Lessons Learned

Raw Meat

Because we recommend the inclusion of raw meat to your pet's daily diet, we are often asked, “What about parasites?” The most common questions concern E.coli and Salmonella. E.coli is a bacterium normally found in the colons of our animals. It is essential for life and helpful to the digestive process since it breaks down various food components. Only when an unhealthy animal is fed decaying meat can E. coli multiply and cause harm. That harm may cause sickness, not death.

Because our pets are carnivores, their bodies are designed to eat and process raw meat. Their digestive systems are different from ours. Theirs is a simple stomach with a short digestive tract; ours is a complex stomach with a much longer tract designed for processing more vegetables and grains. What enters a carnivore’s stomach is subject to almost double the amount of hydrochloric acid found in a human stomach.

Carnivores also produce digestive enzymes in their stomachs. This, with the high acidic level, gives them the ability to digest raw meat and even bones. Our pets can eat things that would make us quite ill.

About Parasites

Parasites are microscopic, such as fungi, protozoa, bacteria or viruses. They can also be larger, such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms or flatworms, fleas and ticks. Parasites can reside anywhere in or on the body and can sicken any tissue or organ, even organs they do not actually occupy. The most common way in which they injure their host is by secreting toxins and enzymes that destroy healthy tissue. When healthy tissue is destroyed an infection is born. Our pets all have parasites, but do not fear! Issues only arise when the animal is out of balance. When an infection spreads to the point where substantial damage has occurred or where bodily processes are affected, we have what is known as disease.

How are Parasites Transmitted?

Dogs and cats pick up parasites on their paws when they frequent paths where other animals have eliminated. When they lick their paws they ingest the parasite. Of course, dogs and cats (and humans) all have parasites all the time. A healthy system keeps them in check. Health is the secret to allowing the body to do its job effectively.

So while it is possible for our pets to acquire parasites through raw foods, it is only one of many ways.Heartworm is transmitted through mosquitoes. The deer and field mouse tick transmits Borrelia burgdorferi, a protozoan responsible for Lyme disease. A nematode (roundworm), Toxacara canis in dogs and Toxacara cati in cats, is passed prenatally from mother to fetus. Tapeworms are transmitted predominantly through fleas, eating feces from wild animals and eating dead animals such as rabbits. Coccidia, Giardia and Cryptospoidosis are transmitted through infected drinking water.

Viruses

An airborne virus causes distemper. Parvo virus, Carona virus and infectious hepatitis are transmitted by infectious animals through contact with their saliva, nasal mucous, urine or feces. A dog or cat fed a natural, fresh, high-quality food will have a stronger immune system, more resistance to viruses and infections, and quicker recovery from illness.

Benefits of Raw Feeding

Never feed your pet cooked bones—
they can splinter!Raw meat contains live amino acids through which energy and life force are conveyed from one living organism to another. Raw meat contains live enzymes, necessary for food conversion, digestion and use. Raw meat contains an array of bacteria needed in the breakdown and digestion of food. We feed our dogs raw, red meat and chicken wings and backs. This is not to say that Salmonella, predominately found in poultry, cannot be present. If you wish, lightly cook the poultry. The meats of least risk are beef, lamb and venison. The benefit of feeding raw meat as well as other raw foods substantially outweights the risk.

Yeast and Candida

In addition to parasites, there are at least 30 types of pathogenic yeasts that can cause illness. The most common and the one that affects the general health of its host perhaps more than any other, is Candida albicans. Candida is a type of parasitic yeast-like fungus that inhabits the digestive tract and many organs of the body (i.e. ears, mouth, etc). Candida is normally maintained in a commensal (sharing) state in the gastrointestinal tract by “friendly bacteria” but, if the probiotic population dwindles or the immune system is compromised, the Candida can transform from a simple yeast to an aggressive fungus.

When an animal takes antibiotics the friendly bacteria that keep Candida under control are destroyed. Then the Candida grows, producing more toxins and weakening the immune system. A diet high in sugar and grain found in many of today’s processed diets can trigger the Candida yeast.

Healthy Living

Healthy living is rendering pathogens harmless by staying healthy. The foundation of long-lasting health is fresh, wholesome and varied food. Processed food offers survival, not health.

Drugs and antibiotics may be necessary to eliminate a medical problem. However, the need for continued chemical medicine reflects an irreversible collapse of an organ or system.

In a healthy system, parasites are limited in number and location. Abnormally high levels of parasites are commonly seen in an unhealthy animal. Noticeable symptoms of parasites (and yeast) are indicators of a compromised immune system. These organisms are physical indicators of marginally diseased and weakened tissues. As the weakness intensifies, the prevalence of parasites (and yeast) intensifies. Four or five de-worming treatments are often necessary before worm loads are reduced. De-worming does not harm the animal and, indeed, can be very beneficial. Worming medicines do not completely rid your pet of parasites unless they are given at the precise time in a worm’s lifecycle. In any case, it is essential for the immune system to finish the task.

An excellent way to treat infection is with a cleansing program. ParaYeast can be used twice a year as a precaution. As an herbal alternative to a chemical dewormer, it can destroy potential pathogens before serious infestation occurs.

(Certain parasites resistant to herbal treatments require chemical dewormers. Puppies and kittens should be wormed initially using traditional worming medicines. We strongly recommend you consult your veterinarian when certain parasites are suspect.)