooked diet, brewers yeast is still a popular choice of supplementing the B vitamins.  Author of ‘’The Whole Pet Diet,’ recommends a Vita Mineral Mix of which a spoonful can be added to a cooked meal before serving. 

The recipe for this mix is:

Vita Mineral Mix

1 ½ cups Brewers Yeast

¼ cup Kelp powder

1 cup Lecithin granules

2 cups wheat bran

2 cups calcium lactate

This mixture should be placed into an airtight glass jar and stored in the fridge.

The nutrients found in brewers yeast assist vision, stamina, skin, the nervous system, can lower anxiety, lower depression and assists in the formation of red blood cells. (Brown 2006)  Whilst a sprinkling of this mix would certainly add nutrition to the meal, I very much doubt it can make up for the nutrients only found in a raw meaty bone diet.  Like Billinghurst, Brown also includes kelp and garlic into the diet.

Popular Veterinarian and author Dr Pitcairn is also an advocate of brewers yeast in the raw diet.  He suggests making his ‘Healthy Powder,’ which should be added to every raw meal:

Recipe for Healthy Powder:

2 cups brewers yeast

1 cup lecithin granules

¼ cup kelp or alfalfa powder

4 tbs bonemeal powder**

1000mg vitamin C

**As Dr Pitcairn does not recommend feeding raw meaty bones to cats and dogs, all of his diet recipes, including this supplement powder contain some form of calcium. Not an advocate of raw bones, Dr Pitcairn suggests, “You may let your pet gnaw on bones occasionally as a snack, not as a major part of the diet.” (Pitcairn 2005)

I actually found Dr Pitcairn’s recipes very confusing, which included large amounts of synthetically produced calcium.  My own cats have never chewed on raw bones, however their raw food mix contains ground up organic chicken bones on a regular basis.  I’m sure this is a much more natural and healthy way to obtain their much needed calcium rather than from a supply of synthetic supplements.

Unfortunately Dr Pitcairn is not the only author to suggest obtaining calcium via supplements rather than from raw meaty bones.  Author of ‘The Holistic Cat,’ whilst recommending a raw diet, Coscia does not recommend raw bones for cats, therefore calcium must be obtained from ground egg shells or calcium supplements.  Coscia does however include some powerful nutrients to her raw meat and offal diet, which includes brewers yeast, lecithin, ground flaxseed, spirulina, vitamin C, L-Lysine, digestive enzymes and garlic. (Coscia 2005)

I have followed many of this authors recommended diets for cats as she certainly understands how extremely fussy and stubborn cats can be.   As I have never been able to add even the smallest amount of raw pulped vegetables to my cats diet, a tried and tested and highly successful method of implementing vegetables is to add a jar of pureed baby food to the raw mix.  I can honestly say this suggestion has worked for years for me.  I put together my ground up raw bones, meat, offal, EFA’s and supplement powder with a jar of baby food.  My cats’ favourite baby food includes: pumpkin, wintersquash, green peas and brown rice, carrot and butternut squash.  In fact, they lick off the pureed vegetable before they eat the animal produce.  As my cats are now 18 years old, the extra vegetables certainly help them to maintain a healthy digestive system.

Advocate of the raw meaty bone diet author Kathy Schultze, also recommends adding supplements to the diet such as kelp powder, as it contains undamaged protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, antioxidants and fibre.  However, unlike Billinghurst, Schultze recommends adding equal parts of kelp and alfalfa to the raw diet to obtain overall vitamins and minerals. Schultze also recommends ground sunflower seeds to obtain: vitamin E, B, manganese, magnesium, copper, selenium, phosphorus, folate and polyunsaturated oil. Due to them being high in nutrients and palatable, I now add ground sunflower seeds to my cats supplement mix.  To make sure they liked the taste first, I ground up a few sunflower seeds in a coffee bean grinder and added it to some meat and bone mix.  They both ate it without hesitation.  This is another great idea, which works well with fussiest of cats and greatly supplements a nutritious diet.

Like Billinghurst, author of ‘Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs,’ promotes and strongly suggests a diet of raw meaty bones with several important supplements which include the sea vegetable Kelp.  A typical diet for dogs would consist of:

Muscle meat, organ meat, raw bones, ground or pulped vegetables, fish oil, digestive enzymes, probiotics and a blend of sea vegetables consisting of spirulina, kelp, blue green algae and alfalfa. 

Whilst an advocate of raw bones he offers an alternative of synthetic calcium supplementation which is:

For every 450g raw meat & offal, add 900mg of powdered calcium (Olson 2010)

Even though I would rather use raw bones to obtain calcium, there are times when I have used powdered calcium to supplement my cats diet.  This guideline certainly comes in useful when bones are not available.

As an alternative to Brewers Yeast, Torula Yeast can be used as a highly nutritious supplement.  It is lower in sodium and lower in phosphorus than Brewers Yeast.  It has more calcium than brewers yeast.  As a result it is excellent for cats and dogs with kidney or heart disease. (Billinghurst 1993)

My 18 year old cat has reduced kidney function and as a result I need to lower his phosphorus intake.  By supplementing with Torula Yeast rather than Brewers Yeast they still obtain essential nutrients without the excess phosphorus.

On a final note in regards to Brewers Yeast, we should always buy a high quality human grade powder.  When added to our pets diet, owners should be aware of any changes in health as brewers yeast is known to possibly cause allergies in some pets. (Puotinen 1999)

Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s)

Essential Fatty Acids, another important addition to the healthy diet, can easily be added to any meal in order to prevent allergies, depression, slow wound healing, high blood pressure, aching joints, the onset of arthritis, poor digestion and obesity. (Brown 2006)  According to Brown, adding EFA’s to the diet is the most important supplement to maintain good health.  Brown suggests that the EFA’s, omega 3 and omega 6 should be given in the ratio of 1:2.  The author also recommends making an oil blend as listed below:

EFA’s for a beautiful coat. 

141g olive oil or soybean oil

28g cod liver oil or salmon oil (for Omega 3)

28g wheat germ oil (rich in vitamin E and antioxidants)

28g flaxseed oil (mostly omega 6 as the omega 3 is not useable for cats)

1tsp garlic powder (not all cats like the taste of garlic)

½ tsp dried rosemary (soothes digestion, relieves gas)

The oil mix should be stored in a dark, airtight, glass container in the refrigerator.  Flaxseed oil is very volatile and breaks down more quickly than the other oils; therefore the oil mix should be used according to the expiry date of the flaxseed.  The author suggests that the oil mix should be used within two months. (Brown 2006)

There is however a dilemma over which EFA’s to supplement our cats and dogs diet with? 

Based on my own research, I believe I have found the best omega 3 and omega 6 oils which my cats can utilise. They consist of 1ml of salmon oil and 500mg safflower, borage or evening primrose oil.  I also add 100iu of vitamin E to ensure the EFA’s do not go rancid in the body (Allegretti et al 2003).  Author of 'Natural Nutrition for Cats,' suggests adding EFA’s Omega 3 and Omega 6 to a cats raw diet to ensure healthy skin, hair, joints and heart. (Schultz 2008)

Author of ‘The Complete Holistic Dog Book,’ recommends supplementing the diet with EFA’s for the entire lifespan of our pet.  An excellent source of Omega 3 is salmon oil, which assists with the health of the skin, whilst also preventing and treating allergies, arthritis, kidney disease, heart disease and cancer.  To obtain Omega 6 the author recommends safflower, borage or evening primrose oil. (Allegretti et al 2003)

Phytogreens

The third very popular supplement is a mixture of green phytonutrients, which are highly nutritious plant based material from photosynthesising organisms such as:

- Spirulina,

- Chlorella,

- Kelp,

- Barley grass,

- Wheat grass and

- Alfalfa.

Whilst many phytonutrients can be found in fruits, vegetables and herbs, we can supplement our pet’s food with prepared powders containing spirulina, chorella, barley, kelp, alfalfa and wheat grass.  They detoxify the body and reduce damage to cellular membranes. (Goldstein et al 2005) 

According to author of ‘The Whole Pet Diet,’ spirulina and chlorella are a huge source of vitamins, minerals, protein and antioxidants.  They are a concentrated source of chlorophyll.  Both being single celled organisms they are excellent for digestion, nutrient absorption and are a highly digestible protein.  They both protect the liver from toxins, lower blood pressure, fight free radicals (antioxidant qualities), reduce inflammation and give our pets energy due to their rich nutrients (Brown 2006). 

According to ‘Superfoods’ expert David Wolfe, spirulina is not only high in protein but also contains vitamins A, B1, B2, B6, E and K.  It has enzymes to assist digestion, and has an abundance of chlorophyll.  “Spirulina provided the primary protein requirements for millions of people in Mexico City for an estimated five thousand years!” (Wolfe 2009)

Additionally, spirulina can assist in protecting the kidneys from prescription medications and prevent viral attacks.  Chlorella is claimed to be the best supplement for preventing cancer. (Schultz 2008)

Kelp being another extremely nutritious, phytogreen supplement contains sodium, potassium, calcium, iodine and trace amounts of manganese, magnesium, copper, phosphorus, zinc, cobalt, chromium and molybdenum. (Billinghurst 1993)  Being the most abundant, iodine rich sea vegetable, the iodine in Kelp helps to restore thyroid function, which improves and increases metabolism.  There are also essentials sugars in kelp, which are antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral.  In addition Kelp is known to absorb and eliminate radioactive elements and any heavy metal contaminants from the body (Wolfe 2009)

Barley grass is rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.  Interestingly, barley grass contains five times more iron than spinach and is high in calcium.  The organic sodium in barley grass may contribute to dissolving calcium deposits, which can form on the joints.  As a result it is used as a herbal treatment for arthritis. (Livestrong 2011)

Wheatgrass is very rich in chlorophyll.  It contains superoxide dismutase, which is known to slow down cell ageing and act as an anti inflammatory.  It also contains beta carotene, which is an excellent source of Vitamin A.  Overall, wheat grass is a nutrient rich food with cleansing properties. (puregreenfoods.com)

Alfalfa contains an array of vitamins including Vitamin A, B, K, C and minerals including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, and potassium.  It is also relatively high in protein.  Alfalfa helps to reduce blood sugar levels, pain and stiffness from arthritis, increase energy, aid digestion, improve liver functioning, acts as a detoxifier and assists the immune system. (puregreenfoods.com)

When alfalfa is combined with dandelion it is one of the best treatments for arthritis, rheumatism, gout and other inflammatory diseases. (Messonnier 2001)

As all of the above phytogreen foods have the potential to improve and increase the longevity of my cats and dog, I supplement their food with an organic supplement powder, which contains all of the above apart from Kelp, which I have to add separately.  I not only supplement my animals with this highly nutritious mix but I also take it myself everyday as part of my own diet.

Digestive Aids

Digestion Aids are supplements, which assist not only the digestion of food but also the absorption of nutrients into the blood.  They also maintain a healthy gut flora in a world of food toxins, pollutants, synthetic chemicals and potentially harmful pathogens.  The most popular digestive aids are probiotics and digestive enzyme supplements such as bromelian.

Probiotics are live microorganisms that have the ability to correct imbalances in the digestive tract, they also assist digestion and nutrient absorption into the blood.  They also produce B vitamins and help the body rid itself of toxins from pollution and poor diet. (Goldstein et al 2005) In addition, probiotics can help gastro intestinal upsets, fight parasite burdens and are highly beneficial after a course of antibiotics when the gut flora has been depleted. (Allegretti et al 2003)  Even further to this list of benefits the Wikipedia website lists benefits of probiotics such as:

-Assisting diarrhea by balancing gut flora

-Assisting lactose intolerant individuals by converting lactose into lactic acid

-Prevention of and treatment of colon cancer as demonstrated in lab tests on rats

-May assist in the reduction of high blood pressure

-May assist with inflammation (Wikipedia 2011)

Examples of probiotics are Lactobacillus acidophilus, Lactobacillus bifidus, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Lactobacillus paracasei.  These single celled living organisms are various strains of bacterial cells, which have been declared beneficial to our pets and our own bodies. 

Commonly, probiotics are found in fermented foods with specially added active and live cultures of bacteria.  Yogurt (both dairy and soy) is the most popular source of friendly, live bacteria.  However if our cats and dogs do not consume yogurt as part of their diet, probiotics can be added from powder filled capsules that can be purchased from a health store.

My dog has organic yogurt (which contains live bacteria) as part of his diet so I don’t feel the need to supplement his food.  However, my cats, as they do not have yogurt in their diet, obtain their probiotics from a supplement I include in their raw food mix.  The supplement is a human health product, which is free of dairy produce and  contains live bacteria in small powder capsules.  When I’ve prepared a raw food mix I stir in a capsule of live bacteria.  As it has no taste, the cats have no problem consuming it with their regular food.

Digestive enzymes, whilst helpful in the breakdown and absorption of foods are not necessarily, essential dietary additions, especially if our pets are on a raw diet.  Raw diets already contain live, natural enzymes.  However, for cats and dogs on cooked, processed foods, digestive enzymes are certainly a good addition to the diet.

There are four digestive enzymes produced by the stomach and pancreas:

-Protease            for breaking down protein

-Amylase            for breaking down carbohydrates

-Lipase             for breaking down fats

-Pectinase            breaks down sugars in plant cell walls

Interestingly, these four essential enzymes are produced by probiotics naturally.  (Poveromo 2010)

According to author of, ‘The Holistic Cat,’ digestive enzymes can assist health even in the healthiest of raw diets.  Coscia recommends that cat owners should mix together several ingredients including digestive enzymes into what she calls an:

Immune Boosting Formula

-1,500mg Bromelain             (extracted from pineapples, contains protease to breakdown proteins, bromelain also reduces inflammation in the body)

-3,000mg Vitamin C                        (important antioxidant and immune system booster)

-7500mg L-Lysine                        (an amino acid which aids in the production of antibodies, hormones and enzymes)

-200mg Vitamin B6                         (aids the absorption of L-lysine and vitamin C)

-750mg odorless garlic             (odorless as most cats don’t like the taste, it assists immune system)

-¼ cup ground flaxseed            (has anti-inflammatory properties and aids digestion)

The mixture should be kept in a dark, glass, airtight container in the fridge.  It provides 30 daily doses of cat supplement powder (Coscia 2009)

As a possible fifth supplement, Garlic is also a popular choice amongst holistic animal nutritionists.  Garlic is used for killing bacteria, fungus, parasites, assisting the immune system and is known to help repel fleas.  However, too much garlic in the diet can cause anemia.  Author of, ‘Raw and Natural Nutrition for Dogs,’ suggests feeding an eighth of a clove of garlic for every 10kg of dog weight. (Olson 2010)

In contrast to the above advice, Dr Billinghurst suggests feeding up to 2 cloves of garlic a day.  He suggests that Kyolic garlic is the best choice as it is gentler on the stomach.  Garlic assists not only what Olson has claimed but it also stabilises blood pressure. (Billinghurst 1993)

References:

Allegretti, J. & Sommers, K D.V.M. 2003, ‘The Complete Holistic Dog Book, Home Health Care for our Canine Companions.’ Celestial Arts, USA

Billinghurst, I 1993, ‘Give your dog a bone,’ Warrigal Publishing, Australia.

Goldstein, R.S. V.M.D. & Goldstein, S.J. 2005, ‘The Goldstein’s Wellness & Longevity Program Natural Care for Cats and Dogs.’ TFH Publications USA.

Brown, A 2006, ‘The Whole Pet Diet, Eight weeks to a Great Health for Dogs and Cats. Celestial Arts, USA.

Coscia, J. A, 2005, ‘The Holistic Cat, A Complete Guide to Wellness for a Healthier, Happier Cat. North Atlantic Books, USA.

Khalsa, D. 2009, ‘Natural Dog, A Holistic Guide for Healthier Dogs.’ Bowtie Press, California.

Messonnier, S, 2001, ‘Natural Health Bible for Dogs and Cats’ Three Rivers Press, New York.

Olson, L 2010, ‘Raw & Natural Nutrition for Dogs, The definitive guide to homemade meals.’ North Atlantic Books, USA.

Pitcairn, R. H. & Pitcairn, S. H, 2005, ‘Dr. Pitcairn’s guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.’ Rodale Inc, USA.

Poveromo, M. 2010, ‘To Your Dog’s Health.’ Poor Mans Press, Canada.

Puotinen, C.J. 1999, ‘Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats.’ Keats Publishing, USA.2006)

Schultze, K.R 2008, ‘Natural Nutrition for Cats, The Path to Perfect health.’ Hay House, USA.

Tilford, G.L. & Wulff, M.L. 2009. Herbs For Pets. Second Edition. BowTie Press, USA.

Wolfe, D. 2009. ‘Superfoods. The food and medicine of the future.’ North Atlantic Books, U.S.A.

Internet references:

Livestrong.com, May 2010. Article, ‘Borage Seed Oil Side Effects.’

http://www.livestrong.com/article/119389-borage-seed-oil-side-effects/

PureGreen Foods ‘Grower direct certified organic wheatgrass and alfalfa.

http://puregreenfoods.com/

Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia Website. Article on, ‘Probiotic.’

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Probiotic